Columns of Gediminas (LithuanianGedimino Stulpai, PolishSłupy Giedymina) are one of the earliest symbols of Lithuania, one of its historical coats of arms, mostly used in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania initially as a state symbol and later as a part of heraldic signs of leading aristocracy, and in the prewar Lithuanian republic as a minor state symbol, e. g. on coins (see Litas).
Pillars of Gediminas
Originally, the symbol was used by Gediminas, Duke of Lithuania, as his personal symbol. It is most probably derived of a symbol used to mark the horses and other property. It was adopted by the descendants of Kęstutis as their family symbol, equivalent of a coat of arms. Until the times of Jogaila (Władysław Jagiełło), the symbol was also used on the other ancient symbol of Lithuania, the Vytis, as the symbol shown on the shield held by the knight. Although Jagiełło changed it to his personal symbol of a double cross, the Columns of Gediminas were in use in the following centuries. After the annexation of Lithuania by the Soviet Union the symbol was officially banned.
It is notable that the ancient pre-Christian symbols of Lithuania did not follow the same strict rules of heraldry as their western counterparts. Thus the symbol was used with different colours, ranging from or and argent to azure. Also, the shapes of the flags, banners and shields it was depicted on varied.
Gediminas disentangled himself from his difficulties by repudiating his former promises; by refusing to receive the papal legates who arrived at Riga in September 1323; and by dismissing the Franciscans from his territories.
While on his guard against his northern foes, Gediminas from 1316 to 1340 was aggrandizing himself at the expense of the numerous Slavonic principalities in the south and east, whose incessant conflicts with each other wrought the ruin of them all.
Gediminas died in the winter of 1341 in Veliuona of a wound received at the nearby siege of Bayersburg castle.
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