1294 m. Trojanovo mūšis

ENThe reign of Vytenis, just like the second half of the thirteenth century and the beginning of the fourteenth century, was not characterised by great conflicts with the dukes of Polish lands; they ended in 1306, and only recommenced during the reign of Gediminas when the political situation changed. Vytenis (who ruled from 1295 to 1315), the son of the Great Duke Butvydas, began his political career by attacking the Polish lands in particular. During one of the first marches, he was faced with a large Polish army. This military confrontation in 1294 was known by the name of Trojanow, and had a resonant echo in historical sources. It was one of the three (Trojanow, Turaida, Voplaukis) greatest battles of the period of Vytenis. The echo of sources was inspired by the death of Duke Casimir II of Leczyca (the brother of the future King of Poland Vladislav Lokytek) on the battlefield. There is a hypothesis that the primary direction of the march of Vytenis was the Kulmer land of the Teutonic order seeking to devastate it. However, when the spies of the crusaders revealed his intentions, the forces of Vytenis turned to the Polish Leczyca land through Mazovia, the holdings of Boleslov II, who at that time supported the Lithuanian forces and allowed the use of Wizna castle. Pentecost was a convenient time to strike an unexpected blow. Two versions of the Vytenis march were provided in the Polish historiography with the essential difference being the place where he crossed the Vistula (Wisla) River (near Visegrad or Zakroczym). In 1294, on Pentecost (June 6–7), the forces led by Vytenis invaded the Duchy of Leczyca and devastated it. Duke Casimir II of Leczyca with large armed forces caught up with the retreating army of Vytenis near the Bzura River, in the surroundings of Trojanow and Zhukov.Due to the intervention of Duke Boleslaw II of Mazovia, the regrouping of Vytenis’ armed forces took place between the two opponents, which allowed them to better their attack position. On the 9th or 10th of April 1294, the Lithuanians ended the truce and launched an unexpected attack on the unprepared soldiers of Casimir II. This was the battle that occurred at Trojanow. Based on historical hypotheses, it took place at night, in the surroundings of marshes and forests, on the right bank of the Bzura. The forces of Vytenis defeated the troops of Casimir II. According to sources, only one Polish soldier survived. In historiography, this confrontation is assessed as the biggest defeat of the Polish army by the Lithuanian armed forces. [From the publication]