Gediminas' Cap

Gediminas' Cap (Lithuanian: Gedimino kepurė) was the most important regalia of the Lithuanian monarchs who ruled the Grand Duchy of Lithuania until the Union of Lublin in 1569.^[1][2] During the inaugurations of Lithuanian monarchs, Gediminas' Cap was placed on the monarch's heads by the Bishop of Vilnius in Vilnius Cathedral.^[1][2][3]

Gediminas with Gediminas' Cap, painted in 1709

Vytautas' majestic seal of 1407, the first iconographic representation of Gediminas' Cap.

Coat of arms of Lithuania crowned with Gediminas' Cap, painted in circa 1555

Its name comes from Grand Duke Gediminas, the founder of the Gediminids dynasty and patrilineal ancestor of Lithuanian rulers from the Kęstutaičiai and Jagiellonian dynasties,^[1][4][5][6] and symbolized the dynasty's continuity.^[7]

The cap is mentioned in the 16th-century sources and was kept in the Lithuanian state treasury.^[1] It is depicted as a round unsegmented headdress in an armorial compiled for Paweł Holszański.^[1] Gediminas' Cap lost its significance following the Union of Lublin in 1569 which abolished a separate inauguration of the Lithuanian monarchs in Vilnius Cathedral.^[1][2]

Titles of Lithuanian monarchs

Following the recognition by Pope Innocent IV, Mindaugas was crowned as King of Lithuania in July 1253 with a crown manufactured in Riga and provided by Andreas von Stirland, the master of the Livonian Order.^[8][9] Moreover, Pope Alexander IV granted a right to crown Mindaugas's son.^[10] In the fall of 1263, Mindaugas and his sons Ruklys and Rupeikis were killed and the fate of his royal crown remains unknown.^[11]

Subsequent Lithuanian monarchs initially were titled as kings when communicating with Western countries and as Grand Dukes when communicating with Ruthenia and tatars.^[12][13] Pope John XXII referred to Gediminas as King of Lithuania and many Ruthenians.^[14] In 1385, Lithuanian ruler Jogaila agreed in the Union of Krewo that the Lithuanian monarchs would be titled only as the Grand Dukes of Lithuania.^[12]

The title of the Grand Duke of Lithuania mostly came into force during the reign of Grand Duke Vytautas the Great, who concluded the Ostrów Agreement with his cousin Jogaila in 1392 and the agreement was confirmed in the Pact of Vilnius and Radom in 1401. Since then Jogaila was titled as the Supreme Duke of Lithuania.^[12][15][16] Vytautas the Great gained factual rule of Lithuania, which was recognized by the treaties.^[15] In 1398, the Lithuanian nobility declared Vytautas the Great as the King of Lithuania and, following the Congress of Lutsk in 1430, the crowning was sanctioned by Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor. However, Vytautas died before the crown arrived.^[2][17][18]

Jogaila's brother Švitrigaila also sought to be crowned as King of Lithuania and Emperor Sigismund planned to arrive to Švitrigaila's crowning in Prussia, but the Lithuanian Civil War (1432–1438) broke out in which Švitrigaila and his supporters were defeated.^[19][2][20]

Jogaila's son Władysław III also titled himself as the Supreme Duke of Lithuania.^[16] John I Albert unilaterally declared himself as the Supreme Duke of Lithuania in 1492, but this title was rejected by the Lithuanian Council of Lords.^[16]

In 1544–1548 Sigismund I the Old expressed his supreme monarchical authority in Lithuania by again using the Supreme Duke of Lithuania title when his son Sigismund II Augustus was his vicegerent in Lithuania.^[16]

Inaugurations of Lithuanian monarchs

 

Vilnius Cathedral, built in 1407

The inaugurations of the Lithuanian monarchs were held in Vilnius Cathedral and consisted of placement of Gediminas' Cap on the Lithuanian ruler's heads and presentation of a sword.^[1][12] The cap was placed on the head by the Bishop of Vilnius and the sword was presented by the Grand Marshal of Lithuania.^[2][3] The regalia of Vytautas the Great consisted of Gediminas' Cap, sword, ring, flag, and a seal.^[2]

The first inauguration ceremony of a Lithuanian Grand Duke about which we have reliable information is the inauguration of Casimir IV Jagiellon, as reported by Jan Długosz.^[21] Casimir IV was sent by his older brother King of Poland and Hungary, Supreme Duke of Lithuania Władysław III, to Lithuania to rule in his name.^[22] But instead he was elected as Grand Duke upon his arrival to Vilnius on June 29, 1440, with the ringing of church bells and the singing of the Te Deum Laudamus.^[23][21] This was breaching the agreements of the Union of Grodno (1432) and terminating the Polish–Lithuanian union.^[24][25] It manifested Lithuania as a sovereign state and its ruler Casimir IV Jagiellon stressed himself as a "free lord" (pan – dominus).^[25] According to historian Edvardas Gudavičius Bishop of Vilnius put a Gediminas' Cap in the Vilnius Cathedral on his head, despite opposition by the Polish nobles.^[24][25]

