Hrehory Chodkiewicz (Lithuanian: Grigalius Chodkevičius, Ukrainian: Григорій Олександрович Ходкевич, romanized: Hryhorii Oleksandrovych Khodkevych; c. 1514 – 12 November 1572 or 19 November 1573) was a Ruthenian noble and military officer of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He was a son of Aleksander, brother of Hieronim and Yurii, and uncle of Jan Hieronimowicz Chodkiewicz. He commanded the Grand Ducal Lithuanian Army during the latter part of the Livonian War after he had become the Grand Hetman of Lithuania in 1566.
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Early life and career
Hrehory Chodkiewicz was the son of Aleksander Chodkiewicz. He was long held to have been born around 1505. However, Lithuania historian Genutė Kirkienė noted that in such a case Chodkiewicz began his political career in his mid-forties, when most nobles started in late twenties or early thirties. Kirkienė suggested that his father's marriage and birth of children should be moved from 1500s to mid-1510s. As a young boy Chodkiewicz was sent to the court of Albert, Duke of Prussia. He returned in 1532 with personal recommendation letters from Albert to King Sigismund I the Old, Prince Sigismund II Augustus and Queen Bona Sforza. The relationship and correspondence with Albert continued for decades; Chodkiewicz sent both of his sons to be educated at Albert's court.