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Letter #5398

Ioannes DANTISCUS to Albrecht I von Hohenzollern-Ansbach
Löbau (Lubawa), 1533-12-12


Manuscript sources:
1fair copy in German, in secretary's hand, GStA PK, XX. HA Hist. StA Königsberg, HBA, C 2, No. 54

Auxiliary sources:
1register in German, 20th-century, B. PAU-PAN, 8247 (TK 9), f. 424

Prints:
1BENNINGHOVEN No. 54, p. 31 (German register)

 

Text & apparatus & commentaryPlain textText & commentaryText & apparatus

 

Dem durchlauchten, hochgebornen fursten und hern, / [hern] Albrecht I von Hohenzollern-Ansbach (Albrecht von Brandenburg) (*1490 – †1568), 1511-1525 Grand Master of the Teutonic Order; from 1525 to his death Duke in Prussia as a liegeman of the Polish king; son of Friedrich V of Brandenburg der Ältere and Sophia Jagiellon (daughter of Casimir IV Jagiellon), nephew of Sigismund I, King of Poland; founder of the university in Königsberg (1544)⌊AlbrechtenAlbrecht I von Hohenzollern-Ansbach (Albrecht von Brandenburg) (*1490 – †1568), 1511-1525 Grand Master of the Teutonic Order; from 1525 to his death Duke in Prussia as a liegeman of the Polish king; son of Friedrich V of Brandenburg der Ältere and Sophia Jagiellon (daughter of Casimir IV Jagiellon), nephew of Sigismund I, King of Poland; founder of the university in Königsberg (1544)⌋, von Gots [gnaden] marggraff zw Brandenburg⌊BrandenburgkBrandenburg⌋ etc. und herczog in Prussia, region in central Europe, bordered by Pomerania, Poland, Lithuania and Livonia. From 1466 Prussia was divided into Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), which was a part of the Kingdom of Poland, and Teutonic Prussia (Prussia Ordinis Theutonici) – covering the remnants of the former territory 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), which from then on was called Ducal Prussia (Prussia Ducalis). At that time, as a result of the treaty of Cracow, Ducal Prussia became a fief of the kings of Poland⌊PrewssenPrussia, region in central Europe, bordered by Pomerania, Poland, Lithuania and Livonia. From 1466 Prussia was divided into Royal Prussia (Prussia Regalis), which was a part of the Kingdom of Poland, and Teutonic Prussia (Prussia Ordinis Theutonici) – covering the remnants of the former territory 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), which from then on was called Ducal Prussia (Prussia Ducalis). At that time, as a result of the treaty of Cracow, Ducal Prussia became a fief of the kings of Poland⌋, / unserem freuntlichen, lieben hernn und nachparnn /

Durchlauchter, hochgeborner furst, freuntlicher, liber her und nachpar. / Unser freuntliche dienst / und was wir sunst liebs und wolgefallens vormugenn, zuvoran. /