Another documented inauguration is the enthronement of Alexander Jagiellon in 1492. Alexander was appointed Grand Duke by his father, nevertheless a formal election of the ruler was held as part of a general assembly, which was attended for the first time by representatives from all the lands of the Grand Duchy.^[26] The course of the ceremony was relayed by Maciej Stryjkowski, who reported that after the election lords elevated Alexander in the cathedral. The newly elected ruler was dressed "in a ducal cap with pearls and precious stones set in it, also the usual robe that today the princes of the Reich wear at the imperial coronation."^[27] Then Bishop of Vilnius Wojciech Tabor blessed him and held a pastoral exhortation over him. Then the Grand Marshal of Lithuania Petras Jonaitis Mantigirdaitis handed Alexander a bare sword and a sceptre.^[28][29]

Stryjkowski also reported on the election and inauguration of Sigismund I as Grand Duke of Lithuania on October 20, 1509. The ceremony was again attended by Bishop Wojciech Tabor, who this time not only blessed, but also placed a cap on the ruler's head. In turn, Grand Marshal Michael Glinski presented him with a sword. Sigismund received the oath of the Lithuanian lords while sitting on the throne.^[30] According to Stryjkowski, the cap was: "of red velvet with gold spheres set with precious stones".^[31]

The last ceremony to elevate a grand duke took place on October 18, 1529, when Sigismund Augustus was elevated to this dignity during his father's lifetime. The ceremony took place in the great hall of the newly built lower castle, as the cathedral burned down that same year.^[32] The young Sigismund Augustus sat on the throne between his parents, surrounded by members of the council of lords. The cap was placed on the ruler's head by the Bishop of Vilnius, while the Grand Marshal presented him with a sword.^[33]

Following the Union of Lublin, which formed the federative Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1569, and the death of the last Gediminid ruler Sigismund II Augustus in 1572, separate inaugurations in Vilnius Cathedral were abolished, therefore Gediminas' Cap lost its ceremonial significance.^[1][2][34] The insignias of the Lithuanian rulers were not preserved and following the Union of Lublin only the seal (kept by the Grand Chancellor of Lithuania) and the flag (carried near the ruler by the Grand Flag Bearer of Lithuania) remained.^[2]

The rulers of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth were elected in joint Polish–Lithuanian election sejms until the Third Partition in 1795 and received separate titles of the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania.^[35][3] During the coronations of joint Polish–Lithuanian monarchs, the Polish crown was also announced as a property of both the Polish and Lithuanian nobles.^[2]

Gallery

•  

  Vytenis with Gediminas' Cap, painted in 1709

•  

  Algirdas with Gediminas' Cap, painted in 1578

•  

  Sigismund Kęstutaitis with Gediminas' Cap, painted in the 19th century

•  

  Vytautas the Great with Gediminas' Cap, painted in circa 1555^[1]

•  

  Vytautas the Great with Gediminas' Cap, painted in the 18th century

•  

  Saint Casimir with Gediminas' Cap, painted in circa 1594

•  

  Dome of the Church of St. Casimir in Vilnius

•  

  Tapestry with the coat of arms of Grand Duke Sigismund II Augustus, crowned with Gediminas' Cap, circa 1548

•  

  A 1568 Lithuanian coin of Grand Duke Sigismund II Augustus with the Coat of arms of Lithuania, Gediminas' Cap and Columns of Gediminas

•  

  Front view of the reconstructed Gediminas' Cap, exhibited in the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in Vilnius

•  

  Coat of arms of Lithuania crowned with Gediminas' Cap in one of the rooms of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in Vilnius

•  

  Stained-glass window with Vytautas the Great wearing Gediminas' Cap (left) in the Church of Vytautas the Great in Kaunas

See also

• Polish crown jewels, used by joint Polish–Lithuanian monarchs following the Union of Lublin in 1569.
• Cap of maintenance, a similar royal insignia of the British sovereign.
• Gediminas' Tower

