Treniota

Treniota
Depiction of Treniota from chronicles of Alexander Guagnini, published in 1578
Grand Duke of Lithuania
Reign1263–1264
PredecessorMindaugas
SuccessorVaišvilkas
Duke of Samogitia
Reign1253–1263
PredecessorVykintas
Bornc. 1210
Died1264
HouseMindaugas
FatherVykintas
MotherNN, sister of Mindaugas

Treniota (also spelled Troniata; Belarusian: Транята; c. 1210 – 1264) was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1263 to 1264.[1][2]

Treniota was the nephew of Mindaugas, the first and only king of Lithuania.[1] While Mindaugas had converted to Christianity in order to discourage Livonian Order and Teutonic Knights attacks on Lithuania, becoming king in the process, Treniota remained a staunch pagan.[3] It is believed that Treniota was trusted to rule Samogitia.

Despite Mindaugas's conversion, the Teutonic Knights regularly made incursions in Lithuanian territory. After the Battle of Durbe in 1260, Treniota convinced Mindaugas to relapse from Christianity and attack the Teutonic Order, though the attack was ineffective and the Teutonic Knights were barely weakened.[1] Mindaugas began to question his alliance with Treniota. However, before he was able act against his pagan nephew, Treniota together with Daumantas assassinated Mindaugas and two of his sons in 1263.[1] Treniota usurped the throne and reverted the nation to paganism. However, he only ruled for a year before being deposed by Vaišvilkas, the younger son of Mindaugas.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d e Gudavičius, Edvardas; Matulevičius, Algirdas; Varakauskas, Rokas. "Treniota". Vle.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  2. ^ Galeotti, Mark (17 January 2023). Teutonic Knight Vs Lithuanian Warrior: The Lithuanian Crusade 1283–1435. Bloomsbury USA. p. 78. ISBN 978-1-4728-5150-5.
  3. ^ "Lietuvos krikštas". Aidai.eu (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 7 July 2021.