Kristinas Astikas

Who is Kristinas Astikas?

Kristinas Astikas was a leading Lithuanian noble and statesman of the Astikai family. Kristinas was a supporter and a companion of Vytautas the Great, his brother Sigismund Kestutaitis and nephew Casimir Jagiellon, he became the Castellan of Vilnius in 1419.

Kristinas is mentioned in 1389 in the Treaty of Salynas between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Teutonic Order; he also participated in the signing of other important treaties, including the Peace of Thorn in 1411, the Treaty of Melno in 1422, and the Union of Grodno in 1432. At the signing of the Union of Horodlo in 1413 he received the Coat of Arms of Trąby. Astikas was his pagan Lithuanian name, used by some of his descendants as their family name, while Kristinas was his Christian name.

He is said by some historians to be descended from the Duke of Kernavė Sirputis, brother of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Traidenis. Kristinas had four known sons: Stanislovas, Mikalojus, Baltramiejus and Radvila. Stanislovas Astikaitis became Voivod of Navahrudek and his descendants used the family name of Astikaitis. Radvila became Voivod of Trakai and his line used used his name as their family name, so he is known as the founder of the Radvila family. Kristinas was the first known owner of Upninkai and Musninkai with their lands. He was also the owner of Alanta and Užpaliai in Lithuania. Some of the lands, including Alanta, were granted to him for his service to Grand Duke of Lithuania Sigismund Kęstutaitis.