References

1. Gudavičius, Edvardas. "Gedimino kepurė" [Gediminas' Cap]. Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
2. Gudavičius, Edvardas. "Inauguracija". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
3. Gudavičius, Edvardas (2006). Kultura Wielkiego Księstwa Litewskiego: analizy i obrazy / opracowanie (in Polish, Lithuanian, and English). Kraków: Towarzystwo Autorów i Wydawców Prac Naukowych Universitas. pp. 834–854. ISBN 8324205497. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
4. "Gediminaičiai". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
5. Kiaupa, Zigmantas. "Jogailaičiai". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
6. Gudavičius, Edvardas; Jučas, Mečislovas; Matulevičius, Algirdas. "Kęstutis". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
7. Mickūnaitė, Giedrė. (2006). Making a great ruler: Grand Duke Vytautas of Lithuania. Budapest: Central European University Press. p. 149. ISBN 9637326588. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
8. Gudavičius, Edvardas. "Mindaugas". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 10 April 2023.
9. Gudavičius, Edvardas. "Andreas von Stirland". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 10 April 2023.
10. Ivinskis, Zenonas. "Mindaugas ir jo karūna" [Mindaugas and his crown]. Aidai.eu (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 10 April 2023.
11. Rutkauskienė, Violeta (19 April 2012). "Kur Lietuvos karaliaus karūna?" [Where is the crown of the King of Lithuania?]. Bernardinai.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 10 April 2023.
12. Gudavičius, Edvardas. "Didysis kunigaikštis" [Grand Duke]. Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
13. Bučys, Algimantas (2019). Lietuvių karaliai ir Lietuvos karalystė de facto ir de jure viduramžių Europoje (in Lithuanian) (II-asis pataisytas ir papildytas leidimas ed.). Vilnius. ISBN 9789986827092.
14. "Gediminas". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 10 April 2023.
15. Jučas, Mečislovas. "Astravos sutartis" [Ostrów Agreement]. Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
16. Gudavičius, Edvardas. "Aukščiausiasis kunigaikštis" [Supreme Duke]. Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 18 March 2023.
17. Dundulis, Bronius. "Lucko suvažiavimas" [Congress of Lutsk]. Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
18. Gudavičius, Edvardas; Matulevičius, Algirdas. "Vytautas Didysis" [Vytautas the Great]. Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
19. Dundulis, Bronius. "Švitrigaila". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 19 March 2023. Buvo sumanęs vainikuotis karaliumi, bet sutrukdė 1430 Lenkijos ir Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės politinis konfliktas, virtęs karu
20. "Didžiausia istorinė Lietuvos tragedija: brolis leidosi į žygį prieš brolį" [The greatest historical tragedy of Lithuania: brother marched against brother]. lrytas.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 19 March 2023. Tuo pačiu metu Zigmantas Liuksemburgietis planavo atvykti į Prūsiją karūnuoti Švitrigailos.
21. Kosman 1989, p. 274.
22. Frost 2015, p. 185-186.
23. Frost 2015, p. 186.
24. "1440 06 29 Vilniaus katedroje atlikta Kazimiero Jogailaičio pakėlimo Lietuvos didžiuoju kunigaikščiu ceremonija". DELFI, Lithuanian Institute of History (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 19 March 2023. Nepaisant prie karalaičio buvusių lenkų ponų prieštaravimo, 1440 06 29 Kazimieras Jogailaitis Vilniaus katedroje buvo vainikuotas Lietuvos didžiuoju kunigaikščiu. (...) Šis lietuvių vienašališkai įvykdytas aktas rodė Gardine 1432 pasirašyto sąjungos akto sulaužymą. (...) Tuo būdu 1440 buvo nutraukta Lenkijos ir Lietuvos sąjunga.
25. Gudavičius, Edvardas. "Lietuvos feodalinės visuomenės ir jos valdymo sistemos genezė: 2 dalis" (PDF). Ministry of the Interior (Lithuania) (in Lithuanian). p. 8. Retrieved 19 March 2023. Kazimiero vainikavimas didžiuoju kunigaikščiu, Vilniaus vyskupui uždedant vadinamąją „Gedimino kepurę", manifestavo suverenią Lietuvos valstybė; tas pats Kazimieras vėliau pabrėždavo esąsas „laisvas ponas" (pan – dominus).
26. Frost 2015, p. 328-330.
27. Kosman 1989, p. 277w czapkę książęcą z perłami i kamieńmi drogimi osadzoną, także szatę zwykłą, jaką dziś kurfistowie rzescy przy koronacjej cesarskiej noszą
28. Kosman 1989, p. 276-277.
29. Frost 2015, p. 329-330.
30. Kosman 1989, p. 277-278.
31. Kosman 1989, p. 278aksamintu czerwonego w sfery złote kamieniami drogimi osadzoną
32. Kosman 1989, p. 279.
33. Kosman 1989, p. 279-280.
34. Kapleris, Ignas (2022). Iliustruota Lietuvos istorija. Nuo baltų, Lietuvos Karalystės, Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės iki Abiejų Tautų Respublikos (PDF) (in Lithuanian) (1 tome ed.). Vilnius: Briedis Press. p. 166. ISBN 9786094940033. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
35. Tyla, Antanas. "Elekcinis seimas" [Electoral Seimas]. Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 19 March 2023.

Bibliography

• Frost, Robert (2015). The Oxford History of Poland-Lithuania. The Making of the Polish-Lithuanian Union, 1385—1569. Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-820869-3.
• Kosman, Marceli (1989). ""Podniesienie" książąt litewskich" ["Elevation" of the Lithuanian princes]. Litwa pierwotna. Mity, legendy, fakty. pp. 244–282.
• Piech, Zenon (1987). "Mitra książęca w świetle przekazów ikonograficznych od czasów rozbicia dzielnicowego do końca epoki jagiellońskiej" [Ducal mitre in the light of iconographic records from the time of the fragmentation to the end of the Jagiellonian era]. Kwartalnik Historii Kultury Materialnej. 39 (1).