Prince Janusz Radziwiłł, also known as Janusz the Second or Janusz the Younger ( lt, Jonušas Radvila, 2 December 1612 – 31 December 1655) was a
noble
A noble is a member of the nobility.
Noble may also refer to:
Places Antarctica
* Noble Glacier, King George Island
* Noble Nunatak, Marie Byrd Land
* Noble Peak, Wiencke Island
* Noble Rocks, Graham Land
Australia
* Noble Island, Gr ...
and magnate in the
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and, after 1791, as the Commonwealth of Poland, was a bi- confederal state, sometimes called a federation, of Poland and Lithuania ru ...
. Throughout his life he occupied a number of posts in the state administration, including that of
Court Chamberlain of Lithuania (from 1633),
Field Hetman of Lithuania (from 1646) and
Grand Hetman of Lithuania
Grand may refer to:
People with the name
* Grand (surname)
* Grand L. Bush (born 1955), American actor
* Grand Mixer DXT, American turntablist
* Grand Puba (born 1966), American rapper
Places
* Grand, Oklahoma
* Grand, Vosges, village and c ...
(from 1654). He was also a
voivode
Voivode (, also spelled ''voievod'', ''voevod'', ''voivoda'', ''vojvoda'' or ''wojewoda'') is a title denoting a military leader or warlord in Central, Southeastern and Eastern Europe since the Early Middle Ages. It primarily referred to the ...
of
Vilna Voivodeship (from 1653), as well as a
starost of
Samogitia
Samogitia or Žemaitija ( Samogitian: ''Žemaitėjė''; see below for alternative and historical names) is one of the five cultural regions of Lithuania and formerly one of the two core administrative divisions of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania ...
,
Kamieniec,
Kazimierz and
Sejwy. He was a protector of the Protestant religion in Lithuania and sponsor of many Protestant schools and churches.
For several decades, the interests between the
Radziwłł family and the state (
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and, after 1791, as the Commonwealth of Poland, was a bi- confederal state, sometimes called a federation, of Poland and Lithuania ru ...
) had begun to drift apart, as the Radziwiłłs increased their magnate status and wealth. Their attempts to acquire more political power in the
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state that existed from the 13th century to 1795, when the territory was partitioned among the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Habsburg Empire of Austria. The state was founded by Lit ...
culminated in the doings of Janusz Radziwiłł, who is remembered in
Polish
Polish may refer to:
* Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe
* Polish language
* Poles
Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, w ...
historiography as one of the Grand Duchy nobles responsible for the end of the
Golden Age of the Commonwealth.
In his times he was one of the most powerful people in the Commonwealth, often described as a ''de facto'' ruler of the entire
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state that existed from the 13th century to 1795, when the territory was partitioned among the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Habsburg Empire of Austria. The state was founded by Lit ...
. During the
"Deluge", the Swedish invasion of Poland-Lithuania during the
Second Northern War, he sided with the Swedish king signing the
Treaty of Kėdainiai and the
Union of Kėdainiai. This move however antagonised him with most of other nobles, including members of his own family. His forces were eventually defeated in battle and he himself died in a besieged castle at
Tykocin
Tykocin is a small town in north-eastern Poland, with 2,010 inhabitants (2012), located on the Narew river, in Białystok County in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. It is one of the oldest towns in the region, with its historic center designated a His ...
.
Early life
He was born on 2 December 1612 in
Popiel
Prince Popiel ІІ (or Duke Popiel) was a legendary 9th-century ruler of two proto- Polish tribes, the Goplans and West Polans. He was the last member of the Popielids, a mythical dynasty before the Piasts. According to the chroniclers Gall ...
.
[Wisner (2000), p. 8] He was heir to one of the most powerful of princely
Polish–Lithuanian families, the
Radziwiłł family.
In September 1628 he departed for a four-year-long voyage, primarily in Germany and the Netherlands, returning to the Commonwealth's capital of Warsaw by autumn 1632.
