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Letter #2764

Bona Sforza to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Brest-Litovsk, 1544-10-11
            received Wormditt (Orneta), 1544-10-21

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, in secretary's hand, BCz, 1601, p. 739-740

 

Text & apparatus & commentary Plain text Text & commentary Text & apparatus

 

BCz, 1601, p. 739

Bona Sforza (*1494 – †1557), Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania (1518-1557); the second wife of Sigismund I Jagiellon; Duchess of Bari and Rossano; daughter of Gian Galeazzo Sforza of Milan and Isabella of Aragon⌊BonaBona Sforza (*1494 – †1557), Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania (1518-1557); the second wife of Sigismund I Jagiellon; Duchess of Bari and Rossano; daughter of Gian Galeazzo Sforza of Milan and Isabella of Aragon⌋ Dei gratia regina Poland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia), the kingdom⌊PoloniaePoland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia), the kingdom⌋, magna dux Lithuania⌊LituaniaeLithuania⌋, Rus (Russia)⌊RussiaeRus (Russia)⌋, Prussia, region in central Europe, bordered by Pomerania, Poland, Lithuania, and Livonia. From 1466 it was divided into Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), part of the Kingdom of Poland, and Teutonic Prussia (Prussia Ordinis Theutonici), comprising the remnants of the Teutonic Order’s state in Prussia. In 1525 the Order’s last Grand Master, Albrecht von Hohenzollern, converted to Lutheranism and became the first lay duke in former Teutonic Prussia (dux in Prussia), thereafter known as Ducal Prussia (Prussia Ducalis). By the Treaty of Cracow, Ducal Prussia became a fief of the kings of Poland⌊PrussiaePrussia, region in central Europe, bordered by Pomerania, Poland, Lithuania, and Livonia. From 1466 it was divided into Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), part of the Kingdom of Poland, and Teutonic Prussia (Prussia Ordinis Theutonici), comprising the remnants of the Teutonic Order’s state in Prussia. In 1525 the Order’s last Grand Master, Albrecht von Hohenzollern, converted to Lutheranism and became the first lay duke in former Teutonic Prussia (dux in Prussia), thereafter known as Ducal Prussia (Prussia Ducalis). By the Treaty of Cracow, Ducal Prussia became a fief of the kings of Poland⌋, Mazowsze (Masovia) historic region in Central Poland, before 1526 an autonomous duchy and feud of the Kingdom of Poland, from 1526 included in the Kingdom⌊MasoviaeMazowsze (Masovia) historic region in Central Poland, before 1526 an autonomous duchy and feud of the Kingdom of Poland, from 1526 included in the Kingdom⌋ etc. domina

Reverende in Christo Pater, sincere nobis dilecte.

Cognovimus ex litteris Vestrae Paternitatis et Stanisław Kostka (*1487 – †1555), leader of the so-called nobles’ party, active in Royal Prussia from 1536, and opponent of most members of the Council of Royal Prussia, who sought to preserve the province’s autonomy and a balance of power in its governance. Tensions between Kostka, Prussian Treasurer, and the Council had been growing since the Diet in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in 1533. Sent there as the King’s deputy, Kostka, contrary to custom, took part in the proceedings, prompting the Council to suspend the meeting. He accused its members of hostility towards the Poles and appealed to the royal court. In the absence of Mauritius Ferber, Bishop of Ermland, the Diet was chaired by Dantiscus, and the incident seriously damaged his later relations with Kostka; 1531–1555 Treasurer of the Prussian lands and of Marienburg (Malbork); 1544–1545 Castellan of Elbing (Elbląg); 1545–1546 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1546–1549 Vice-Voivode of Kulm; 1546–1551 Voivode of Pomerania; 1551–1555 Voivode of Kulm (PSB 14, p. 356; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 216; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 119-123)⌊Stanislai CostkaeStanisław Kostka (*1487 – †1555), leader of the so-called nobles’ party, active in Royal Prussia from 1536, and opponent of most members of the Council of Royal Prussia, who sought to preserve the province’s autonomy and a balance of power in its governance. Tensions between Kostka, Prussian Treasurer, and the Council had been growing since the Diet in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in 1533. Sent there as the King’s deputy, Kostka, contrary to custom, took part in the proceedings, prompting the Council to suspend the meeting. He accused its members of hostility towards the Poles and appealed to the royal court. In the absence of Mauritius Ferber, Bishop of Ermland, the Diet was chaired by Dantiscus, and the incident seriously damaged his later relations with Kostka; 1531–1555 Treasurer of the Prussian lands and of Marienburg (Malbork); 1544–1545 Castellan of Elbing (Elbląg); 1545–1546 Castellan of Kulm (Chełmno); 1546–1549 Vice-Voivode of Kulm; 1546–1551 Voivode of Pomerania; 1551–1555 Voivode of Kulm (PSB 14, p. 356; Urzędnicy 5/2, p. 216; MAŁŁEK 1976, p. 119-123)⌋ indignum et gravi animadversione dignum facinus Gdanensium adversus Sigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of Austria⌊regiam maiestatemSigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of Austria⌋, dominum eorum, commissum. Cognovimus etiam, quis sit auctor huius temeritatis. Sigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of Austria⌊Regia maiestasSigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of Austria⌋ in tanta rei magnitudine nonnihil fortasse est deliberatura et rem hanc ad Royal Council of Poland ⌊consiliariosRoyal Council of Poland ⌋ delatura. Reliqua Vestra Paternitas ex litteris Sigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of Austria⌊regiae maiestatisSigismund I Jagiellon (Zygmunt I) (*1467 – †1548), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1506-1548); Duke of Głogów (Glogau) (1499-1506), Duke of Opava (1501-1506), Governor of Silesia (1504-1506); son of King Kazimierz IV Jagiellon and Elisabeth of Austria⌋ cognoscet.

Ac salva et felix diu valeat.