Vytautas the Great

Vytautas the Great
Duke of Trakai
Seal of Vytautas, depicting him with Gediminas' Cap
Grand Duke of Lithuania
Reign1401 – 27 October 1430
PredecessorJogaila
SuccessorJogaila and Švitrigaila
Co-rulerJogaila
Regent of Lithuania
Regency4 August 1392 – 1401
PredecessorSkirgaila
Grand DukeJogaila
Bornc. 1350
Senieji Trakai, Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Died27 October 1430(1430-10-27) (aged 79–80)
Trakai, Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Burial
Spouse
IssueSophia
HouseKęstutis
FatherKęstutis
MotherBirutė
Religion

Vytautas the Great (/vɪˈttəs/; c. 1350 – 27 October 1430) was a ruler of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, first as regent for his cousin Jogaila (1392–1401) and then as the Grand Duke alongside him (1401–1430). He was also the prince of Grodno (1370–1382) and the prince of Lutsk (1387–1389), as well claimant to the titles of King of the Hussites and King of Lithuania.

In modern Lithuania, Vytautas is revered as a national hero and was an important figure in the national rebirth in the 19th century. Vytautas is a popular male given name in Lithuania. In commemoration of the 500-year anniversary of his death, Vytautas Magnus University was named after him. Monuments in his honour were built in many towns in independent Lithuania during the interwar period from 1918 to 1939. Vytautas knew and spoke the Lithuanian language with his cousin Jogaila.