The Union of Krewo (or Union of Krevo) was a a political and dynastic agreement between Queen Jadwiga of Poland and Grand Prince Jagiello of Lithuania and the beginning of the Polish-Lithuanian Union. The document was signed in the town of Krewo on August 14, 1385, and provided for the following:

• the marriage of Polish Queen Jadwiga and Lithuanian Grand Prince Jagiello
• the coronation of Jagiello as King of Poland (thereupon known as Wladislaus II or Władysław Jagiełło)
• the conversion of Grand Prince Jagiello and other leading Lithuanian nobles to Roman Catholicism
• the release of all Christian prisoners held by the Lithuanians
• the personal union of Lithuanian and Polish lands under the sovereignty of the rulers of Poland "for all eternity"

For some time, the Polish nobility had been dissatisfied with their dynastic connections with Hungary, and given shared interests such as opposition to the Teutonic Knights and the growing threat of Muscovy, leaders of both states felt a union between them would allow for greater strength in the face of external threats.

While Jagiello (King Wladislaus II) and Jadwiga ruled over both Poland and Lithuania, real power in the Grand Principality rested with Jagiello's cousin, Vytautas, who followed a generally independent policy there. Upon the death of Queen Jadwiga in 1399, Jagiello was left as sole ruler of Poland and the first of the Jagiellonian kings. His command over joint Polish-Lithuanian forces was crucial to the defeat of the Teutonic Knights at the Battle of Grunwald in 1410.

At that time, Jagiello also promised to incorporate Lithuania into Poland, but this was opposed by the majority of the Lithuanian nobility. The promise was realised more than four centuries later when, in 1791, the May Constitution of Poland finally declared that both states are one.

See also:

• List of Polish rulers
• List of szlachta
• Miedzymorze Federation
• Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
• Union of Lublin

External link:

• Full text of the Union (Polish language)

References

• Orest Subtelny. Ukraine: A History. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1988. ISBN 0-8020-5809-6.