Hieronim Chodkiewicz
Encyclopedia
Hieronim Chodkiewicz was a noble from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
, who was Elder of Samogitia from 1545 until his death. He was son of Aleksander
and brother of Hrehory and Yurii Chodkiewicz
s. Due to the political success of Chodkiewicz and his brothers, the Chodkiewicz family became the second wealthiest family in the Grand Duchy after the Radziwiłłs according to a military census of 1567 – a significant increase from 1528 when their father Alexander was 11th on the list. Chodkiewicz distanced himself from his Eastern Orthodox roots—he possibly converted to Catholicism around 1530 and to Lutheranism
around 1550.
) around 1530. That would explain his later marriage to a Catholic and appointment to positions in Vilnius and Trakai generally reserved for Catholics. Chodkiewicz corresponded with known Protestant activist Albert, Duke of Prussia since mid 1530s and send his son Jan Hieronimowicz to be educated there. He was also a sponsor of theologian Friedrich Staphylus
, who visited him in Lithuania in spring 1549. The historiography usually provides 1553 as the year when Chodkiewicz fully converted into Lutheranism
.
to his son Sigismund II Augustus
. In 1542, Sigismund the Old made a series of appointments to various political posts and Chodkiewicz became Royal Deputy Cup-bearer of Lithuania
. In 1544, Sigismund Augustus was entrusted to rule the Grand Duchy and almost immediately made new appointments. Chodkiewicz became castellan
of Trakai
while his father was promoted to voivode of Nowogródek. Both of these positions guaranteed seats in the Lithuanian Council of Lords
. Just a year later, in 1545, Hieronim Chodkiewicz was further promoted to Elder of Samogitia thus politically surpassing his father. The appointment to Samogitia most likely was due to his marriage to a Samogitian noblewoman. Chodkiewicz and his son held the position until 1579, replacing Kęsgailos
as the most influential Samogitian family and acquiring many properties in Samogitia, including Kretinga
, Skuodas
, Lyduvėnai
. Šaukėnai
, obtained as his wife's dowry, became the primary residence of the Chodkiewicz family in Samogitia.
Chodkiewicz supported Queen Bona Sforza
when she vehemently opposed the marriage of Barbara Radziwiłł and Sigismund Augustus. That brought Chodkiewicz into disfavor of Sigismund and further rivalry with the Radziwiłłs, who swept all the top posts and almost became de facto
rulers in Lithuania. In 1555, King Sigismund II Augustus
sent him on a diplomatic mission to Pope Paul IV
and Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V
. The latter granted him and his family the honorary title of Graf
. Further career of Chodkiewicz was related to the Livonian War
. In 1559, Hieronim Chodkiewicz was promoted to castellan of Vilnius and his brother Hrehory, noted for loyal military service, became castellan of Trakai. In 1560, Hieronim commanded the Lithuanian armies in Livonia, defeating the Muscovites at Cēsis
(Wenden). Death of Chodkiewicz in 1561 was a blow to the family as it lost influential seats in the Council of Lords. Partially thanks to the successful military campaigns of Hrehory, the Chodkiewiczs restored their influence within three years.
, born in about 1537, who became Elder of Samogitia and Grand Marshal of Lithuania. Chodkiewicz had seven daughters. Five of them were married to members of the Lithuanian Council of Lords
:
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state from the 12th /13th century until 1569 and then as a constituent part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1791 when Constitution of May 3, 1791 abolished it in favor of unitary state. It was founded by the Lithuanians, one of the polytheistic...
