Historical calendar: December 19, 1283 – Jakub Świnka becomes Archbishop of Gniezno

Historical calendar – an anniversary of the consecration of the prominent Polish patriot Jakub Świnka, to Archbishop of Gniezno and, consequently, to the leader of spiritual Poland.

Today in our calendar we will look at the life and activities of this man.

Nothing is known about the date of birth, parents' names, or the origin of Jacob the Pig. He was most likely derived from a tiny noble household from Silesia or central Poland. due to his later activity, he was concluded to have received a thorough education in his youth. He chose a spiritual way and became a priest. In the 1960s and 1970s, he collaborated with Boleslaw Pious and manufacture II as a clerk, court lawyer or diplomat.

In 1284, he was awarded the Wielkopolska village of Polanow for his unspecified merits. Due to his cognition and faithful service, he was supported by Przemysł as a candidate for the Gniezno Archbishop's throne, after the deceased Janusz. He took office in 1283. His regulation in the Polish ecclesiastical state fell into a very hard period. Western lands fell from Poland and German immigration led to social disturbances both in the border and in the depths divided by the districts of the country.

A akin crisis occurred within the Church itself. This part of the provinces and monasteries occupied by German-speaking clergymen attempted to appear from Gniezno's curate for the benefit of the neighbouring centres. specified situations occurred especially in Silesia and Gdańsk Pomerania (in the second case – after it was taken by Teutonic Knights in 1309). In 1285, Jakub Pińka called a peculiar synod in Łęczyk, on which he firmly laid out his rations. He presented the uncontrolled influx of Germans as a phenomenon harmful to the Polish cause.

He ordered to preach and pray only in Polish and removed German-speaking clergy from their teaching and teaching functions. As a result, the parishes and Chapters of the full country were gradually cleared of Germans who were replaced by Poles. This meant at the same time the polonization of church and monastery education conducted by priests and monks. The actions of the Świnka in a fundamental way contributed to the suppression of Germanization of Polish lands, but this is not the end.

In many public speeches, the Archbishop supported the regulation of settlement from Western Europe and the fight against German culture and customs that threatened Polish tradition. In the same year, he sent a letter to Rome in which he called on the Holy See to defend Poland against German aggression. With his zeal, he infected the individual princes of the Abyssov who learned patriotism from him and fought German influence on their own.

Jakub Świnka has shown from the first moments of his regulation that he is simply a Polish stateman, a supporter of unification and renewal of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland. To this end, he worked closely with manufacture II, and later besides Władysław Elbow and all those close to the unification idea. Thanks to the authority of the head of the Polish Church, he tried to alleviate conflicts between individual princes, frequently showing them a level of agreement.

He was 1 of the initiators and spiritual patron of the Kalisz convention of 1293, during which manufacture II met Władysław Łokiet and his brother Kazimierz Łeczycki. The fight against the Czech influences of Wacław II was saved there in order to reflect from his hands Małopolska. In 1295, Jakub Świnka celebrated the top triumph of his politics – he renewed the Kingdom of Poland, crowning in Gniezno Industry II.

After the execution of the king by the Brandenburczyks, the archbishop transferred his support to Władysław Łokietka and acted vigorously to take over the throne of the large Poland-Pomeranian. Unfortunately, this failed, and in 1299 Elbows was crushed and had to flee the country. The most powerful position on Polish lands was then gained by the Czech King Wacław II. Hoping that this would aid to halt the expansion of Brandenburg and Teutonic Knights and in the unification of the country under 1 scepter, the archbishop crowned him as King of Poland in 1300.

In that decision he was confirmed by the deficiency of seriousness and the constant disputes of the local princes of the Abyss, who did not realize the wider politics. However, he shortly found that the Czechs' support was a mistake. Wenceslaw did not want to unite Polish lands, but only to keep his political influence and profit from the rich Kraków district. In addition, he was surrounded by German advisors, which peculiarly upset the Gniezno metropolitan.

For this reason, he again supported Władysław Łokietka and gave 2 canonical processes to the bishop of Kraków Jan Muskata, who was the main advocate of joining Małopolska in the Czech Republic. These processes have been going on for many years, effectively paralyzing Muscat's aspirations. With the support of Archbishop Pińka, Łokietek returned to the country and took power in the Kujawy, Gdańsk Pomerania, Krakow Land and Sandomierska. Not without meaning for these successes was the death of Wenceslas III and the interior crisis in the Czech Republic.

In fresh years of his life, the archbishop sought the coronation of Władysław Łokiett and his taking full power in Wielkopolska. Unfortunately, he died in 1314 without surviving the coronation. His dream to renew the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland was fulfilled six years later, in 1320.

Previous entry from our calendar is available Here.