Maria of Vitebsk

Maria of Vitebsk was the first wife of Algirdas, future Grand Duke of Lithuania. Very little is known about her life. The only child of a Russian 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 gave birth to five sons, all of whom grew up while Algirdas was still only a regional duke in Slavic 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. After Maria's death, Algirdas married another Russian princess, Uliana of Tver. After Algirdas' death, the eldest sons of Maria and Uliana battled over succession rights.