CIDT&C Corpus of Ioannes Dantiscus' Texts & Correspondence

Letter #123

Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN
Augsburg, 1516-12-18

Manuscript sources:

1	fair copy in Latin, autograph, ONB, Cod. 13.597, f. 18r-v

Prints:

1	CEID 2/1 No. 6, p. 81-83 (in extenso; English register)

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

ONB, Cod. 13.597, f. 18v

Generoso et strenuo domino 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)⌊Sigismundo de HerbstainSigmund 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)⌋, equiti aurato, oratori et consiliario Maximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌊caesareae maiestatisMaximilian I of Habsburg (*1459 – †1519), from 1486 King of the Romans, actual ruler of the Empire from the death of Frederick III (1493), 1508-1519 Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation; son of Emperor Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal⌋, domino et amico observandissimo.

ONB, Cod. 13.597, f. 18r

Generose et Strenue Domine, amice colendissime, plurimam commendationem.

Dat(ae) or Dat(um)⌈Dat(ae)Dat(ae) or Dat(um)⌉ Augsburg (Augusta Vindelicorum), city in Germany, Bavaria⌊AngustaeAugsburg (Augusta Vindelicorum), city in Germany, Bavaria⌋[5], XVIII Decembris 1516.

Eiusdem Generositatis Vestrae deditissimus 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⌊Ioannes DantiscusIoannes 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⌋, doctor etc., 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⌊serenissimi Poloniae regisSigismund 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⌋ nuntius et secretarius.

[1] On January 16, 1517 Dantiscus received 20 Rhine guldens from the imperial treasury, to recover his pawned rings: TLA, Oberösterreichische Kammerraitbücher, Bd 65 (Raitbuch des Tiroler Kammermeisters Ulrich Möringer für den Zeitraum 1516 Dezember 25 – 1517 Dezember 24), fol. 67.

[2] The term Valachus most likely refers to the Moldavian hospodar. At the time, the term Valachia was used in a broader sense, to denote the territory of the Duchy of Wal(l)achia (Valachia), country in central Europe stretching northwards from the lower Danube river, southern from the Duchy of Moldavia⌊Duchy of ValachiaDuchy of Wal(l)achia (Valachia), country in central Europe stretching northwards from the lower Danube river, southern from the Duchy of Moldavia⌋ proper – stretching northwards from the lower Danube (Dunaj, Donau), river in central and eastern Europe⌊DanubeDanube (Dunaj, Donau), river in central and eastern Europe⌋ but also (very often)to denote the politically much more important Duchy of Moldavia (Valachia, Hospodarstwo Mołdawskie), country between the eastern Carpathians, the Dniester and the Danube delta, from 1456 a fiefdom of Turkey, where Polish and Turkish influences clashed in the 15th-16th centuries. The Latin name Valachia was widely used in Poland at the time to describe Moldavia, and not the Duchy of Wallachia, which was further south⌊Duchy of MoldaviaDuchy of Moldavia (Valachia, Hospodarstwo Mołdawskie), country between the eastern Carpathians, the Dniester and the Danube delta, from 1456 a fiefdom of Turkey, where Polish and Turkish influences clashed in the 15th-16th centuries. The Latin name Valachia was widely used in Poland at the time to describe Moldavia, and not the Duchy of Wallachia, which was further south⌋, located north of Duchy of Wal(l)achia (Valachia), country in central Europe stretching northwards from the lower Danube river, southern from the Duchy of Moldavia⌊ValachiaDuchy of Wal(l)achia (Valachia), country in central Europe stretching northwards from the lower Danube river, southern from the Duchy of Moldavia⌋ proper, and adjacent to the middle Dniester (Dnestr, Nester)⌊DnestrDniester (Dnestr, Nester)⌋ in the south, thus bordering on the Poland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)⌊Kingdom of PolandPoland (Kingdom of Poland, Polonia)⌋ (cf. Sprawy wołoskie, p. I-IV; Porawska, p. 114-124; Herberstein 1556, p.2). The term nuntius Valachi most probably refers to Lucas Kirsza (Kyrsza, Kirsch, Kirssza), who was an envoy (humyenik) of Moldavian Hospodar Bogdan III the Blind (the One-eyed) (1504-1517) and his successor Stephen IV (1517-1527) (cf. AT, I, No. 18, p. 33; AT, II, No. 15, p. 12; AT, IV, No. 188-189, p. 152-153).

[3] Dantiscus probably had in mind prevention of border conflicts between Bogdan III the Blind (the One-eyed) ⌊Bogdan IIIBogdan III the Blind (the One-eyed) ⌋ and 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⌊Sigismund ISigismund 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 Podolia (Podole), region in the south-eastern part of the Kingdom of Poland, between the Dniester and Boh rivers, with its capital in Kamieniec Podolski; today part of Ukraine and of Moldova⌊PodolyaPodolia (Podole), region in the south-eastern part of the Kingdom of Poland, between the Dniester and Boh rivers, with its capital in Kamieniec Podolski; today part of Ukraine and of Moldova⌋, on the Polish bank of the Dniester (Dnestr, Nester)⌊DnestrDniester (Dnestr, Nester)⌋ (cf. AT, III, No. 590, p. 439), and he also seems to be alluding to the not always clear stance of the Bogdan III the Blind (the One-eyed) ⌊Moldavian hospodarBogdan III the Blind (the One-eyed) ⌋ towards 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⌊Sigismund ISigismund 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⌋ (especially from 1512). Despite a defensive alliance with the 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⌊king of PolandSigismund 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⌋, signed because of the practically constant Turkish-Tatar threat, Bogdan III the Blind (the One-eyed) ⌊Bogdan’sBogdan III the Blind (the One-eyed) ⌋ stance was often opportunistic and shaky (see Sprawy wołoskie, p. XCI-CI).

[5] Modifying the Latin name of Augusburg (Augusta),Dantiscus is referring to the earlier play on words: auguste (greatly) – anguste (modestly).