Gediminas' Cap

Gediminas wearing the Cap, painted in 1709

Gediminas' Cap (Lithuanian: Gedimino kepurė) was the most important regalia of the Lithuanian monarchs who ruled the Grand Duchy of Lithuania until the Union of Lublin in 1569.[1][2] During the inaugurations of Lithuanian monarchs, Gediminas' Cap was placed on the monarch's heads by the Bishop of Vilnius in Vilnius Cathedral.[1][2][3]

Its name comes from Grand Duke Gediminas (c. 1275–1341), the founder of the Gediminids dynasty and patrilineal ancestor of Lithuanian rulers from the Kęstutaičiai and Jagiellonian dynasties,[1][4][5][6] and symbolized the dynasty's continuity.[7]

The cap is mentioned in 16th-century sources and was kept in the Lithuanian state treasury.[1] It is depicted as a round unsegmented headdress in an armorial compiled for Paweł Holszański.[1] Since 1547 Gediminas' Cap was minted on Lithuanian coins above the coat of arms of Lithuania.[8]

Gediminas' Cap lost its significance following the Union of Lublin in 1569 which abolished a separate inauguration of the Lithuanian monarchs in Vilnius Cathedral.[1][2]

In the 20th century, following the Act of Independence of Lithuania, Lithuanian litas banknotes were issued with a portrait of Vytautas the Great wearing Gediminas' Cap to commemorate his 500th death anniversary in 1930.[9] In 1936, new design 10 litas coins were minted also with a portrait of Vytautas the Great wearing Gediminas' Cap.[10][11]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Gudavičius, Edvardas. "Gedimino kepurė" [Gediminas' Cap]. Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference InauguracijaVle was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Gudavicius2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Gediminaičiai". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  5. ^ Kiaupa, Zigmantas. "Jogailaičiai". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  6. ^ Gudavičius, Edvardas; Jučas, Mečislovas; Matulevičius, Algirdas. "Kęstutis". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  7. ^ Mickūnaitė, Giedrė. (2006). Making a great ruler: Grand Duke Vytautas of Lithuania. Budapest: Central European University Press. p. 149. ISBN 9637326588. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  8. ^ Savickienė, Aurelija. "Iliustruotoji istorija: LDK pinigai" [Illustrated history: GDL money]. Vz.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 9 May 2023. 1547 m. pirmą kartą monetoje panaudotas LDK herbas (raitelis, įkomponuotas į herbinį skydą) su kunigaikščio kepure virš jo.
  9. ^ "Šimtmečio istorijos. Lietuvos banknotų kūrėjas Adomas Galdikas" [Stories of the centenary. Lithuania banknotes creator Adomas Galdikas]. Pinigumuziejus.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  10. ^ Laurinavičius, Vidmantas. "Litas". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Moneta: 10 Litų (Grand duke Vytautas the Great 1392-1430)". Colnect.com (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 21 May 2023.