Jakub Wejher
Encyclopedia
Weyher
Weyher family was a family of nobility, most prominent in the 16th and 17th centuries in the Pomerania region and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth...
) (1609 – 1657), a member of the Polish line of the Weyher family from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
was a Count of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
and member of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
szlachta
Szlachta
The szlachta was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges during the 1333-1370 reign of Casimir the Great. In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of...
(nobility). His coat of arms was Wejher
Wejher coat of arms
Weiher - is a Polish Coat of Arms. It was used by several szlachta families in the times of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.-See also:* Polish heraldry* Heraldry* Coat of Arms* List of Polish nobility coats of arms - Sources :* *...
(also known as Skarzyna). Weiher was the Castellan of Puck
Puck, Poland
Puck is a town in northwestern Poland with 11,350 inhabitants. It is in Gdańsk Pomerania on the south coast of the Baltic Sea . Previously in the Gdańsk Voivodeship , Puck has been the capital of Puck County in the Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999.-History:The settlement became a marketplace...
and as Voivode of Malbork (Marienburg) from 1643–1657, the Castellan
Castellan
A castellan was the governor or captain of a castle. The word stems from the Latin Castellanus, derived from castellum "castle". Also known as a constable.-Duties:...
of Chmielno
Chmielno
Chmielno may refer to the following places in Poland:*Chmielno, Lower Silesian Voivodeship *Chmielno, Pomeranian Voivodeship *Chmielno, West Pomeranian Voivodeship...
, and the Starost of Człuchów, Kiszporek
Dzierzgon
Dzierzgoń is a town in the Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. It is located in Sztum County east of Malbork and south of Elbląg on the river Dzierzgoń...
, Bychów and Brzechowo
Brzechowo
Brzechowo is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Drobin, within Płock County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately south-west of Drobin, north-east of Płock, and north-west of Warsaw.-References:...
. He is remembered as a pious and tolerant magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
and an experienced military leader.
Biography
Weiher was one of eight sons of Jan WejherJan Wejher
Jan Wejher was a Polish nobleman, son of Ernest Wejher and Anna Mortęska. He held many offices and was an officer of the army in the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth and a courtier of the Polish king Sigismund III from the age of thirteen....
(1580–1626) and Anna Szczawińska, and brother of Mikołaj Wejher
Mikołaj Wejher
Mikołaj Wejher was a Polish nobleman from the prominent Wejher family. He was the son of Jan Wejher and Anna Szczawińska.He held various offices in the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth. He was Voivode of Malbork since 1641 and Voivode of Chełmno since 1643. Mikołaj was also starost of Radzyń and...
(?–1647) and Ludwik Wejher
Ludwik Wejher
Ludwik Wejher was a Polish nobleman, son of Jan Wejher and Anna Szczawińska. He was a collonel of the Polish army and held other offices in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth....
(?–1656).
He was a member of a rich magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
family originating from Westphalia, some had moved to Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
where they are recorded since 1234. Martin Weiher was a Lutheran Bishop of Cammin. From the first half of the 16th century members of the family started to hold many offices in the Kingdom of Poland
Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)
The Kingdom of Poland of the Jagiellons was the Polish state created by the accession of Jogaila , Grand Duke of Lithuania, to the Polish throne in 1386. The Union of Krewo or Krėva Act, united Poland and Lithuania under the rule of a single monarch...
and later on in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
. They intermarried into Polish nobility and became its prominent members. Jakub became courtier of prince Władysław IV Vasa
Władysław IV Vasa
Władysław IV Vasa was a Polish and Swedish prince from the House of Vasa. He reigned as King of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 8 November 1632 to his death in 1648....
. He studied first in a Jesuit College in Braunsberg (Braniewo
Braniewo
Braniewo is a town in northeastern Poland, in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, with a population of 18,068 . It is the capital of Braniewo County...
) - Royal Prussia
Royal Prussia
Royal Prussia was a Region of the Kingdom of Poland and of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth . Polish Prussia included Pomerelia, Chełmno Land , Malbork Voivodeship , Gdańsk , Toruń , and Elbląg . It is distinguished from Ducal Prussia...
a province of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
, then abroad at the University of Bologna
University of Bologna
The Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna is the oldest continually operating university in the world, the word 'universitas' being first used by this institution at its foundation. The true date of its founding is uncertain, but believed by most accounts to have been 1088...
. He was a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
and a supporter of the counter-reformation
Counter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation was the period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent and ending at the close of the Thirty Years' War, 1648 as a response to the Protestant Reformation.The Counter-Reformation was a comprehensive effort, composed of four major elements:#Ecclesiastical or...
