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Hrehory Chodkiewicz

Vilnius, 1513 – Zabłudów, 29 Nov 1572

15 facts2 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born1513, Vilniusnot verified1 source
  • Titlevoivode of Kyiv, 1555–1559or kasztelan trocki, 1559 · field lithuanian hetman, 1561–1566 · Elder of Samogitia, 1562 · Castellan of Vilnius, 1564–1572 · Great Hetman of Lithuania, 1566–1572not verified1 source
  • Titlekasztelan trocki, 1559or voivode of Kyiv, 1555–1559 · field lithuanian hetman, 1561–1566 · Elder of Samogitia, 1562 · Castellan of Vilnius, 1564–1572 · Great Hetman of Lithuania, 1566–1572not verified1 source
  • Titlefield lithuanian hetman, 1561–1566or voivode of Kyiv, 1555–1559 · kasztelan trocki, 1559 · Elder of Samogitia, 1562 · Castellan of Vilnius, 1564–1572 · Great Hetman of Lithuania, 1566–1572not verified1 source
  • TitleElder of Samogitia, 1562or voivode of Kyiv, 1555–1559 · kasztelan trocki, 1559 · field lithuanian hetman, 1561–1566 · Castellan of Vilnius, 1564–1572 · Great Hetman of Lithuania, 1566–1572not verified1 source
  • TitleCastellan of Vilnius, 1564–1572or voivode of Kyiv, 1555–1559 · kasztelan trocki, 1559 · field lithuanian hetman, 1561–1566 · Elder of Samogitia, 1562 · Great Hetman of Lithuania, 1566–1572not verified1 source
  • TitleGreat Hetman of Lithuania, 1566–1572or voivode of Kyiv, 1555–1559 · kasztelan trocki, 1559 · field lithuanian hetman, 1561–1566 · Elder of Samogitia, 1562 · Castellan of Vilnius, 1564–1572not verified1 source
  • Died29 Nov 1572, Zabłudówor 22 Nov 1572 · 19 Nov 1572 · 29 Nov 1573Records disagree1 source

A life in time

  1. 1513

    Born in Vilnius

  2. 1555–1559

    Voivode of Kyiv

  3. 1559

    Kasztelan trocki

  4. 1561–1566

    Field lithuanian hetman

  5. 1562

    Elder of Samogitia

  6. 1564–1572

    Castellan of Vilnius

  7. 1566–1572

    Great Hetman of Lithuania

  8. 29 Nov 1572

    Dies in Zabłudów

Family

See the tree

Partner

Children · 1

During his lifetime

He lived through 7 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Vilnius.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1510s · Hrehory is born in Vilnius

In the news1514

Lithuanian Victory at Battle of Orsha 1514

The Battle of Orsha on September 8, 1514, saw a Lithuanian army of 30,000 men defeat a 40,000-strong Moscow force, a major event in the ongoing 1512–1522 war.

At the table

Fresh fish was a vital supplement

Ordinary people caught and ate a wide variety of fish from local lakes and rivers, including pike, perch, and occasionally sturgeon, as a vital supplement to their diet.

What people wore

Simple Footwear for Everyday Life

Ordinary city dwellers and peasants often wore naginės, which were simple, plain-soled shoes made from a single piece of animal skin, and they frequently wrapped cloth around their shins and feet for protection.

Getting around

Slow travel between towns

Travel between towns was slow, and a trip between Vilnius and Kaunas, which today takes under ninety minutes, required an entire day in the 16th century. Travelers often avoided moving at night to reduce the risk of getting lost or driving off the road.

What it cost

Cost of fur garments

In the ruler's court, fox fur garments for attendants were valued at prices ranging from 22 to 100 groshi, depending on quality.

Music

Sacred hymns and folk instruments

Kankles, an archaic string instrument, were believed to have protective spiritual powers and were traditionally crafted by men from mature forest wood. In church, people sang Gregorian chants and the religious hymn Bogurodzica, which was also sung by soldiers before battles.

Daily life

Lack of schooling for common children

Peasant and burgher children were rarely educated in schools, as they were often illiterate and expected to help with agricultural work from a young age. While some parish schools existed, primary education was sparse and focused on religious instruction.