[Wisner (2000), pp. 26–35] Soon afterward the new king of the Commonwealth,
Władysław IV Waza, sent him with a diplomatic mission to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
[Wisner (2000), pp. 35–36] As a reward, he received his first governmental office, becoming the
podkomorzy (Court Chamberlain) of Lithuania in early 1633.
[Wisner (2000), p. 37] He took part in the
Smolensk War
The Smolensk War (1632–1634) was a conflict fought between the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and Russia.
Hostilities began in October 1632 when Russian forces tried to capture the city of Smolensk. Small military engagements produced mix ...
in 1634, through he primarily accompanied the king, and did not participate actively in major combats.
[Wisner (2000), pp. 42–43] He became a regular part of Władysław IV Waza's company, spending much time at the royal court over the next five years.
In 1635 he became the
starost of
Kamieniec, and in 1638,
Kazimierz Dolny
Kazimierz Dolny () is a small historic town in eastern Poland, on the right (eastern) bank of the Vistula river in Puławy County, Lublin Voivodeship. Historically it belongs to Lesser Poland, and in the past it was one of the most important citi ...
(near Lublin).
[Wisner (2000), p. 51] Since 1636 he administrated his family's estates, through not very efficiently, which he admitted himself.
He also attended most of the
Sejm
The Sejm (English: , Polish: ), officially known as the Sejm of the Republic of Poland ( Polish: ''Sejm Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej''), is the lower house of the bicameral parliament of Poland.
The Sejm has been the highest governing body of ...
(Commonwealth's parliament) sessions.
[Wisner (2000), p. 57]
He married a Katarzyna Potocka on 2 February 1638. He was a Calvinist, and his wife, Catholic, though this did not cause significant difficulties.
[Wisner (2000), p. 54] They had three children, though only their daughter Anna Maria, born in 1640, survived to adulthood.
[Wisner (2000), p. 55] Katarzyna died on 21 November 1642.
[Wisner (2000), p. 56] In 1645 he married
Maria Lupu, daughter of a
Moldavia
Moldavia ( ro, Moldova, or , literally "The Country of Moldavia"; in Romanian Cyrillic alphabet, Romanian Cyrillic: or ; chu, Землѧ Молдавскаѧ; el, Ἡγεμονία τῆς Μολδαβίας) is a historical region and for ...
n
voivod Vasile Lupu
Lupu Coci, known as Vasile Lupu (; 1595–1661), was a Voivode of Moldavia of Albanian origin between 1634 and 1653. Lupu had secured the Moldavian throne in 1634 after a series of complicated intrigues and managed to hold it for twenty years. Va ...
.
[Wisner (2000), p. 75]
Rise to power
The death of his father in 1641 made him one of the wealthiest magnates in the entire Commonwealth.
[Wisner (2000), p. 67] In 1646 he became a member of the
senate of Poland
The Senate ( pl, Senat) is the upper house of the Polish parliament, the lower house being the Sejm. The history of the Polish Senate stretches back over 500 years; it was one of the first constituent bodies of a bicameral parliament in Europe ...
, as he an important office that granted him this privilege: in April that year, he became the
Field Hetman of Lithuania.
Later, in November, he also received another prestigious title, that of a
starost of
Samogitia
Samogitia or Žemaitija ( Samogitian: ''Žemaitėjė''; see below for alternative and historical names) is one of the five cultural regions of Lithuania and formerly one of the two core administrative divisions of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania ...
.
[Wisner (2000), p. 71] In 1648 he was elected to the
Lithuanian Tribunal.
[Wisner (2000), p. 87] Later that year, the Commonwealth suffered two drastic events: death of king Władysław (succeeded by
Jan Kazimierz Waza
John II Casimir ( pl, Jan II Kazimierz Waza; lt, Jonas Kazimieras Vaza; 22 March 1609 – 16 December 1672) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1648 until his abdication in 1668 as well as titular King of Sweden from 1648 ...
), and the beginning of the
Chmielnicki Uprising
The Khmelnytsky Uprising,; in Ukraine known as Khmelʹnychchyna or uk, повстання Богдана Хмельницького; lt, Chmelnickio sukilimas; Belarusian: Паўстанне Багдана Хмяльніцкага; russian: � ...
