Radziwill

Radziwill is the Anglicized form of the Polish surname Radziwiłł (Lithuanian: Radvilai or Radvilai), belonging to one of the most prominent noble families of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Radziwiłłs originated in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and rose to power as major magnates whose influence extended across the territories that now comprise Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine.

Throughout the 16th to 18th centuries, the family accumulated vast estates and built significant seats, including Nesvizh Castle in present-day Belarus and Olyka Castle in present-day Ukraine. Their properties and palaces—along with churches and monasteries they patronized—made them central figures in the political, cultural, and religious life of the region. The Radziwiłłs bore the distinctive Trąby (Horns) coat of arms and comprised numerous branches that supplied governors, chancellors, military leaders, and other high-ranking officials within the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

In the modern era, the political power of the Radziwiłł family declined with the partitions of Poland and subsequent political changes. Nevertheless, members continued to appear in public life, and the family remains a subject of historical and genealogical interest. Today, the name is primarily encountered as a historic noble lineage rather than a ruling dynasty, with its legacy preserved through aristocratic titles, preserved estates, and cultural heritage sites.

The Radziwiłł name is closely associated with notable historic sites, such as Nesvizh Castle, and with the broader history of the Polish-Lithuanian nobility. The spelling Radziwill is commonly used in English-language contexts, while Radziwiłł and Radvilai reflect local forms.