Radvila Astikas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Radvila Astikas or Astikaitis (baptized Nicholas;[1] Polish: Radziwiłł Ościkowicz; died in 1477) was a magnate, a member of the Astikai and founder of the Radvila (Radziwiłł) family. He was a member of the Lithuanian Council of Lords and one of the most influential people in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
Radvila Astikas | |
---|---|
Grand Marshal of Lithuania Voivode of Trakai Castellan of Vilnius | |
Died | 1477 |
Noble family | Astikai Radziwiłł (founder) |
Issue | Mikalojus Radvila the Old Anna |
Father | Kristinas Astikas |
Mother | Anna |
Astikas was one of the sons of Kristinas Astikas. He was first mentioned in written sources in the 1411 Treaty of Melno.[1] He was Grand Duke's marshal in 1420–29 and 1440–52.[1] Radvila Astikas was Voivode of Trakai (1466–77) and Castellan of Vilnius (1475–77), as well as Grand Marshal of Lithuania (1433–34, 1463–74).[2] He was sent to several diplomatic missions: to Teutonic Knights in 1466, 1447, and 1448, to Golden Horde in 1452.[1] He also participated in negotiating the 1473 Treaty of Kurcums which defined the Lithuanian–Livonian border.[3] There were rumors that in 1440 Astikas was considered as a candidate to the Grand Duke's throne instead of Casimir Jagiellon, but they should be taken with a grain of salt.[4]
Astikas' patrimonial lands were around Kernavė, Anykščiai, Užpaliai. His most important patrimonial possession was Musninkai where he funded a Catholic church.[1] In 1447, Grand Duke Casimir Jagiellon gifted Kėdainiai to Astikas and he was instrumental in turning the village into a growing trade center that traded with the Hanseatic League.[5][6] Additionally, he had landholdings in Upninkai, Širvintos, Biržai, Vyžuona, and others.[7] Astikas also donated for the construction of St. George Church, Kaunas.[8]
His wife's name or origin is unknown.[1][9] His son Mikalojus Radvila nicknamed "the Old" was the first to carry "Radvila" as a family name. His daughter Anna married Petka Jogailavičius (Petko Jagojłowicz).[1][9] Astikas and his wife Eudoxia were the great-great-great grandparents of Elizabeth Báthory.