, who was Elder of Samogitia from 1545 until his death. He was son of Aleksander
Aleksander Chodkiewicz
Aleksander Chodkiewicz was a noble from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, founder of the Supraśl Orthodox Monastery. He inherited vast possessions from his father Ivan Chodkiewicz, which made him 11th wealthiest person in the Grand Duchy according to a military census of 1528...
and brother of Hrehory and Yurii Chodkiewicz
Yurii Chodkiewicz
Knyaz Yurii Chodkiewicz was Bielsk starost in 1556, Puńsk starost in 1568, Great Master of the Pantry of Lithuania in 1554, Grand Krajczy of Lithuania in 1555, and Trakai castellan in 1566....
s. Due to the political success of Chodkiewicz and his brothers, the Chodkiewicz family became the second wealthiest family in the Grand Duchy after the Radziwiłłs according to a military census of 1567 – a significant increase from 1528 when their father Alexander was 11th on the list. Chodkiewicz distanced himself from his Eastern Orthodox roots—he possibly converted to Catholicism around 1530 and to Lutheranism
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
around 1550.
Religion
Historiography usually provides that Chodkiewicz was born around 1500. However, Lithuania historian Genutė Kirkienė noted that in such a case Chodkiewicz began his political career in his mid-forties, when most nobles started in late twenties or early thirties. Kirkienė suggested that his father's marriage and birth of children should be moved from 1500s to mid-1510s. Kirkienė also argued that Hieronim was born as Ivan and raised as Eastern Orthodox—he converted to Catholicism and was baptized Hieronim (after St. JeromeJerome
Saint Jerome was a Roman Christian priest, confessor, theologian and historian, and who became a Doctor of the Church. He was the son of Eusebius, of the city of Stridon, which was on the border of Dalmatia and Pannonia...
) around 1530. That would explain his later marriage to a Catholic and appointment to positions in Vilnius and Trakai generally reserved for Catholics. Chodkiewicz corresponded with known Protestant activist Albert, Duke of Prussia since mid 1530s and send his son Jan Hieronimowicz to be educated there. He was also a sponsor of theologian Friedrich Staphylus
Friedrich Staphylus
Friedrich Staphylus was a German theologian, at first a Protestant and then a Catholic convert.His father, Ludeke Stapellage, was an official of the Bishop of Osnabrück...
, who visited him in Lithuania in spring 1549. The historiography usually provides 1553 as the year when Chodkiewicz fully converted into Lutheranism
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
.
Political career
The political rise of Chodkiewicz was related to the transfer of power from Grand Duke Sigismund I the OldSigismund I the Old
Sigismund I of Poland , of the Jagiellon dynasty, reigned as King of Poland and also as the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1506 until 1548...
to his son Sigismund II Augustus
Sigismund II Augustus
Sigismund II Augustus I was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, the only son of Sigismund I the Old, whom Sigismund II succeeded in 1548...
. In 1542, Sigismund the Old made a series of appointments to various political posts and Chodkiewicz became Royal Deputy Cup-bearer of Lithuania
Podczaszy
Podczaszy was since the 13th century a court office in Poland and later in Lithuania. Podczaszy was the deputy of Cześnik, with the time more important than his superior....
. In 1544, Sigismund Augustus was entrusted to rule the Grand Duchy and almost immediately made new appointments. Chodkiewicz became castellan
Castellan
A castellan was the governor or captain of a castle. The word stems from the Latin Castellanus, derived from castellum "castle". Also known as a constable.-Duties:...
of Trakai
Trakai
Trakai is a historic city and lake resort in Lithuania. It lies 28 km west of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. Because of its proximity to Vilnius, Trakai is a popular tourist destination. Trakai is the administrative centre of Trakai district municipality. The town covers 11.52 km2 of...
while his father was promoted to voivode of Nowogródek. Both of these positions guaranteed seats in the Lithuanian Council of Lords
Lithuanian Council of Lords
The Lithuanian Council of Lords was the main permanent institution of central government in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania active in its capital city of Vilnius....
