Jerzy Radziwiłł

Who was Jerzy Radziwiłł?

Prince Jerzy Radziwiłł was a Polish–Lithuanian nobleman from the Radziwiłł family. He was a Catholic bishop and cardinal. Radziwiłł was also an Imperial Prince.

Raised a Calvinist, Radziwiłł was educated at the University of Leipzig. In 1572 he converted to Catholicism and became associated with the Jesuits. He continued to study at Jesuit colleges in Poznań, Vilnius, and Rome. Even though he was ordained to priesthood and elevated to cardinal only in 1583, Radziwiłł began his duties as Bishop of Vilnius in 1579. He established Vilnius Seminary and helped to obtain university status for the Jesuit Academy in Vilnius. In 1591, he became Bishop of Kraków.

Radziwiłł was also involved in political life. He served as deputy administrator of Livonia from 1582 until 1585. He participated in the election of king Sigismund III Vasa and became his trusted adviser. Radziwiłł supported the Third Statute of Lithuania and the Union of Brest.

He died in Rome and was buried in the Church of the Gesu.