Michael Glinski

Michael Lvovich Glinsky (Lithuanian: Mykolas Glinskis; Russian: Михаил Львович Глинский; Polish: Michał Gliński; 1460s – 24 September 1534) was a noble from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania of distant Tatar extraction, who was also a tutor of his grand-nephew, Ivan the Terrible.

As a young man, Glinsky served in the court of Emperor Maximilian I and earned distinction for his military service.

Just after commanding the victorious Battle of Kletsk against the Crimean Khanate in August 1506, he was accused of conspiracy against the deceased Grand Duke Alexander Jagiellon and lost all his wealth.

The rebellion was unsuccessful and Glinsky retreated to the Grand Duchy of Moscow, where he served Vasili III of Russia.

When the Muscovite–Lithuanian Wars renewed in 1512, Glinsky was instrumental in helping Moscow to capture Smolensk, a major trading centre.

[3] During his twelve-year tour of western courts, Glinsky could boast of personal connections and relationships with many members of the nobility, including Emperor Maximilian I.

The following year he was granted privileges to conduct lucrative trade in wax and oversee the coin mint in Vilnius.

In August 1506, Glinsky replaced Stanisław Kiszka, the Great Hetman of Lithuania, who had fallen ill, as the commander of the Lithuanian army during the Battle of Kleck.

[4] His men then unsuccessfully attacked Kaunas Castle in an attempt to liberate imprisoned Sheikh Ahmed, the deposed Khan of the Great Horde.

Glinski proclaimed himself a defender of the discriminated Eastern Orthodox believers and envisioned the establishment of the Duchy of Boristen (ancient name for the Dnieper River) with capital in Smolensk.

Despite support from the Grand Duchy of Moscow, Glinski failed to capture Minsk, Slutsk, Orsha, Mstsislaw, Krychaw.

Elena spread rumours that Glinski quickened Vasili's death with poison as he did to Alexander Jagiellon in Lithuania.