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Letter #688

Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN to Ioannes DANTISCUS
Klamm, 1531-09-25
            received Brussels, 1531-10-17

Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in Latin, autograph, AAWO, AB, D. 3, f. 53
2copy in Latin, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8242 (TK 4), a.1531, f. 82

Auxiliary sources:
1register in English, 20th-century, CBKUL, R.III, 31, No. 244

Prints:
1CEID 2/1 No. 21, p. 125-127 (in extenso; English register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

AAWO, AB, D. 3, f. 53v

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 ErmlandIoanni 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 Culmensi, serenissimi 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 AustriaPoloniae 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 oratori apud 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 Castilecaesaream et catholicam maiestatemCharles 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, domino suo gratioso et observandissimo

AAWO, AB, D. 3, f. 53r

Reverendissime Praesul et Domine, Domine observandissime. Post servitiorum meorum commendationem.

Vestra Reverendissima Dominatio cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN Brussels, 1531-08-29, CIDTC IDL 677scribitcf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN Brussels, 1531-08-29, CIDTC IDL 677 ad me de 29 Augusti, me iterum onerare fasciculo litterarum annexo, hortaturque, ne moleste feram, quod toties hoc officium praestari petat etc. Profecto, cf. Vulg. Mt 11:30 iugum enim meum suave est et onus meum leve est si id onus meretur dici, suave mihi estcf. Vulg. Mt 11:30 iugum enim meum suave est et onus meum leve est , atque ita tali adhortatione non indiget. Immo ego supplico Vestrae Reverendissimae Dominationi dignetur ex gratia me eiusmodi oneribus onerare, nec iucundius mihi accidere potest, quam Vestrae Reverendissimae Dominationi omnibus horis servire. Percupide etiam semper servio illustri domino Krzysztof Szydłowiecki (*1466 – †1532), one of the most trusted advisors of the King Sigismund I Jagiellon; 1497-1507 Marshal of the court of prince Sigismund Jagiellon, Cracow master of pantry; 1507-1510 court treasurer; 1509 castellan of Sandomierz; 1511 Vice-Chancellor of the Crown; 1515 - grand chancellor; 1515-1527 Voivode of Cracow; 1515 - Starost; 1527-1532 - Castellancastellano CracoviensiKrzysztof Szydłowiecki (*1466 – †1532), one of the most trusted advisors of the King Sigismund I Jagiellon; 1497-1507 Marshal of the court of prince Sigismund Jagiellon, Cracow master of pantry; 1507-1510 court treasurer; 1509 castellan of Sandomierz; 1511 Vice-Chancellor of the Crown; 1515 - grand chancellor; 1515-1527 Voivode of Cracow; 1515 - Starost; 1527-1532 - Castellan. Scio etiam agi et tractari negotia serenissimorum 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

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
regis et reginae PoloniaeSigismund 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

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
, quorum maiestatum fidelis et devotus servitor semper fui et sum et ero in saecula saeculorum. De fama conventus caesareae maiestatis cum Eleanor of Austria (Eleanor of Habsburg, Eleanor of Castile) (*1498 – †1558), 1518-1521 Queen consort of Portugal (as a wife of Manuel I) and later, from 1530, of France (as the wife of Francis I), granddaughter of Emperor Maximilian I and sister of Charles Vsorore suaEleanor of Austria (Eleanor of Habsburg, Eleanor of Castile) (*1498 – †1558), 1518-1521 Queen consort of Portugal (as a wife of Manuel I) and later, from 1530, of France (as the wife of Francis I), granddaughter of Emperor Maximilian I and sister of Charles V mecum cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN Brussels, 1531-08-29, CIDTC IDL 677communicatacf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN Brussels, 1531-08-29, CIDTC IDL 677 Vestrae Reverendissimae Dominationi quam maximas gratias ago. Apud nos alia non sunt nisi illa victoria 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 Austriaserenissimi 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 contra perfidum suum Petru IV Raresh (Petrylo) (*ca. 1487 – †1546), 1527-1538 and 1541-1546 Hospodar of MoldaviahostemPetru IV Raresh (Petrylo) (*ca. 1487 – †1546), 1527-1538 and 1541-1546 Hospodar of Moldavia[1], quae nos omnes exhilaravit. Cuius instructu Petru IV Raresh (Petrylo) (*ca. 1487 – †1546), 1527-1538 and 1541-1546 Hospodar of MoldaviaValachumPetru IV Raresh (Petrylo) (*ca. 1487 – †1546), 1527-1538 and 1541-1546 Hospodar of Moldavia[2] huc attentaverit, iam quoque scimus[3]. Vestra Reverendissima Dominatio absque amplius dubio illa omnia habet. Quidquid deinde sperandum, facile coniecturari potest. Propterea coniugamus manus nostras et salvi erimus. Vestra Reverendissima Dominatio tamquam director promoveat Sua industria et dexteritate. Cui me et servitia mea iterum et iterum commendo.

