UUB, H. 154, f. 79v

Reverendissimo domino, domino Ioannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), eminent diplomat and humanist in the service of the Jagiellons, neo-Latin poet; 1530-1537 Bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 Bishop of Ermland⌊Ioanni DantiscoIoannes Dantiscus (Johannes von Höfen, Ioannes de Curiis, Jan Dantyszek, Johannes Flachsbinder) (*1485 – †1548), eminent diplomat and humanist in the service of the Jagiellons, neo-Latin poet; 1530-1537 Bishop of Kulm; 1537-1548 Bishop of Ermland⌋ episcopo Varmiensi etc. domino suo observandissimo

UUB, H. 154, f. 79r

Reverendissime Domine, domine observandissime, servitutem meam in primis Vestrae Reverendissimae Dominationi commendo.

Occurrit nuntius satis commodus ad dominum Seweryn Boner (*1486 – †1549), merchant and financial agent of King Sigismund I Jagiellon; 1520-1542 Burgrave of Cracow, 1524-1549 Governor and salt mine supervisor in Cracow, 1532 Castellan of Żarnów, 1535-1546 Castellan of Biecz, 1546-1549 Castellan of Sącz (PSB 2, p. 300-301; NOGA, p. 299)⌊Severinum BonarSeweryn Boner (*1486 – †1549), merchant and financial agent of King Sigismund I Jagiellon; 1520-1542 Burgrave of Cracow, 1524-1549 Governor and salt mine supervisor in Cracow, 1532 Castellan of Żarnów, 1535-1546 Castellan of Biecz, 1546-1549 Castellan of Sącz (PSB 2, p. 300-301; NOGA, p. 299)⌋ etc. etc. non potui me continere, quin ad Vestram Reverendissimam Dominationem V scriberem qualiacumque etiam, ut saltem Vestra Reverendissima Dominatio intelligat observantiam meam erga Eandem. Ex omni parte affertur Suleiman the Magnificent (*1494 – †1566), 1520-1566 Sultan of the Ottoman Empire⌊caesarem TurcarumSuleiman the Magnificent (*1494 – †1566), 1520-1566 Sultan of the Ottoman Empire⌋ ad futurum annum affuturum magnis copiis, ut Vienna (Wien, Vienna), city in eastern Austria, on the Danube river⌊ViennamVienna (Wien, Vienna), city in eastern Austria, on the Danube river⌋ obsideat; et citius venturus, quam antea unquam[1], quamvis etiam per certos exploratores habetur filium illius seniorem Mustafa (*1515 – †1553), the eldest son of Suleiman the Magnificent; in 1533 because of the intrigues of Roxolana and Grand Vizier Damad Rüstem Pasha, accused of plotting against his father, who sentenced him to death (CEID 2/1, p. 195, footnote 4)⌊Mustapha SolthanMustafa (*1515 – †1553), the eldest son of Suleiman the Magnificent; in 1533 because of the intrigues of Roxolana and Grand Vizier Damad Rüstem Pasha, accused of plotting against his father, who sentenced him to death (CEID 2/1, p. 195, footnote 4)⌋[2] cum Tahmāsp I Safavid (Sophi) (*1514 – †1576), 1524-1576 Shah of Persia, 2nd. Shah of the Safavid dynasty, ruled 1524 - 1576. Son and successor of Ismail I Safavid ⌊rege PersarumTahmāsp I Safavid (Sophi) (*1514 – †1576), 1524-1576 Shah of Persia, 2nd. Shah of the Safavid dynasty, ruled 1524 - 1576. Son and successor of Ismail I Safavid ⌋ concordasse contra patrem, quia timet Selim II Sarkhosh the Sot (*1524 – †1574), Ottoman Emperor (1566-1574); son of Suleiman the Magnificent and Khasseki Hurrem Sultan (Roxolana)⌊fratrem suum ex noverca procreatumSelim II Sarkhosh the Sot (*1524 – †1574), Ottoman Emperor (1566-1574); son of Suleiman the Magnificent and Khasseki Hurrem Sultan (Roxolana)⌋[3] sibi praeripere regnum ex auctoritate Khasseki Khurrem Sultan (Roxolana) (*ca. 1500 – †1558), according to tradition, the daughter of an Orthodox priest from Rohatyn; captured in the 1520s, became a favourite harem girl and next the first wife of Suleiman the Magnificent; her political influence grew from the 1530s; she did manage to secure the succession to the throne for her son Selim⌊matris imperatricisKhasseki Khurrem Sultan (Roxolana) (*ca. 1500 – †1558), according to tradition, the daughter of an Orthodox priest from Rohatyn; captured in the 1520s, became a favourite harem girl and next the first wife of Suleiman the Magnificent; her political influence grew from the 1530s; she did manage to secure the succession to the throne for her son Selim⌋[4], quae tantum apud imperatorem potest, quantum nulla unquam potuit apud quemquam, et ob id missos bassas Hadim Suleiman Pasha ⌊SuleymanumHadim Suleiman Pasha ⌋[5] et Damad Rüstem Pasha (†1561)⌊RuistamDamad Rüstem Pasha (†1561)⌋, qui primi sunt omnium. Hayreddin Barbarossa (Khair al-Din) (*ca. 1478 – †1546), famous pirate, from 1518 the service of the Ottomans; conqueror of Algiers (1519) and Tunis (1534); in 1535, after the attack of the imperial fleet under the command of Andrea Doria, he lost control of Tunis; in 1538 he occupied a number of Venetian islands in the Aegean and plundered Crete; in the same year the Ottoman fleet under his command defeated the Holy League fleet at the Battle of Preveza ; 1532 grand admiral of the Ottoman fleet (CE, vol. 2, p. 259-260)⌊BarbarossusHayreddin Barbarossa (Khair al-Din) (*ca. 1478 – †1546), famous pirate, from 1518 the service of the Ottomans; conqueror of Algiers (1519) and Tunis (1534); in 1535, after the attack of the imperial fleet under the command of Andrea Doria, he lost control of Tunis; in 1538 he occupied a number of Venetian islands in the Aegean and plundered Crete; in the same year the Ottoman fleet under his command defeated the Holy League fleet at the Battle of Preveza ; 1532 grand admiral of the Ottoman fleet (CE, vol. 2, p. 259-260)⌋ irruit in insulam Lyparim[6], quam depraedavit.

