Jan Latosz
Encyclopedia
Jan Latosz or Jan Latoszyński (1539-1608) was a Polish
scholar, astronomer
, astrologist and physician
. A professor at the Cracow Academy
, he is best known for his staunch criticism of the papal calendar reform
, for which he was deposed of his post. He fled to Ostróg
, where he became the personal physician to Prince Konstanty Wasyl Ostrogski
and a professor at the Ostrog Academy
.
, the fact which some authors attribute to his personal animosities. Eventually however he became the member of the Academy and rose to prominence, eventually owning a large tenement house at Szewska Street, half of the profit from which he spent for charity.
As an astronomer, Latosz was a follower of Copernicus. He published numerous works mostly based on Copernican theory, most of which either did not survive to our time or are known only from single copies held in Jagiellonian University's library. Among them were a treatise Poprawa kalenarza (now lost, possibly written in Latin), as well as Kometa (Comet, published in 1596) and De mutationibus regnorum tum observationibus quoque in ecclipses atque Cometas aliquot. Most of those were already considered lost by 1814. Latosz was also an astrologist, trying to use Copernican theory to predict future (including the end of the world
) in a book titled Prognosticon.
's Gregorian calendar
reform when it was proposed to all major European universities in 1581. While most of the academy approved of the reform plan, Latosz presented a different solution through his old acquaintance Alberto Cardinal Bolognetti, former Papal nuncio
to Poland in the times of king Stephen Bathory
. His design was declared incompatible with the rulings of ecumenical council
s and instead the pope adopted a different solution
to the leap year
problem.
This sparked a series of events as Latosz believed his solution was much more complete and astronomically correct than the solution adopted by all Catholic states of Europe. At the same time Protestant states criticised the calendar reform, mostly because it was proposed by papacy rather than the Holy Roman Emperor
or any other lay authority. Because of that Latosz was associated with Protestants in a country ruled by ultra-Catholic monarch Sigismund III Vasa
. In addition to that, the calendar question in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
became strongly linked to the struggle between Catholic, Uniate and Orthodox
magnate
s, the latter arguing against the reform for reasons of tradition.
Latosz argued in numerous pamphlet
s and books that the Catholic church in its' new calendar missed a couple of minutes every year, which made the new calendar worse instead of improving it. Fearing reprisals against the Academy, under insistence of the bishop of Cracow Bernard Maciejowski, the rector
deposed Latosz of his post.
, where he became the personal physician to Prince Konstanty Wasyl Ostrogski
, one of the most influential people in eastern Poland of the time. He died and was buried in Ostrog in 1608. His grave at the local cemetery was destroyed by Soviet authorities in 1960.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
scholar, astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
, astrologist and physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
. A professor at the Cracow Academy
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University was established in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kazimierz . It is the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world....
, he is best known for his staunch criticism of the papal calendar reform
Calendar reform
A calendar reform is any significant revision of a calendar system. The term sometimes is used instead for a proposal to switch to a different calendar.Most calendars have several rules which could be altered by reform:...
, for which he was deposed of his post. He fled to Ostróg
Ostrog
Ostrog may refer to:* Ostrog, Slovenia, a settlement in Šentjernej municipality in Slovenia* Ostrog monastery, a Serbian Orthodox Christian monastery in Montenegro* Ostroh, a historic town in Ukraine* Ostrog, a Russian term for a small fortress...
, where he became the personal physician to Prince Konstanty Wasyl Ostrogski
Konstanty Wasyl Ostrogski
Konstanty Wasyl Ostrogski was a Lithuanian prince, starost of Volodymyr-Volynskyi, marshal of Volhynia and voivode of the Kiev Voivodeship, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. He got married on January 1553 in Tarnów...
and a professor at the Ostrog Academy
Ostroh Academy
National University "Ostroh Academy" is a Ukrainian self-governed research university that was re-opened in 1994 by the Presidential Decree of April 12, 1994...
.
Biography
Born in or around 1539, Latosz entered the Cracow Academy some time in mid-16th century. Initially he had trouble achieving the degree of magisterMagister (degree)
Magister is an academic degree used in various systems of higher education.-Argentina:...
, the fact which some authors attribute to his personal animosities. Eventually however he became the member of the Academy and rose to prominence, eventually owning a large tenement house at Szewska Street, half of the profit from which he spent for charity.
