Katarzyna Weiglowa | |
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_cropped.jpg) Burning of Katarzyna Weiglowa (Malcherowa) byJan Matejko 1859 | |
| Born | Katarzyna Zalasowska c.1460 (1460) |
| Died | 19 April 1539 (1540) (aged 80) |
| Cause of death | burned at the stake forapostasy |
| Other names | Katarzyna Waiglowa, Catherine Vogel |
| Known for | regarded byUnitarians andJews as amartyr |
| Spouse | Melchior Weigel |
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Katarzyna Weiglowa (Wajglowa) (German:Katherine Weigel; given erroneously in a Polish source of 17c. asVogel (c.1459-1539), and known in many English sources asCatherine Vogel[a];c. 1460 – 19 April 1539) was a Polish woman who wasburned at the stake forapostasy by thePolish Inquisition. She converted fromRoman Catholicism toJudaism or toJudaizingnontrinitarianism,[1] and was executed inKraków after she refused to callJesus Christ theSon of God. She is regarded byUnitarians andJews (among others) as amartyr.
She was born Katarzyna Zalasowska, a daughter of Stanisław Zalasowski[2] and widow of Melchior Weigel, merchant and councilman of Kraków. In theJewish Encyclopedia she appears under a variant spelling of her maiden name asCatherine Zelazowska.[3] Little is known about her life before 1529–1530 when she appeared several times before anepiscopal court in Kraków, and refused to abjure "mistakes of the Jewish faith".[1]
Catherine probably started professingnontrinitarianism under the influence of writings byMartin Borrhaus, published in 1527. TheJewish Encyclopedia suggests[3] that she followed the example of a daughter ofMikołaj II Radziwiłł and embracedJudaism. She tried to promote her views during theSejm debates in 1538–1539.[4]
At the age of 70, Catherine was imprisoned in Kraków under the charge of confessing "heresy" by the order ofPiotr Gamrat,bishop of Kraków,[5] who had accused her beforeQueen Bona.
She admitted professing the unity of God, and rejecting the notion of "Holy Trinity". She spent 10 years in prison,[6] before she was burnt alive at the stake on the Little Market place in Kraków at the age of 80. According to written testimonies, even on the stake she refused to abjure her faith which she confessed loudly until the end.[7] Because of her Nontrinitarian views Catherine was not defended by PolishProtestants. However, after her death believers from different branches ofProtestantism have often referred to her as a victim of religious persecutions and a martyr.[4]
The burning of Catherine was a surprising incident in Poland, which, in the 16th century, ranked among the countries with the highest degree ofreligious tolerance.
After her death her fate faded into obscurity in Poland. TheSejm in 1539 did not take a stance on her execution, and mentions of her have been preserved mainly in Protestant polemical writings and inJudeophobic literature from the 17th century.[8]
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