Eiusdem Vestrae Reverendissimae Dominationis deditissimus servitor 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 ab 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)

[1] A reference to the victory of Hetman Jan Tarnowski over the forces of Moldavian Hospodar Petru Rareş (see footnote 3) at Obertyn on August 22, 1531. Sigismund I informed Ferdinand I of this in a letter dated September 3, 1531 (cf. Acta Tomiciana, t. 13, wyd. Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1915 AT 13cf. Acta Tomiciana, t. 13, wyd. Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1915 , No. 307, p. 289-290). Fulfilling the wish of King Sigismund I from his letter of September 4, 1531 (delivered on September 24) that he spread the word of this victory and the reasons behind the conflict at the court of Charles V and Ferdinand I and among the dukes and estates of the Reich, Dantiscus wrote a propaganda piece in Brussels that was published in Lovanium by Rutgerus Rescius before October 21, 1531, titled: Victoria Serenissimi Poloniae Regis contra Voieuodam Moldauiae Turcae tributarium et subditum parta 22 Augusti 1531, and also in the same year in a French translation in Paris (see cf. Acta Tomiciana, t. 13, wyd. Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1915 AT 13cf. Acta Tomiciana, t. 13, wyd. Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1915 , No. 312, p. 295, No. 337, p. 317, No. 361, p. 335-336, cf. cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to [Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN] Brussels, 1531-10-23, CIDTC IDL 702IDL 702cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to [Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN] Brussels, 1531-10-23, CIDTC IDL 702).

[2] Petru IV Rareş carrying out his plan to establish a great Moldavia, he followed a conflict-oriented policy that led the sultan to oust him from the hospodar’s throne in 1538. At first he was on Ferdinand I’s side, but when Suleiman I supported János I Zápolya, Rareş changed sides and in 1529, as Zápolya’s ally, defeated Ferdinand I’s forces at Földvár (Ger. Marienburg) near Braşov in Transylvania. In late November 1530, as the sultan’s vassal and allegedly with his knowledge, he invaded Pokuttya (Pol. Pokucie – a historical area between the upperPrut and Cheremosh rivers, today in Ukraine), part of the Kingdom of Poland, the outcome being his defeat in the battle of Obertyn (see footnote 1).

