Grand Duke of Lithuania, and Elisabeth von region, too, would have come under the rule Habsburg. By the royal marriage, 6 sons and 7 of the Jagiellonians, beside Lithuania, Poland or 6 daughters, sisters and brothers of the Saint, and Czechia. However, at that time the op­ were given birth all in all. As to his education, position to the tight rule of the Hungarian The history of Lithuania is not short of we know that he, as well as his brothers, had king Mátyás Hunyadi turned to be too weak, individuals renowned for their holy lives, good education in the humanities, the knowl­ and the insufficiently prepared military march yet we only have one saint in Lithuania – an edge of warfare, and other knowledge necessary failed. After it, the Prince returned to his pre­ offspring of the Jagiellonian dynasty, Casimir. for a future ruler. Apart from the Polish, he vious occupations, yet the hard military and He has been respected as the patron of could speak the Latin and German languages. political experience seasoned and matured the th Lithuania ever since the early 16 century, From the accounts of his teacher Jan Długosz young Prince, whom we cannot since then when rumour of his holiness began to spread and other accounts we can judge that he was consider a child any more. (officially since 1636). In 1948, St Casimir the most gifted of all his brothers and people Casimir saw Lithuania and visited it more was announced the patron of the Lithuanian admired him for his talents. It was later em­ often after his father took him, already after youth all over the world. phasised both in chronicles and other sources studies and full-aged, together with his Normally Christian tradition accentuates that he was doctrinae eximiae, i.e. perfectly brother Jan Albrecht, to stay closer to him rather the saints’ birth for the sky, i.e. their educated. Since his early days he used to be with the purpose of developing them and death day, but it makes sense to recall that St The oldest image of St Casimir (a wood carving) accustomed to public life – at the age of ten, introducing to the duties of a ruler. This Casimir began his earthly life 550 years ago. printed in his first biography by Zaccaria Ferreri “Vita beati Casimiri confessoris…” (1521). The publication he delivered his first public speech in Polish. first happened at the end of 1474. Since These are distant times. At the time the future has been stored in the Library of Vilnius University He also delivered more of such speeches later, then Casimir kept visiting Lithuania almost Saint was born, as little as 61 years had passed mainly when meeting and receiving important every year. A break of two years occurred In that time’s sources Casimir is referred since Lithuania’s christening, which was per­ persons. The texts of two surviving speeches when due to an uncovered plot and other to as secundogenitus regis (“king’s second-born formed by his grandfather Jogaila. He is worth delivered in Latin in 1470 and 1472 illustrate public matters Casimir Jagiellon the father son”) and most often as princeps, i.e. “prince”. remembering both as an offspring of the rulers’ to us what they were. stayed longer in Lithuania and entrusted As his eldest brother Wladysław ascended the family with the fame of holiness left and as a real Casimir came to know very early not only his son Casimir with handling affairs in Czech throne, Casimir remained the first to historic personality. While the sources are not the conveniences of the royal environment, Poland. From 1481 to early 1483, the latter come into his father’s inheritance, first of all comprehensive, we can form quite an objective but also the dangers and difficulties of the demonstrated self-dependently already what the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It would be view of the pithy life of St Casimir. supreme power for which he was prepared. he had learnt, we would say, by right of vice­ appropriate to assume that the Lithuanians There obviously has existed until now an At the request of some Hungarian noblemen gerency administering the state, taking care related many expectations to Prince Casimir, opinion that Casimir was a prince of kind and, as it seemed, with a favourable turn in of the courts, execution of justice, finances, who spent the last years of his life in Vilnius, nature, whose main virtues included piety, circumstances, Casimir’s father sent his just the army, and demonstrating activity and and the neighbouring lands, too, saw a poten­ purity until death, and renunciation of earthly 13 years old son with an army to Hungary to impressive talents everywhere. Most familiar tially ideal ruler in his personality. He is also blessings. Both witness of contemporaries and reclaim the Crown which was due by heredity letters written on Casimir’s behalf (seven) characterised as a ruler – powerful, rightful, his post mortal remembrance also confirm a (by his mother’s line). In case of success Hun­ have survived from