thumb|150px|Skirgaila, 16th century imaginative portrait
thumb|150px|[[Trakai Island Castle. For ten years Skirgaila was Duke of Trakai.]]
thumb|150px|Document with attached Seal of Skirgaila (18 June 1387)
thumb|150px|Seal of Skirgaila, 1382
Skirgaila, also known as Ivan/Iwan ( or 1354 – 11 January 1397), was a regent of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania for his brother Jogaila from 1386 to 1392. He was the son of Algirdas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, and his second wife Uliana of Tver.
Biography
Raised according to beliefs of Baltic religion, Skirgaila converted to Orthodox Christianity after his father's death in 1377.
When Algirdas's chosen heir Jogaila became the Grand Duke of Lithuania, it is believed that the dynastic disputes that soon erupted between him and his uncle Kęstutis and his cousin Vytautas the Great, were largely inspired by Skirgaila. It is known about his travels to the Teutonic Knights in 1379 just a year prior to the controversial Treaty of Dovydiškės. Skirgaila was the chief supporter of his brother Jogaila and helped him to imprison both Kęstutis and Vytautas in Kreva castle during the Lithuanian Civil War (1381–1384). Some historians speculate that Kęstutis' death after a week in prison was in fact assassination carried out by Skirgaila. As a reward for a job well done, Skirgaila received the Duchy of Trakai.
When Jogaila was preparing for the Union of Kreva, Skirgaila was actively involved in the negotiations and even headed a diplomatic mission to Poland. The negotiations succeeded and Jogaila married Jadwiga of Poland and was crowned as King of Poland in 1386. He appointed Skirgaila on 13 March 1386 as governor in Lithuania, not only on his behalf but also on behalf of queen Jadwiga and Polish Crown.
As ruler of Lithuania, Skirgaila had to deal with his oldest brother Andrei, who still was refusing to accept Jogaila as a Grand Duke. First he defeated Andrei's ally Sviatoslav II of Smolensk at the battle of the Vikhra River near Mstislavl on 29 April 1386, during which Sviatoslav lost his life. Sviatoslav son Yury of Smolensk was forced to accept Lithuanian suzerainty in exchange of princely throne. Later Skirgaila attacked Polotsk; his first expedition in October was unsuccessful, but the next on March 1387 resulted in Andrei's capture and death of his son Simeon, who was killed in a battle. Next month Skirgaila was invested in Polotsk and once again pledged his loyalty to Jogaila, Jadwiga and Polish Crown, promising return of his land in case of his heirless death.
See also
- Gediminids
- List of heads of state of Lithuania