Chronicle of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Ruthenia and Samogitia

The Chronicle describes the history of the Lithuanian duchy from the mythical prince Palemon to Gediminas.

The chronicle is based on a legend about the descent of Lithuanian princes from the "Roman nobility" (patricians).

It contains oral traditions about historical events: battles with the Tatars, Gediminas' campaigns in Ukraine (southern Rus'), the Kievan Chronicle (KC) and Galician–Volhynian Chronicle (GVC), and others.

It exalts the heroic past of Lithuania, and denigrates former Kievan Rus'.

To justify the superiority of Lithuanians over Ruthenians, the antiquity and nobility of the former's origin, and their prominent role in the life of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania are emphasised.

Raczyński manuscript (late 16th century) of the Chronicle of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Ruthenia and Samogitia . Raczyński Library , Poznań .
1925 facsimile fragment of the Krasinski manuscript; the original was lost when the Krasiński Library was destroyed in October 1944 during the Destruction of Warsaw .
Belarusian/Lithuanian edition ( Kaunas 1925)