Kronika Polska (The Polish Chronicle) by Marcin Kromer, the royal secretary and later Warmia Bishop, published in Latin in 1555 under the title De origine et rebus gestis Polonorum[1], contains numerous descriptions of bloody conflicts between rulers, battles and wars that sometimes give way to comments about a surprisingly cold winter or exceptionally hot summer, or the birth of a two-headed calf.
However, grand politics and the world of animals are not the only topics discussed in the Chronicle and the author tries to reach deeper into the past, searching for reasons of the afflictions tormenting the country and explaining the God's anger, manifested by the imbalance in nature, in human actions, their greed for power and lack of moderation.
A guardian of moderation, Kromer disapproves of the drive to satisfy one's sexual desires and his Kronika Polska in particular condemns such behaviour among elderly men and women. The Warmia Bishop with overt satisfaction repeats after Jan of Czarnków a gossip of suspicious causes of the death of the Krakow Bishop, Zawisza Kurozwęcki, who on 12 January (of 1382 - note by the author) at his manor in Dobrowoda, either was struck by sudden and unexpected death or fell off a ladder that he was climbing after a peasant girl and broke his spine (as both versions of the events are repeated)[2].
Urgent desire for sexual intercourse with a woman may - as Kromer suggests - not only lead to sudden death but also cause a man sorrow in his old age. As an example of negative consequences of sexual intercourse, Kronika Polska presents Władysław Jagiełło, who after the death of his two late wives - Hedwig of Anjou and Anna of Cilli - insulting his old age as well as his name and dignity[3] married Elisabeth of Pilica. Although Kromer usually approves of a ruler's desire to father a son - as we know, Jagiełło's wife Anna of Cilli gave birth only to the daughter Hedwig and his first child, Elisabeth Bonifacia from his previous marriage with Hedwig of Anjou lived only for three weeks - the Warmia Bishop was very critical of the King's marriage to Elisabeth. Taking for a wife a widow advanced in years and with a history of previous marriages[4] Jagiełło not only violated the Christian order by marrying his godsister (her mother, Hedwig of Melsztyn, was Władysław Jagiełło's godmother), but also ridiculed himself before his compatriots and neighbours. The King charmed by coquettish love and sexual intercourse with that woman, or perhaps bewitched by a love elixir and magic craftsmanship[5] married a vengeful woman who, not only led to a dispute, out of revenge on the wealthy who were unfavourable of her and in order to secure the financial interests of her sons from her previous marriage, between the King and the Krakow Bishop Adalbert and Kalisz Castellan Janusz of Tuliszków, but also used Sejms as the arena of her revenge on the opponents of her marriage to Jagiełło. Reportedly, her death in 1420 was welcome with overt joy in Krakow.
However, the subjects did not rejoice for long over Elisabeth's death. Instead of choosing a political marriage that would secure an alliance for Poland in the face of numerous external threats, Władysław married Sophia of Halshany, the matchmaker being her relative, Duke Vytautas. This marriage, arranged without any dowry[6] gave Władysław two sons, but did not ensure peace at his court. We do not know if it is true or not[7], but, whether because of Vytautas or rumours spread by the Teutonic Order, the queen's maids were tortured for accusing her of greedy intercourses[8] with Hinka Rogowski, Piotr Kurowski, Wawrzyniec Zaremba, Piotr Kraska, Jan Koniecpolski and Piotr and Dobiesław Sczekociński. The King was planning to send Sophia back to Lithuania, but the Krakow Voivode Jan Tarnowski advised him not to, suggesting that her dismissal would put into doubt the paternity of prince Władysław. Sophia's acquittal based on the vows made by her and respectable women did not put an end to controversies - she was once again accused in 1431, this time of poisoning princess Hedwig, because of her sudden death. Sophia, devout and greathearted, was a venomous woman: inasmuch as she was generous when it came to contributing to God's glory, she was at the same time extravagant and wasteful [9], survived Władysław Jagiełło for many years and, although she gave Poland two princes, she did not win Marcin Kromer's favour. Female sexuality, flattery and bedtime persuasion[10] do not guarantee a happy union either for the ruler or for his subjects and sexual indulgence in advanced age may cause numerous conflicts both in the court and in the State, or even lead to death, as was the case with the unfortunate Bishop Zawisza.
[1] German translation Mitnächtischer Völckeren Historien, Bazylea 1562, in Polish Kronika Polska, Krakow 1611 (here quoted from the second edition, Sanok 1857).
[2] Kronika Polska, p. 677.
[3] Ibid, p. 838.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid, p. 856.
[7] Ibid, p. 871.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid, p. 1112.
[10] Ibid, p. 850.
Translation: Lingua Lab
