Aleksander Chodkiewicz (Ukrainian: Олександр Ходкевич; Belarusian: Аляксандар Хадкевіч; Lithuanian: Aleksandras Chodkevičius; c. 1475 – 28 May 1549) was a Ruthenian noble from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, founder of the Supraśl Orthodox Monastery. He inherited vast possessions from his father Ivan Chodkiewicz, which made him 11th wealthiest person in the Grand Duchy according to the military census of 1528. Via his mother Jawnuta (Agnieszka) of the Belsky family, he was second cousin to Kings of Poland and Grand Dukes of Lithuania John I Albert, Alexander Jagiellon, and Sigismund I the Old. Chodkiewicz quickly gained influence under Alexander Jagiellon, becoming royal marshal. However, after Alexander's's death in 1506 his career stagnated. He supported Queen Bona Sforza, gaining her favor and becoming starost of Brest in 1528. The peak of his career came in 1544 when young Sigismund II Augustus, still influenced by his mother, appointed Chodkiewicz as voivode of Nowogródek and his son Hieronim as Castellan of Trakai.
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Early life and political career
He was born around 1457. As a young boy, Chodkiewicz was taken hostage with his family by the Tatars of the Crimean Khanate in October 1482. His father and sister died in captivity, while he, his mother and sister Agrafena were ransomed in 1484 and returned to Lithuania. Chodkiewicz appeared in the political arena in 1495 when he won a court case against the caretakers of a royal estate. At the time he already was a member of the Royal court. Chodkiewicz was a favorite of Grand Duke Alexander Jagiellon, who granted him his first public position as governor of Punia in 1501. On October 30, 1501, Chodkiewicz was among 27 nobles agreeing to abide by the Union of Mielnik. The next year he was appointed as royal Master of the Horse (koniuszy). It was an honorary title, but signified royal favor. In 1506, Chodkiewicz became royal marshal (marszałek hospodarski), a position which guaranteed close contacts with the King and granted a seat in the Lithuanian Council of Lords. However, after the death of Alexander Jagiellon, Chodkiewicz's career stagnated.