Wir haben negst Ewer Irbarkeit gloubs briff von dem edlen und vhesten hern Christoph Gattenhofer (Christoph Gadenhabe) (*1484 – †1537), Prussian nobleman; 1515 secretary of Albrecht von Hohenzollern as grand master of Teutonic Order, and later as duke in Prussia; 1535 Kammermeister of duke Albrecht; 1532, 1534, 1535 ducal envoy to Gdańsk (HARTMANN 1525-1550, No. 10, 404, 407; ASPK 8, p. 33; SZYMANIAK 1993, p. 18, 219)⌊Cristoffen GattenhoffenChristoph Gattenhofer (Christoph Gadenhabe) (*1484 – †1537), Prussian nobleman; 1515 secretary of Albrecht von Hohenzollern as grand master of Teutonic Order, and later as duke in Prussia; 1535 Kammermeister of duke Albrecht; 1532, 1534, 1535 ducal envoy to Gdańsk (HARTMANN 1525-1550, No. 10, 404, 407; ASPK 8, p. 33; SZYMANIAK 1993, p. 18, 219)⌋, Ewer Irbarkeit kammer meister, / donebenn ouch alle gewerbe, / die im Ewer Irbarkeit an uns mit gegebenn, erhalten und mit grossem wolgefallen vorstanden. / Bedancken uns mit hochem fleis gen Ewer Irbarkeit des freuntlichen, geneigten willens und sunderer gunst, die Ewer Irbarkeit zw uns haben. / Wollen uns ouch so darinnen / halten und erczegen, / das solche gunst wachssen / und in keÿn abnhemen komen sol, / derwegen wir ouch gedochtem Ewer Irbarkeit Christoph Gattenhofer (Christoph Gadenhabe) (*1484 – †1537), Prussian nobleman; 1515 secretary of Albrecht von Hohenzollern as grand master of Teutonic Order, and later as duke in Prussia; 1535 Kammermeister of duke Albrecht; 1532, 1534, 1535 ducal envoy to Gdańsk (HARTMANN 1525-1550, No. 10, 404, 407; ASPK 8, p. 33; SZYMANIAK 1993, p. 18, 219)⌊kamermeisterChristoph Gattenhofer (Christoph Gadenhabe) (*1484 – †1537), Prussian nobleman; 1515 secretary of Albrecht von Hohenzollern as grand master of Teutonic Order, and later as duke in Prussia; 1535 Kammermeister of duke Albrecht; 1532, 1534, 1535 ducal envoy to Gdańsk (HARTMANN 1525-1550, No. 10, 404, 407; ASPK 8, p. 33; SZYMANIAK 1993, p. 18, 219)⌋ ( den wir von wegen seiner tugendt, vorstandt und viler erfarenheit inn sundere lieb angenomen ) unser gemuet und dinstlichen willen gen Ewer Irbarkeit, ouch wie wir zw der coadiutoreÿ und andre gesindt, / vortrawlich entdackt / und Ewer Irbarkeit anczwtragen gebetten, / doneben ouch was den scheffer uff Marienburg (Malbork), town and castle in northern Poland, Pomeranian Voivodeship, on the Nogat river, a branch of the Vistula at its delta, the capital of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order in Prussia (1309-1457), a voivodeship capital in Royal Prussia, which belonged to the Kingdom of Poland (1466-1772). Marienburg (taking turns with Graudenz (Grudziądz)) was the venue for the Provincial Diets of Royal Prussia, which were chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia)⌊MarienburgkMarienburg (Malbork), town and castle in northern Poland, Pomeranian Voivodeship, on the Nogat river, a branch of the Vistula at its delta, the capital of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order in Prussia (1309-1457), a voivodeship capital in Royal Prussia, which belonged to the Kingdom of Poland (1466-1772). Marienburg (taking turns with Graudenz (Grudziądz)) was the venue for the Provincial Diets of Royal Prussia, which were chaired by the bishop of Ermland (Warmia)⌋ Stanisław Kostka (*1487 – †1555), as a leader of the so-called nobles' party active in Royal Prussia since 1536, Kostka stood in opposition to most of the members of the Council of Royal Prussia, who wanted to maintain the autonomy of the province and a "balance of power" in terms of governance. The tension between the Prussian Subtreasurer and the Council had been increasing since the Diet in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in 1533. Kostka, connected with the royal court since his youth, was sent to Graudenz as the King's deputy and, contrary to custom, decided to take part in the proceedings. In response to such a step, the Council members stopped the meeting. Kostka accused them of hostility towards the Poles and intervened on this matter at the court. In the absence of the then Bishop of Ermland (Mauritius Ferber) it was Dantiscus who chaired the Graudenz Diet. The incident badly harmed his future relationships with Kostka; 1531-1555 Treasurer of the Prussian lands and Treasurer 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)⌊KostkenStanisław Kostka (*1487 – †1555), as a leader of the so-called nobles' party active in Royal Prussia since 1536, Kostka stood in opposition to most of the members of the Council of Royal Prussia, who wanted to maintain the autonomy of the province and a "balance of power" in terms of governance. The tension between the Prussian Subtreasurer and the Council had been increasing since the Diet in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in 1533. Kostka, connected with the royal court since his youth, was sent to Graudenz as the King's deputy and, contrary to custom, decided to take part in the proceedings. In response to such a step, the Council members stopped the meeting. Kostka accused them of hostility towards the Poles and intervened on this matter at the court. In the absence of the then Bishop of Ermland (Mauritius Ferber) it was Dantiscus who chaired the Graudenz Diet. The incident badly harmed his future relationships with Kostka; 1531-1555 Treasurer of the Prussian lands and Treasurer 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)⌋, / der sich freuelich und stolczlich, / sunder ursache, / wider uns geseczt und erhaben, / wie dan Ewer Irbarkeit aus dissem irem kamermeister weitlofftig wirt horenn und vorsthen. / Bitten derhalben freuntlich, Ewer Irbarkeit wolde im in den oben geschriben sachen und unsern begeren / widerumb, / so wie wir in Ewer Irbarkeit nhamen gethon, / volkommen disz mol gloubenn geben / und sich so gen uns beweisen, / wie wir dan zw Ewer Irbarkeit besunderen und starckenn vortrawen tragen. / Das wolle wir umb Ewer Irbarkeit, die wir Gote dem allemechtigen in gelugseliger regirung und langweriger gesuntheit thun befhelen, / alweg zw beschulden pflichtig sein. /