Aiunt summum Paul III (Alessandro Farnese) (*1468 – †1549), 1493 elevated to cardinal; 1524 Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia; 1534-1549 Pope⌊pontificemPaul III (Alessandro Farnese) (*1468 – †1549), 1493 elevated to cardinal; 1524 Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia; 1534-1549 Pope⌋ misisse duos cardinales, alterum ad Charles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile⌊caesarem ChristianumCharles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile⌋, alterum ad Francis I of Valois (*1494 – †1547), 1515-1547 King of France; son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy⌊GallumFrancis I of Valois (*1494 – †1547), 1515-1547 King of France; son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy⌋ Turcicum pacis causa componendae[7]. Charles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile⌊CaesarCharles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile⌋ multum temporis consumpsit obsidendo oppidum Saint-Dizier, town in northeastern France (Champagne-Ardenne), halfway between Strasbourg and Paris⌊Sancti DesideriiSaint-Dizier, town in northeastern France (Champagne-Ardenne), halfway between Strasbourg and Paris⌋[8], milites tandem fessi pacti sunt decima praesentis velle consignare oppidum 15, si non fuerit illis succursum. Charles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile⌊CaesarCharles V of Habsburg (*1500 – †1558), ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Spain as Charles I (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily, King of the Romans (1519-1530), Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation (elected 1519, crowned 1530, abdicated 1556); son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile⌋ inquam novum militem scribit, vult utique plus ultra[9]. Sunt, qui aiunt nunc obsedisse Châlons-sur-Marne (Châlons-en-Champagne, Cathalaunum), town in northeastern France, on the Marne river in Champagne, between Saint-Dizier and Reims⌊ScholonChâlons-sur-Marne (Châlons-en-Champagne, Cathalaunum), town in northeastern France, on the Marne river in Champagne, between Saint-Dizier and Reims⌋[10].

Ferdinand I of Habsburg (*1503 – †1564), from 1521 Archduke of Austria, from 1526 King of Bohemia and Hungary, Croatia and Slavonia as Ferdinand I, 1531-1558 King of the Romans, 1558-1564 Holy Roman Emperor; son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile, a younger brother of Charles V of Habsburg⌊Serenissimus rex meusFerdinand I of Habsburg (*1503 – †1564), from 1521 Archduke of Austria, from 1526 King of Bohemia and Hungary, Croatia and Slavonia as Ferdinand I, 1531-1558 King of the Romans, 1558-1564 Holy Roman Emperor; son of Philip I the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile, a younger brother of Charles V of Habsburg⌋ agit conventus[11] pro futura expeditione. De regina Elisabeth of Austria (Elizabeth von Habsburg) (*1526 – †1545), Queen of Poland, Grand Duchess of Lithuania; first wife of Sigismund II August Jagiellon (1543-1545), daughter of Ferdinand I of Habsburg, and Anna Jagiellon⌊ElisabethElisabeth of Austria (Elizabeth von Habsburg) (*1526 – †1545), Queen of Poland, Grand Duchess of Lithuania; first wife of Sigismund II August Jagiellon (1543-1545), daughter of Ferdinand I of Habsburg, and Anna Jagiellon⌋ nondum habemus quicquam immutatum. Deus reformet in melius aliquando. Vestrae Reverendissimae Dominationi me et servitia mea denuo commendo.