. In February 1649 he commanded the Commonwealth forces in the victorious
Battle of Mazyr,
[Wisner (2000), pp. 112–113] and in July, at
Battle of Loyew.
[Wisner (2000), pp. 121–123] Fighting resumed in 1651, and Radziwiłł was once again victorious, commanding the Lithuanian forces at the
Second Battle of Loyew in July,
[Wisner (2000), pp. 142–143] capture of
Kiev on 4 August,
[Wisner (2000), p. 145] and the
Battle of Bila Tserkva in September.
[Wisner (2000), p. 150]
In 1652 a
liberum veto was invoked in the
Sejm
The Sejm (English: , Polish: ), officially known as the Sejm of the Republic of Poland ( Polish: ''Sejm Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej''), is the lower house of the bicameral parliament of Poland.
The Sejm has been the highest governing body of ...
by
Władysław Siciński, forcing it to disband. Some historians have speculated that Siciński might have acted on orders from
Janusz Radziwiłł, through Wisner observed there is no evidence to support this theory.
[Wisner (2000), p. 153]
In 1653 the Cossacks allied themselves with Russia, and in turn, Russian forces invaded the Commonwealth from the east. In March that year Janusz received the office of
voivode of Wilno.
[Wisner (2000), pp. 157–158] On 17 June 1654 Janusz was elevated from the Field Hetman position to the
Grand Hetman of Lithuania
Grand may refer to:
People with the name
* Grand (surname)
* Grand L. Bush (born 1955), American actor
* Grand Mixer DXT, American turntablist
* Grand Puba (born 1966), American rapper
Places
* Grand, Oklahoma
* Grand, Vosges, village and c ...
.
[Wisner (2000), p. 162] Despite the nominations, relations between him and the king have been worsening.
In late August 1654 Janusz Radziwiłł defeated
invading Russians at the
Battle of Szkłów, but this was his last victory.
[Wisner (2000), pp. 169–170] Days later he was defeated by the Russians at the
Battle of Szepielewicze.
[Wisner (2000), pp. 171–172] The following winter Lithuanian counter-offensive proved unsuccessful; with the inconclusive
Siege of Mahylyow.
[Wisner (2000), pp. 180–183]
Union with Sweden
Janusz Radziwiłł trust in the
Poles
Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, who share a common history, culture, the Polish language and are identified with the country of Poland in C ...
was damaged during the
Battle of Vilnius in 1655 when he, being the
Great Hetman
Great may refer to: Descriptions or measurements
* Great, a relative measurement in physical space, see Size
* Greatness, being divine, majestic, superior, majestic, or transcendent
People
* List of people known as "the Great"
*Artel Great (born ...
of the
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state that existed from the 13th century to 1795, when the territory was partitioned among the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Habsburg Empire of Austria. The state was founded by Lit ...
, had to defend the Grand Duchy's capital
Vilnius
Vilnius ( , ; see also other names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, with a population of 592,389 (according to the state register) or 625,107 (according to the municipality of Vilnius). The population of Vilnius's functional urb ...
from the approaching
Tsardom of Russia
The Tsardom of Russia or Tsardom of Rus' also externally referenced as the Tsardom of Muscovy, was the centralized Russian state from the assumption of the title of Tsar by Ivan IV in 1547 until the foundation of the Russian Empire by Peter I ...
forces. When a large Russian army approached Vilnius (at least 41,000 men
), Janusz Radziwiłł could muster just 5,000 to 7,000 men. The morale was further damaged by the order of king
John II Casimir Vasa
John II Casimir ( pl, Jan II Kazimierz Waza; lt, Jonas Kazimieras Vaza; 22 March 1609 – 16 December 1672) was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1648 until his abdication in 1668 as well as titular King of Sweden from 1648 ...
to royal troops (about 5,000 men) to retreat to
Marienburg.
