Žygimantas’s coup at Ašmena¶

What the chronicles say [Historical record]¶

In the night of 31 August to 1 September 1432 the Lithuanian lords, among them Jonas Goštautas, Petras Mangirdaitis and Semen Olshanski, backed Žygimantas Kęstutaitis and overthrew Švitrigaila at Ašmena. Švitrigaila escaped half-dressed to Polotsk; his pregnant wife was captured (Wikipedia, Lithuanian Civil War, 1432–38; VLE, Žygimantas Kęstutaitis). Most sources give 31 August, some 1 September.

Žygimantas’s coup at Ašmena


Type	event
Years	1432-08-31
Status	Historical record
Book	V · The Wolf’s Legacy
Note	Žygimantas stages a night coup against Švitrigaila at Ašmena on 31 August 1432.

Where: Ašmena (on the map)

What really happened [The saga’s invention]¶

Henė, holding Jogaila’s last stone, whispers to Žygimantas anyway. The coup takes place at the same inn and ford Kęstutis passed on his way to Krėva fifty years before; the residue is still in the road. Žygimantas asks the keeper to relight the flame for him, and the keeper refuses.

Consequences¶

Caused by the death of Vytautas. It leads to three events: Grodno, where the Poles swear him in, the battle of Ašmena in December, and Pabaiskas in 1435.

Dramatisation¶

Book V ch. 8 “Sąmokslas Trakuose” (Žygimantas, July 1432, Trakai), ch. 9 “Ašmenos Naktis” (Žiežirba, the night of 31 August, Ašmena).

Relations

Caused by: Truce of Czartorysk — Truce left Švitrigaila weakened; the lords turn on him. · Vytautas dies at Trakai; the Last Flame goes out

Causes: Battle of Ašmena: Žygimantas defeats Švitrigaila · Battle of Pabaiskas · Grodno: Žygimantas sworn Grand Duke before Oleśnicki (Jogaila absent)

Location: Ašmena

Participants: Jonas Goštautas · Švitrigaila · Žygimantas Kęstutaitis

Connections¶

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  ev_coup_1432["Žygimantas's coup at Ašmena"]
  ev_czartorysk_truce["Truce of Czartorysk"]
  ev_grodno_1432["Grodno: Žygimantas sworn Grand Duke before Oleśnicki (Jogaila absent)"]
  ev_pabaiskas["Battle of Pabaiskas"]
  ev_vytautas_dies["Vytautas dies at Trakai; the Last Flame goes out"]
  gostautas["Jonas Goštautas"]
  svitrigaila["Švitrigaila"]
  zygimantas["Žygimantas Kęstutaitis"]
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  ev_vytautas_dies -->|Causes| ev_coup_1432
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  svitrigaila -->|Took part in| ev_coup_1432
  ev_czartorysk_truce -->|Causes| ev_coup_1432
  gostautas -->|Took part in| ev_coup_1432
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