Albrycht Stanisław Radziwiłł

Albrycht Stanisław Radziwiłł _lt. Albrechtas Stanislovas Radvila (1595-1656), was a Polish-Lithuanian szlachcic, a Reichfürst (imperial duke) and a politician from Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. He served as the Lesser Lithuanian Chancellor from 1619, the Grand Chancellor of Lithuania and Starosta of Vilnius from 1623, was a member of the powerful Radziwiłł family, last of the Ołyka line, fourth to bear the name of Albert. During his life he was the influential politician. He was Catholic and staunch supporter of Counter-Reformation and enemy of Protestants.

Biography

He was born on July 1, 1595 in his family manor in Ołyka to Stanisław Pius Radziwiłł and Marianna nee Myszka. During his life he held several important posts in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, some of them hereditary. Apart from directing his family estate in Ołyka at Wołyń ("ordynacja ołycka"), he was in charge of foreign policies and internal affairs of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, as he held the posts Lesser Lithuanian Chancellor of Lithuania (since 1619), Grand Chancellor of Lithuania and Starosta (city foreman) of Vilnius (since 1623), as well as starosta of Kowel, Tuchola, Gniew, Pińsk, Wieluń, Dyneburg, Kobryń and Šiauliai.

Supporter of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Sigismund III Vasa, he often stood in opposition to his son and successor, Władysław IV Waza on the matters of religion. Władysław was lenient towards Protestants and encouraged religious tolerance, while Albrycht was an outspoken opponent of all non-Catholics, sometimes even refusing to stamp documents with his Chancellor's seal granting them rights and privileges. He was also a patriot of Grand Duchy: he always strived to ensure that there is no discrimnation towards his compatriots and they have equal representation in the Commonwealth federal political structure, just as he tried to ensure that non-Catholics had as little of it as possible. In his opposition to 'heretics' he was supported by Chancellor Jerzy Ossoliński. He sympathised with the Habsburg faction and supported Queen Cecylia Renata, Habsburg wife of Władysław.

Just like other Radziwills, he was famous for the support given to his relatives: he did not fail to watch over the interests of his Calvinist cousins, despite being renown for his opposition to the 'heretics'.

Despite being one of the most powerful magnates in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, both of his marriages (with Regina von Eisenreich in 1619, court lady of Queen Constance and after her death in 1637 with Anna Krystyna Działyńska (z Lubomirskich) in 1638) were childless.

During later stages of his life, Radziwiłł wrote a diary "Memoriale rerum gestarum in Polonia" ("Memoir" or "Diary of the history of Poland") covering the 1632-1656 period. This book is perhaps his most famous legacy.

He died childless on November 12, 1656. His estates were inherited by Ordynat of Nieśwież line of Radziwiłł family.

External links

* [http://genealog.home.pl/g.pl?kd=4&oa=005042 Albrycht Stanislaw Radziwill at Dynastic Geneaology]
* [http://genealogy.euweb.cz/poland/radziwill2.html More geneaology]
* [http://www.szlachta.org/2radziwill.htm Short history of the Radziwill Family]

* [http://www.zrodlo.krakow.pl/Archiwum/2004/24/31.html ASR and religion: 'Kanclerz trzech Wazów']