View source for Jan Hieronimowicz Chodkiewicz

{{Short description|Polish-Lithuanian noble (1537–1579)}}
{{Infobox noble
| name                = Jonas Jeronimaitis Chodkevicius
| image               = 
| title               = [[Duchy of Livonia|Governor of Livonia]]
| tenure              = 1566–1578
| house-type          = Szlachta
| noble family        = [[Chodkiewicz family|Chodkiewicz]]
| father              = [[Hieronim Chodkiewicz]] h. Kościesza
| mother              = [[Anna Szemetówna]] h. Łabędź
| spouse              = [[Zborowski_(Jastrzębiec)|Krystyna Zborowska h. Jastrzębiec]]
| spouse-type         = Consort
| issue               = [[Aleksander Chodkiewicz|Aleksander]]<br>[[Jan Karol Chodkiewicz|Jan Karol]]<br>Hieronim<br>Zofia Drohostajska<br>Anna, Princess Joachim Korecki<br>Aleksandara, Princess Adam Wiśniowiecki<br>Elżbieta, Princess Jan Żyliński
| birth_date          = 1537
| birth_place         =
| death_date          = 4 August 1579 (aged 42)
| death_place         = [[Vilnius]]
| burial_date         =
| burial_place        = [[Vilnius Cathedral]]
| CoA                 = [[File:POL COA Chodkiewicz.svg|150px]] [[Chodkiewicz coat of arms|Kościesza odm. Chodkiewicz]]
}}



''' Jan Hieronimowicz Chodkiewicz''' ({{langx|lt|Jonas Chodkevičius}}, {{langx|be|Ян Геранімавіч Хадкевіч}}) ({{Circa|1537}} – 4 August 1579) was a 16th-century [[Lithuanian noble]]. He was [[stolnik|Grand Pantler of Lithuania]] from 1559, [[Elder of Samogitia]] (1564–1579), [[Governor]] of [[Livonia]] (1566–1578), [[Grand Marshal of Lithuania]] (1566–1579),  [[Count]] of [[Shklow]] 1568, [[Castellan]] of [[Vilnius]] (1574–1579). He was the elder of [[Telšiai]] and [[Plateliai]] from 1566, of [[Rumšiškės]] from 1568, and of [[Kaunas]] from 1569.

==Early life==

He was one of the most famous [[Magnates of Poland and Lithuania|Lithuanian magnates]] of the 16th century. He was raised a [[Calvinist]]. He studied at the Universities of [[University of Königsberg|Königsberg]] (which he entered in 1547), [[Leipzig University|Leipzig]] (1550), and [[University of Wittenberg|Wittenberg]].{{Sfn|Tyla|2003|p=79}} He served in the court of the [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Holy Roman Emperor Charles V]] from 1552 to 1555.{{Sfn|Tyla|2003|p=79}} He returned to Lithuania in 1555.{{Sfn|Tyla|2003|p=79}} 

== Military service ==
From 1559, Jan Chodkiewicz defended the [[Livonian Confederation]] with the [[Grand Ducal Lithuanian Army]] against the Muscovites during the [[Livonian War]].{{Sfn|Tyla|2003|p=79}} He hired 1,200 cavalry at his own expense to defend Livonia.{{Sfn|Tyla|2003|p=79}} With the help of Michael Radziwiłł, [[Grand Chancellor of Lithuania]], he succeeded in attaching Livonia to [[Lithuania]]. But this territory remained for long the main target of Russian attacks. 

In 1564, he became [[Elder of Samogitia]], in 1566 [[Marszałek|Grand Marshal of Lithuania]] and governor of Livonia (1566–78).{{Sfn|Tyla|2003|p=79}} As governor of Livonia, he was headquartered at [[Sigulda]] near [[Riga]]. The [[Lithuanian nobles]] obliged Chodkevičius in the [[Brasta, Belarus|Brasta]] sejm to implement the union between Livonia and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, as well as to join it with [[Riga]] and Swedish-occupied [[Tallinn]].{{Sfn|Tyla|2003|p=79}} As a result, Chodkevičius managed to reach an agreement with Livonian representatives in the sejm of [[Cēsis]].{{Sfn|Tyla|2003|p=79}} Livonia was given his coat of arms.{{Sfn|Tyla|2003|p=79}}

During the battles with the Muscovite army in 1568, he led the [[Grand Ducal Lithuanian Army]] in the [[Battle of Ula]].{{Sfn|Tyla|2003|p=79}} In 1578, he participated in the [[Livonian campaign of Stephen Báthory]], the ruler of the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]], to retake [[Polotsk]].{{Sfn|Tyla|2003|p=79}}

