Vytautas the Great

Vytautas the Great
Duke of Trakai
Seal of Vytautas, depicting him with Gediminas' Cap
Grand Duke of Lithuania
Reign4 August 1392  27 October 1430
Predecessor
SuccessorŠvitrigaila
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

Vytautas the Great (/vɪˈttəs/; c.1350  27 October 1430) was a ruler of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He was also the prince of Grodno (1370–1382), prince of Lutsk (1387–1389), and the postulated king of the Hussites.

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.