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Mikołaj Radziwiłł the Black | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Mikołaj Radziwiłł the Black | |
| Born | 4 February 1515 |
| Died | 28 May 1565(1565-05-28) (aged 50) Vilnius, Grand Duchy of Lithuania |
| Resting place | Dubingiai, Lithuania |
| Spouse | Elżbieta Szydłowiecka |
| Children | with Elżbieta Szydłowiecka: Mikolaj Krzysztof Radziwiłł Elżbieta Radziwiłł Zofia Agnieszka Radziwiłł Anna Magdalena Radziwiłł Jerzy Radziwiłł Albrycht Radziwiłł [pl] Stanisław Pius Radziwiłł Krystyna Radziwiłł |
| Parent(s) | Jan Radziwiłł Anna Kiszka |
Mikołaj Krzysztof Radziwiłł (4 February 1515 – 28 May 1565), nicknamedthe Black (Polish:Czarny,Lithuanian:Juodasis), was aPolish-Lithuanian[2] noble who held several administrative positions within theGrand Duchy of Lithuania, including theVoivode of Vilnius, Grand LithuanianChancellor, and theGrand Hetman of Lithuania. He was alsoReichsfürst (Prince) of theHoly Roman Empire.
Alternate renditions of his name includeLithuanian:Mikalojus Radvila Juodasis,Belarusian:Мікалай Радзівіл Чорны, andLatin:Nicolaus Radvil. His first name is sometimes given in English as Nicholas.[1][3]
Mikołaj was able to gain much political influence thanks to the romance and then the marriage between his cousinBarbara Radziwiłł and the King of Poland and Grand Duke of LithuaniaSigismund II Augustus.[4] This made him one of the most powerful royal advisers. Mikołaj becameMarshal of Lithuania, Grand Chancellor of Lithuania, as well asPalatine of Vilnius, gained immense wealth and became the most powerful magnate in the Commonwealth of that time. The growing influence of theRadziwiłł family was further bolstered when, during adiplomatic mission toCharles V andFerdinand I, he and his cousin Mikołaj the Red received a hereditary title ofPrince (Reichsfürst (SRI)).[4]
He formed an alliance with his cousinMikołaj "the Red" Radziwiłł against other notable Lithuanian families in the rivalry for the dominant status in the Great Duchy of Lithuania. This alliance marked the formation of a dynastic-like cooperation between Radziwiłłs and showed how family interests could affectmagnates' relations with the state.[4] Both Radziwiłłs backed the cause of Lithuania'ssovereignty and opposed the growingPolish-Lithuanian union.[4]
Despite opposing close ties with Poland, he was the chief negotiator in the successful negotiation between theGrand Duchy of Lithuania and the state controlled by theLivonian Order, which led to thesecularisation ofLivonia and its union with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1562.[4]
Mikołaj contributed to the ongoingPolonisation of the Grand Duchy, influencing other Lithuanian nobles to follow him in adopting Polish culture – its fashion, customs and language.[4] Despite being a fervent opponent of the closer union with Poland, he was an active supporter ofPolish culture in Lithuania. He himself did not speak Lithuanian, his knowledge ofRuthenian was limited. Polish was his native language and the only one he was able to use fluently.[5][6]
He was known for his religious beliefs, as he was one of the most prominent converts and advocates of theReformed churches faith inGrand Duchy of Lithuania.[4] He provided financial support for the printing of the first completePolish translation of theBible in 1563 inBrest-Litovsk, distributed works written in defense of theReformed faith, financed a church and college in Vilnius, supported educated Protestants, and in various other ways fostered theCalvinist faith.[4] He is known to have exchanged letters withJohn Calvin and protected religious exiles fromItaly. Because Protestants supported usage of local languages, he is also believed to have funded Lithuanian churches and schools.[citation needed]
With the exception of his daughter Anna, all his children converted toRoman Catholicism and became ardent supporters of theCounter Reformation.[citation needed]
He is remembered by a statue in theBrest Millennium Monument.
