Erdvilas (Erdywił, Ердивил, Erdiwił, Erdwil) was one of the 21 early dukes of Lithuania who signed a treaty with Galicia–Volhynia in 1219.
[1] He was a son of Samogitian Duke Mantvila, who sent him to conquer Black Ruthenia.
Erdvilas established his capital in Navahradak, founded Hrodna, and helped to rebuild other cities plundered by the Tatars.
Refusing to pay tribute, Erdvilas gathered a large army, whose leader was Grumpis Gostautas,[2] and defeated the Tatars on the banks of the Dnieper River.
[1] Erdvilas would belong to the fifth generation of a noble family from the Roman Empire who settled in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and gave rise to the state.