Anniversary of the death of Hetman the large Lithuanian Jan Karol Chodkiewicz (1560-1621).
Today in our calendar we will look at the life and activities of 1 of the most prominent commanders of the Republic of Poland.
John came from the Polishized Lithuanian nobility. His parents were Jan Jeromeovich and Krystyna Zborowska. The grandpa of the future hetman converted from Orthodox to Protestantism, but his father converted under counter-reformation to Catholicism. In his youth, Jan Karol was educated in the Jesuit College and later in the recently established Vilnius Academy, radiating a advanced level of teaching throughout east Europe.
The young nobleman turned out to be the top of his class. He posed as a student and perfected his cognition of law and doctrine at the renowned Bavarian university in Ingolstadt, which he graduated with distinction. He was a large talker and polyglot, a truly versatile man, due to the fact that he was besides a alien to geometry and astronomy. He was besides a profoundly believing Catholic, a modest person, and aloof. He returned to the country in 1589, where he took up administration of his properties.
He began his military career highly late – as only in 1596 – at the age of 36. At the time, he perfected his military skills alongside the distinguished chief Stanisław Żółkiewski, helping to grumble the Cossack Uprising of Semen Nalewajka. In 1600 he took part in the expedition of Hetman Jan Zamoyski to Moldova, where he had already demonstrated advanced tactical skills, for which he was awarded a nomination for a Lithuanian hetman.
A year later, the authorities of the Republic directed him north, where he participated in the fighting against the Polish Inflanty Swedes. As a field commander, he appeared as outstanding practices of the old Polish martial art, which in his hands was perfected. Radziwiłł took part, among others, in the winning conflict of Kokenhausen. The time of his top successes came in 1602, erstwhile he became an independent commander in the Infinities.
Leading the thin forces, he chess and liquidated much larger Swedish troops of Karol Sudermański. He captured many cities and castles, captured Dorpat and crashed the enemy in an open conflict at the White Stone. Since 1604, he has already performed as a Lithuanian hetman in place of the late Krzysztof Radziwiłł.
On September 27, 1605 he made the top of his actions – he completely crushed the Swedish army 3 times as many as it was at the conflict of Kirchol. His answer to the frightened enemy of soldiers went back to past – I'll number them erstwhile I beat them.. This triumph was claimed by the full world, and Chodkiewicz gained the fame of the invincible commander.
As a hetman, he was known for maintaining a hard discipline, but besides to give a individual example of patriotism, sacrifice, and piety. Before each start, he had to organize the Holy Mass, for it was from his religion that he had the strength to act.
Unfortunately, his victories were not politically exploited by the Parliament of the Walls. The besides thin and irregularly paid army could not lead to the conquest of present-day Estonia and the final triumph in the war. Defetism, malcontent, and desertion spread. Nothing is asked by the captain and the king himself to increase money for the military. In addition, Rokosz Zebrzydowski broke out.
Chodkiewicz left Infanty and supported regalists against supporters of noble democracy in the conflict of Guzow. After his victory, he returned north, where he again fought against the Swedes, taking distant Parnawa and the fortress of the Dijament. The war ended with a truce of 1611. At that time, Jan Karol went on a fresh campaign, this time in Russia. His task was to break through the mass of the revolutionous population in order to unlock the Polish crew around the Kremlin.
Unfortunately, despite beating his opponent respective times, he failed to scope Moscow. Again, his problems were caused by financial shortcomings and the besides thin army. The war died for a fewer years to refire in 1617 – due to the establishment of an anti-Polish alliance by the Tsar and King of Sweden. Hetman set out with Prince Władysław on a war expedition that ended successfully for Poland A truce in the Division.
He was not only celebrated for his military feats but besides for his large administration of his properties. He cared for townspeople and peasants and was a generous patron of churches, monasteries and education. He has secured many of his cities and castles, which has strengthened the overall defence of the ends of the Republic. The last mission of an old and sick hetman was to effectively defend Chocimia against the Turkish army in 1621, during which he died. Just a year earlier, he married his second wife, 20-year-old Anna Alojza Ostrogska.
Jan Karol Chodkiewicz was a prominent chief and statesman. Although his military career began comparatively late, he became – alongside Stanisław Żółkiewski – a legendary commander of the First Republic. He combined intelligence and large cognition with deep religion and love of the Homeland. Thanks to these attributes he achieved crucial successes and became a model for subsequent generations of Polish patriots.
Previous entry from our calendar is available Here.