[3] Herberstein probably learned about the victory at Obertyn from two letters of Krzysztof Szydłowiecki, written in Cracow, even though the later one, of September 15, 1531, gives no hint as to the instigator of the invasion of Pokuttya. In his letter informing Ferdinand I of the victory at Obertyn (see footnote 1), Sigismund I implied that he knew very well who had put Rareş up to invading Pokuttya. Serious deliberation was given to this issue in Poland, and even in 1530 the most popular conclusion was that it could have been the sultan. Seweryn Boner, however, in his letter of December 22, 1530 to an unidentified official of Ferdinand I, clearly blamed János I Zápolya. The addressee of this letter was probably Herberstein, a correspondent of Boner’s. This is suggested by an expression in the letter addressing the recipient as a participant of the meeting in Poznań in 1530 (see cf. Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN to Ioannes DANTISCUS Poznań (Posen), 1530-10-08, CIDTC IDL 1045IDL 1045cf. Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN to Ioannes DANTISCUS Poznań (Posen), 1530-10-08, CIDTC IDL 1045, footnote 12), and also by the annotation about the delivery of the letter, identical to that accompanying the address in letter cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN Brussels, 1531-07-20, CIDTC IDL 654IDL 654cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN Brussels, 1531-07-20, CIDTC IDL 654 and similar to the one on letter cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN Brussels, 1531-08-29, CIDTC IDL 677IDL 67cf. Ioannes DANTISCUS to Sigmund von HERBERSTEIN Brussels, 1531-08-29, CIDTC IDL 6777 (verifying this hypothesis would require a comparison of the handwriting of these notes). Perhaps Herberstein’s indirect reference to the man who was Rareş’s inspiration is an intentionally enigmatic allusion to circulating opinions on the role of both the sultan and Zápolya – a protégé of the Polish king (see cf. Acta Tomiciana, t. 12, wyd. Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1906 AT 12cf. Acta Tomiciana, t. 12, wyd. Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1906 , No. 416, p. 398-399, cf. No. 84, p. 92-93, No. 143, p. 138; cf. Acta Tomiciana, t. 13, wyd. Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1915 AT 13cf. Acta Tomiciana, t. 13, wyd. Zygmunt Celichowski, Poznań, Biblioteka Kórnicka, 1915 , No. 287, p. 264-266; cf. Acta et epistolae relationum Transylvaniae Hungariaeque cum Moldavia et Valachia / Acte şi Ţara Românescâ , t. I: 1468-1540, wyd. A. Verres, Budapest-Kolzsvár, 1914 AETHMV Icf. Acta et epistolae relationum Transylvaniae Hungariaeque cum Moldavia et Valachia / Acte şi Ţara Românescâ , t. I: 1468-1540, wyd. A. Verres, Budapest-Kolzsvár, 1914 , No. 182, p. 222, No. 192, p. 232-233, cf. also cf. Gratae posteritati Sigismundus liber baro in Herberstein Neyperg et Guettenhag, primarius ducatus Carinthiae hereditariusque et camerarius … actiones suas a puero ad annum usque aetatis suae septuagesimum quartum brevi commentariolo notatas reliquit, Vienna, Raphael Hofhalter, 1560 HERBERSTEIN 1560cf. Gratae posteritati Sigismundus liber baro in Herberstein Neyperg et Guettenhag, primarius ducatus Carinthiae hereditariusque et camerarius … actiones suas a puero ad annum usque aetatis suae septuagesimum quartum brevi commentariolo notatas reliquit, Vienna, Raphael Hofhalter, 1560 , f. D3r; cf. Andrzej Dziubiński, Stosunki dyplomatyczne polsko-tureckie w latach 1500-1572 w kontekście międzynarodowym, Wrocław, Fundacja na rzecz Nauki Polskiej, 2005 DZIUBIŃSKIcf. Andrzej Dziubiński, Stosunki dyplomatyczne polsko-tureckie w latach 1500-1572 w kontekście międzynarodowym, Wrocław, Fundacja na rzecz Nauki Polskiej, 2005 , 83-85; cf. Władysław Pociecha, Królowa Bona (1494-1557). Czasy i ludzie Odrodzenia, t. 4, Poznań, PWN, 1958 POCIECHA 4cf. Władysław Pociecha, Królowa Bona (1494-1557). Czasy i ludzie Odrodzenia, t. 4, Poznań, PWN, 1958 , p. 128, 131; cf. Zygmunt Wojciechowski, Zygmunt Stary (1506-1548), Warszawa, 1979(2) WOJCIECHOWSKIcf. Zygmunt Wojciechowski, Zygmunt Stary (1506-1548), Warszawa, 1979(2) , p. 246).