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Jan Dlugosz was a historian, diplomat of
King Casimir Jagiellonczyk, secretary
of Bishop Z. Olesnicki, canon of Krakow. Studied at the
University of Krakow and
made three journeys to Italy. From 1467 teacher of the King's sons, named
Archbishop of Lwow in 1478. His monumental twelve-volume Historia Polonica
or the Chronicle of the Famous Kingdom of Poland written in Latin, took
a quarter of a century to prepare. Author of many historical works of great
value.
Dlugosz
entered the service of Zbigniew
Oleshnicki, bishop of Krakow, and eventually became the
head of his chancery. Appointed canon of Krakow (1436), Dlugosz
in 1449 brought back from Rome a cardinal's hat for Oleshnicki
and was thereafter entrusted with a succession of missions on behalf
of church and state. After Oleshnicki's death, Dlugosz
upheld his patron's theocratic views and suffered a period of
disgrace (1461-63). Unlike Oleshnicki, however, Dlugosz
had from the start supported King Casimir IV in his Prussian policy,
assisting him in the negotiations with the Teutonic Order before and
during the Thirteen Years' War (1454-66) and at the peace
negotiations. His relations with the King having gradually improved,
Dlugosz was charged with the education of the royal princes
in 1467.
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