. Just a year later, in 1545, Hieronim Chodkiewicz was further promoted to Elder of Samogitia thus politically surpassing his father. The appointment to Samogitia most likely was due to his marriage to a Samogitian noblewoman. Chodkiewicz and his son held the position until 1579, replacing Kęsgailos
Kesgailos
Kęsgailos was a Lithuanian noble family, one of the biggest landowners in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The family traces its roots to the 14th century AD . Their seat was in the Samogitia and Trakai regions...
as the most influential Samogitian family and acquiring many properties in Samogitia, including Kretinga
Kretinga
Kretinga is a city in the Klaipėda County, Lithuania. It is the capital of the Kretinga district municipality. It is located east of the popular Baltic Sea resort town of Palanga, and about north of Lithuania's 3rd largest city and principal seaport, Klaipėda.The population was listed as 21,423...
, Skuodas
Skuodas
Skuodas is a city located in Klaipeda County, in northwestern Lithuania, on the border with Latvia. The Bartuva river flows through the town....
, Lyduvėnai
Lyduvėnai
Lyduvėnai is a small town in Kaunas County in central Lithuania. As of 2001 it had a population of 125.-References:*This article was initially translated from the Lithuanian Wikipedia....
. Šaukėnai
Šaukėnai
Šaukėnai is a small town in Šiauliai County in northern-central Lithuania. As of 2001 it had a population of 721.-References:*This article was initially translated from the Lithuanian Wikipedia....
, obtained as his wife's dowry, became the primary residence of the Chodkiewicz family in Samogitia.
Chodkiewicz supported Queen Bona Sforza
Bona Sforza
Bona Sforza was a member of the powerful Milanese House of Sforza. In 1518, she became the second wife of Sigismund I the Old, the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, and became the Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania.She was the third child of Gian Galeazzo Sforza and his wife...
when she vehemently opposed the marriage of Barbara Radziwiłł and Sigismund Augustus. That brought Chodkiewicz into disfavor of Sigismund and further rivalry with the Radziwiłłs, who swept all the top posts and almost became de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
rulers in Lithuania. In 1555, King Sigismund II Augustus
Sigismund II Augustus
Sigismund II Augustus I was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, the only son of Sigismund I the Old, whom Sigismund II succeeded in 1548...
sent him on a diplomatic mission to Pope Paul IV
Pope Paul IV
Pope Paul IV, C.R. , né Giovanni Pietro Carafa, was Pope from 23 May 1555 until his death.-Early life:Giovanni Pietro Carafa was born in Capriglia Irpina, near Avellino, into a prominent noble family of Naples...
and Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
. The latter granted him and his family the honorary title of Graf
Graf
Graf is a historical German noble title equal in rank to a count or a British earl...
. Further career of Chodkiewicz was related to the Livonian War
Livonian War
The Livonian War was fought for control of Old Livonia in the territory of present-day Estonia and Latvia when the Tsardom of Russia faced a varying coalition of Denmark–Norway, the Kingdom of Sweden, the Union of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland.During the period 1558–1578,...
. In 1559, Hieronim Chodkiewicz was promoted to castellan of Vilnius and his brother Hrehory, noted for loyal military service, became castellan of Trakai. In 1560, Hieronim commanded the Lithuanian armies in Livonia, defeating the Muscovites at Cēsis
Cesis
Cēsis , is a town in Latvia located in the northern part of the Central Vidzeme Upland. Cēsis is on the Gauja River valley, and is built on a series of ridges above the river overlooking the woods below...
(Wenden). Death of Chodkiewicz in 1561 was a blow to the family as it lost influential seats in the Council of Lords. Partially thanks to the successful military campaigns of Hrehory, the Chodkiewiczs restored their influence within three years.
Titles and positions
Chodkiewicz held the following titles and positions:- Starost of VilkijaVilkijaVilkija is situated in the Kaunas district municipality, Lithuania. It is located north-west of Kaunas. It's right on the north side of the river Nemunas, the most important river in Lithuania....
