Union of Kraków and Vilna

Union of Kraków and VilnaFact|date=November 2007 ( _pl. Unia krakowsko-wileńska) also known as Union of Vilnius [cite book | last = Lukowski | first = Jerzy | authorlink = | coauthors = Zawadzki, Hubert | title = A Concise History of Poland | publisher = | date= 2006 | location = | pages = p. 42 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 052185332X ] ( _pl. unia wileńska) was an agreement forming part of the Polish-Lithuanian union, signed in Cracow on 6 May 1499 and Vilnius on 24 July that year.

After the death of Casimir IV Jagiellon in 1492 , John I Albert was elected to the Polish throne, and his brother, Alexander Jagiellon, became the Grand Duke of Lithuania. Thus the personal union was broken, as no longer one monarch hold the positions of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. Nonetheless both brothers cooperated closely, and the union at that time can be described as a dynastic union. Nonetheless soon the 1490s saw a series of defeats for the Jagiellon dynasty; as the lack of cooperation and coordination cost all sides dearly. Thus both brothers agreed that the union should be tightened.

The Union of Vilnius was based on the Union of Horodło of 1413 (although recognizing more of Grand Duchy's autonomy; in particular, there was no mention of incorporation of Lithuanian into Poland). In particular, it stressed that:
* both countries would aid one another against common enemies
* both countries would not declare war without agreement of the other
* rulers of both countries would be chosen with "advice and consent" of the other

The result of the Union of Vilnius was confirmation of the close alliance between the two countries.

References