Investigating the propaganda surrounding the grand duke, this study reveals that, in fact, there were two opposite images: that of a good ruler and that of a tyrant. The paradox is that frequently these opposites were based on the same features of the grand duke's character or episodes from his biography. The research is based on a wide array of written and visual sources as well as on records of oral tradition. Rich and diverse primary materials are analysed from the perspectives of political and social history, memorial culture, as well as iconography and rhetoric.

Giedre Mickunaite focuses on temporal dimensions of pictorial and verbal imagery. She explores structures of cultural legacy and regards oblivion as a vehicle in production of late medieval and early modern culture. Since 2003, Mickunaite teaches and carries art historical research at the Vilnius Academy of Arts in Lithuania.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS A NOTE ON PERSONAL AND GEOGRAPHIC NAMES INTRODUCTION THE LIFE AND DEEDS OF VYTAUTAS THE GREAT STRUCTURE AND METHOD SOURCES AND SCHOLARSHIP CHAPTER I. VYTAUTAS CREATING HIS OWN IMAGE THE EARLY YEARS The Troubled 1380s: A “Serpent in the Bosom” or a “Duke with Neither Men nor Lands” The Return The Second Flight RIGHT OF BLOOD Rex iustus, pacificus et christianissimus Stableman’s Grandson: the Development of the Origin Story Gediminas’ Worthy Successor ON THE GRAND DUCAL SEAT Give Way to the Duke! Receptions and Gifts The Parade of 1411 The Purple Throne of 1428 ON THE FIELD “And I Shall Sit in Moscow” The Fields of Grunwald WITHIN THE SYSTEM OF CHRISTIAN VALUES: FROM SARACEN TO A NEW MESSIAH False Christianity of Lithuanians The Perverse Saracen The New Apostle The Restorer of the Universal Church Embracing the Heresy The “Son of Man” THE VISUAL EXPRESSION OF LORDSHIP The Residence in Trakai - The Murals: Copies and Research - Tradition of Mural Painting - The Decoration of the Palace in Trakai Coins and Seals THE CHERISHED AND TROUBLED CROWN The 1390s: From “unsere König” to “König zu Littowen” The 1410 and 1420s: No Crown at the Right Moment 1429–1430: “One Bone for Two Dogs” The Fundamental Issue of Liberty A Crown for the King of Lithuania Acta volant, verba manent THE FINAL WORD OF PRAISE CHAPTER II. THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY: SHAPING OF THE IMAGE MEMORY AND MEMORIAL The Warrior's Grave Prayers for the Soul THE GOOD OLD TIMES OF VYTAUTAS IN LAW AND ANECDOTE JAN DLUGOSZ ON VYTAUTAS The Desirable Ruler The Distinguished Warrior The Perfidious Lithuanian Between Ambition and Virtue CHAPTER III. THE EARLY-MODERN IMAGE OF VYTAUTAS IN LITHUANIA AND IN POLAND Legal Evidence The Pater Patriae: Vytautas at the Grand Ducal Court The Hero’s Ensign The Public Display The Name of Vytautas as Political Argument Appeals to Rulers Stephan Bathory as a New Vytautas Popular Appeal Debating the Union and Rulership Historical Writings The Polish Perspective The Lithuanian Man of Virtue The Spirit of the Baroque Vytautas and the Magnates The Radvilas as Worthy Followers of Vytautas Exemplum docet Jesuit School Dramas The “Portraits” of Vytautas Vytautas in Popular Piety FOLKLORE TRADITION Popular Memory The Lithuanian Hero or the Son of a Vestal and a Knight The Everlasting Imprints of the Grand Duke’s Deeds The Traditions of Lithuanian Tatars, Karaites, and Jews A Brief History of the Lithuanian Tatars A Brief History of the Lithuanian Karaites The Unifying Military Virtues The Warrior Patron of the Tatars The Fairy Prince of the Karaites The Legislator for the Jews IN OTHER COUNTRIES Russia: Warrior of the Neighbors Western Europe: The Most Powerful Ruler or a Bloodthirsty Tyrant CHAPTER IV. IMAGE AND IMAGE MEMORY AND OBLIVION: MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN IMAGES COMPARED FOLLOWING THE PATTERNS OF KINGSHIP An Ideal Prince Roots and Fruits of Tyranny The Political Theory Terror in Practice Julius Caesar or Ivan the Terrible THE SENSE OF BYZANTIUM THE MAKING OF NATIONAL HERO PATHS NOT PURSUED St Vytautas of Lithuania? The Spirit of Adventure CONCLUSIONS SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY PRIMARY SOURCES Unpublished Materials Published Sources SECONDARY LITERATURE PICTURE CREDITS