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Gediminas became Grand Duke (Didysis Kunigaikštis) of Lithuania in 1316 at the age of forty and died in 1341. He was a successful ruler who was able to extend the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania by mostly using diplomatic means. He moved the capital city to the newly built city of Trakai (now Senieji Trakai - Old Trakai) and in 1323 re-established a permanent capital in Vilnius (the capital of King ( karalius) Mindaugas, in Mindaugus time called Voruta ) which is the capital city of modern Lithuania now.
Gediminas wisely avoided war with the Khanate of the Golden Horde, a great regional power at the time, while expanding Lithuania's border towards the Black Sea. This effectively turned Lithuania in a regional power, protecting the Christian kingdoms in the west from attack by the Golden Horde.
After his death, Lithuania was left for his seven sons to rule. Two of them perished in battle. Jaunutis initially ruled Vilnius after the death of his father and was formally Grand Duke of Lithuania until his elder brothers Algirdas and Kestutis returned from military campaigns in Ruthenia and forced him to abdicate his throne in their favor.