The Union of Gorodel is an agreement that regulated relations between the countries of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (ON). It was concluded by the Lithuanian prince Vitovt and the Polish king Jagiello on October 2, 1413 in the city of Horodlo, which was located on the Bug River (today the territory of Poland). In order to determine the true causes of the Union of Horodel, it is necessary to look at the beginning of relations between these states and their further development.
Krevo Union
In 1835, the Union of Kreva was concluded between Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the castle of Kreva. According to this document, the Lithuanian prince Jagiello was proclaimed Polish, while he married the Polish queen Jadwiga. This agreement made it possible to stop conflicts and the struggle between countries for the southwestern Russian territories. The document also served to expand the land to the shores of the Black Sea.
Battle on the Vorskla River
The subsequent convergence of states wasforced. In 1399 Grand Duke Vytautas was the head of a strong state. He provided patronage to the Tatar Khan Tokhtamysh. The Lithuanian prince helped him in the struggle for power in the Golden Horde. Khan turned to him for military assistance, and in return promised to give Vitovt labels (contracts issued by the Crimean Khan, allowing to collect tribute in this territory) to Moscow. The sovereign of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania accepted the offer and in 1399 went on a campaign against the Tatar army. On the banks of the Vorskla River in August 1399, a battle took place between two armies.
The army of the Principality of Lithuania was defeated, but Vytautas miraculously survived. He managed to get to Kyiv and take refuge in the walls of the city. However, the battle greatly undermined the military forces of the state. For the principality, the battle played a sad role: lands were lost, and attacks began on the territory of Lithuania from the Teutonic Order and Prince Oleg. The robberies and raids of enemy countries led to the fact that Prince Vitovt was again forced to sign a union with the Kingdom of Poland.
Vilna-Radom union
This document was concluded in January 1401 between the sovereigns in the city of Vilna. He clarified the conditions that were presented in the first, Krevas union. Forty seals of the magnates (boyars, bishops and princes) of the Lithuanian principality were attached to it. According to this act, Vytautas was a vassal of the supreme ruler of Lithuania. At the same time, Jagiello gave the right to the Lithuanian prince to own his state until death and recognized him as the Grand Duke of Lithuania. After the deathVytautas, the entire territory of the state should go under the rule of Jagiello or his successors. A few months later, in March, the Polish magnates also signed the union in Radom. In this connection, the agreement was called the Vilnius-Radom Union.
Obligations of the parties
The military-political union provided mutual assistance to countries in the attack on one of them by the Teutonic Order. In addition, the representative of the Polish authorities undertook not to choose a new king (at the death of Jagiello) without agreeing this with the magnates of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. One of the clauses stipulated that the Principality of Lithuania did not lose sovereignty, and Vytautas remained its rulers for life. However, he was deprived of the right to transfer the throne to his heirs. Poland insisted on collecting tribute from Lithuania, but this provision was not included in the document.
In defense of the GDL, Jagiello turned to Pope Boniface IX and got him to sign a bull that forbade the Teutonic Order from organizing campaigns against the Principality of Lithuania.
Changing political roles
One of the main events that influenced the relations of the two countries with each other, as well as the political arena of Europe, was the Battle of Grunwald, which took place in 1410. It became the reason for the growth of influence and power of the Principality of Lithuania. The battle allowed the country to emerge as a strong power among the existing countries. The army of the Teutonic Order was completely destroyed as a result of this battle, and many commanders were killed thanks to the joint efforts of Poland and Lithuania.
SigningUnion of Horodel
This whole chain of relationships, which lasted for 30 years, eventually led to the signing of the Union of Horodello between the states. It was signed on October 2, 1413. The meeting of the heads of state took place in the village of Gorodlya, which was located on the Western Bug. This document annulled the conditions of the Union of Kreva, but at the same time new requirements were put forward, which also caused discontent among the inhabitants of the Principality of Lithuania.
The essence of the document
The signed document confirmed the union of the two states and the promise of mutual assistance in the event of an attack by an enemy country. At the same time, each of them had sovereignty. The union de alt with the recognition of the independence of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. For the first time, it was clearly indicated that in the event of the death of Prince Vitovt, the state would not cease to exist. The title of the Grand Duke of Lithuania can now be inherited. This automatically canceled the provisions of the Vilna-Radom Union. However, the ruler could not be chosen without the consent of the magnates of Poland. And the Poles promised in return not to choose a new king after the death of Jagiello, without presenting a candidate to the Lithuanian prince in advance.
Gorodelsky Privilege
The Union of Gorodel in 1413 consisted of three parts (the latter was written in two copies - for each ruler - it spoke about the choice of rulers in the states). The other two parts made up the Gorodelsky privilege. According to the first act of the document, the Polish magnates allowed the Lithuanian princes to usecertain emblems. In view of what they were also transferred the privileged rights of the Polish gentry. In response, the Lithuanian princes also exchanged coats of arms with the Polish magnates. These acts were applicable only to Catholics. All this contributed to a greater rapprochement between Poland and the ON.
Restriction of Orthodox rights
Members of the elite, Catholics who exchanged coats of arms could be elected to public office. They were allowed to freely use the property within the limits of their possessions. They also received certain benefits or other assistance from the state. These actions severely limited the rights of the Orthodox. They were not allowed to participate in the grand ducal council. Paragraph 9 of the Union of Horodel explained it this way: "difference in faith produces a difference in opinion."
Territorial changes
The signing of the Vilna-Radom Union and the Horodel Privilege had a number of consequences. One of them concerned the change of territories. The administrative reform was one of the first after the adoption of the treaty. In the principality of Lithuania, the land was divided according to the same principle as in Poland: the Vilna and Trok voivodeships. The history of Belarus was not affected by the Union of Gorodel. Vitebsk, Smolensk, Polotsk lands remained autonomous territories in the state.
On the ground, new positions of managers were determined, who could only profess Catholicism. In other parts of the state, the governors of the prince continued to rule. They ruledsubject to the territories according to the principle: do not destroy the old, do not introduce the new.
Changing the hierarchy
In connection with the Union of Horodel, the causes and consequences of which have become the subject of our review, the hierarchical ladders have also changed. The old rich Orthodox families were relegated to the background. In their place came the new Catholic magnates, on whom Vytautas relied. It was they who occupied the leading positions of the governor. Now the gentry determined the political life of the country, and representatives of the Gedeminoviches and other ancient noble families were deprived of such an opportunity.
Ambiguous consequences
Gorodel union had two consequences. On the one hand, Lithuania strengthened its independence from Poland, found a proven ally to counter the aggression of neighboring countries, and canceled the conditions of the Union of Krevo. On the other hand, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was divided according to the principle of religiosity. Catholics occupied leading positions in the country, and the Orthodox could not influence political power. As a result, the number of dissatisfied with the current system grew.
