MUZ * sapie112.html

LEW SAPIEHA, of Lis coat of arms (1557-1633)

Marshal of the regular Seym in Warsaw 4 X-25 XI 1582
Grand Clerk of Lithuania from 1581, Vice-Chancellor of Lithuania from 1585, Grand Chancellor of Lithuania from 1589, Palatine of Vilna from 1623, Grand Hetman of Lithuania from 1625


He studied in Leipzig, then worked in the chancellery of king Stephen Bathory under John Zamoyski. In 1584 and 1600 he was an envoy to Moscow, supporting the plans of political and ecclesiastical union with Muscovy. He took part in Bathory's and Zygmunt's III wars (eg. the 1618 Moscow campaign of Royal Prince, Władysław). He conducted negotiations before the Deulino Truce (1619). As the Chancellor of Lithuania he set the statute book in order and reorganized the judiciary. He advised to Zygmunt III and approved of his policy aimed at mounting the Muscovy throne. He participated in numerous political missions. The author of several works, among others:'A Way of Tribunal Law'(1616). Father of Kazimierz Lew Sapieha

Portrait of Lew Sapieha, 18th c.

painter undefined,
oil canvas; 200cm x 111cm
The National Museum in Warsaw (cat. no MP 3367 MNW)