Barbora Radvilaite was exceptionally pretty, her beauty was noticed in her early youth. She was of medium height, slender and graceful, she had an oval face and fair hair. Her subtle taste and delicate aesthetic sense ensured that her luxurious clothes had an elegant look. In addition, she skilfully used cosmetics which even stronger revealed her beauty.
In 1537 Barbora, who was only 17, had to get married to the 29-year-old son of the nobleman of Trakai Voivodeship Stanislovas Goshtautas. So, the speculations in fiction that she had to get married to an old man are groundless. By this marriage two famous GDL (Grand Duchy of Lithuania) noble families became relatives. The father of the groom, Albertas Goshtautas,was one of the brightest personalities in the history of the GDL. He worked on the First Statute of the GDL and initiated the writing of the Bychowiec Chronicle. When the young couple got married, a marriage contract was signed, according to which Barbora was assigned 48,000 Lithuanian money for life. The marriage lasted only five years because Stanislaus Goshtautas suddenly got ill and died. The widow had some financial problems because according to the laws of GDL after the whole family dies out, the property, so called “die out” went to the treasury of the Grand Duke. The Radvilas appealed to Queen Bona about this: she ordered to leave a part of the Goshtautai property to Barbora Radvilaite.
Ever since the love story of Sigismund II Augustus and Barbora Radvilaite started. In the spring of 1548, Barbora remained in Dubingiai, despite Sigismund Augustus, having already returned from Krakow to Vilnius. At the beginning of April, the knight who had come from Vilnius delivered her the invitation from Sigismund II Augustus to come to him as soon as possible as he had to ascend the throne.
On April 17, he urgently summoned the nobles of GDL to a meeting in the Vilnius Castle and, declared that he was secretly married, and now he solemnly announced that the Duchess of Trakai was his official wife. After these words, the King went to the door of the Council room. The door was opened, and Barbora was on the threshold. The King took her by the hand, and led her into the hall, saying that everyone here would respect her "as a Queen and a Lady." The crowd reacted with deathly silence, and even the powerful Radvilas did not dare to read the eulogy written to greet the newlyweds.
Sadly, the love between Barbora and Sigismund II Augustus was not destined to endure for long. On 8 May 1551 Queen Barbora confessed, received St. Communion, was given the Last Rites and a couple of hours later, at noon, she died in her husband's arms. There was no end to the grief of Sigismund II Augustus. At first, he did not take a step away from his sick wife's bed, and after her death, he did not leave her body.
Sigismund II Augustus wanted to execute the last will of his wife and decided to bring her body to Vilnius, in order not to leave her for eternal rest in Krakow. First, the coffin with the remains of the deceased was placed in the Wawel Castle. For two weeks, her husband kept vigil by the deceased's side almost not leaving the site. Then the coffin was transported to the Krakow Cathedral, after a mournful mass, the funeral cortege went to Vilnius, the capital of the GDL. The journey lasted about a month, Barbora's remains were covered with lime. The grief-stricken dressed in mourning clothes Sigismund II Augustus rode after the coffin. When the funeral procession reached a city, a town or a village, Sigismund II Augustus dismounted his horse and walked with his head down.
The dignified funeral of Queen Barbara took place in Vilnius. 24 June 24, 1551. It was attended by the GDL nobility, thousands of Vilnius residents, and only the Polish lady, the mother and sisters of King Sigismund II Augustus were not present. The coffin with the remains of Queen Barbora was lowered into the crypt of St. Kazimierz chapel and placed next to the coffin of his first wife Elizabeth of Austria. After death, they were both equal. For the rest of his life, the king did not forget Barbora, he dressed only in black the royal residence was draped black at his request. Eight years after Barbora's death, the king arrived in Vilnius and had been sitting for a long time at Barbora's coffin and listening to the "Song at Barbora Radvilaite tomb" composed by the court composer.
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