Zbigniew Oleśnicki | |
|---|---|
| Cardinal Archbishop of Kraków | |
 Oleśnicki painted by Jan Bąkowski, 1900. | |
| Installed | 1423 |
| Term ended | 1455 |
| Predecessor | Wojciech Jastrzębiec |
| Successor | Tomasz Strzępiński |
| Other post(s) | Statesman and diplomat |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1389-12-05)5 December 1389 |
| Died | 1 April 1455(1455-04-01) (aged 65) Sandomierz, Kingdom of Poland |
| Buried | Wawel Cathedral |
| Nationality | Polish |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Coat of arms |  |
Zbigniew Oleśnicki (Polish:[ˈzbiɡɲɛfɔlɛɕˈɲit͡skʲi]; 5 December 1389 – 1 April 1455), known inLatin asSbigneus, was a high-rankingRoman Catholic clergyman and an influentialPolish statesman and diplomat. He served asBishop of Kraków from 1423 until his death in 1455. He took part in the management of the country's most important affairs, initially as a royal secretary under KingWładysław II Jagiełło and later as the effectiveregent during KingWładysław III's minority. In 1439 he became the first native Polishcardinal.
Shortly before his birth his father, Jan Oleśnicki, was dispatched by kingWładysław Jagiełło to serve as captain of Vilnius and to bring a detachment of knights there. At the beginning of theLithuanian Civil War the city was under the governance of the Polish king's brother, Skirgaila, and came under siege by the combined forces of the pagan Samogitians under Jagiello's cousin and rivalVytautas and the army of theTeutonic Order with their guest crusaders from France, England, and the Holy Roman Empire. He was apparently successful in his mission as, despite repeated sieges, the Teutonic Order was never able to take Vilnius.
At the age of twenty he was secretary to KingWładysław Jagiełło, and fought with him in thebattle of Grunwald on 15 July 1410.[1] A favourite with the king, he took part in the management of the country's most important affairs.[1] His influence with the king greatly aided him in opposing theHussites, who had gained royal favour.[1] On 9 July 1423, he was appointed to theepiscopal See ofKraków, and in 1433 he was sent by the king as legate to thecouncil of Basle, where he endeavoured to be on friendly terms with both parties.[1]
In the 1430s he opposedSpytek of Melsztyn in a conflict which led to a short lived civil war and Spytek's death in 1439.[2][3]
On 18 December 1439, he was createdcardinal priest with the titular church ofSt. Prisca, byPope Eugene IV.[1] (The antipopeFelix V also made him a cardinal on 20 January 1440.[4]). As cardinal, his influence in Poland was second only to that of the king, and, during the frequent absence ofCasimir IV inLithuania, he transacted the affairs of the State.[1]
He was recognized as one of the two most important Polish magnates of his time (the other one was magnateJan Tęczyński [pl]).[5]
In 1449, after the death ofarchbishop of Gniezno andprimate of PolandWincenty Kot, the position was proposed to Oleśnicki, but he refused it. It then passed to his political rival, bishopWładysław Oporowski.[6]
In his conduct of Poland's affairs Oleśnicki entertained far-reaching imperial dreams, which included a complete assimilation ofLithuania into the Polish state and the conquest ofSilesia from theKingdom of Bohemia. In particular, Oleśnicki pursued the idea of a Crusading alliance withHungary against theOttoman Turks, with the ultimate aim of extending Poland's boundaries to theBlack Sea. This was manifested in promotingWładysław III's taking theHungarian Crown - to which some Polish magnates were strongly opposed. However, all these aspirations came to naught with King Władysław's death at theBattle of Varna.[citation needed]
Being a man of great learning, he advanced the study of arts and letters in every possible way, and the flourishing condition of theUniversity of Krakow during his episcopacy is due chiefly to his efforts.[1] The well-known chroniclerJan Długosz was his secretary.[7] To repress the spread of Hussitism he calledGiovanni da Capistrano (then inBreslau) and theMinorites to Kraków.[1]
Da Capistrano, whom Oleśnicki invited, was also known for his anti-Jewish zeal, in which he engaged in Poland as in other countries. Oleśnicki's own Anti-Jewish intolerance was manifested in his strongly criticisingCasimir IV for reaffirming in 1453 the tolerant measures towards Jews enacted byCasimir III. Under Oleśnicki's influence, the 1454Statutes of Nieszawa included the provisions that Jews' rights be "restricted when they contradictcanon law" and that Polish Jews be compelled to wear distinctive clothing. However, this was never enforced in practice.[citation needed]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Ott, Michael (1911). "Zbigniew Olesnicki". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.).Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company.| Preceded by | Bishop of Kraków 1423–1455 | Succeeded by |
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