City residents began hasty evacuations. Most valued treasures, including the coffin of
Saint Casimir, main books of
Lithuanian Metrica, and valuables from
Vilnius Cathedral
The Cathedral Basilica of St Stanislaus and St Ladislaus of Vilnius ( lt, Vilniaus Šv. Stanislovo ir Šv. Vladislovo arkikatedra bazilika; pl, Bazylika archikatedralna św. Stanisława Biskupa i św. Władysława, historical: ''Kościół Kated ...
, were transported outside the city.
Janusz Radziwiłł took up defensive position on the northern shore of the
Neris
The river Neris () or Viliya ( be, Ві́лія, pl, Wilia ) rises in northern Belarus. It flows westward, passing through Vilnius (Lithuania's capital) and in the south-centre of that country it flows into the Nemunas (Neman), at Kaunas, as ...
river near the present-day
Green Bridge to cover the evacuations.
The battle started around 6 a.m. on 8 August 1655
[ and lasted the whole day. The Lithuanians managed to capture three Russian flags.][ At night, the Lithuanian army split into two groups that retreated to Vilkaviškis and to ]Kėdainiai
Kėdainiai () is one of the oldest cities in Lithuania. It is located north of Kaunas on the banks of the Nevėžis River. First mentioned in the 1372 Livonian Chronicle of Hermann de Wartberge, its population is 23,667. Its old town dates to ...
.[ The garrison of the ]Vilnius Castle Complex
The Vilnius Castle Complex ( lt, Vilniaus pilių kompleksas or ) is a group of cultural, and historic structures on the left bank of the Neris River, near its confluence with the Vilnia River, in Vilnius, Lithuania. The buildings, which evolved ...
surrendered two days later. The invading forces plundered the city and murdered its inhabitants for several days. A fire consumed part of the city. Tsar Alexis of Russia
Aleksey Mikhaylovich ( rus, Алексе́й Миха́йлович, p=ɐlʲɪkˈsʲej mʲɪˈxajləvʲɪtɕ; – ) was the Tsar of Russia from 1645 until his death in 1676. While finding success in foreign affairs, his reign saw several wars ...
arrived to the city on 14 August. The city was so badly devastated that he could not find suitable accommodations in the city and instead built a large tent in .[
With the war against Russia still ongoing, the Commonwealth suddenly had to face a new enemy. In June 1655 Swedish forces started to advance across the northern territories of the Commonwealth.][Wisner (2000), pp. 190–191] The Swedish invasion of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, part of the Second Northern War, is known in the Polish history as The Deluge
The Genesis flood narrative (chapters 6–9 of the Book of Genesis) is the Hebrew version of the universal flood myth. It tells of God's decision to return the universe to its pre- creation state of watery chaos and remake it through the microc ...
. Together with his cousin Bogusław Radziwiłł
Bogusław Radziwiłł ( lt, Boguslavas Radvila; 3 May 1620 – 31 December 1669) was a Polish princely magnate and a member of the Polish-Lithuanian ''szlachta'', or nobility. He was of the Radziwiłł magnate family. By birth he was an ...
, Janusz began talks with Swedish king Charles X Gustav of Sweden, discussing how to reverse the Union of Lublin
The Union of Lublin ( pl, Unia lubelska; lt, Liublino unija) was signed on 1 July 1569 in Lublin, Poland, and created a single state, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, one of the largest countries in Europe at the time. It replaced the per ...
which created the Commonwealth. Janusz first declared the Grand Duchy
A grand duchy is a country or territory whose official head of state or ruler is a monarch bearing the title of grand duke or grand duchess.
Relatively rare until the abolition of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, the term was often used in the o ...
a Swedish protectorate in the Treaty of Kėdainiai on 17 August 1655, then the brothers signed another treaty on 20 October according to which the Swedish–Lithuanian union was founded, and in which Radziwiłł's were to rule a part of the Grand Duchy.[Peter Paul Baje]
Short history of the Radziwill Family
Janusz was not alone in abandoning the Polish side; many Polish nobles, such as Deputy Chancellor of the Crown Hieronim Radziejowski
Hieronim Radziejowski (1612—August 8, 1667) was a Polish noble, politician, diplomat, scholar and a military commander. He was the governor of Sochaczew since 1643 and Deputy Chancellor of the Crown between 1650 and 1652. He also served as M ...
and Grand Treasurer of the Crown
Podskarbi in Poland then in Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and, after 1791, as the Commonwealth of Poland, was a bi-confederal st ...
