Maria of Vitebsk (died before 1349) was the first wife of Algirdas, future Grand Duke of Lithuania (marriage took place around 1318).

Very little is known about her life. The only child of a Ruthenian prince Yaroslav, Maria was the only heir to the Principality of Vitebsk. After her father's death ca. 1345, Vitebsk fell permanently under control of Algirdas and other Gediminids.

Maria of Vitebsk

Maria gave birth to five sons, all of whom grew up while Algirdas was still only a regional duke in Christianized lands of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. All five sons were baptized in Orthodox rite and ruled Russian lands giving rise to prominent clans of Russian dukes (Trubetskoy family from Demetrius I Starshy, Czartoryski family from Constantine, Sanguszko family from Fiodor, Belsky and Olelkovich families from Vladimir).

Maria of Vitebsk

After Maria's death, Algirdas married Suzdalian princess Uliana of Tver. After Algirdas' death, the eldest sons of Maria and Uliana battled over succession rights.

Maria of Vitebsk

See also

Family of Algirdas

References

1340s deaths

People from Vitebsk

Grand Duchesses of Lithuania

Year of birth unknown

14th-century Lithuanian people

14th-century Lithuanian women

Ruthenian nobility