King of Lithuania
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King of Lithuania was the title of the ruler of Lithuania. There was a King Mindaugas who founded the Lithuanian state; his successors, however, were known as Grand Dukes, as at the time Lithuania was a pagan state and in Europe at the time the title of "king" was reserved for Christians. Despite this, some people considers all the rulers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania as kings, since at some places they are referred to in Latin as "rex" (king), and because they it is now common to consider various non-Christian (e.g. Asian) rulers, to be kings. There were attempts by Vytautas to be granted the title of King, but it did not succeeded as the Polish noblemen seized his royal crown as it was being brought to him. At this time, Lithuania had already adopted Christianity.
The second king of Lithuania was crowned in the 20th century, when in the latter part of World War I Lithuania was occupied by Germany and tried to achieve independence. Lithuanians decided to crown a German noble as king Mindaugas II and hoped this would encourage Germany to more quickly recognize Lithuanian independence. However, Germany lost the war, and Lithuania became independent as a republic. Thus, the rule of Mindaugas II was very brief.
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