Radziwiłł Totally Explained

Everything about Radziwi totally explained

Radziwiłł or Radvilas (; ; ; ) is a family of high nobility which has been powerful and important for centuries, first in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and later in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Radziwiłł family received the title of Reichsfürst (Prince, , ) from the Holy Roman Empire.

Coat of arms and motto

Family motto: The Lord is Our Counsel (Polish: Bóg nam radzi, Belarusian: Бог нам раіць, Boh nam rajić),

History

Recent research suggests that the Radziwill family descended from Lithuanian bajorai-ducal courtiers, lesser nobility, who advanced considerably in the 15th century. They are descendants from old Lithuanian Astikai family, that had possessions near Kernavė. Radziwiłł family's known ancestor has been a Lithuanian noble Radvila Astikas. His father Kristinas Astikas was the first to receive Trąby Coat of Arms after the Union of Horodlo in 1413, which became the coat of arms of the family. The first person to use Radvila as a family name was a son of Radvila Astikas, Mikalojus Radvila, whose sons became the progenitors of the three known Radziwiłł family lines.
   In Polish, the name has been spelled Radziwiłł now for several centuries, but it originally comes from the Lithuanian name, spelled in, plural Radvilos. The name is spelled in (plural Радзівілы, Radziviły).
   The Radziwiłł family kept its importance and szlachtarial status for over five centuries. They acquired and maintained great wealth and influence from 15th century-16th century until the beginning of Second World War in 1939. The family has produced many outstanding politicians, military commanders, clergymen, cultural benefactors and entrepreneurs who left a significant mark on Polish, Belarusian, Lithuanian and European history and culture.
   A branch of Radvila Astikas' descendants became powerful magnates and their name is remembered as one of the most famous magnate families in Grand Duchy of Lithuania (later, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth). The Radziwiłł family reached the heights of its importance and power during the Golden Age of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 16th century. Lithuanian Radziwiłłs were elevated to the title of Reichsfürst (Prince of the Empire), granted by Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor after the Jagiellonian-Habsburg congress at Vienna in 1515. This title was very unusual among szlachta (Polish-Lithuanian nobility).
   The main seat of Biržai-Dubingiai Radziwiłł family line was Dubingiai Castle and since the second half of the 17th century - Biržai Castle (both in Lithuania). This line became extinct after the death of Ludwika Karolina Radziwiłł in 1695. Since the 18th century all Radziwiłłs are descendants of the Nieśwież-Ołyka Radziwiłł family line, which had its main residence at Niasvizh Castle (Nieśwież) in present-day Belarus. Other residences and properties included Mir Castle, Ołyka, Biržai, Kėdainiai, Szydłowiec, Taujėnai, Połoneczka and Radziwiłłów.
   Due to the activities of Janusz Radziwilłł during The Deluge, the family lost much of its wealth and power.

Members

The Radziwiłł family members include:

Mikalojus Radvila, c. 1450-1509, voivode, chancellor
Mikolaj Radziwiłł, 1470-1521, chancellor
Jerzy Radziwiłł, 1480-1541, hetman, voivode, castellan, marshal
Mikołaj III Radziwiłł, c. 1492-1530, Bishop of Samogitia
Mikołaj "the Red" Radziwiłł, 1512-1584, hetman, chancellor
Mikołaj "the Black" Radziwiłł, 1515-1565, marshal, chancellor, palatine Since 1515 both Mikolajs and the Radziwill family were elevated to Reichsfürsten of the Holy Roman Empire
Barbara Radziwiłł, 1520-1550, Queen of Poland

Mikołaj VII Radziwiłł, 1546-1589, chamberlain

Krzysztof Mikołaj "the Lightning" Radziwiłł, 1547-1603, hetman

Mikołaj Krzysztof "the Orphan" Radziwiłł 1549-1616, voivode, marshall, castellan, prince

Grzegorz Radziwiłł 1558-1600, Cardinal of Kraków 1591-1600

Krystyna Radziwiłł, 1560-1580

Grzegorz Radziwiłł, 1578-1613, castellan

Janusz Radziwiłł, 1579-1620, castellan

Krzysztof II Radziwiłł, 1585-1640, hetman

Albert III Radziwiłł, 1589-1636, castellan

Albrycht Stanisław Radziwiłł, 1595-1656, chancellor

Janusz Radziwiłł, 1612-1655, hetman, voivode

Bogusław Radziwiłł 1620-1669

Michał Kazimierz Radziwiłł, 1625-1680, hetman, chancellor

Ludwika Karolina Radziwiłł, 1667-1695

Karol Stanisław Radziwiłł, 1669-1719, Grand Chancellor of Lithuania

Katarzyna Barbara Radziwiłł, 1693-1730

Michał Kazimierz 'Rybeńko' Radziwiłł, 1702-1762

Karol Stanisław "Panie Kochanku" Radziwiłł, 1734-1790, voivode of Vilnius and Marshal of the Bar Confederation

Antoni Henryk Radziwiłł, 1775-1833, statholder

Michał Gedeon Radziwiłł, 1778-1850, senator, general

Elisabeth Radziwill, cousin and desired bride of Wilhelm I, German Emperor

Catherine Radziwill, 1858-1941, Polish princess, stalked and ruined the career of Cecil Rhodes

Janusz Radziwiłł 1880-1967, senator

Stanisław Albrecht Radziwiłł 1914-1976, married Caroline Lee Bouvier, younger sister of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.

Anna Radziwiłł, b. 1939, Polish senator, minister, secretary of state

George Andrew Dominique Jerome Peter Leon Radziwill (1942 - 2001)

Konstanty Radziwiłł b. 1958 r., Polish doctor

Anthony Radziwill 1959-1999, American filmmaker

Anna Christina Radziwill b. 1960, Daughter of Stanislas Radziwill and Caroline Lee Bouvier (Lee Radziwill), sister of Anthony

Carole Radziwill b. 1968, widow of Anthony Radziwill, author

Roza XVI Radziwill, now Roza Broel-Plater b. December 25., 1934. Polish Princess.

Krzysztof Konstanty RadziwillFurther Information

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