Antavas the Bloodaxe

Antavas the Bloodaxe was ruler of Lithuania between November 832AD and 866AD. As the third son of Antavas the Younger he was the third King of Lithuania and an intellectual King accredited with rapidly expanding Lithuania and defeating the Hungarian Kingdom of Ruthenia after several inconclusive conflicts between the Lithuanians and Hungarians.

Early Life and Succession Crisis
As the third son of Antavas the Younger Atnavas was never truly considered for succession. He was brought up by a relatively uninterested father who focused on educating his elder brothers Songalia and Erdenis who were considered the most likely heirs to the throne, both of whom were warriors and skilled fighters much to the satisfaction of their father. Antavas III by contrast was far more interested in education, learning history and adopting the skills of statecraft. As a child he firmly came to believe that the best way to rule was through good administration and effective organisation of the realm, something he criticised his father's failure to do during most of his reign. It was only after the death of his brother, Songalia, in 830AD that Antavas considered himself a possible claimant to the Lithuanian Throne. Antavas knew little about combat, warfare or the art of strategy, but in an effort to secure the throne for himself quickly began learning the tactics and lessons of strategists such as his Grandfather Antavas and other western warriors who's stories had been passed to the Lithuanians over the centuries. The Succession crisis of 830AD would be the first time Antavas was considered by his father as a possible contender to the throne, much to his father's distaste. His father wasted no time in discrediting his younger son's chance at ruling, aiming to ensure his second son Erdenis would inherit the throne instead. By 831 he had successfully convinced a majority of elders to vote for Erdenis over his son Antavas, however with his rapid decline in health and increasing unpopularity among his vassal chieftains after his defeat by the Hungarians in 826AD the vote soon swung back in favour of his third son Antavas. Antavas the Younger died in November of 832AD as a result of a brief and rapid decline in his health and Antavas III was eleceted by the Lithuanian Elders as his rightful heir. In the space of two years Antavas had gone from not even being considered for the crown to being elected. his brother Erdenis, disappointed by the loss of succession but content with his position as High Chief of Mazovia, would never question Antavas' right to rule and would die soon after during the 835 second Lithuanian invasion of Smolensk in battle.

King of Lithuania
Having successfully surpassed his brother for the crown...