Olelkovich
Encyclopedia
The Olelkovich family was a 15th–16th-century noble family from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
. Their main possession was the Duchy of Slutsk–Kapyl; therefore, they are sometimes known as Slutskys. They hailed from the Lithuanian Gediminids
(male line) and Russian Rurikids (female line). According to a 1528 military census, the family was the fourth wealthiest magnate family in the Grand Duchy. However, its influence declined after the Union of Lublin
(1569). The last member of the family was Sophia Olelkovich Radziwill
(1585–1612), wife of Janusz Radziwiłł and saint of the Eastern Orthodox Church
. After her death, considerable wealth and the Duchy of Slutsk passed to the Radziwiłł family.
, Duke of Kiev, and grandson of Algirdas
, Grand Duke of Lithuania. Alexander inherited his father's domains in the Duchy of Slutsk
–Kapyl
and in 1440 restored family's dynastic interest in the Principality of Kiev, which was confiscated from Vladimir in 1395 after a power struggle with Grand Duke Vytautas and given to Skirgaila
. Alexander married Anastasia, daughter of Sophia of Lithuania
and Vasily I of Moscow, and had two sons Semen (died in 1505) and Mikhailo Olelkovich
(died in 1481).
Semen married Maria, a daughter of Jonas Goštautas
. In mid 1450s Goštautas planned to depose Grand Duke Casimir IV Jagiellon
and to install his son-in-law Semen Olelkovich. Semen inherited the Principality of Kiev, but after his death it was converted into the Kiev Voivodeship. His descendants continued to claim the rights in the region, but the voivodeship was ruled by appointed officials (voivodes) from other noble families. The loss of Kiev could be attributed to Olelkovich's faith (Eastern Orthodoxy rather than Catholicism) and their close kinship with the Grand Princes of Moscow, who threatened Lithuania's eastern borders. However, the Duchy of Slutsk–Kapyl was not converted into a powiat
and remained in the family's hands. Disappointed by such politics, Mikhailo Olelkovich organized opposition to Casimir IV and even attempted a coup in 1481. The plot was discovered, possibly by voivode of Kiev Ivan Chodkiewicz
, and Mikhailo was executed. In 1471, Mikhailo was also involved in a brief affair when Novgorod Republic
invited him to become its ruler in a bid to break away from Moscow's influence. However, the attempt ended in a decisive defeat in the Battle of Shelon
.
After Mikhailo's death, the Olelkovichs did not occupy any state offices. They submitted their bids for the throne of the Grand Duke in 1492 and 1572, but gained little support. Semen II moved his court from Kapyl to Slutsk thus establishing the so-called Slutsk line. His descendants are often known as Slutsky. During the Muscovite–Lithuanian Wars
, Semen also won a September 1502 battle near Babruysk
against the Crimean Khanate
. Yuri I also had possessions in Veisiejai
, where he funded a Catholic church, and Liškiava
.
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...
. Their main possession was the Duchy of Slutsk–Kapyl; therefore, they are sometimes known as Slutskys. They hailed from the Lithuanian Gediminids
Gediminids
The Gediminids were a dynasty of monarchs of Grand Duchy of Lithuania that reigned from the 14th to the 16th century. One branch of this dynasty, known as the Jagiellons, reigned also in Kingdom of Poland, Kingdom of Hungary and Kingdom of Bohemia...
(male line) and Russian Rurikids (female line). According to a 1528 military census, the family was the fourth wealthiest magnate family in the Grand Duchy. However, its influence declined after the Union of Lublin
Union of Lublin
The Union of Lublin replaced the personal union of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with a real union and an elective monarchy, since Sigismund II Augustus, the last of the Jagiellons, remained childless after three marriages. In addition, the autonomy of Royal Prussia was...
(1569). The last member of the family was Sophia Olelkovich Radziwill
Sophia Olelkovich Radziwill
Sophia Olelkovich Radziwill was the last descendant of the family Olelkovich-Slutsk who were descended from Prince Algirdas. She was canonized by the Orthodox Church in 1983. The church of St...
(1585–1612), wife of Janusz Radziwiłł and saint of the Eastern Orthodox Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
. After her death, considerable wealth and the Duchy of Slutsk passed to the Radziwiłł family.
Family history
Alexander Olelka (died in 1454) was the ancestor of the family. He was a son of VladimirVladimir Olgerdovich
Vladimir Olgerdovich was a son of Algirdas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, and his first wife Maria of Vitebsk. He was Grand Prince of Kiev from 1362 to 1394. His sons Ivan and Alexander started the Belsky and Olelkovich families....
, Duke of Kiev, and grandson of Algirdas
Algirdas
Algirdas was a monarch of medieval Lithuania. Algirdas ruled the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1345 to 1377, which chiefly meant monarch of Lithuanians and Ruthenians...
, Grand Duke of Lithuania. Alexander inherited his father's domains in the Duchy of Slutsk
Slutsk
Slutsk is a town in Belarus, located on the Sluch River south of Minsk. As of 2010 its population is of 61,400).-Geography:The town is situated in the south-west of its Voblast, not too far from from the city of Soligorsk.-History:...