that period. and wise – in a surviving funeral sermon. number of other traits that won him love, gary – a huge central and eastern European What is important is that the last years of Casimir was born on 3 October 1458 in respect and wonderment of the contempora­ Prince Casimir elapsed in Lithuania, mainly ries, and made him a man who outgrew his Cracow, in Wawel Castle, into the family A monument of the Mature Baroque – St Casimir’s Chapel in Vilnius Cathedral. Architect Matteo Vilnius, in which he arrived in the spring epoch and caste. of Casimir Jagiellon, King of Poland and Castello, décor by Pietro Perti (the 17th c.) of 1483. There, he was actively involved in public and social life, his personality has left combined piety, activity of a public figure, 50 LITAS COIN DEDICATED TO THE the impression of saintliness and memory high position and honesty in his personality, Lithuanian unforgotten by his contemporaries and St Casimir realised the ideal of the life of a 550TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF ST CASIMIR future generations. There has also survived Christian ruler. This has also been witnessed Collectors some tangible evidence of this activity historically. Ferreri has also left a short, but (records made in May 1483 bear witness precious to us to-day description of his hand­ Coins to the fact that he took over into his hand some appearance. Silver Ag 925 the books of the late Vice-Chancellor of The ruler’s son was active until the end Quality proof Poland, in which entries of monetary in­ of his days. A deadly illness (supposedly, Diameter 38.61 mm flows and outflows were made). But most tuberculosis) only progressed during the last Weight 28.28 g importantly, knowledge of the last life span, months of his life and probably flared up The edge of the coin is plain related with Vilnius, formed the main ac­ suddenly, as before that Casimir had departed Designed by Giedrius Paulauskis For St Casimir, endowed cents on the biography of St Casimir, which from Vilnius to the Seimas in Poland. He did Mintage 5 000 pcs with every virtue, nothing Issue 2008 were recorded by his first biographer Zac­ not reach it, remained in Lithuania, and died was a greater concern caria Ferreri. He recorded after more than in Grodno Castle. Having been told the bad in his life than truth, three decades had elapsed since St Casimir’s news, his father Casimir Jagiellon hurried in justice and moderation death. Preparing material for the Prince’s there. St Casimir was buried in Vilnius Ca­ canonisation in 1520, the biographer ad­ thedral, beside other Lithuanian rulers. ditionally found in Vilnius and questioned After the death, the loss of the Prince who the witnesses who had known him. showed a good example of activity and of a The ruler’s son won renown not by the deeply religious life and was very promising luxury that surrounded him in his high posi­ in his exceptional talents obscured not only tion, which he avoided, but by his justice, his father’s life. The sources bear witness that firmness – in giving advice to his father, both Lithuania and the neighbouring lands piety – in praying at the door of the closed (Poland, Prussia), who associated their future Information is available at the Bank of Lithuania castle church, a cathedral, not only by day with the extraordinary youngster of the go­ Tel. +370 5 268 0316 but also by night, sympathy for the poor, verning dynasty, mourned for him. Fax +370 5 268 0314 widows, miserable and ill persons – simple It makes sense depicting a Vytis on the back www.lb.lt subordinates and townsfolk for whom, ac­ of the commemorative coin, and not only cording to Ferreri, he was not only a patron because it is the state emblem of Lithuania. but also a father, a son, a brother. The story goes that Casimir himself like The coin was minted at the Personal traits, ability to lead a highly a Vytis – a knight in shining armour on a UAB Lithuanian Mint spiritual life in a not always favourable for white horse – appeared near Polotsk in 1518 www.lithuanian-mint.lt that environment, self-control, abstinence and lead the troops of the Grand Duchy Lithuanian Collectors Coins in the face of luxury, and strenuous love of of Lithuania into a victorious battle for the your close were the traits important in those defence of his homeland. © Lietuvos bankas, 2008 Cover: The Church of St Casimir in Vilnius (the 17th c.) times as well as urgent nowadays. Having Dr Mintautas Čiurinskas The genealogical tree of the family of Casimir Jagiellon and Elisabeth von Habsburg printed in a book by Background: A window grill of the Vilnius Church of St Francis and St Bernardino (the 16th c.). National Museum of Lithuania Jonas Laskis. The publication has been stored in the Library of Vilnius University Photographs by A. Baltėnas and R. Ginaitis Published by the Bank of Lithuania, Gedimino pr. 6, LT-01103 Vilnius, Lithuania Printed by the UAB “Baltijos kopija” Kareiviø g. 13B, LT-09109 Vilnius, Lithuania