(1536 or 1550–1561), Ashmyany (1538–1541), Radun' (1542–1545), PlateliaiPlateliaiPlateliai is a town in Samogitia, Lithuania. It is situated on the west bank of Lake Plateliai, the largest lake in Samogitia. The town with the population of about 1,100 people is the center of an elderate in Plungė district municipality. It is the administrative center of the Žemaitija National...
and TelšiaiTelšiaiTelšiai , is a city in Lithuania with about 35,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of Telšiai County and Samogitia region, and it is located on Lake Mastis.-Names:...
(1546–1554), ShkloŭShklouŠkłoŭ is a town in Mahilyow Voblast, Belarus, located 35 km north of Mogilev on the Dnieper river. It has a railway station on the line between Orsha and Mogilev. The population is 13,282...
(1550–1554) - Royal Cup-bearer (1542–1544)
- Castellan of TrakaiTrakaiTrakai is a historic city and lake resort in Lithuania. It lies 28 km west of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. Because of its proximity to Vilnius, Trakai is a popular tourist destination. Trakai is the administrative centre of Trakai district municipality. The town covers 11.52 km2 of...
(1544–1549) and VilniusVilniusVilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
(1559–1561) - Elder of Samogitia (1545–1561)
- Graf of Bykhaw, ShkloŭShklouŠkłoŭ is a town in Mahilyow Voblast, Belarus, located 35 km north of Mogilev on the Dnieper river. It has a railway station on the line between Orsha and Mogilev. The population is 13,282...
and Mysz (1555–1561)
Family
Sometime between 1536 and 1545, Chodkiewicz married widow Anna Szemetówna , daughter of Jan Szemet (Lithuanian: Jonas Šemeta). He had one son, Ivan HieronimovichIvan Hieronimowicz Chodkiewicz
Jan Hieronimowicz Chodkiewicz Grand Pantler of Lithuania 1559, general starost of Samogitia 1563, Elder of Samogitia 1564, starost of Telszew and Ploeltsk 1566, Livonia Hetman and governor, Grand Marshal of Lithuania 1566, Kaunas starost 1569, Count on Szkłów 1568, Vilnius castellan...
, born in about 1537, who became Elder of Samogitia and Grand Marshal of Lithuania. Chodkiewicz had seven daughters. Five of them were married to members of the Lithuanian Council of Lords
Lithuanian Council of Lords
The Lithuanian Council of Lords was the main permanent institution of central government in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania active in its capital city of Vilnius....
:
- Zofia married Mikołaj Aleksandrowicz CzartoryskiCzartoryskiCzartoryski is the surname of a Polish-Ukrainian-Lithuanian magnate family also known as the Familia. They used the Czartoryski Coat of arms and were the leading noble family of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 18th century.-History:The Czartoryski is a family of a Grand Ducal...
, voivode of Volhynia - Barbara married Mikołaj KiszkaKiszkaKiszka is an alternative name for kaszanka, a Polish blood sausage. It also can refer to:* Kiszka , an extinct Polish noble family* Lev Kiszka, Metropolitan of Kiev from 1714 to 1728* Kishka * Kishka , a Soviet slang expression...
, Voivode of PodlaskiePodlaskie Voivodeship (1513–1795)The Podlaskie Voivodeship was formed in 1513 by Sigismund I the Old as a voivodeship in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, from a split off part of the Trakai Voivodeship....
, in 1563 - Krystyna married Stanisław Pac, voivode of Vitebsk, in 1564
- Halszka married Szczęsny Hołowczyński, castellan of MinskMinsk- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
- Konstancja married Pawel Wołłowicz, castellan of NavahradakNavahradak-Early history:First mentioned in the Sophian First Chronicle and Fourth Novgorod Chronicle in 1044 in relation to a war of Yaroslav I the Wise against Lithuanian tribes. It was also mentioned in the Hypatian Codex under 1252 as Novogorodok -Early history:First mentioned in the Sophian First...
- Anna married Jan Leśniewski, deputy cup-bearer and royal secretary
- Daughter, name unknown, married Mikołaj Wolski