# Mindaugas - Grand Duke, then King of Lithuania

URL: https://lithuania-history.com/rulers/mindaugas
Reign: 1236 - 1263
Born-Died: c. 1203 - 1263
Dynasty: Early Dukes
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindaugas

The first and only crowned King of Lithuania, Mindaugas unified the Baltic tribes into a single state through conquest, alliance, and ruthless political maneuvering. His 1253 coronation, arranged in exchange for a nominal conversion to Christianity, secured papal recognition and a brief truce with the Teutonic Knights. He was assassinated in 1263 by rival nobles, plunging the young state into a succession crisis.

## Succession
- Preceded by: [Baltic Tribes](https://lithuania-history.com/rulers/baltic-tribes)
- Succeeded by: [Treniota](https://lithuania-history.com/rulers/treniota)

## Timeline events during this reign
- 1236 - [Battle of Saule](https://lithuania-history.com/timeline/1236-battle-of-saule)
- 1236 - [Mindaugas emerges as dominant duke](https://lithuania-history.com/timeline/1236-mindaugas-emerges-as-dominant-duke)
- 1237 - [Livonian Order formed](https://lithuania-history.com/timeline/1237-livonian-order-formed)
- 1248 - [Internal war among Lithuanian dukes](https://lithuania-history.com/timeline/1248-internal-war-among-lithuanian-dukes)
- 1251 - [Mindaugas accepts baptism](https://lithuania-history.com/timeline/1251-mindaugas-accepts-baptism)
- 1251 - [Papal approval for Lithuania’s kingdom](https://lithuania-history.com/timeline/1251-papal-approval-for-lithuania-s-kingdom)
- 1253 - [Coronation of Mindaugas](https://lithuania-history.com/timeline/1253-coronation-of-mindaugas)
- 1253 - [Diocese of Lithuania established](https://lithuania-history.com/timeline/1253-diocese-of-lithuania-established)
- 1253 - [Samogitia ceded under pressure](https://lithuania-history.com/timeline/1253-samogitia-ceded-under-pressure)
- 1254 - [Alliance with Daniel of Galicia](https://lithuania-history.com/timeline/1254-alliance-with-daniel-of-galicia)
- 1255 - [Mindaugas’s son receives succession recognition](https://lithuania-history.com/timeline/1255-mindaugas-s-son-receives-succession-recognition)
- 1259 - [Battle of Skuodas](https://lithuania-history.com/timeline/1259-battle-of-skuodas)
- 1260 - [Battle of Durbe](https://lithuania-history.com/timeline/1260-battle-of-durbe)
- 1261 - [Mindaugas breaks with the Order](https://lithuania-history.com/timeline/1261-mindaugas-breaks-with-the-order)
- 1262 - [Campaigns against neighboring lands resume](https://lithuania-history.com/timeline/1262-campaigns-against-neighboring-lands-resume)
- 1263 - [Assassination of Mindaugas](https://lithuania-history.com/timeline/1263-assassination-of-mindaugas)
- 1263 - [Treniota takes power](https://lithuania-history.com/timeline/1263-treniota-takes-power)
- 1263 - [Collapse of the Christian kingdom](https://lithuania-history.com/timeline/1263-collapse-of-the-christian-kingdom)