Itinerarium wielkiego księcia litewskiego Witolda: 4/5 sierpnia 1392–27 października 1430

Abstract

The article presents the itinerary of Grand Duke Vytautas of Lithuania (1392–1430) on the basis of extensive source material, both published and unpublished, preserved in the archives and libraries of Belarus, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine; the relevant literature is also taken into account. The analysis of Vytautas’ itinerary against the background of the rulers’ travelling practice in the other countries of medieval Europe leads to the conclusion that no system of the ruler’s regular tours emerged in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, unlike in neighbouring Poland under Wladyslaw Jagiello. The grand duke of Lithuania spent most of his time in Lithuania proper and in Grodno land, leaving the core of the state for the outlying districts and foreign states in connection with specific tasks of home and foreign policy, such as strengthening his power, meetings with other rulers and war expeditions.