The only joint ruler of Lithuania and Poland, buried in Lithuania, in the Vilnius Cathedral Basilica of St. Bishop Stanislaus and St. Wladyslaw, is Aleksandras Jogailaitis. The representative of the Gediminas-Jogailaitis dynasty of Lithuanian origin is an important figure in the history of Lithuania and Vilnius. Therefore, the Museum of the Royal Palace and patron Dr. Pranas Kiznis invited people to get to know and honor Aleksandras Jogailaitis better on February 2025, 26, when Alexander's name day is commemorated.
“Recently discovered in the crypts of Vilnius Cathedral, the burial insignia of Aleksandras Jogailaitis reminded us that the remains of the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland, Aleksandras Jogailaitis, rest in the mausoleum of the rulers of this main Catholic shrine in Lithuania. Today, we can be proud that we once again have the burial crown of this ruler, as well as a sword and other relics associated with the ruler,” says Dr. Vydas Dolinskas, Director General of the Palace Museum. “The goal of the museum is to provide everyone with the opportunity to learn more about this ruler who lived 500 years ago and ruled our land, leaving clear traces of his activities in Vilnius and other parts of Lithuania. By the way, Aleksandras Jogailaitis belonged to perhaps the most prominent generation of the Gediminas-Jogailaitis dynasty: Aleksandras’ brother was St. Casimir, whose relics are also kept in Vilnius Cathedral, and his other brothers – John Albert, Władysław, and Sigismund – had established themselves throughout Central Europe, ruling the kingdoms of Poland, Bohemia, Hungary, Croatia, and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. One of the brothers – Frederick – had become a cardinal.”
Another gift from a patron to the Royal Palace Museum
On February 26, the Royal Palace Museum will present a model of the monument to the Grand Duke of Lithuania (1492–1506) and King of Poland (1501–1506) Alexander Jagiellonian (1460–1506), created by Ukrainian artists Oles Sydoruk and Borys Krylov. This sculpture is a gift to the Royal Palace Museum from the patron of culture, industrialist Dr. Pranas Kiznys and the PK Foundation. The author's work of Ukrainian masters was created according to the 2024 Beautiful The monument to Aleksandrs Jagiellonians was erected.
“Before this assignment, we knew our common history of Lithuania and Ukraine more in general terms,” says sculptor Olesis Sydorukas about the creative process. “We started to delve deeper and felt a great sense of pride, because it was Aleksander Jogailaitis who appointed Prince Konstantin Ostrogski as the Grand Hetman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, who, having won the Battle of Orsha with the entire Lithuanian army, in Ukraine and today it is considered a symbol of our common victory over the Maskolis."
The sculpture will decorate the Gothic Guard of the Restored Historical Interiors of the Royal Palace. The hall, where visitors will now see the sculpture of the ruler, has been restored as a late Gothic-style hall from the time of Alexander Jogaila. Its cross vaults contain keystones depicting the heraldic symbols of Alexander Jogailaila, his parents – Casimir Jogaila and Elizabeth of Habsburg – and his wife, Grand Duchess Elena.
Ukrainian artists claim to have communicated extensively with historians, studied surviving descriptions of the ruler's appearance, and relied on images created by previous artists. In addition, the sculpture was specially adapted for the space of the Palace Museum - the Gothic Guardhouse, attention was paid to finer details, and the proportions of the sculpture's body were changed compared to the monument erected in Kaunas in 2024.
Aleksander Jagiellonian's legacy to Lithuania
Alexander was elected and elevated to the Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1492 at Vilnius Cathedral. The ceremony emphasized the independence of the Lithuanian state. Having become the ruler, Alexander undertook significant reforms: he reorganized the diplomatic service and the office, began to manage the state archive - the Lithuanian Metrica began to be regularly written, a system of seals was introduced, coinage was reorganized, and the structure of the estate officials was completed. Alexander especially supported the cities of Lithuania, granted and renewed the previous privileges of the rulers, and also initiated a census of the estates, conscript army, and estate income and expenses. Despite the heavy territorial losses in the wars with Moscow, this ruler also undertook reforms in the organization of the army - it was during Alexander's reign that the position of a permanent army commander - the hetman - and a new part of the army - the mercenary army - appeared.
The ruler's impressive gifts to the future Vilnius
The ruler paid much attention to Vilnius - by Alexander's decree, a defensive wall was built around the then city. It is believed that it was Alexander who, at the end of the 15th century, should have begun the reconstruction of the medieval walled castle in Vilnius' Lower Castle into a late Gothic-style residential palace. It was here that the ruler's main residence could have been moved from the Upper Castle, which became the center of the state's political and administrative life.
With his presence in Vilnius, Alexander attracted crowds of people, goods, craftsmen, artists, and diplomats. In the enlarged Vilnius manor of Alexander Jagiellonians, an orchestra was maintained, a treasury and a library were accumulated, and many artists and craftsmen worked. Continuing the traditions of his parents, Alexander supported Catholic churches and monasteries. It is believed that he built a late Gothic masterpiece in the capital, next to the Bernardine monastery founded by his parents, the Church of St. Anne, and planned to be buried here.
The nobles did not allow Alexander's remains to be taken out of Lithuania
The Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Alexander died on August 1506, 19 in Vilnius. Alexander's embalmed body was laid to rest in the Great Hall of the Vilnius Residence. Despite the ruler's wishes, the Lithuanian nobles did not allow Alexander's remains to be taken out of Lithuania, so his body was buried in Vilnius Cathedral, where it still rests today. He is the only joint ruler of Lithuania and Poland buried in Lithuania. Elžbieta Habsburgaitė and Barbora Radvilaitė, the wives of the ruler of Lithuania and Poland (1544/1548–1572) Sigismund Augustus, later laid to rest next to him in the Mausoleum of the Rulers of Vilnius Cathedral. Even earlier, other representatives of the ruling dynasty were buried in Vilnius Cathedral – Vytautas the Great (1392/1401–1430), his wives and brother Sigismund with his son, as well as the brothers of Jogaila (1377–1381, 1382/1386–1434).
The President of the Republic of Lithuania plans to attend the evening at the Palace Museum Gitanas Nauseda, patron Dr. Pranas Kiznis, Vice-Minister of Culture Dr. Ingrida Veliutė, sculptor Olesis Sydorukas, representatives of the Ukrainian Embassy, the mayors of Kaunas and Pasvalys, and Vilnius University Rector, historian Prof. Dr. Rimvydas Petrauskas will introduce the audience to the outstanding ruler in more detail – he will deliver a lecture “Aleksandr Jogailaitis: a sense of a new era”.