Bogusław Leszczyński, believing that John II Casimir was a weak king or a Jesuit-king, encouraged Charles Gustav to claim the Polish crown. John II Casimir had few friends among the Polish szlachta, as he openly sympathized with Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
and showed disregard and contempt for the Commonwealth. Poznań Voivode Krzysztof Opaliński surrendered Great Poland to Charles Gustav, and soon other voivodes followed.
Although much of the Commonwealth, including Warsaw
Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...
, Kraków
Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 1596 ...
, and the western portions of the Grand Duchy, were taken by the Swedes, King John II Casimir and his allies were able to regain power after a few years starting with the Jasna Góra resistance and the Tyszowce Confederation. The Swedish defeat and eventual retreat from the territories of the Commonwealth spelled an abrupt end for the plans of Janusz and Bogusław.[ Janusz died in ]Tykocin
Tykocin is a small town in north-eastern Poland, with 2,010 inhabitants (2012), located on the Narew river, in Białystok County in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. It is one of the oldest towns in the region, with its historic center designated a His ...
, besieged by loyal Commonwealth forces (desperate Swedish defenders later blew themselves up).
Legacy
Janusz Radziwiłł is ill-remembered in Polish popular culture, particularly due to the negative portrayal of his supposed treason and alliance with Swedes during the Deluge by Polish 19th century Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes ( ; sv, Nobelpriset ; no, Nobelprisen ) are five separate prizes that, according to Alfred Nobel's will of 1895, are awarded to "those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind." Alfr ...
winner, Henryk Sienkiewicz. Sienkiewicz, in his Trilogy
A trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected and can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, and video games, and are less common in other art forms. Three-part wor ...
, wrote about Radziwiłł's death: ''"Earthly ruin, a fallen soul, darkness, nothingness-that is all he managed to attain as a reward for service to himself"''.[
In Lithuania Janusz Radziwiłł (Jonušas Radvila) is remembered favourably as prominent patron of Lithuanian press and defender of the interest of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
Janusz Radziwiłł (1612–1655) is portrayed prominently as ]Hetman
( uk, гетьман, translit=het'man) is a political title from Central and Eastern Europe, historically assigned to military commanders.
Used by the Czechs in Bohemia since the 15th century. It was the title of the second-highest military co ...
by Władysław Hańcza
Władysław Hańcza (1905–1977) was a Polish actor and theatre director. During World War II he joined an underground theater. After the war he was a lecturer at the State Theatre Academy in Warsaw.
Selected filmography
* '' Popioły'' (1965) ...
, in the movie-epic ''The Deluge
The Genesis flood narrative (chapters 6–9 of the Book of Genesis) is the Hebrew version of the universal flood myth. It tells of God's decision to return the universe to its pre- creation state of watery chaos and remake it through the microc ...
'' by Jerzy Hoffman
Jerzy Julian Hoffman (; born 15 March 1932) is a Polish director, screenwriter, and producer. He received the Polish Academy Life Achievement Award in February 2006.
Hoffman is best known for his works in '' The Deluge'' (1974) and ''With Fire a ...
.
References
;In-line:
;Bibliography:
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Radziwill, Janusz 1612-1655
1612 births
1655 deaths
People from Panevėžys County
Secular senators of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish people of the Russo-Polish War (1654–1667)
Polish Calvinist and Reformed Christians
Field Hetmans of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Great Hetmans of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Lithuanian Calvinist and Reformed Christians
Janusz 1612
17th-century Lithuanian people
Polish military personnel of the Khmelnytsky Uprising
Voivode of Vilnius