Olshanski

Olshanski (Lithuanian: Alšėniškiai or Alšėnų kunigaikščiai, Belarusian: Гальшанскі, Polish: Holszański) was a Lithuanian^[1] princely family from Galšia (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 most of the family was Orthodox by faith and Ruthenian by language, although there were exceptions, in particular Pavel Olshanski was a Catholic Church official. The last wives of Jogaila and Vytautas came from this family. The Olshanski family ended in 1556, following the death of Prince Semen (his uncle Pavel Olshanski, last-but-one male representative of the family, died just one year before). Princess Maria Olshanskaya, the wife of Andrey Kurbsky, died in 1586.^[2] Their estates were inherited by the Sapieha family, which hailed from Smolensk. The seats of the family included Halshany Castle and Rokantiškės Castle.

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 Iwan Belski.
  • 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.
  • Semen (Simanas) Olshanski, nicknamed Luty (the Fierce or the Cruel) in the chronicles, 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 participated in the election of Casimir IV Jagiellon in 1440.
      • Alexander Olshanski (used to sign as Alexander Juriovicz) is 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. It is likely that Alexander, first in his family, converted to Roman Catholicism.
        • 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-but-one male successor of the Olshanski princely family.
      • Iwan Olshanski-Dubrovicki (executed in 1481 for participation in a conspiracy against the Grand Duke).
        • Juri (Jurgis) Olshanski-Dubrovicki, voivod of Kiev.
          • Numerous children, all of the sons died childless. Among them was Semen (Simanas), the last male successor of the family (died in 1556). The vast possessions of the Dubrovicki branch of the family passed to the daughters of Juri, and through them to the families of Sapieha, Polubinski, etc.
      • Iuliania, who died at 16 and was later canonized by the Orthodox Church; little is known about her life, and there is some dispute as for which Juri/Jurgis Olszanski was her father, Juri Semenowicz or Juri Iwanowicz of Dubrovica.

References

In-line

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

General

1. (Lithuanian) Jonynas, Ignas (1933). "Alšėniškiai". In Vaclovas Biržiška. Lietuviškoji enciklopedija. I. Kaunas: Spaudos Fondas. pp. 347–359. 
2. (Lithuanian) Jonas Zinkus, et al., ed (1985). "Alšėnų kunigaikščiai". Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija. I. Vilnius, Lithuania: Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija. pp. 52. 
3. (Polish) Wolff J. Kniaziowie litewsko-ruscy od końca czternastego wieku. – Warszawa, 1895. S. 94-115;

See also

• Halshany