ABSTRACT
In the course of the thirteenth century the Grand Duchy of Lithuania had annexed the Slav territory of Black Rus’, and extended its influence over the important region of Polotsk. Clearly, the level of Ruthenian involvement in the Grand Duchy’s effort on the German fronts rose with the progress of Lithuania’s eastern expansion. The Lithuanian eastern boundary, approximate and fluid though it was, stood nevertheless within 100 miles of Moscow, and provided a forward base from which an intricate system of alliances was woven around the territory of Grand Prince Dmitry Ivanovich. Parallel ecclesiastical negotiations with both the Papacy and the Ecumenical Patriarchate became a major and an almost continuous preoccupation of the Lithuanian chancery. Jogaila’s assessment of Moscow’s suitability as an ally would have involved a number of considerations. It was entirely in keeping with the established Lithuanian practice to deploy in the east a parallel initiative, aimed at generating tactical support for the Polish venture.
