Vytautas the Great (redirected from Vitaut the Great)

Vytautas the Great

 Lithuanian Vytautus Didysis

(born 1350, Lithuania—died Oct. 27, 1430, Trakai, Lith.) Lithuanian national leader. Continuing a family struggle for control of Lithuania, he fought his cousin Wladyslaw II Jagiello but made peace in 1384. His popularity grew until Wladyslaw was obliged to make him vice regent (1392), an office that allowed him to become effective ruler of Lithuania. He subdued rebellious nobles but was defeated by Mongols in the east (1399). He and Wladyslaw united Lithuania and Poland (1401) and waged war on the Teutonic Order, defeating them at the Battle of Tannenberg (1410). Vytautas was named king of Lithuania in 1429 but died before he could be crowned.