Andrei of Polotsk - Struggle Against Jogaila

Struggle Against Jogaila

After death of Algirdas in 1377, Andrei, as the eldest son, rivaled his half-brother Jogaila, whom Algirdas designated as his heir. Jogaila at the time enjoyed strong support from his uncle Kęstutis. Andrei organized anti-Lithuanian coalition with Polotsk, Grand Duchy of Moscow, and Livonian Order. In 1379 Moscow army attacked eastern lands of the Grand Duchy; Moscow and Lithuania were in peace since the Treaty of Lyubutsk in 1372. Andrei's brother Dymitr I Starszy did not defend Principality of Trubetsk and Starodub. Russian army did not remain in taken territories and retreated into Moscow; Andrei and Dymitr followed it. Jogaila signed a ten-year truce with the Teutonic Knights on September 29, 1379 and a truce with Livonian Order on February 27, 1380 thus fracturing the coalition. He further enlisted Mamai, Khan of the Golden Horde, and Oleg of Ryazan Principality as his allies against Andrei. In 1380 Andrei and Dymitr participated in the Battle of Kulikovo between Moscow and Tatars. Tatars were badly defeated when Jogaila's army did not arrive to the battlefield on time.

In 1381 Jogaila attempted to install his loyal brother Skirgaila in Polotsk, former domain of Andrei. As Skirgaila was laying a siege on the rebellious city, Kęstutis took the opportunity to start the Lithuanian Civil War against Jogaila and removed him from the throne. Polotsk voluntarily surrendered to Kęstutis, who reinstated Andrei. Sources do not mention him in 1381–1385. Possibly he was waiting in Polotsk for the feud between Jogaila and Kęstutis with his son Vytautas the Great to be sorted out. Jogaila and Vytautas reconciled in 1384. On October 10, 1385 Andrei signed a treaty with Livonian Order in which he surrendered to the Order in exchange for protection against Vytautas and other enemies. According to the treaty, Andrei became Order's vassal and received Polotsk as a feudal estate. When Jogaila traveled to Poland to discuss the Union of Krewo, Andrei took the opportunity to renew his war against Lithuania. In 1386 he attacked territories south east of Polotsk. His cause was helped by the Livonian Order, which attacked Duchy of Lithuania, and by Sviatoslav of Smolensk, who attacked Mstsislaw, taken from Principality of Smolensk by Algirdas.