For most of its existence, it was a constituent part and a nucleus of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

The formation emerged in the central and eastern part of present-day Lithuania, known as Aukštaitija, or the Lietuva Land (Lithuanian: Lietuvos žemė).

It is supposed to have formed in central Lithuania on the left bank of the Neris River and swiftly expanded eastwards.

The main administrative center of the Duchy until the late 13th century might have been Kernavė.

It is known for certain that the Duchy of Trakai existed as the domain of Kęstutis at the beginning of his rule in 1337.