–Kapyl
Kapyl
Kapyl is an urban settlement and the capital of Kapyl Raion in Belarus. It is located west-northwest of Slutsk and south-southwest of Minsk...
and in 1440 restored family's dynastic interest in the Principality of Kiev, which was confiscated from Vladimir in 1395 after a power struggle with Grand Duke Vytautas and given to Skirgaila
Skirgaila
Skirgaila , also known as Ivan; ca. 1353 or 1354 – 11 January 1397 in Kiev; baptized 1383/1384 as Casimir) was a regent of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania for his brother Jogaila from 1386 to 1392. He was son of Algirdas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, and his second wife Uliana of Tver.-Biography:After...
. Alexander married Anastasia, daughter of Sophia of Lithuania
Sophia of Lithuania
Sophia was the only daughter of Vytautas the Great of Lithuania and his first wife Anna. On January 21, 1391, while her father was engaged in the Lithuanian Civil War, she married Vasili I of Russia. She was the longest serving consort of Russia.After his death in 1425 she became regent for their...
and Vasily I of Moscow, and had two sons Semen (died in 1505) and Mikhailo Olelkovich
Mikhailo Olelkovich
Mikhailo Aleksandrovich Olelkovich was a noble from the Olelkovich family of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He was the brother of Prince Semen Olelkovich of Kiev and cousin of Grand Prince Ivan III of Moscow...
(died in 1481).
Semen married Maria, a daughter of Jonas Goštautas
Jonas Goštautas
Jonas Gostautas or Goštautas was a Lithuanian nobleman from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania of the Goštautai noble family, a politician and skillful land owner...
. In mid 1450s Goštautas planned to depose Grand Duke Casimir IV Jagiellon
Casimir IV Jagiellon
Casimir IV KG of the House of Jagiellon was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1440, and King of Poland from 1447, until his death.Casimir was the second son of King Władysław II Jagiełło , and the younger brother of Władysław III of Varna....
and to install his son-in-law Semen Olelkovich. Semen inherited the Principality of Kiev, but after his death it was converted into the Kiev Voivodeship. His descendants continued to claim the rights in the region, but the voivodeship was ruled by appointed officials (voivodes) from other noble families. The loss of Kiev could be attributed to Olelkovich's faith (Eastern Orthodoxy rather than Catholicism) and their close kinship with the Grand Princes of Moscow, who threatened Lithuania's eastern borders. However, the Duchy of Slutsk–Kapyl was not converted into a powiat
Powiat
A powiat is the second-level unit of local government and administration in Poland, equivalent to a county, district or prefecture in other countries. The term powiat is most often translated into English as "county", although other terms are also sometimes used...
and remained in the family's hands. Disappointed by such politics, Mikhailo Olelkovich organized opposition to Casimir IV and even attempted a coup in 1481. The plot was discovered, possibly by voivode of Kiev Ivan Chodkiewicz
Ivan Chodkiewicz
Ivan Chodkiewicz was a noble from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He was a son of Chodko Jurewicz and ancestor of the Chodkiewicz family. Ivan married Jawnuta Belska, first cousin of Casimir IV Jagiellon, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. The marriage into the royal line helped him to...
, and Mikhailo was executed. In 1471, Mikhailo was also involved in a brief affair when Novgorod Republic
Novgorod Republic
The Novgorod Republic was a large medieval Russian state which stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Ural Mountains between the 12th and 15th centuries, centred on the city of Novgorod...
invited him to become its ruler in a bid to break away from Moscow's influence. However, the attempt ended in a decisive defeat in the Battle of Shelon
Battle of Shelon
The Battle of Shelon was a decisive battle between the forces of the Grand Duchy of Moscow under Ivan III and the army of the Novgorod Republic, which took place on the Shelon River on July 14, 1471. Novgorod suffered a major defeat and ended with the de facto unconditional surrender of the city...
.
After Mikhailo's death, the Olelkovichs did not occupy any state offices. They submitted their bids for the throne of the Grand Duke in 1492 and 1572, but gained little support. Semen II moved his court from Kapyl to Slutsk thus establishing the so-called Slutsk line. His descendants are often known as Slutsky. During the Muscovite–Lithuanian Wars
Muscovite–Lithuanian Wars
The Muscovite–Lithuanian Wars The conflicts are referred to as 'Muscovite wars' in Polish historiography and as 'Lithuanian wars' in Russian one; English historiography uses both, ex...
, Semen also won a September 1502 battle near Babruysk
Babruysk
Babruysk or Bobruysk is a city in the Mahilyow Voblast of Belarus on the Berezina river. It is a large city in Belarus with a population of approximately 227,000 people . The name Babruysk probably originates from the Belarusian word babyor , many of which used to inhabit the Berezina...
against the Crimean Khanate
Crimean Khanate
Crimean Khanate, or Khanate of Crimea , was a state ruled by Crimean Tatars from 1441 to 1783. Its native name was . Its khans were the patrilineal descendants of Toqa Temür, the thirteenth son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan...
. Yuri I also had possessions in Veisiejai
Veisiejai
Veisiejai is a city in the Lazdijai district municipality, Lithuania. It is located south-east of Lazdijai. The Esperanto language was created in Veisiejai where L. L. Zamenhof started his practice as an ophtalmologist in 1885. There is a church dedicated to St...
, where he funded a Catholic church, and Liškiava
Liškiava
Liškiava is a historic village in the Varėna district municipality, Lithuania. It is situated on the bank of Neman River, near the Lake Liškiavis. In 2005 its population was 37....
.