Krzysztof Radziwiłł

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For his father of the same name, see Krzysztof Mikołaj "Piorun" Radziwiłł

Krzysztof Radziwiłł

Noble family	Radziwiłł
Coat of arms	Trąby
Born	March 22, 1585(1585-03-22)
	Biržai
Died	September 19, 1640
	Svėdasai
Father	Krzysztof Mikołaj Piorun Radziwiłł
Mother	Katarzyna Tęczyńska
Consorts	Anna Kiszka
Children	Janusz Radziwiłł Katarzyna Radziwiłł

Prince Krzysztof Radziwiłł (Lithuanian: Kristupas Radvila) (1585-1640) was a Polish-Lithuanian noble (szlachcic), and a notable magnate of his epoch. Sometimes referred to as Krzysztof Radziwiłł II, to distinguish him from his father, Krzysztof Mikołaj 'Piorun' Radziwłł.

Owner of Biržai, he was Field Hetman of Lithuania from 1615, Castellan of Vilnius from 1633, Voivode of Vilnius Voivodeship from 1633, Great Lithuanian Hetman from 1635, starost of Mahilyow, Bystrzyca, Žiežmariai and Seje. In 1632 he served as Marshal of the Sejm.

He took part in the campaign against the Swedes in the Baltic region in 1621-1622 (Polish-Swedish War), where he agreed to a truce. Important commander of Lithuanian forces during the Smolensk War, where he was instrumental in obtaining the capitulation of the Russian army, also successfully fought in Inflanty against Sweden from 1617 until 1635. Afterwards he retired from his military career, concentrating on administering his estates. A Calvinist, he was a great protector of Protestants in Lithuania.

He was an opponent of Catholic king Sigismund III Vasa, but a supporter of his more tolerant son, Władysław IV Waza. An advocate of Władysław's marriage to a Protestant princess, he distanced himself from the king after Władysław declined this marriage proposal. He opposed an alliance between the Commonwealth and the Habsburgs. On his lands in Kėdainiai he set up a Calvinist cultural and religious centre, which flourished till the 19th century as a center of the Polish Reformed Church.

His large horse stables were famous throughout Europe.