A Unique Book About One Famous Family

Radziwiłł family is one of the largest and most important in the history of Lithuania. If we look at the ducal Radziwiłł family of the Holy Roman Empire through the prism of personalities, we will find a queen, a cardinal, many ministers, and voivodes. The Radziwiłłs took interest in all fields: warfare, art, religion, and public activity. Many of them contributed to science and art.

The book is briefly illustrated by historical genealogical excerpts from authentic documents, derived from 1346 to 1758. "Schema Consangvinitatis" is reflected in the photo with the list of graphic portraits.

The author of the panegyric, a dedication to Michał Kazimierz Rybeńko Radziwiłł and text commentaries, is the Nesvyžiai Castle archivist Martynas Pranciškus Viobė. The copper engravings for the album were created by the court artist Herszek Leibowicz (1700–1770) and other court artists. The album contains the ex libris of Rybeńko Radziwiłł, which was created by Leibowicz. The cover is decorated with a super ex libris that probably belonged to the library of Castellan of Vilnius and Voivode Michał Hieronim Radziwiłł (1744–1831).

The album was printed in the Jesuit printing house of Nesvyžius with a print run of only 50 copies.

Bishop of Samogitia Mikołaj Radziwiłł (~1496–1529).

He was son of Mikolaj Radziwiłł, a magnate and statesman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Samogitia or Žemaitija is one of the five ethnographic regions of Lithuania, located in northwestern Lithuania.

Duke of Biržai and Dubingiai, Grand Hetman of the Duchy of Lithuania, Chancellor, and Voivode Mikołaj Radziwiłł "the Red" (~1515–1584).

Mikołaj "the Red" was an active promoter of the Protestant religion. He founded several churches and schools, and also granted land to them. Later Mikolaj "the Red" inherited Biržai Castle and encouraged Reformation in Lithuania which origins may be traced to the town nearby.

Bishop of Vilnius Jerzy Radziwiłł (1556–1600).

In 1583 he was elevated to be the first Lithuanian Cardinal by Pope Gregory XIII. In addition to that, Jerzy Radziwiłł established Vilnius Seminary and helped to obtain university status for the Jesuit Academy in Vilnius.

Grand Marshal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Voivode of Vilnius Mikołaj Krzysztof Radziwiłł the Orphan (1549–1616).

After the treaty at Vienna in 1515 all Radziwills were Imperial Princes and he held a position as Imperial Prince of the Holy Roman Empire.

Unlike many other members of Radziwiłł family he tried to stay away from politics. He became famous for his eventful pilgrimage trip to the Holy Land. During his voyage he visited not only Palestine, but also Syria, Egypt, Crete, Cyprus, Italy, and Greece.