Krzysztof Mikołaj "Perkūnas" Radziwiłł

Prince Krzysztof Mikołaj Radziwiłł, nicknamed "Piorun" (The Thunderbolt) (Lithuanian: Kristupas (Mikalojus) Radvila „Perkūnas“, 1547–1603) was a Reichsfürst of the Holy Roman Empire and a member of the nobility of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.[1]

Radziwiłł family coat of arms: Trąby
For the 19th-20th Century Polish politician, see Krzysztof Mikołaj Radziwiłł
Krzysztof Mikołaj Radziwiłł
Born1547
Vilnius, Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Died20 November 1603
Łosośna, Kingdom of Poland
Board member ofCalvinist
Spouse(s)Katarzyna Sobek z Sulejówka h. Brochwicz
Katarzyna Ostrogska
Katarzyna Tęczyńska
Elżbieta Ostrogska
Childrenwith Katarzyna Ostrogska:
Janusz Radziwiłł
with Katarzyna Tęczyńska:
Krzysztof Radziwiłł
Halaszka Radziwiłł
Parent(s)Mikołaj "the Red" Radziwiłł
Katarzyna Tomicka-Iwińska

He was cup-bearer of Lithuania from 1569, Field Hetman of Lithuania from 1572, Castellan of Trakai, Deputy Chancellor of Lithuania from 1579, Voivode of Vilnius Voivodeship from 1584, Great Lithuanian Hetman from 1589, and Starost.[1]

Krzysztof Mikołaj Radziwiłł was one of the most talented commanders in the service of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the wars against Muscovy and Sweden, and won the Battle of Kokenhausen.[1] He received a nickname "the Thunderbolt" (Lithuanian: Perkūnas) for his deadly and very successful cavalry raids against the Ivan the Terrible forces in the Tsardom of Russia territory during the Livonian War and forced it to capitulate.[2] His achievements combined with his powerful Radziwiłł family backing helped him rise to his various voivode and starost offices and further increased his family's wealth.[1]

Like his father, brother, and nephew he was an ardent Calvinist, and an adherent of the Polish Reformed Church, and defended it against the rise of the Counter-Reformation.[1]

References
  1. "Kristupas Radvila Perkūnas". vle.lt. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  2. Jokubauskas, Vytautas. "Ivano košmaras – kaip keli tūkstančiai LDK karių ant kelių parklupdė visą Rusiją". DELFI. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
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