. Pursuing traditions of his family, as a youth he joined foreign military. In the years 1628-1632 he fought in the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
in the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
in the armies of the Catholic League
Catholic League (German)
The German Catholic League was initially a loose confederation of Roman Catholic German states formed on July 10, 1609 to counteract the Protestant Union , whereby the participating states concluded an alliance "for the defence of the Catholic religion and peace within the Empire." Modeled...
, commanding a cavalry unit under Albrecht von Wallenstein
Albrecht von Wallenstein
Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius von Wallenstein , actually von Waldstein, was a Bohemian soldier and politician, who offered his services, and an army of 30,000 to 100,000 men during the Danish period of the Thirty Years' War , to the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II...
. At some point he visited Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. For his valor he received the title count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
of the Holy Roman Empire (in 1636).
In 1632 he returned to Poland. In the royal army he fought in the Smolensk War
Smolensk War
The Smolensk War was a conflict fought between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Russia.Hostilities began in October 1632 when Tsar forces tried to recapture the city of Smolensk, a former Russian possession. Small military engagements produced mixed results for both sides, but the surrender...
(1633–1634), The Deluge, Russo-Polish War (1654–1667) and the Chmielnicki Uprising. During the Deluge, unlike many commanders in the North, he did not switch sides and defended Marienburg, now Malbork
Malbork
Malbork is a town in northern Poland in the Żuławy region , with 38,478 inhabitants . Situated in the Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999, it was previously assigned to Elbląg Voivodeship...
, for two months before capitulating. He was able to obtain from the Swedes a safe passage of his troops which retained their arms; he would soon join the Polish king in the south and would continue to fight the invaders.
For his services he was awarded by king and Sejm with several offices: Voivode of Malbork (1643–1657). Castellan
Castellan
A castellan was the governor or captain of a castle. The word stems from the Latin Castellanus, derived from castellum "castle". Also known as a constable.-Duties:...
of Chmielno
Chmielno
Chmielno may refer to the following places in Poland:*Chmielno, Lower Silesian Voivodeship *Chmielno, Pomeranian Voivodeship *Chmielno, West Pomeranian Voivodeship...
. Starost of Człuchów, Kiszporek
Dzierzgon
Dzierzgoń is a town in the Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. It is located in Sztum County east of Malbork and south of Elbląg on the river Dzierzgoń...
, Bychów and Brzechowo
Brzechowo
Brzechowo is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Drobin, within Płock County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately south-west of Drobin, north-east of Płock, and north-west of Warsaw.-References:...
. In his later years he ruled about 100 villages and five towns, and had an income of about 33,000 zloties. This made him one of the richest people in Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
and a notable magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
in contemporary Poland.
He supervised the construction of Władysławowo
Władysławowo
Władysławowo is a town on the south coast of the Baltic Sea in the Kashubia in Eastern Pomerania region, northern Poland, with 15,015 inhabitants.-Overview:...
, a fledging port for the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Navy
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Navy
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Navy was the navy of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.- Battle of Oliva :During the time of Polish–Swedish War in 1627, the Commonwealth fleet under command of Admiral Arend Dickmann achieved it most famous victory, breaking the Swedish blockade at the Battle of...
. He founded the town of Weihersfrei, later Neustadt, now Wejherowo
Wejherowo
Wejherowo is a town in Gdańsk Pomerania, northern Poland, with 47,435 inhabitants . It has been the capital of Wejherowo County in Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999; previously, it was a town in Gdańsk Voivodeship .-History:...
and in it, the Kalwaria Wejherowska (Calvary of Weihersfrei) chapel complex (fulfilling an oath he took when nearly died during the Smolensk War in Biała
Biała
Biała is a Polish word for white. It appears in many Polish toponyms:-Towns:* Biała, also called Biała Prudnicka, in Opole Voivodeship* Biała Piska, in Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship* Biała Podlaska, in Lublin Voivodeship...
in 1634). Over the years he would found several other monasteries, churches, as well as secular settlements. Despite being an ardent Catholic, he has proven to be a tolerant ruler, and supported peaceful dealings with the Protestants.
He was married twice: once in 1636 to Anna Elżbieta (Ann Elisabeth von) Schaffgotsch and then in 1652 to Joanna Katarzyna Radziwiłł of the imperial Radziwill
Radziwill
The Radziwiłł family is an noble family of Lithuanian origin. The descendants of Kristinas Astikas, a close associate of the 14th century Lithuanian ruler Vytautas, were highly prominent for centuries, first in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, later in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the...
family. He had three daughters (two with Anna and one with Joanna). He was buried in St. Ann Church in Weihersfrei Wejherowo
Wejherowo
Wejherowo is a town in Gdańsk Pomerania, northern Poland, with 47,435 inhabitants . It has been the capital of Wejherowo County in Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999; previously, it was a town in Gdańsk Voivodeship .-History:...
.