International exhibition “A portrait of the Lithuanian Chancellor and Voivode of Vilnius Mikalojus Radvilaitis”

Mikalojus Radvilaitis (ca 1440/1450–1510), the son of the Voivode of Trakai and Vilnius Castellan Radvila Astikaitis, was one of the earliest predecessors of the Radvila (later – Radziwiłł) family and is considered its progenitor, the surname stemming from his father’s name. The entire Radziwiłł princes family still alive today descends from him. Mikalojus Radvilaitis had earned immense trust from the Lithuanian grand dukes Casimir and Alexander Jagiellon, and held the most important Lithuanian state offices. At the start of his career, he became the regent of the strategic peripheral Smolensk land (1481), later becoming the Trakai Castellan and regent in Navahrudak (1488).

 

Actively contributing to the raising of Alexander Jagiellon to the rank of Lithuanian grand duke in 1492, Mikalojus Radvilaitis became the ruler’s most important support in Lithuania and the prime figure in the state after the ruler – the Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Voivode of Vilnius (1491). At the same time, Mikalojus Radvilaitis came to be one of the most influential members of the Council of Lords, who, given the common ruler’s frequent residencies in Poland, factually ruled the Lithuanian state.

 

The main domains of Mikalojus Radvilaitis extended in the areas of Kernavė, Anykščiai and Užpaliai, he sometimes also took the title of Lord in Musninkai and Upninkai. He was a generous patron, helping with the reconstruction of the Jagiellon-built Vilnius Bernardine monastery and church after a fire and bestowing it with an abundance of valuable objects; he was eventually buried there. He also dedicated his patronage to his patrimonial Upninkai church.