Bogusław Radziwiłł
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| Bogusław Radziwiłł | ||
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| Noble Family | Radziwiłł | |
| Coat of Arms |
Trąby - Radziwiłł Coat of Arms uses The Trąby in the center of a Black Eagle in a Golden Shield |
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| Parents | Janusz Radziwłł Elisabeth Sofie |
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| Consorts | Anna Maria Radziwiłł | |
| Children | with Anna Maria Radziwiłł Ludwika Karolina Radziwiłł |
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| Date of Birth | May 3, 1620 | |
| Place of Birth | Danzig | |
| Date of Death | December 31, 1669 | |
| Place of Death | Königsberg (Polish: Królewiec; Lithuanian: Karaliaučius) | |
Prince Bogusław Radziwiłł (1620-1669) of the Radziwill noble family, who had received title and positions as Reichsfürsten (Imperial Prince) of the Holy Roman Empire by emperor Maximilian I, was also a Polish-Lithuanian noble (szlachcic) and magnate.
He was the owner of Biržai, Dubingiai, Słuck and Kopyta, great Standardbearer of Lithuania since 1638, Master of the Stables of Lithuania since 1648, Starost barski. Boguslaus Radziwill was governor of Prussia (generalny gubernator Prus Królewskich) since 1657.
From 1637 to 1648 he studied abroad, in Germany, Netherlands, England and France.
Since several decades, the interests between Radziwiłł family and the state (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth) begun to drift apart, as Radziwłł were less and less satisfied with the magnatial status of the family and its immense wealth and began craving for more political power.
In 1654, during the Swedish invasion of Poland, known as The Deluge, together with his cousin Janusz Radziwiłł, he began negotiations with Swedish king Charles X Gustav of Sweden, aimed at breaking the Commonwealth and the Polish-Lithuanian union. They signed a treaty according to which was founded Swedish-Lithuanian union and Radziwiłłs were to rule over two Duchies carved up from the lands of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
The Swedish defeat and eventual retreat from the territories of the Commonwealth abruptly ended the plans of Janusz and Bogusław. The earlier died in a Tykocin castle besieged by forces loyal to the Commonwealth, while Bogusław retreated with his forces to Prussia, where he supported Friedrich Wilhelm against the Polish King. In the Battle of Prostki (October 8, 1656), Bogusław's forces were decimated by the Commonwealth forces under hetman Wincenty Korwin Gosiewski. Bogusław Radziwiłł himself was captured by the Tatars who initially enslaved him and wanted to transport him to Crimea. After fierce discussions with the Tatar commanders, he was handed over to Gosiewski.
Both Bogusław's and Janusz's lines of the Radziwiłł family became extinct by the next generation. In Poland it is believed that their only lasting achievement was to tarnish the Radziwiłł family name for years to come with their treason eclipsing the deeds of other Radziwiłłs like Michał Kazimierz Radziwiłł, who fought for the Crown and the Commonwealth against the Swedes.
Bogusław is the archvillain in a novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz, The Deluge (book), which is mandatory school reading in Poland, and is also the basis for a very popular film, The Deluge (film). This biases the view that Poles have of him (and of his brother as well).
Bogusław died in exile in Königsberg, the last Calvinist male member of his family. His estates and the task to protect the Polish Reformed Church passed to his only daughter.
