The Union of Horodło or Pact of…
October 1413 CE
The Union of Horodło or Pact of Horodło is a set of three acts signed in the town of Horodło on October 2, 1413.
The first act is written by Jogaila, King of Poland, and Vytautas, Grand Duke of Lithuania.
The second and third acts are composed by the Lithuanian and Polish nobility (szlachta) respectively.
The union amendsthe earlier Polish–Lithuanian unions of Krewo and Vilnius–Radom.
Politically, Lithuania receives more autonomy as, after the death of Vytautas, the Lithuanian nobles can choose another Grand Duke instead of passing the title to Jogaila or his heir.
However, culturally, Lithuania and Poland grow closer.
Lithuania adopts Polish institutions of castellans and voivodes.
Catholic Lithuanian nobles and church officials are granted equal rights with the Polish nobles and clergy.
Forty-seven selected Lithuanian nobles are adopted by Polish families and granted Polish coats of arm.
Thus the union signifies the beginnings of Polonization of Lithuanian culture and the rise of the Lithuanian nobility.
It is one of the major steps towards the modernization and Europeanization of Lithuania.