Stanisław Kiszka

For the Bishop of Samogitia, see Stanisław Kiszka (bishop).

Stanisław Piotrowicz Kiszka (Lithuanian: Stanislovas Kiška; died in 1513 or 1514) was a noble from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He became the founder of the House of Kiszka. He was sent on diplomatic missions to the Grand Duchy of Moscow and Kingdom of Poland. During the Second Muscovite–Lithuanian War (1500–03), he successfully defended Smolensk and became Great Hetman (commander of the army). Shortly before his death, Kiszka also became Grand Marshal of Lithuania.

Biography

Kiszka started his political career as a stolnik (royal pantler) and starosta of Lida in 1488. In 1492, Alexander Jagiellon became the Grand Duke of Lithuania. During his first years, Alexander appointed 11 Grand Duke's marshals which signified his desire to build an inner circle. Kiszka became marshal in 1492. During the reign of Alexander, Kiszka served as a diplomatic envoy to the Grand Duchy of Moscow and Kingdom of Poland. The first of Muscovite–Lithuanian Wars ended in 1494 and resulted in substantial territorial losses for Lithuania. Alexander's marriage to Helena of Moscow, daughter of Ivan III of Russia, gave Moscow further pretexts to interfere in Lithuanian affairs. During that tense time, Kiszka was a member of delegations dealing with Russian matters in 1494, 1495, 1498, 1500. Kiszka was also sent to diplomatic missions to Poland in 1492, 1495, 1496 where Alexander's brother John I Albert was elected as King.

In 1499, he became regent of Smolensk and ordered improvements to Smolensk Kremlin. When the war with Moscow resumed in 1500, Kiszka joined the military effort. The war and particularly the defeat in the Battle of Vedrosha pushed Kiszka to support the proposed Union of Mielnik that would have united Poland and Lithuania and provided Polish military support against Russia. Kiszka successfully commanded defense of Smolensk in 1502. Due to his military achievements, he became the Great Hetman until Konstanty Ostrogski was released from Russian captivity in 1507. Six-year truce with Moscow was concluded in early 1503 and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania lost about a third of its territory.

Kiszka became entangled in a political conflict with royal favorite Michael Glinski and was temporarily removed from the Lithuanian Council of Lords in 1505. Kiszka, as Great Hetman, was supposed to command Lithuanian troops in the Battle of Kletsk against the Crimean Khanate but was unable due to poor health. Nevertheless, Kiszka helped to subdue Glinski's Rebellion that grew into the Third Muscovite–Lithuanian War (1507–08). He became starosta of Hrodna in 1508 and Grand Marshal of Lithuania in 1512.

Family

Kiszka was a son of Piotr Strumiłło, starosta of Drohiczyn and Lida, whose ancestors hailed from Mazovia. He married Sophia, daughter of Petras Jonaitis Mangirdaitis, Voivode of Trakai. The marriage to the last heiress of the influential Mantigirdai family provided a career boost and increased Kiszka's wealth. His son Piotr was ranked as the 10th wealthiest noble in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania according to the 1528 military census.

Kiszka had three known children:

• Piotr Kiszka (died in 1534) who became Voivode of Polotsk and Elder of Samogitia
• Barbara Kiszka who married Jerzy Radziwiłł
• Anna Kiszka who married Stanislovas Kęsgaila and Jan Radziwiłł