Johannes von Baysen
Encyclopedia
Hans von Baysen or Jan Bażyński (around 1394–1459) was a Prussian
knight
and statesman
, leader of the Prussian Confederation
and the first Polish governor of Royal Prussia
.
family which came in the 13th century from Lübeck
or its vicinity. They named themselves after their possession, Basien
(modern Bażyny) near Wormditt (modern Orneta) in Ermland (modern Warmia).
Initially, Baysen was employed by the Teutonic Knights
and their Grand Masters, among them Konrad von Erlichshausen
and Ludwig von Erlichshausen
. He was one of the order's native lay associates.
In service of the Grand Masters, Baysen travelled on diplomatic missions to England
, Denmark
and Portugal
in the years 1419-1422. According to legend he was knighted by the King of Portugal for his military service against the Moors
during the Reconquista
, which was reflected in a modification to his family's Coat of Arms
. After Michael Küchmeister
resigned as head of the order, Baysen also terminated his service with the knights. Baysen was also one of the ambassadors of Grandmaster Paul von Rusdorf, who appointed Baisen to a member of a secret council.
He was a leader of the gathering of Prussian nobility
in 1435 which was dissastified with the rule of the Teutonic Knights. He was also a member of the Lizard Union, an organization of Prussian nobles and knights who sought the incorporation of Prussia within the Kingdom of Poland. As the Standard-bearer
of Ostróda
(Osterode) he took part in the founding of the Prussian Confederation, and was one of the signatories of the founding document of the Confederation on March 14, 1440 in Kwidzyn
(Marienwerder). He was a member of the Secret Committee of the Confederation and took a public stance against attacks made against the organization by the Papal legate and the new Grand Master of the Order.
He was the head of the delegation which came from Toruń
(Thorn) to Kraków
in February 1454, which asked the King of Poland Casimir IV Jagiellon
to reincorporate Prussian lands into the Polish kingdom. Consequently he led the uprising of the Prussian Estates against the Knights. In 1454, during the Thirteen Years' War, in which the cities of the Prussian Confederation financed Polish military expenses, he was made governor of Royal Prussia by the King of Poland, which after the war became a part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
. As the governor his residence was in Elbląg
. In 1457 and 1459 he commanded the defense of Malbork against attacks by the Teutonic Knights, who also unsuccessfully tried to assassinate him. In 1454 he was made the starosta
of Sztum
(Shtum) and in 1456 of Tolkmicko
(Tolkemikt).
He died at Marienburg Castle (Malbork Castle) and was buried at Elbląg. He was succeeded as governor of Royal Prussia by his brother Ścibor Bażyński (Tiburcius/Stibor von Baysen).
of the First General Lyceum in the town, thus making it The First General Lyceum of Jan Bażyński. Besides the Lyceum there is also Bażyński Oak
- a 700 year old oak located in Kadyny
.
Prussia (region)
Prussia is a historical region in Central Europe extending from the south-eastern coast of the Baltic Sea to the Masurian Lake District. It is now divided between Poland, Russia, and Lithuania...
knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
and statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
, leader of the Prussian Confederation
Prussian Confederation
The Prussian Confederation was an organization formed in 1440 by a group of 53 gentry and clergy and 19 cities in Prussia to oppose the monastic state of the Teutonic Knights. It was based on the basis of an earlier similar organization, the Lizard Union...
and the first Polish governor of 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...
.
Biography
The Baysen family was part of a larger FlemishFlemish
Flemish can refer to anything related to Flanders, and may refer directly to the following articles:*Flemish, an informal, though linguistically incorrect, name of any kind of the Dutch language as spoken in Belgium....
family which came in the 13th century from Lübeck
Lübeck
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
or its vicinity. They named themselves after their possession, Basien
Bazyny
Bażyny is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Orneta, within Lidzbark County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland...
(modern Bażyny) near Wormditt (modern Orneta) in Ermland (modern Warmia).
Initially, Baysen was employed by the Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
and their Grand Masters, among them Konrad von Erlichshausen
Konrad von Erlichshausen
Konrad von Erlichshausen was the 30th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, serving from 1441 to 1449.Konrad came from Ellrichshausen in Swabia, now part of Satteldorf in Baden-Württemberg...
and Ludwig von Erlichshausen
Ludwig von Erlichshausen
Ludwig von Erlichshausen was the 31st Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, serving from 1449/1450 to 1467.As did his uncle and predecessor Konrad von Erlichshausen, Ludwig came from Ellrichshausen in Swabia, now part of Satteldorf in Baden-Württemberg.Ludwig was aide to Grand Master Paul von...
. He was one of the order's native lay associates.
