Astikai

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Astikai (Latin: Astikus, Polish: Oscik or Ostik) was a Lithuanian noble family, that prospered in late 14th and early 17th centuries.

Founder of the family was Kristinas Astikas, a noble from Kernavė. His name is first mentioned in 1398 in the Treaty of Salynas as castellan of Užpaliai. After Union of Horodlo he received coat of arms Traby. From 1419 until his death in 1442 or 1444, he was castellan of Vilnius. He was a strong supporter of Vytautas the Great and participated in signing of many treaties, including Peace of Toruń in 1411, Treaty of Melno in 1422, and Union of Grodno in 1432. One of treaties mentions his father name, Radvilas. However, that is the only clue into the genealogy of Astikai family. Some early historians tried to prove that Astikai ancestor was Grand Duke Traidenis' brother Sirputis.

It is known that Kristinas Astikas had four sons: Radvilas, Stanislovas (sometimes also called Stankus), Mikalojus and Baltramiejus. Radvila Astikas (died in 1477) was voivode of Trakai and became an ancestor of a new family, known as Radvilos. Later the name was polonised to Radziwiłł. Since there is nothing known about Mikalojus and Baltramiejus, historians assume they died in their youth. Stanislovas became a voivode of Navahrudak and continued the Astikai family line. His son Gregory became Court Marshal in 1494. As a vicegerent of Anykščiai and Merkinė, he participated in the Battle of Vedrosha in 1500 and was taken prisoner. After he returned, he received his old title of Court Marshal, but did not get the old lands. Instead he received Užpaliai and other territories ruled by his brother Radvilas and his sons. From 1510 to his death in 1518 or 1519 Gregory was also a voivode of Trakai.

After Gregory's death, the family started losing its influence and prestige. Gregory had three sons, Gregory, voivode of Navahrudak and castellan of Vilnius who died in 1557, Stanislaw, voivode of Polatsk who died in 1519, and Jurgis, Court Marshal who died in 1546. Only Jurgis had children: sons Mikalojus, Jonas, Gregory, and Jurgis and daughters Joan and Sophie. Mikalojus was starosta of Kreva and Rēzekne. He popularized the theory that Astikai family roots from Sirputis and changed his name to Astikas Sirputis. Another son Jurgis (1530 - 1579) was starosta of Mstislavl and Bratslav, and voivode of Smolensk. In 1580 Jurgis' brother Gregory received death sentence because he falsified signatures and money. He was also accused of conspiracy with Moscow to assassinate Stefan Batory, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. Gregory's only son, Jonas, was acquitted. Jonas, a petty officer in Vilnius, was the last member of the Astikai family. The date of his death is unknown.

[edit] References

(Lithuanian) Jonynas, Ignas. (1933). "Astikas". Lietuviškoji enciklopedija I: 1299-1303. Ed. Vaclovas Biržiška. Kaunas: Spaudos Fondas.
(Lithuanian) "Astikai". Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija I: 111-112. (1985). Ed. Jonas Zinkus, et. al. Vilnius, Lithuania: Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija.