Janusz Radziwiłł (1579-1620)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Janusz (VI.) Radziwiłł (called the Elder) ( lit.Jonušas Radvila ) (* July 2, 1579 in Vilnius , † December 3, 1620 in Czarlin ) was a Lithuanian magnate , held various offices in Poland-Lithuania and was one the leader of the Zebrzydowski rebellion against King Sigismund III. Wasa .

Janusz Radziwill

family

He was the son of Krzysztof Mikołaj Radziwiłł from his marriage to Katarzyna Ostrogska.

Elisabeth Sophie of Brandenburg

In 1600 he married Zofia Olelkowicz Słucka . In a second marriage he married Elisabeth Sophie von Brandenburg in Berlin , a daughter of Elector Johann Georg . Radziwiłł bought the Lichtenberg estate in Upper Franconia from Christoph von Waldenfels for her as a treasure for 100,000 guilders . The marriage resulted in four children including the son and heir Boguslaw . After his death, Elisabeth married Sophie Julius Heinrich Duke of Saxony-Lauenburg . She sold the Lichtenberg estate to her brother Christian von Brandenburg-Bayreuth .

Life

Among other things, he was Duke of Birze. He carried the hereditary title of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire . He was Podczaszy ( cupbearer ) of Lithuania since 1599. He was castellan of Vilnius since 1619. He was also Starost of Borysów and Crown General of Lithuania.

Like his father, he was a supporter of the Calvinist denomination and an opponent of the Counter Reformation . When the attack on Calvinist houses in Vilnius in 1611 took him so much that he became ill.

After the death of his first wife, her large property consisting of seven castles and palaces and numerous villages passed to him. The principality of Slutsk was about 30 miles long and wide and one of the most extensive feudal territories in the state. Slutsk itself had 8,000 inhabitants at the time, making it one of the largest towns in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania . The area was a stronghold of the Orthodox Church in Poland-Lithuania. Their position against Catholicism was protected by the Calvinist Radziwiłł. The Jewish population was also protected, but not the supporters of the United Church. In 1617 Radziwiłł had a Calvinist school and seminary built in Sluck.

Like his father, Radziwiłł took part in the war against the Swedes in Livonia . In political terms, the conflict between the Radziwiłł family and the Polish-Lithuanian state intensified. The family tried to increase their influence and wealth regardless of the interests of the state. Because he felt that the state would not reward his military efforts sufficiently materially, he entered into opposition to King Sigismund III. Wasa. However, the disadvantage due to his Calvinist faith by the Catholic king also played a role.

His critical attitude was widespread among the high nobility. The self-interests of the nobility, which refused to strengthen royal power, combined with concerns about the counter-Reformation course of Sigismund III. Wasa. It was about preventing a hereditary monarchy, additional taxes and the creation of a standing army. There was an open uprising ( Rokosz ) under the leadership of Mikołaj Zebrzydowski (Zebrzydowski Rebellion) from 1606 . Janusz Radziwiłł joined the movement and became one of its leaders. The rest of the people involved chose him to be their marshal. The only significant battle near Guzów was lost by the insurgents. However, Radziwiłł's troops in Lithuania remained intact. They received general amnesty in 1609, but they were successful because the king stopped all reform efforts and thus the power of the nobility was strengthened. After the end of the rebellion, Radziwiłł withdrew from the political conflicts and went abroad for some time.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Chr. Von Stramberg. The banks of the Rhine from Coblenz to Bonn. Historically and topographically. Vol. 1 Koblenz, 1853 p. 338
  2. ^ Mathias Niendorf: The Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Studies on nation building in the early modern period. Wiesbaden, 2006 p. 139
  3. ^ Mathias Niendorf: The Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Studies on nation building in the early modern period. Wiesbaden, 2006 p. 133f.
  4. ↑ Karin Friedrich; Barbara M Pendzich: Citizenship and identity in a multinational commonwealth: Poland-Lithuania in context, 1550–1772. Leiden, 2009 p. 110
  5. ^ Manfred Alexander: Small history of Poland. Bonn, 2005 p. 116
  6. ^ Norman Davies: God's playground. A history of Poland. Vol. 1, Oxford, 2005 p. 261
  7. ^ Norman Davies: God's playground. A history of Poland. Vol. 1, Oxford, 2005 p. 262
  8. ^ Manfred Alexander: Small history of Poland. Bonn, 2005 p. 116

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Radziwiłł, Janusz
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Radziwiłł, Janusz VI. (Full name); Radvila, Jonušas
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Lithuanian magnate
DATE OF BIRTH July 2, 1579
PLACE OF BIRTH Vilnius
DATE OF DEATH December 3, 1620
Place of death Czarlin