Olshanski

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Olshanski (Lithuanian: Alšėniškiai or Alšėnų kunigaikščiai, Polish: Holszański) was a Lithuanian^[1] princely family from Galšėnai (Alšėnai, Halshany, Гальшаны), Belarus, which used to be a part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Their Coat of Arms was Hipocentaur. During the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries the family was Orthodox by faith and Ruthenian by language, although Pavel Olshanski was a Catholic Church official. The last wives of Jogaila and Vytautas came from this family. The Olshanski family ended in 1558, following the death of Prince Pavel Olshanski. Princess Maria Olshanskaya, the wife of Andrey Kurbsky, died in 1586.^[2] Their estates were inherited by the Sapieha family, which hailed from Smolensk. One of the main seats if the family was the Rokantiškės Castle.

[edit] Members

For the first time Olshanski family is mentioned in written sources at the end of the 14th century when Ivan, son of Algimantas, assisted Vytautas the Great in his fight with Jogaila. This is the only mention of Algimantas, the founder of the dynasty. Such a late mention of strong family is attributed to the geographic location of their domain: Halshany was not in the way of either the Livonian Order or the Teutonic Knights. It is unknown how the family managed to maintain their status during long and stable reigns of powerful Grand Dukes of Lithuania from the Gediminid dynasty.

Ivan Olshanski (Lithuanian: Jonas Alšėniškis) is the first known and undisputed member of the family. He was faithful companion of Vytautas and viceregent of Kiev. His children were:
- Juliana Olshanski became the third wife of Vytautas in 1418.
- Alexander Olshanski (Lithuanian: Aleksandras Alšėniškis) went to serve Vasili I of Russia, Vytautas' son-in-law, in 1406. He ruled Pereyaslavl until 1408 when Švitrigaila came to Moscow. Alexander's further destiny is unknown.
- Andrew Olshanski (Lithuanian: Andrius Alšėniškis) is sometimes called Duke of Kiev only because his father was viceregent there. Andrew had three daughters
  - Sophia of Halshany, who married Jogaila and gave birth to Wladislaus III of Poland and Casimir IV of Poland
  - Maria, who married to Iliaş of Moldavia
  - Vasilisa, who married Algirdas's grandson.
- Michael Olshanski (Lithuanian: Mykolas Alšėniškis) is first mentioned in the Treaty of Melno of 1422 as viceregent of Kiev. He was loyal to Švitrigaila and helped him to fight Sigismund Kestutaitis until his brother Simanas was killed by the order of Švitrigaila. Michael was also likely killed by Švitrigaila.
- Simanas Olshanski was one of the most important people in removing Švitrigaila from the throne in 1432. He was faithful to the new Grand Duke Sigismund Kestutaitis, but in 1433 was captured and killed by Švitrigaila in Vitebsk.
  - Jurgis Olshanski
    - Alexander Olshanski (used to sign as Alexander Juriovicz) is first mentioned in 1486 as starosta of Hrodna. Later, after death of Casimir IV, he was promoted to castellan of Vilnius. In 1506 he received title of starosta of Brest in exchange of lost Hrodna. He died in 1511.
      - Janusz Olshanski studied in Cracow in the late 1480s. In 1501-1504 he served as starosta of Slonim. He is mentioned in 1505 for the last time.
      - Jurgis Olshanski was mentioned for the first time in 1502. He was voivode of Kiev from 1508 to his death in 1510.
      - Pawel Olshanski (died in 1555) was bishop of Lutsk and Vilnius and the last male successor of the Olshanski princely family.

[edit] References

In-line

^ Bumblauskas, Alfredas (2005). Senosios Lietuvos istorija 1009-1795. Vilnius: R. Paknys Press, 207. ISBN 9986-830-89-3.
^ A.N.Narbut (1995). Genealogy of Belarus, vol. 1. Moscow.

General

(Lithuanian) Jonynas, Ignas (1933). "Alšėniškiai". Lietuviškoji enciklopedija I. Ed. Vaclovas Biržiška. Kaunas: Spaudos Fondas. 347-359.
(Lithuanian) "Alšėnų kunigaikščiai". Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija I. (1985). Ed. Jonas Zinkus, et. al. Vilnius, Lithuania: Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija. 52.