Jaunutis

Who was Jaunutis?

Jaunutis was the Grand Duke of Lithuania from his father Gediminas' death in 1341 until he was deposed by his elder brothers Algirdas and Kęstutis in 1345.

According to Jan Tęgowski, a Polish historian, he was born probably between 1306 and 1309.

Jaunutis was not mentioned in any written sources prior to Gediminas' death. There are many theories why Gediminas chose Jaunutis, a middle son, as his successor. Some suggested that he was an acceptable compromise between pagan and Orthodox sons of Gediminas. Others claimed that Jaunutis was the eldest son of Gediminas' second wife; thus the tradition that Gediminas was married twice: to a pagan and Orthodox duchess. Another claim is that he was living with Gediminas at the time of his death, and so he was naturally a successor to rule Vilnius and Lithuania.

Very little is known about years when Jaunutis ruled. Those were quite peaceful years, as the Teutonic Knights were led by ineffective Ludolf König. His brothers were much more active: Algirdas attacked Mozhaysk, Livonian Order, defended Pskov, Kęstutis was helping Liubartas in succession disputes in Galicia–Volhynia.