- Vaidila
Vaidila (executed in 1381) was a favorite and brother-in-law of
Jogaila ,Grand Duke of Lithuania . TheLithuanian Chronicles present Vaidila as a kitchen assistant who rose to the top and entered the nobility only through his marriage to Jogaila's sister Maria in 1379.lt icon cite book | first=Zenonas |last=Ivinskis |chapter=Vytauto jaunystė ir jo veikimas iki 1392 m. |title=Vytautas Didysis | editor=Paulius Šležas | year=1988 | origyear=1930 | publisher=Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija | location=Vilnius |oclc=25726071 |pages=9] However, this portrayal is likely biased propaganda. It was a known practice to denounce political opponents as a common peasant. TheTeutonic Knights mention that boyar Vaidila ruled "Wegebeticht" (believed to be nearDeltuva ) and "Wayteldorff" (Dubrowo , north ofLida ). [lt icon cite book| title=Lietuvos diduomenė XIV a. pabaigoje – XV a. |first=Rimvydas |last=Petrauskas |year=2003 |publisher=Aidai | isbn=9955-445-67-X |pages=171]Lithuanian Chronicle blames him and
Uliana of Tver , Jogaila's mother, for initiating theTreaty of Dovydiškės , which started theLithuanian Civil War (1381–1384) . The Chronicle further stipulates that Vaidila held a personal grudge against Kęstutis, who did not recognize his new noble status. For his service in negotiating peace between Jogaila and the Order, Teutonic Knights gifted Vaidila some land on theSamogitia n–Livonia m border and perhaps two "hufen" (historical land unit in Germany) of land nearRagnit . WhenKęstutis briefly took power during the civil war, Vaidila was hanged. Jogaila revenged his death by executing Vidimantas and his son Butrimas, relatives ofBirutė , wife of Kęstutis. [lt icon cite book| title=Lietuvos diduomenė XIV a. pabaigoje – XV a. |first=Rimvydas |last=Petrauskas |year=2003 |publisher=Aidai | isbn=9955-445-67-X |pages=77]If Vaidila was indeed a low-born peasant, he would be the most striking example of social mobility within Lithuanian classes. He was the only Lithuanian duke known to marry a daughter of a
Gediminid ruler.cite journal | first=S. C. |last=Rowell |title=Pious Princesses or Daughters of Belial: Pagan Lithuanian Dynastic Diplomacy, 1279–1423 |pages=21–26 | date=Spring 1994 |journal=Medieval Prosopography | volume=15 |number=1 |issn=0198-9405 ] This marriage might be an indication that Jogaila needed alliances at home to keep his throne after his fatherAlgirdas died in 1377 and his elder brotherAndrei of Polotsk challenged the last will. After Vaidila's death Maria was married off to David ofGorodets .References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.