Rywalizacja Radziwiłłów i Chodkiewiczów o pierwsze miejsce w elicie politycznej Wielkiego Księstwa Litewskiego w latach 60. i 70. XVI wieku

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Chodkevičiai; Jogailaičiai (Jagiellonian dynasty); Konkurencija; Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė (LDK; Grand Duchy of Lithuania; GDL); Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė (LDK; Grand Duchy of Lithuania; GDL); Lietuvos magnatų konkurencija; Liublino unija, 1569 (Union of Lublin); Livonija (Livonia); Radvilos (Radziwill; Radvila family); Steponas Batoras (Stefan Batory; István Báthory; Stephen Bathory); Tarpuvaldis; Chodkevičiai, Chodkiewiczes; Interregnum; Lithuanian magnate rivalry; Livonia; Rivalry; Stefan Batory; The Chodkiewicz family; The Grand Duchy of Lithuania; The Jagiellonians; The Lublin Union; The Radvila's family; Union of Lublin.

ENIn the middle of the 16th century there were two important political events in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania: the war with Muscovy (1558-1582) and the Union of Lublin with the Kingdom of Poland. During the preparations forthat newPolish-Lithuanian Union many changes in constitutional structure of Lithuania took place. They were influenced by the rivalry between the most powerful magnate families in Lithuania: the Radziwills and the Chodkiewiczs. The leaders of the Radziwiłł family were Nicholas “The Black”, chancellor and voivode of Vilnius, and after his death in 1565 his cousin Nicholas “The Red”. The main representative of the Chodkiewicz family was Jan Chodkiewicz, governor of Samogitia, castellan of Vilnius and regent of Livonia. Interests of the Lithuanian state only shortly consolidated both magnate families. For example, it took place after the death of the last king of the Jagiellonian dynasty, Sigismund Augustus in 1572 when the Chodkiewiczs and the Radziwills concluded agreement between themselves. This agreement was to unify Lithuanian politicians being afraid of Polish predomination during the interregnum. However the formal collaboration didn’t obviate the rivalry about dignities and landed properties, although Nicholas Christopher Radziwiłł “The Orphan” (Radziwiłł “The Black’s” son) was a great intercessor of the agreement between both families. Finally the rivalry ended in victory of the Radziwiłł family. Under the reign of Stefan Batory (1576-1586) they gained predominant political position among Lithuanian magnates. At that time the Radziwills took the majority of important dignities in Lithuania. [From the publication]