Dat(ae) or Dat(um)⌈Dat(ae)Dat(ae) or Dat(um)⌉ Vienna (Wien, Vienna), city in eastern Austria, on the Danube river⌊Viennae AustriaeVienna (Wien, Vienna), city in eastern Austria, on the Danube river⌋, XXVIII Augusti anno Domini 1544.

Eiusdem Vestrae Reverendissimae Dominationis obsequentissimus Sigmund von Herberstein (*1486 – †1566), diplomat in the service of Emperor Maximilian I, Charles V, and Roman King Ferdinand I, writer and historian. In 1517 sent to Poland to conduct the marriage between King Sigismund I Jagiellon and Duchess Bona Sforza d'Aragona, and to Moscow to arrange a truce between the Grand Duchy of Muscovy and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; 1515 member of the Council of the Holy Roman Empire, in 1515-1553 carried out many diplomatic missions (in 1517 and 1526 he was twice an imperial envoy at the Muscovy court)⌊Sigismundus liber baro in HerberstainSigmund von Herberstein (*1486 – †1566), diplomat in the service of Emperor Maximilian I, Charles V, and Roman King Ferdinand I, writer and historian. In 1517 sent to Poland to conduct the marriage between King Sigismund I Jagiellon and Duchess Bona Sforza d'Aragona, and to Moscow to arrange a truce between the Grand Duchy of Muscovy and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; 1515 member of the Council of the Holy Roman Empire, in 1515-1553 carried out many diplomatic missions (in 1517 and 1526 he was twice an imperial envoy at the Muscovy court)⌋ etc. manu propria

[1] See Herberstein’s letter to Duke Albrecht von Hohenzollern of the same date as the present letter Voigt, p.288), cf. cf. EFE 49 No. 481, p. 102, No. 483, p. 106, No. 486, p. 110 ⌊Elementa, XLIX, No. 481, p. 102, No. 483, p. 106, No. 486, p. 110cf. EFE 49 No. 481, p. 102, No. 483, p. 106, No. 486, p. 110 ⌋.

[2] Mustafa was well educated and sensible, he was quite popular as the expected successor to Suleiman I, as confirmed for example by the opinion of a French envoy, Guillaume Postel from 1537. In 1553, because of the intrigues of Khasseki Khurrem (Roxolana) and grand vizier Rüstem Pasha, he was accused of plotting against his father, who sentenced him to death. Herberstein sent Duke Albrecht von Hohenzollern the news of Mustafa’s plotting as novitates from Venice, in a letter of the same date as the present one (see cf. CLOT 2012 p. 155-158 ⌊Clot, p. 155-158cf. CLOT 2012 p. 155-158 ⌋; cf. VOIGT 1857 p. 288 ⌊Voigt, p. 288cf. VOIGT 1857 p. 288 ⌋, cf. cf. EFE 37 No. 863, p. 100-101 ⌊Elementa, XXXVII, No. 863, p. 100-101cf. EFE 37 No. 863, p. 100-101 ⌋).

[3] His reputation in his youth is best reflected in his nickname, the Sot.

[5] Hadim Suleiman Pasha, beylerbey of Egypt, notoriously cruel and ruthless grand vizier (1541-1544). He became the grand vizier aged almost 90 (see cf. CLOT 2012 p. 194-196 ⌊Clot, p. 194-196cf. CLOT 2012 p. 194-196 ⌋).

[6] On June 30, 1544 Barbarossa and a fleet of 180 ships captured Lipari and began a two-week siege of the fortress, which capitulated after heavy bombing. The town was pillaged and about 10,000 residents were abducted (cf. ⌊Elementa, XXXVII, No. 863, p. 101 ⌋; cf. CDC 2 No. 274, p. 261 ⌊CDCV, II, No. 274, p. 261cf. CDC 2 No. 274, p. 261 ⌋; cf. VOIGT 1857 p. 288 ⌊Voigt, p. 288cf. VOIGT 1857 p. 288 ⌋).

