Ulrich Hosius

Ulrich Hosius (German: Ulrich Hosse; Polish: Ulryk Hozjusz; Lithuanian: Ulrichas Hozijus, ca. 1455–1535 Vilnius) was a Polish and Lithuanian noble of German descent. Born in Pforzheim, he lived most of his life in Lithuania, at the court of the Polish kings and Grand Dukes of Lithuania. In early 16th century he was made a high-ranking official at the Kraków mint. Soon after, in the year 1504 he moved to Kaunas, where he became prominent and influential citizen. Later Hosius relocated to Vilnius where he headed the newly-opened Lithuanian Mint and took the offices of mayor (Castellan) of Vilnius between 1524 and 1535, Khorunzhyi of Vilnius castles during the years 1528-1535. From 1513, Hosius was appointed as a supervisor at the reconstructions of the Lower castle of Vilnius by Sigismund The Old and as a supervisor of the reconstruction of the Royal palace of Vilnius. From 1515 Hosius supervised the building of the Royal Mills of Vilnius. He is remembered as the builder of the Green Bridge (1532-1534), one of the first permanent bridges across the Neris River and the first recorded owner of the village of Bezdonys (since 1516). Hosius started the construction of St. Theresa church in Vilnius. About the same time Ulrich Hosius started the construction works on The Holy Trinity asylum in Vilnius (Dominikonų str. 14), that were finished by his son, Stanislaus Hosius in 1570, who rose to the ranks of a Catholic bishop, cardinal and a Papal legate. It was also Ulrich Hosius, who supervised the constructions of the first water-supply system of Vilnius.