Mikołaj "the Black" Radziwiłł
Mikołaj Krzysztof Radziwiłł, nicknamed the Black, was a Lithuanian and Polish noble who held several administrative positions within the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, including the Voivode of Vilnius, Grand Lithuanian Chancellor, and the Grand Hetman of Lithuania. He was also Reichsfürst (Prince) of the Holy Roman Empire.
Portrait of Mikołaj 'Czarny' Radziwiłł
Reburial of Mikołaj the Black in the Dubingiai, Lithuania
Tapestry which depicts Emperor Charles V granting the title of prince to Mikołaj "the Black" Radziwiłł in 1547
Armor which belonged to Mikołaj the Black
Barbara Radziwiłł was Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania as consort of Sigismund II Augustus, the last male monarch of the Jagiellon dynasty. Barbara, a great beauty and already widowed, became a royal mistress most likely in 1543 and they married in secret in July or August 1547. The marriage caused a scandal; it was vehemently opposed by Polish nobles, including Queen mother Bona Sforza. Sigismund Augustus, assisted by Barbara's cousin Mikołaj "the Black" Radziwiłł and brother Mikołaj "the Red" Radziwiłł, worked tirelessly to gain recognition of their marriage and to crown Barbara as Queen of Poland. They succeeded and Barbara's coronation was held on 7 December 1550 at Wawel Cathedral. However, her health was already failing and she died just five months later. Even though it was brief, her reign propelled the Radziwiłł family to new heights of political power and influence.
Portrait of Barbara Radziwiłł by Lucas Cranach the Younger (ca. 1551)
Sigismund II Augustus and Barbara Radziwiłł in Vilnius by Jan Matejko
Barbara Radziwiłł in coronation robes and pearls that became her signature jewelry. 18th-century copy of an original 16th-century portrait.
Death of Barbara Radziwiłł by Józef Simmler