As an astronomer, Latosz was a follower of Copernicus. He published numerous works mostly based on Copernican theory, most of which either did not survive to our time or are known only from single copies held in Jagiellonian University's library. Among them were a treatise Poprawa kalenarza (now lost, possibly written in Latin), as well as Kometa (Comet, published in 1596) and De mutationibus regnorum tum observationibus quoque in ecclipses atque Cometas aliquot. Most of those were already considered lost by 1814. Latosz was also an astrologist, trying to use Copernican theory to predict future (including the end of the world
End of the world
End of the world may refer to:* End time, in religion* List of places described as the end of land or the world* Expected tidal destruction of Earth when Sun becomes red-giant star-Albums:* End of the World , 1968 work by Aphrodite's Child...
) in a book titled Prognosticon.
Calendar reform
Latosz was one of the people tasked with commenting Pope Gregory XIIIPope Gregory XIII
Pope Gregory XIII , born Ugo Boncompagni, was Pope from 1572 to 1585. He is best known for commissioning and being the namesake for the Gregorian calendar, which remains the internationally-accepted civil calendar to this date.-Youth:He was born the son of Cristoforo Boncompagni and wife Angela...
's Gregorian calendar
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
reform when it was proposed to all major European universities in 1581. While most of the academy approved of the reform plan, Latosz presented a different solution through his old acquaintance Alberto Cardinal Bolognetti, former Papal nuncio
Nuncio
Nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin word, Nuntius, meaning "envoy." This article addresses this title as well as derived similar titles, all within the structure of the Roman Catholic Church...
to Poland in the times of king Stephen Bathory
Stephen Báthory
Stephen Báthory may refer to several noblemen of Hungarian descent:* Stephen III Báthory , Palatine of Hungary* Stephen V Báthory , judge of the Royal Court and Prince of Transylvania...
. His design was declared incompatible with the rulings of ecumenical council
Ecumenical council
An ecumenical council is a conference of ecclesiastical dignitaries and theological experts convened to discuss and settle matters of Church doctrine and practice....
s and instead the pope adopted a different solution
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
to the leap year
Leap year
A leap year is a year containing one extra day in order to keep the calendar year synchronized with the astronomical or seasonal year...
problem.
This sparked a series of events as Latosz believed his solution was much more complete and astronomically correct than the solution adopted by all Catholic states of Europe. At the same time Protestant states criticised the calendar reform, mostly because it was proposed by papacy rather than the Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
or any other lay authority. Because of that Latosz was associated with Protestants in a country ruled by ultra-Catholic monarch Sigismund III Vasa
Sigismund III Vasa
Sigismund III Vasa was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, a monarch of the united Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1587 to 1632, and King of Sweden from 1592 until he was deposed in 1599...
. In addition to that, the calendar question 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...
became strongly linked to the struggle between Catholic, Uniate and Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
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...
s, the latter arguing against the reform for reasons of tradition.
Latosz argued in numerous pamphlet
Pamphlet
A pamphlet is an unbound booklet . It may consist of a single sheet of paper that is printed on both sides and folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths , or it may consist of a few pages that are folded in half and saddle stapled at the crease to make a simple book...
s and books that the Catholic church in its' new calendar missed a couple of minutes every year, which made the new calendar worse instead of improving it. Fearing reprisals against the Academy, under insistence of the bishop of Cracow Bernard Maciejowski, the rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
deposed Latosz of his post.
Later life
Latosz moved to OstrogOstrog
Ostrog may refer to:* Ostrog, Slovenia, a settlement in Šentjernej municipality in Slovenia* Ostrog monastery, a Serbian Orthodox Christian monastery in Montenegro* Ostroh, a historic town in Ukraine* Ostrog, a Russian term for a small fortress...
, where he became the personal physician to Prince Konstanty Wasyl Ostrogski
Konstanty Wasyl Ostrogski
Konstanty Wasyl Ostrogski was a Lithuanian prince, starost of Volodymyr-Volynskyi, marshal of Volhynia and voivode of the Kiev Voivodeship, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. He got married on January 1553 in Tarnów...
, one of the most influential people in eastern Poland of the time. He died and was buried in Ostrog in 1608. His grave at the local cemetery was destroyed by Soviet authorities in 1960.