Career
Alekna is mentioned in written sources in 1446. He was royal cup-bearer (cześnik, 1448–1477) and chamberlain (podkomorzy. 1449–1453). According to the Bychowiec Chronicle, Alekna led a Lithuanian squad in the 1454 Battle of Chojnice.
He was also starosta of Hrodna (1458–1459) and regent of Polatsk (1463–1477).
After the death of Mykolas Kęsgaila in 1476, Alekna became Grand Chancellor and Voivode of Vilnius. He held those positions until his death in 1490 or 1491.
The positions were taken over by Alekna"s relative Mikalojus Radvila the Old. In 1482, a brevis from Pope Sixtus IV to launch a new crusade against the Ottoman Turks was addressed to Alekna and Martynas Goštautas, Voivode of Trakai.
He considered Hozhevo (Belarusian: Хожево) near Maladzyechna and Ratomas near Minsk as his patrimony.
He also held territories near Hrodna and in Tureysk (Russian: Турейск). From Grand Duke Casimir, Alekna received Smalyavichy, Voupa, Ostroshitsy (Belarusian: Астрошыцы). lieutenant is likely that he was buried there as well.
Biased works of January Długosz claimed that Alekna was of "humble lot," when in fact Alekna hailed from an established noble family.
They had five daughters:
Sophia, wife of Alexander Olshanski
Alexandra, wife of Mikołaj Tęczyński – one of first known marriages of a Lithuanian noblewoman to a Polish nobleman
Daughter of unknown name, wife of Stanislovas Kęsgaila
Jadviga, wife of Jonas Kontautaitis, Stanislovas Mantautas, and Stanislovas Kęsgaila
Anna, a Cistercian nun.
