Published: 20250221
On 26 February 2025, the National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania will unveil a model of the monument dedicated to Alexander Jagiellon, Grand Duke of Lithuania (1492–1506) and King of Poland (1501–1506). The sculpture, created by renowned Ukrainian artists Oles Sydoruk and Borys Krylov, is a generous gift from cultural patron and industrialist Dr Pranas Kiznis and the "PK Fund" to the museum. Based on the monument to Alexander Jagiellon erected in Kaunas in 2024, the sculpture was crafted in Kyiv and will now adorn the museum’s Gothic Hall. This hall has been restored in the late Gothic style of Alexander Jagiellon’s era, featuring keystones displaying the heraldic symbols of Alexander, his parents – Casimir Jagiellon (1440/1447–1492) and Elizabeth of Austria – and his wife, Grand Duchess Elena.
Alexander Jagiellon was one of the most distinguished rulers of the Gediminid-Jagiellonian dynasty, making a significant contribution to the development of the Lithuanian state and its capital. In 1492, he was elected and inaugurated as Grand Duke of Lithuania in a ceremony at Vilnius Cathedral. This event confirmed Lithuania’s separate rule from Poland and served as a powerful symbolic act reinforcing Lithuania’s political identity and sovereignty.
During his reign, Alexander reformed the diplomatic service and chancery, established a systematic record-keeping system – the Lithuanian Metrica – introduced a seal system, reorganised coin minting, and structured court officials. He actively supported Lithuanian cities, granting and renewing privileges, and initiated land surveys, military conscriptions, and financial records for state revenues and expenditures. Despite significant territorial losses, he implemented military reforms, introducing the permanent position of Hetman as commander-in-chief and establishing a standing army.
Alexander paid special attention to Vilnius, planning its fortification with defensive walls and strengthening its castles. He frequently resided in Vilnius, emphasising its status as the capital. It is believed that at the end of the 15th century, he transformed the medieval Lower Castle into a late Gothic palace, possibly relocating the Grand Duke’s primary residence from the Upper Castle. His court was a vibrant center of culture and the arts, hosting musicians, accumulating treasures and a library, and employing numerous artists and artisans. Continuing his family’s traditions, Alexander also supported Catholic churches and monasteries. It is believed that he commissioned the late Gothic masterpiece, St Anne’s Church, next to the Bernardine Monastery founded by his parents, where he had intended to be buried.
Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Alexander Jagiellon died on 19 August 1506 in Vilnius. His embalmed body was laid in state in the grand hall of his residence. Lithuanian nobles refused to allow his remains to be transported out of Lithuania, and he was ultimately buried in Vilnius Cathedral, where he rests to this day. He remains the only ruler of both Lithuania and Poland to be interred in Lithuania.
Although his reign was relatively short, Alexander’s rule significantly advanced the Lithuanian state and its capital. This sculpture serves as a lasting tribute to one of Lithuania’s most prominent rulers. It is not the first time that cultural patron Dr Pranas Kiznis has contributed to honouring Lithuania’s rulers at the museum. In 2020, Dr Kiznis and the Vytis Support Fund donated a bronze bust of Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Sigismund Augustus (1544/1548–1572), also created by the same Ukrainian artists. Previously, Dr Kiznis had also deposited the Warrior of Freedom sculpture at the museum and adorned its halls with valuable 14th–17th-century European paintings.
