The Union of Horodło granted Lithuania greater political autonomy and began its cultural Polonization by integrating Polish noble institutions and heraldry.
Key Facts
- Date signed
- 2 October 1413
- Number of acts
- 3
- Lithuanian nobles adopted
- 47 nobles
- Amended earlier unions
- Krewo and Vilnius–Radom
- Key institutional adoption
- Polish castellans and voivodes
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Existing Polish–Lithuanian unions, particularly those of Krewo and Vilnius–Radom, required revision to balance the growing demands of Lithuanian nobles for greater autonomy and political recognition while preserving the dynastic and strategic alliance between the two states under Władysław II Jagiełło and Vytautas.
Three acts were signed at Horodło on 2 October 1413. The first was concluded between King Władysław II Jagiełło and Grand Duke Vytautas. The second and third were composed by the Polish szlachta and Lithuanian boyars. The union granted Lithuania the right to elect its own Grand Duke after Vytautas's death and extended equal rights to Catholic Lithuanian nobles and clergy alongside their Polish counterparts.
Lithuania gained meaningful political autonomy and the ability to choose future Grand Dukes independently. Culturally, the adoption of Polish coats of arms by 47 Lithuanian noble families and the introduction of Polish administrative institutions accelerated the Polonization of Lithuanian culture and elevated the Lithuanian nobility, marking a key step toward Lithuania's integration into broader European political structures.
Political Outcome
Lithuania received greater autonomy and the right to elect its own Grand Duke; Catholic Lithuanian nobles were granted equal rights with Polish nobles; Polish heraldic and administrative institutions were adopted in Lithuania.
Lithuania bound closely to Polish dynastic succession under the unions of Krewo and Vilnius–Radom, with limited noble autonomy.
Lithuania gained the right to elect its own Grand Duke and its Catholic nobles received equal standing with Polish nobility, increasing internal autonomy while deepening cultural ties with Poland.