Jan Boner (before 1463–1523), also known asHans Boner, was a German naturalised Polish merchant and banker. He was one of the wealthiest people of his time in Europe.
Born before 1463 inLandau inPalatinate, early in his life he started a merchant business inBreslau. In 1483 he settled inKraków, in Poland. A wealthy merchant and tradesman dealing with spices, metals,timbers, livestock, etc., he opened branch offices of his firm in many towns of Poland, Germany, Russia andHungary. In 1498, he was elected to the Town's Charter, and in 1514, he was granted citizenship by the KingSigismund I of Poland, who granted him with anoble status.
As the king's banker and main purveyor to the royal court, Boner became one of the wealthiest men in Europe of his times.[1] Among other deeds, he was able to recover the royal treasury from the verge of bankruptcy, having strengthened it with roughly 200,000Red złoty, an incredible sum for 15th century standards. He bought off the Royal properties for debts, among them the entire area ofSpisz (for 12,000Red złoty from Jordan of Zakliczyn), the town ofOświęcim andRuthenian salt mines (for 14,000 Red złoty fromStanisław Kościelski) and a number of royal towns (includingSieradz,Gostynin,Radom,Sochaczew,Piotrków,Drohobycz,Rabsztyn, Głuchów,Tuchola,Nowy Sącz,Inowrocław and others).
In 1515, he became themanager of theWieliczka salt mine, one of the most profitable enterprises of the epoch, from which a large part of the Poland's income was drawn. He also received the castles ofOjców and Rabsztyn as his private property.[2] In 1522, he also became the royal governor ofKraków.
Among his most notable successes was a division of the treasury between state and royal treasuries, an arrangement that survived until thePartitions of Poland in the late 18th century. He served as financier to theKing of Poland, and acted as a representative for handling money paid to buyindulgences in Poland. He was a patron of German and Italian scholars and artists.
He died in 1523 inBreslau, during a business trip.[2]
He is featured inJan Matejko's paintingHanging of the Sigismund bell.
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