The period between 1281/1282 (Traidenis's death) and…

The period between 1281/1282 (Traidenis's death) and 1289 (rule of Butegeidis) is one of the most poorly documented periods in the history of Lithuania.

The only recorded information about the Grand Duke of Lithuania during this time is a short note from 1285.

Seven Russian chronicles—Laurentian, Simeon, Typographical, Nikon, Resurrection, Avraamki, Yermolin—record the same brief story that in March or August 1285 Lithuanians, led by Grand Duke Daumantas, attacked the domain of Simeon, Bishop of Tver.

In particular, the Lithuanians attacked the Oleshnya volost of the Principality of Tver.

The location of the Oleshnya volost is unknown, but historians have identified three possibilities – Vladimir Borzakovskiy argued for the village of Aleshevo in Zubtsov uyezd, Vladimir Kuchkin argued for the area between the Sheshma and Vazuza Rivers, local historian Leletsky argued for area around the Aleshnya River, tributary oft he Gzhat River.

A day before the feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus (August 6), the Lithuanian army is defeated by united forces of Tver, Moscow, Volokolamsk, Torzhok, Dmitrov, Zubtsov, and Rzhev.

Four chronicles mention that Daumantas was taken into captivity, while others say he was killed.

That is all the information that is available about Daumantas.

The reason for Daumantas' invasion of Tver is not known.

Chronicles also record another raid by the Lithuanians to Novgorod Republic in winter 1285, but it is possible that the dates were mixed up and the raid took place before Daumantas' invasion.

These two raids into Russian lands indicate a new direction in Lithuanian interests as Traidenis had concentrated on the Livonian Order, Black Ruthenia, and Galicia–Volhynia.

Historians attempted to place the two raids in the context of sibling rivalry in Novgorod between Dmitry and Andrei, sons of Alexander Nevsky, or succession in Tver by fourteen-year old Mikhail of Tver, but no definite conclusions can be made due to lack of written sources.