Radziwiłł family
Polish-Lithuanian noble family / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The House of Radziwiłł (Polish pronunciation: [raˈd͡ʑiviww]; Lithuanian: Radvila; Belarusian: Радзівіл, romanized: Radzivił; German: Radziwill) is a Polish princely family of Lithuanian origin, and one of the most powerful magnate families originating from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and later also prominent in the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland.
Radziwiłł | |
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Earlier spellings | Radvila |
Place of origin | Kernavė, Grand Duchy of Lithuania |
Founded | 15th century |
Founder | Radvila Astikas |
Connected families | Astikai family Bouvier Danish Royal Family Greek Royal Family Rzewuski family House of Hohenzollern House of Wittelsbach House of Krasinski House of Habsburg-Lorraine House of Castellane House of Clary und Aldringen House of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg House of Wettin House of Urach |
The family was founded by Radvila Astikas, but over time it split into many branches, such as the Biržai-Dubingiai and Goniądz-Meteliai lines. However, most of the branches became extinct by the 18th century, with only the Nesvizh-Kleck-Ołyka line surviving to this day. Their descendants were highly prominent for centuries, first in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, later in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Kingdom of Prussia. The family produced many individuals notable in Lithuanian, Polish, Belarusian, German as well as general European history and culture.[1] The Radziwiłł family received the title of Reichsfürst (prince) from the Holy Roman Emperor in the mid 16th-century.
The Nesvizh Castle complex, maintained by the family between the 16th century and 1939, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.[2]