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The term probably originated in Germany, where it was used to refer to the rulers of medieval Russian states.
The title Magnus Dux or Grand Duke (Didysis kunigaikštis in Lithuanian) was used by the rulers of Lithuania, and after Jagiello also became kings of PolandThe Republic of Poland a country in Central Europe, lies between Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, and the Baltic Sea, Lithuania and Russia (in the form of the Kaliningrad Oblast exclave) t and was later found among the titles used by kings of the Polish-Lithuanian CommonwealthThe Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (or The Republic of the Two Nations Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodow in Polish; Latin: Regnum Serenissima Poloniae; Belarusian: ) was a federal monarchy- republic formed by the Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1582Events January 15 Russia cedes Livonia and Estonia to Poland February 24 Pope Gregory XIII implements the Gregorian Calendar. In Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Spain October 4 of this year is followed directly by October 15, skipping over 10 days. Other cou king John III of SwedenJohan III Portrait by Johan Baptista van Uther (1582). Reign From September 29, 1568 until November 17, 1592 Coronation July 10, 1569 Royal motto "Deus protector noster"( God our protector ) Consorts Catherine of Poland Gunilla Bielke Royal House Vasa Dat added Grand Duke of FinlandGrand Duke of Finland (Suomen suuriruhtinas) was a title in use, sometimes sporadically, between 1584 and 1808. 1809-1917 it was the official title of the head of the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland. In 1584, King John III of Sweden, who had previously to the subsidiary titles of the Swedish kings, however without any factual consequences, FinlandSuomen TasavaltaRepubliken Finland ( In Detail) ( In Detail) National motto: None Official languages Finnish and Swedish Capital Helsinki President Tarja Halonen Prime minister Matti Vanhanen Area Total % water Ranked 64th 337,030 km² 9. 4% Population Tot already being a part of the Swedish realm. The Polish kings of the Swedish VasaThe Vasa Coat of Arms The House of Vasa was the Royal House of Sweden ( 1523- 1654) and of Poland ( 1587- 1668). Kings and Queens of Sweden Gustav I ( 1523- 1560) Eric XIV ( 1560- 1568) John III ( 1568- 1592) Sigismund I ( 1592- 1599) Charles IX ( 1599- 1 dynasty also used the grand ducal title for their non-Polish territory. After the Russian conquests, it continued to be used by the Russian Emperor in his role as ruler of Lithuania ( 1793- 1918) and of autonomous Finland ( 1809- 1917) as well. The Holy Roman Empire ruling house of Habsburg instituted a similar Grand Duchy in Transylvania in 1765.
Further, Grand Duke is the translated form of the title Megas Doux, infrequently used in the Byzantine Empire during the Palaeologian dynasty ( 1259- 1453).