Vytautas

Born around 1350, Vytautas served as prince of Grodno and later Lutsk before becoming regent of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1392 under his cousin Jogaila. In 1401 he ascended to Grand Duke, a position he held until his death on 27 October 1430, also claiming the titles of King of the Hussites and King of Lithuania. He spoke Lithuanian with Jogaila. In the 19th century, Vytautas became central to Lithuania's national rebirth; between 1918 and 1939, newly independent Lithuania erected monuments to him in multiple towns, and on the 500th anniversary of his death, the country named Vytautas Ma…