In service of the Grand Masters, Baysen travelled on diplomatic missions to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
in the years 1419-1422. According to legend he was knighted by the King of Portugal for his military service against the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
during the Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
, which was reflected in a modification to his family's Coat of Arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
. After Michael Küchmeister
Michael Küchmeister von Sternberg
Michael Küchmeister von Sternberg was the 28th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, serving from 1414 to 1422.- Biography :...
resigned as head of the order, Baysen also terminated his service with the knights. Baysen was also one of the ambassadors of Grandmaster Paul von Rusdorf, who appointed Baisen to a member of a secret council.
He was a leader of the gathering of Prussian nobility
Prussian estates
The Prussian estates were representative bodies of Prussia, first created by the Monastic state of Teutonic Prussia in the 14th century but later becoming a devolved legislature for Royal Prussia within the Kingdom of Poland...
in 1435 which was dissastified with the rule of the Teutonic Knights. He was also a member of the Lizard Union, an organization of Prussian nobles and knights who sought the incorporation of Prussia within the Kingdom of Poland. As the Standard-bearer
Chorąży
Chorąży or Khorunzhyi is a military rank in Poland, Ukraine and some neighboring countries. A chorąży was once a knight who bore a standard — the emblem of an armed troop, a province , a land , a duchy, or the kingdom...
of Ostróda
Ostróda
Ostróda is a town in Ostróda County in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship in Poland, with 33,603 inhabitants as of January 1, 2005. It lies in the Masurian Lake District and is a growing tourist site owing to its relaxing natural surroundings.-History:...
(Osterode) he took part in the founding of the Prussian Confederation, and was one of the signatories of the founding document of the Confederation on March 14, 1440 in Kwidzyn
Kwidzyn
Kwidzyn is a town in northern Poland on the Liwa river, with 40,008 inhabitants . It has been a part of the Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999, and was previously in the Elbląg Voivodeship . It is the capital of Kwidzyn County.-History:...
(Marienwerder). He was a member of the Secret Committee of the Confederation and took a public stance against attacks made against the organization by the Papal legate and the new Grand Master of the Order.
He was the head of the delegation which came from Toruń
Torun
Toruń is an ancient city in northern Poland, on the Vistula River. Its population is more than 205,934 as of June 2009. Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland. The medieval old town of Toruń is the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus....
(Thorn) to Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
in February 1454, which asked the King of Poland Casimir IV Jagiellon
Casimir IV Jagiellon
Casimir IV KG of the House of Jagiellon was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1440, and King of Poland from 1447, until his death.Casimir was the second son of King Władysław II Jagiełło , and the younger brother of Władysław III of Varna....
to reincorporate Prussian lands into the Polish kingdom. Consequently he led the uprising of the Prussian Estates against the Knights. In 1454, during the Thirteen Years' War, in which the cities of the Prussian Confederation financed Polish military expenses, he was made governor of Royal Prussia by the King of Poland, which after the war became a part 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...
. As the governor his residence was in Elbląg
Elblag
Elbląg is a city in northern Poland with 127,892 inhabitants . It is the capital of Elbląg County and has been assigned to the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship since 1999. Before then it was the capital of Elbląg Voivodeship and a county seat in Gdańsk Voivodeship...
. In 1457 and 1459 he commanded the defense of Malbork against attacks by the Teutonic Knights, who also unsuccessfully tried to assassinate him. In 1454 he was made the starosta
Starosta
Starost is a title for an official or unofficial position of leadership that has been used in various contexts through most of Slavic history. It can be translated as "elder"...
of Sztum
Sztum
Sztum is a town in northern Poland, located in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. It is the capital of Sztum County, with some 10,141 inhabitants .-History:...
(Shtum) and in 1456 of Tolkmicko
Tolkmicko
Tolkmicko is a town in northern Poland, on the Vistula Lagoon, about 20 km northeast of Elbląg. It is located in Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in Elbląg County. Its population is 2,766 -History:...
(Tolkemikt).
He died at Marienburg Castle (Malbork Castle) and was buried at Elbląg. He was succeeded as governor of Royal Prussia by his brother Ścibor Bażyński (Tiburcius/Stibor von Baysen).
Legacy
In honour of Jan Bażyński the authorities of Ostróda named him in 1966 as the patronPatrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
of the First General Lyceum in the town, thus making it The First General Lyceum of Jan Bażyński. Besides the Lyceum there is also Bażyński Oak
Bażyński Oak
The Bażyński Oak - is an Oak tree and natural monument in Poland. One of the oldest trees in Poland, whose age is estimated at around 700 years. Circumference of 9.9 metres, height about 25 metres...
- a 700 year old oak located in Kadyny
Kadyny
Kadyny is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Tolkmicko, within Elbląg County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. It lies on the Vistula Lagoon of the Baltic Sea, approximately south-west of Tolkmicko, north of Elbląg, and north-west of the regional capital Olsztyn...
.