[7] Planning to hold a general council in Trent to unite Christianity, pope Paul III wanted to be a part of the peace negotiations between Emperor Charles V and the king of France, Francis I. He sent two legates to precede the papal nuntios: Giovanni Girolamo Morone (1509-1580), cardinal from 1542, was sent to the emperor on July 30, 1544, while Marino Grimiani (c. 1489-1546), cardinal from 1527, was sent to France. The missions were undertaken too late. Upon reaching Lyon, the envoys learned that the peace of Crépy had been signed on September 18 (see Lestocquoy 1963, p. XXXIII; cf. JANSSEN 1904 VI, p. 256-260 ⌊Janssen, VI, p. 256-260cf. JANSSEN 1904 VI, p. 256-260 ⌋; cf. cf. VOIGT 1857 p. 288 ⌊Voigt, p. 288cf. VOIGT 1857 p. 288 ⌋).

[8] The siege of Saint-Dizier, which had been excellently fortified by Girolamo Marini and defended itself fiercely, lasted from July 8 till the capitulation of the garrison on August 17, and halted the impetus of Charles V’s campaign, the goal of which was Paris (see cf. KOHLER 1999 p. 287 ⌊Kohler I, p. 287cf. KOHLER 1999 p. 287 ⌋; cf. FERNÁNDEZ ÁLVAREZ 2002 p. 656 ⌊Fernández Álvarez 2002, p. 656cf. FERNÁNDEZ ÁLVAREZ 2002 p. 656 ⌋; cf. Knecht 1994 p. 491 ⌊Knecht, p. 491cf. Knecht 1994 p. 491 ⌋; cf. CADENAS Y VINCENT p. 312-313 ⌊Cadenas y Vicent, p. 312-313cf. CADENAS Y VINCENT p. 312-313 ⌋; cf. cf. DU BELLAY 1919 p. 257-259 ⌊du Bellay, IV, p. 257-259cf. DU BELLAY 1919 p. 257-259 ⌋; cf. EFE 37 No. 863, p. 102 ⌊Elementa XXXVII, No. 863, p. 102cf. EFE 37 No. 863, p. 102 ⌋).

[] Plus ultra – from 1516 Charles von Habsburg’s famous motto, expressing (especially from 1519, when he was elected emperor as Charles V) his political and imperial aspirations. As an inscription it was usualy accompanied by the image of Hercules between two columns (cf. cf. KÖNIG 1999 p. 197-199 ⌊König, p. 197-199cf. KÖNIG 1999 p. 197-199 ⌋).

[] After the lengthy and grueling siege of Saint-Dizier, on August 21 Charles V called a council of war to decide the future of the French campaign. Because of problems with provisioning, a retreat was recommended but the emperor decided to march on Châlons so as not to jeopardize his reputation and enforce favourable conditions of the peace treaty. He was discouraged from crossing the Marne by the French forces stationed on its left bank, in Jalons. Without attempting to seize Châlons, on September 3 he captured Epernay where provisions were stored (see cf. DU BELLAY 1919 V, p. 265-268 ⌊du Bellay, IV, p. 265-268cf. DU BELLAY 1919 V, p. 265-268 ⌋; cf. Knecht 1994 p. 493-494 ⌊Knecht, p. 493-494cf. Knecht 1994 p. 493-494 ⌋; cf. CADENAS Y VINCENT p. 314 ⌊Cadenas y Vicent, p. 314cf. CADENAS Y VINCENT p. 314 ⌋; cf. FERNÁNDEZ ÁLVAREZ 1975 p. 129 ⌊Fernández Álvarez 1975, p. 129cf. FERNÁNDEZ ÁLVAREZ 1975 p. 129 ⌋; cf. FERNÁNDEZ ÁLVAREZ 2002 p. 656 ⌊Fernández Álvarez 2002, p. 656cf. FERNÁNDEZ ÁLVAREZ 2002 p. 656 ⌋; cf. KOHLER 1999 p. 287-288 ⌊Kohler I, p. 287-288cf. KOHLER 1999 p. 287-288 ⌋).

[11] A reference to the assemblies and meetings called by Ferdinand I in the countries under his rule, to pass taxes for new recruitments in expectation of another Turkish invasion (cf. cf. VOIGT 1857 p. 288 ⌊Voigt, p. 288cf. VOIGT 1857 p. 288 ⌋; cf. HERBERSTEIN 1855 p. 363-364 ⌊Herberstein 1855, p. 363-364cf. HERBERSTEIN 1855 p. 363-364 ⌋).