Editing Jan Karol Chodkiewicz (section)

==Assessment and remembrance==
[[File:Chodkevičius200906166.JPG|thumb|right|A monument to Chodkiewicz in [[Kretinga]], present day Lithuania]]
In 1937, Polish historian [[Wanda Dobrowolska]], wrote in her [[Polish Biographical Dictionary]] entry on Chodkiewicz that he was one of the chief members of the "Great Hetman era", renowned for his talent as a strategist and organizer.<ref name="psb365"/> She notes that Chodkiewicz possessed an iron will, which he was able to impose on the troops under his command, and that he was an efficient commander, although more respected and feared than beloved by his troops.<ref name="psb365"/> Dobrowolska notes that he was an energetic and explosive antithesis of the composed Żółkiewski, another great hetman of this era, whom Chodkiewicz disliked and competed with throughout his life.<ref name="psb366"/>

Chodkiewicz was not particularly involved in the Commonwealth's politics, although his high office and wealth gave him significant influence; for the most part he used his political influence, and base of support in Lithuania, to gather support for his military plans, increase the armies' sizes, and personal gratifications.<ref name="psb366"/> His life was dominated by warfare, if not on the front lines, then on the political scene against other Lithuanian magnates, particularly the [[Radziwiłł family]] and the Sejm politicians whom he held responsible for not passing enough taxes to support the armies he wanted.<ref name="psb366"/>

Over his career he acquired significant wealth, and funded a number of churches and other prestigious buildings.<ref name="psb366"/> He often worked with the [[Jesuit]]s, including funding their [[Kražiai College|College in Kražiai]].<ref name="psb366"/> He strongly believed his service should be rewarded with land grants, but he would simultaneously often use his own money to pay for military expenses.<ref name="psb366"/> In his private life he is remembered as a very proud individual, and for stressing his identity as a member of the [[Lithuanian nobility]].<ref name="psb366"/> He was a family man, devoted to his family, but his only son, from his marriage in 1593 to Zofia Mielecka, died aged 16 in 1613, and she died in 1618.<ref name="psb366"/> He remarried in 1620, wedding Anna Alojza Ostrogska in November 1620, shortly before departing on his final campaign.<ref name="psb367"/> Also that year his daughter Anna married a Lithuanian magnate, [[Jan Stanisław Sapieha]].<ref name="psb367"/>

Some poems and other works praising him were written during his lifetime, and a religious work was dedicated to him by the Jesuit [[Piotr Skarga]].<ref name="psb366"/> More works on Chodkiewicz were written in the years after his death.<ref name="psb366"/> He was one of [[Wacław Potocki]]'s characters in his epic novel on the Khotyn war ({{langx|pl|Transakcja wojny chocimskiej}}), and he also appeared in the works of [[Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz]] and [[Zofia Kossak-Szczucka]], usually portrayed as a patriot and military genius.<ref name="psb367"/>

In 2021, commemorating the 400th anniversary of his death, a number of ceremonies were held in Lithuania. Firstly, a monument of Jan Karol Chodkiewicz was unveiled in a yard of the [[Chodkevičiai Palace]] in [[Vilnius]].<ref name="PaminklasLrt">{{cite web |title=Įvyko iškilmingos paminklo Jonui Karoliui Chodkevičiui atidengimo ir "Aukso medalio" įteikimo ceremonijos |url=https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/kultura/12/1502736/ivyko-iskilmingos-paminklo-jonui-karoliui-chodkeviciui-atidengimo-ir-aukso-medalio-iteikimo-ceremonijos |website=[[Lrt.lt]] |access-date=25 September 2021 |language=lt |date=24 September 2021}}</ref><ref name="PaminklasZmones">{{cite web |title=Vilniuje atidengtas paminklas J.K.Chodkevičiui: inicijavo E.Jakilaičio vadovaujamas fondas |url=https://www.zmones.lt/naujiena/vilniuje-atidengtas-paminklas-j-k-chodkeviciui-inicijavo-e-jakilaicio-vadovaujamas-fondas.70b14caa-1d5d-11ec-b17e-aa00003c90d0 |website=Žmonės.lt |access-date=25 September 2021 |language=lt}}</ref> Also, a new Lithuanian award Jonas Karolis Chodkevičius Gold Medal for State Strengthening Activities was established, with its first laureate being Jonas Ohmanas.<ref name="PaminklasLrt"/><ref name="PaminklasZmones"/> While commemorating the same anniversary in [[Kretinga]], which was established by Jan Karol Chodkiewicz in 1602, a [[cenotaph]] was placed in Chodkiewicz family [[crypt]] of the [[Kretinga Bernadine Monastery|Church of the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary]] as in his testament he demanded to be buried in Kretinga's church crypt, alongside his first wife and his sons, however his remains fate is unknown as his second wife buried him in [[Ukraine]], but the church with his remains was demolished in the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Andriejauskaitė |first1=Jurgita |title=Didi diena: didžiojo karvedžio valia Kretingoje įgyvendinama po 400 metų |url=https://www.15min.lt/pasaulis-kiseneje/naujiena/per-lietuva/didi-diena-didziojo-karvedzio-valia-kretingoje-igyvendinama-po-400-metu-642-1568834 |website=[[15min.lt]] |access-date=25 September 2021 |language=lt}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Kretingoje - Jono Karolio Chodkevičiaus 400 mirties metinių iškilmės |url=https://www.atviraklaipeda.lt/2021/09/24/kretingoje-jono-karolio-chodkeviciaus-400-mirties-metiniu-iskilmes/ |website=AtviraKlaipeda.lt |access-date=25 September 2021 |language=lt-LT |date=24 September 2021}}</ref> Also, [[Lithuanian Armed Forces Motorized Infantry Brigade Žemaitija]] was renamed to Lithuanian Grand Hetman Jonas Karolis Chodkevičius Infantry Brigade Žemaitija.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kretingoje - Lietuvos didžiojo etmono Jono Karolio Chodkevičiaus 400-ųjų mirties metinių minėjimas ir kenotafo atidengimas |url=https://ve.lt/gyvenimas/kretingoje-motorizuotai-pestininku-brigadai-zemaitija-suteiktas-naujas-pavadinimas |website=Ve.lt |access-date=25 September 2021 |language=lt |date=24 September 2021}}</ref>