Lithuanian-Moldovian political relations in the 14th and 15th centuries
ENBy the middle of the 14th century the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL) had become a large state which had its own interests in Southeastern Russia (Podolia, Volhynia) and therefore it was involved in political processes of the northern Black Sea region. By the same time Moldavia had only been establishing its statehood. Therefore one can trace political contacts between GDL and the Principality of Moldavia from the very beginning of the existence of Moldavia as a sovereign state1. Above‐mentioned region had been even more relevant for Lithuania during the reign of Vytautas the Great (1392‐1430), who had an intention to get entrenched near the Black Sea. After the death of Vytautas, in the 1430s internal struggle for the Lithuanian throne broke out. Pretenders to the Lithuanian throne treated Moldavian rulers as potential allies. In turn, GDL was important for Moldavia as a first‐rank regional power (in addition to Poland, Hungary, later Ottoman Empire and Muscovy) which was essential in the international relations of the region in the period from the middle of the 14th century to the end of the 15th century. Besides, GDL was especially useful as a counterbalance against Poland during those periods when Polish‐Lithuanian relations were not warm. Moldavia was tied to Poland from the end of the 14th century as a vassal state, thus Lithuania was a desirable partner when it was not connected to Poland by personal union, or even stronger. On the other hand, Muscovy had been becoming the most important factor in the foreign policy of Lithuania. The treaty of 1449 validated a balance between two rival states in the eastern Slavonic space. When Ivan III (1462‐1505) became a grand prince of Muscovy, he took initiative. Thus, at the end of the 15th century the full attention of Lithuanian rulers was focused on the East and the active policy in the Black Sea region was abandoned. [Extract, p. 9-10]
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