Usually, when it comes to the richest Ukrainians, they remember modern oligarchs. However, a real record holder lived in the sixteenth century-Prince Vasyl-Kostyantin Ostrozky. The historian Alexander Alfyorov told about it, emphasizing that it was a true "magnate of the era", which changed the course of Ukrainian history.
The descendant of the famous commander Konstantin Ostrozky, Prince Vasyl-Konstantin inherited not only the family name, but also tremendous estates. He owned 80 cities, 40 locks and more than 2,700 villages. His annual income was about 19 million zlotys - an equivalent of more than 50 tons of gold a year. Even in modern realities, such figures are striking.
Ostrozky was distinguished not only by economic power but also by cultural activity. He became a patron of science and education. It was with his support that the Ostroh Academy appeared - the first higher education institution on Ukrainian lands, which became a symbol of Orthodox resistance to Catholicization by the Polish Crown.
Another heritage was the Ostroh Bible - the first full publication of Church Slavonic. It became not only a religious but also a cultural phenomenon that formed the spiritual consciousness of Ukrainians.
Thus, Prince Vasyl-Konstantin Ostrozky remains not only the historical ruler of unprecedented wealth, but also a figure that combined political power, enlightenment and national dignity. His figure is a reminder that true wealth is measured not only with gold but also in the way in history.