== Union of Lublin and thereafter ==
During the preparation of the documents of the [[Union of Lublin]] (1569), he persistently defended the state interests of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and led its delegation.{{Sfn|Tyla|2003|p=79}} Just like his uncle, he was a strong opponent to the [[Polish–Lithuanian union]] at [[Union of Lublin|Lublin]].{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} The Lithuanian delegation to the meetings preparing the Act of Union between Poland and Lithuania was led by Jan, who insisted in a long impassioned speech on the equality and independence of the two nations. Finally "''bowing to the king's power, he pointed out those parts of the Act of Union which were unacceptable to Lithuania and he stated that he yielded to the King's will only with the deepest sorrow''".<ref>''Encyclopedia Lithuanica''</ref> In practice the Union of Lublin in 1569 made sure that the Grand Duchy of Lithuania retained its own form of government and separate laws until the end of the joint state in 1795.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

He supported the candidacies of the French [[Henry III of France|Henri de Valois]], the Russian [[Ivan IV the Terrible]], and the Hungarian [[Stephen Báthory]] to the throne of the ruler of the Republic of the Two Nations.{{Sfn|Tyla|2003|p=79}} In 1574, he became Castellan of Vilnius.{{Sfn|Tyla|2003|p=79}} Due to health problems and military failures, he refused the position of Governor of Livonia and was dismissed in 1578.{{Sfn|Tyla|2003|p=80}} He converted to Roman Catholicism from Protestantism in 1572.{{Sfn|Tyla|2003|p=80}} He became a great benefactor to the [[Jesuits]].

He contributed to the founding of [[Vilnius University]] and supported the chronicler [[Maciej Stryjkowski]].{{Sfn|Tyla|2003|p=80}}

== Family ==
He married the [[Calvinist]] Krystyna Zborowska before 1559 in [[Kraków]], daughter of [[Marcin Zborowski]], [[castellan]] of Krakow, and Anna Konarska. She remained Calvinist despite his conversion and raised some of their daughters in that religion despite their father's will.

They had issue: Hieronim was born at Vilnius in 1559; Aleksander at [[Trakai]] in 1560; [[Jan Karol Chodkiewicz|Jan Karol]] at Vilnius in 1560–61; Anna at Vilnius in 1562; Zofia at Vilnius in 1564, Elzbieta at Vilnius in 1568; and Aleksandra at Vilnius in 1576.

He died on 4 August 1579 and was buried in [[Vilnius Cathedral]].

==Marriage and issue==

Jan Hieronim married Krystyna Zborowska h. [[Jastrzębiec coat of arms|Jastrzębiec]] (c. 1540–1588), daughter of [[Marcin Zborowski]] h. Jastrzębiec and Anna Konarska h. [[Abdank coat of arms|Abdank]], the daughter of Stanisław Konarski h. Abdank and [[Zofia Lanckorońska]] h. [[Zadora coat of arms|Zadora]], in 1559, and had seven children:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sejm-wielki.pl/b/3.55.84|title = Krystyna Zborowska ze Zborowa h. Jastrzębiec}}</ref>

* [[Aleksander Chodkiewicz (1560)|Aleksander Chodkiewicz]] (1560-1626), [[voivode of Troki]], married Eufemia Sienieńska h. [[Dębno coat of arms|Dębno]], the daughter of [[voivode of Podole]] [[Jan Sienieński]] h. Dębno and Katarzyna Korniakt h. Krucyni, the daughter of [[Konstanty Korniakt]] h. Krucyni
* [[Jan Karol Chodkiewicz]] (1561-1621), [[Vilnius Voivodeship|voivode of Wilno]] and [[Hetman]], married [[Zofia Mielecka]] h. [[Gryf coat of arms|Gryf]], the daughter of [[voivode of Podole]] and Hetman [[Mikołaj Mielecki]] h. Gryf and Princess [[Elżbieta Radziwiłł]] h. [[Trąby coat of arms|Trąby]]. His second wife was Princess [[Anna Alojza Ostrogska]] h. [[Ostrogski coat of arms|Ostrogski]], the daughter of [[voivode]] of [[Volhynian Voivodeship (1569–1795)|Wołyń]] Prince [[Aleksander Ostrogski]] h. Ostrogski and [[Anna Kostka]] h. [[Dąbrowa coat of arms|Dąbrowa]]
* Hieronim Chodkiewicz (died 1576), unmarried
* Zofia Chodkiewicz (died 1576), married [[marszałek|Grand Marshal of Lithuania]] Krzysztof Drohostajski h. [[Leliwa coat of arms|Leliwa]]
* Anna Chodkiewicz (died 1626), married Prince [[Joachim Korecki]] h. [[Pogoń Litewska]] 
* Aleksandara Chodkiewicz, married Prince [[Adam Wiśniowiecki]] h. [[Korybut coat of arms|Korybut]] 
* Elżbieta Chodkiewicz, married Prince Jan Żyliński and [[castelan]] of [[Navahrudak]] [[Samuel Wołłowicz]] h. [[Bogorya coat of arms|Bogorya]]

