Jan Hieronimowicz Chodkiewicz
Jan Hieronimowicz Chodkiewicz was a 16th-century Lithuanian noble. He was 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.
Vilnius Cathedral, place of Jan's burial
The Duchy of Samogitia was an administrative unit of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1422. Between 1422 and 1441 it was known as the Eldership of Samogitia. Since the 1540s the Grand Duke of Lithuania also held the title of Duke of Samogitia, although the actual ruler of the province, responsible to the Grand Duke, was known as the General Elder of Samogitia who was self-elected by the Samogitian nobility.
Samogitia in the 17th century
Image: POL Stanisław Kieżgajło
Image: Jan Chadkievič. Ян Хадкевіч (XIX)
Image: Jan Karal Chadkievič. Ян Караль Хадкевіч (XVII) (6)