Jerzy Radziwiłł

Who was Jerzy Radziwiłł?

Jerzy Radziwiłł was a Lithuanian noble.

He was Deputy Cup-Bearer of Lithuania from 1510, voivode of Kiev Voivodeship from 1510, Field Hetman of Lithuania in 1521, castellan of Trakai from 1522, castellan of Vilnius from 1527, Marshal of the Court from 1528, Grand Hetman of Lithuania from 1531, Starost of Hrodna, Namiestnik of Vilnius, Maišiagala, Mereck, Utena, Mozyrsk, Lida, Skidal, Bielica, Kryńsk and Oziersk. He was a progenitor of the Biržai-Dubingiai Radziwiłł family line.

He was renowned for his military achievements and as a talented politician. He took part in various conflicts against Muscovy, the Cossacks and the Tatars. Achieving around 30 military victories, he has been referred as the Lithuanian Hercules.

In 1526 as a member of the Lithuanian Council of Lords he unsuccessfully petitioned the Grand Duke of Lithuania Sigismund I the Old for the renewal of a Kingdom of Lithuania under the rule of Zygmunt's I son, Sigismund II August. In the 1530s, acting with his brother Jan Radziwiłł, he was in almost total control of Lithuania's internal affairs.

As a member of influential Radziwiłł family, Jerzy worked to increase his family estate.