==Ancestry==
{{Tree chart/start|align=center}}
{{Tree chart | | | | | | | | | | |GRM4|v|GRP4| | | | |GRP3| |GRP3=<small>'''[[Chodko Jurewicz]]'''</small>|GRP4=<small>'''[[Belsky family (Gediminid)|Fyodor Bielski]]'''</small>|GRM4=<small>'''Anna of Riazan'''</small>|boxstyle_GRP3=background-color:#afa;}}
{{Tree chart | | | | | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |!}}
{{Tree chart | | | | | | | | | |,|GRP5|`|GRM2|v|GRP2|'|GRP2='''<small>[[Ivan Chodkiewicz]]</small>'''|GRM2=<small>'''Jawnuta Bielska'''</small>|GRP5=<small>'''Jarosław Hołwczyński'''</small>|boxstyle_GRP2=background-color:#afa;}}
{{Tree chart | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |!}}
{{Tree chart | | |GrMa1|v|GRP1|`|GrMa|v|GRP|'|GRP='''<small>[[Aleksander Chodkiewicz]]</small>'''|GrMa=<small>'''Wasylissa Hołowczyńska'''</small>|GRP1=<small>'''Melchior Szemet'''</small>|GrMa1=<small>'''Elzbieta Hlebowiczówna'''</small>|boxstyle_GRP=background-color:#afa;}}
{{Tree chart | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |!}}
{{Tree chart | | | | | |`|MOM|v|DAD|'| |MOM=<small>'''Anna Szemetówna'''</small>|DAD='''<small>[[Hieronim Chodkiewicz]]</small>'''|boxstyle_DAD=background-color: #afa;}}
{{Tree chart | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | }}
{{Tree chart | | | | | | | | |ME| | | | | | |ME='''Jan Hieronimowicz Chodkiewicz'''|boxstyle_ME =background-color:#afa;}}
{{Tree chart/end}}

[[Image:Cathetral square 2007 July 15.jpg|200px|thumb|[[Vilnius Cathedral]], place of Jan's burial]]

==See also==
* [[Chodkiewicz|House of Chodkiewicz]]
* [[Lithuanian nobility]]
* [[Ruthenian nobility]]
* [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]]

==Sources==

Danuta Bogdan, Students of the Republic at the University of Königsberg, in Królewice and Poland, Olsztyn 1993, p 82.

Leszek Kieniewicz the Senate for the Stefan Batory Foundation, Warsaw 2000, p 299.

Joseph Janowski: Jan Chodkiewicz Hieronimowicz. In: Polish Biographical Dictionary . T. 3: Brozek Jan – Chwalczewski Francis. Cracow : Polish Academy of Learning – Main Ingredients in bookstores Gebethner and Wolff, 1937, pp.&nbsp;361–363. Reprint: Department of National Theatre. Ossolińskich, Kraków 1989, {{ISBN|8304032910}}.

* {{Cite encyclopedia |year=2003 |title=Jonas Chodkevičius |encyclopedia=[[Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija]] |publisher=[[Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas]] |location=Vilnius |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/jonas-chodkevicius-1/ |last=Tyla |first=Antanas |volume=IV: Cha–Dir |language=lt}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080617235723/http://www.e-familytree.net/F10/F10257.htm#1 Genealogy of Chodkiewicz family.]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080415215319/http://www.polskiedzieje.pl/drzewa-genealogiczne/drzewo-chodkiewiczowie Full interactive family tree] {{in lang|pl}}.

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chodkiewicz, Jan Hieronimowicz}}
[[Category:Secular senators of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]]
[[Category:Chodkiewicz family|Jan Hieronim Chodkiewicz]]
[[Category:Converts to Roman Catholicism from Calvinism]]
[[Category:Polish Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Hetmans]]
[[Category:People from Livonia]]
[[Category:1530s births]]
[[Category:1579 deaths]]
[[Category:16th-century Lithuanian nobility]]
[[Category:16th-century Polish nobility]]
[[Category:University of Wittenberg alumni]]
[[Category:Leipzig University alumni]]
[[Category:University of Königsberg alumni]]
[[Category:Burials at Vilnius Cathedral]]
[[Category:Lithuanian Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Duchy of Livonia]]
[[Category:Grand Marshals of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania]]
[[Category:Elders of Samogitia]]
[[Category:16th-century Polish landowners]]