Historical calendar: the anniversary of the death of 1 of the most bitter opponents of Władysław Łocket and the restaurant of the Kingdom of Poland – Bishop Jan Muskata.
Today in our calendar we will look at the life and activities of this traitor of the Polish cause.
Jan Muskata came from a wealthy, Wrocław merchant household dealing in uncommon spices. small is known about his childhood. It is certain that parents took care of their son's education and sent him to the best schools. He was a very capable and capable student. He graduated from the prestigious papal university in Bologna, where he earned a master's degree in 7 liberated plays. The basic cognition he possessed liberated his pride and ambition of power, not only in church structures.
He himself treated religion as a means of large politics and wealth. He was very fast on the levels of his ecclesiastical career, helping him with his cunning and skillful flattery. He began serving as a modest Krakow cathedral canon and later as an archdeacon of Łęczycki. He gained much from the dispute between the bishop of Wroclaw Tomasz and Prince Henry Probus, in which he was a mediator and supported once, once, the another side. He was besides helped by individual acquaintances in Rome, which he undoubtedly made during his studies in Italy.
Thanks to them, he became a minister of sainthood from all over the Polish ecclesiastical state by the Pope Honorius IV. As an opportunist, he always relied on the stronger and despised the weak, even if they had a clear legal and moral right. For this reason, he saw no sense in supporting Archbishop Jakub Pińka's efforts to unite the Kingdom of Poland. For Muscats, these were dreams of no chance of implementation, as there were besides many external and interior forces against this project.
In the early 1990s, he approached the court of the heavy impoverished Czech King Wenceslas II. He became politically active with him for many years, hoping for protection and further promotions. He was right – in 1294 he became bishop of Kraków. With the control of Małopolska by the Czech Kingdom, he besides gained a number of privileges and privileges, thanks to which he expanded individual armed forces. shortly he began working to cut the Kraków diocese out of the archdiocese of Gniezno.
In 1295 he refused to participate in the coronation of Przemysł II, which he did not recognise as the ruler of Poland. erstwhile manufacture II died at the hands of the Brandenburgers, and Jakub Pińka transferred his support to Władysław Łocketka, Muscata besides began to fight this prince. In 1300 he participated in a Czech military expedition which led to the expulsion of Elbow from the country. He was then directed by Wenceslaus II to Hungary, where he became briefly vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom after the victorious successive war.
Pope Bonifacy VIII then spoke against the Czech Republic and the bishop. He did not like Muscat's disregard for ecclesiastical responsibilities and besides much engagement in politics. The bishop returned to Małopolska, where he bloodyly fought against the opposition associated with Łokiet.
At that time, Jacob Piggy brought him a canonical process. He accused the bishop of disobeying his superiors and unlawful granting dispensation to German knights for killing Poles. In addition, he was to commit death sentences, draining church and monastic assets, robberies, bribery, kidnapping people for ransom, and breaking celibacy with his mistress Gerussy of Sącz.
Muscata was excommunicated and suspended in office, after which Świnka conducted a cleaning of the Kraków Chapter from the Germans there. The bishop was no longer successful in politics. The death of Wenceslas II and his boy Wenceslas III enabled the Elbow to return to the country. In 1306, the Duke occupied Kraków and became ruler of the united Polish Crown. 2 years later, he arrested Muscat and forced him to curse allegiance.
The ambitious bishop utilized Roman connections again. He led to his ecclesiastical trial resumed, and thanks to lies and intrigues he was cleared of erstwhile charges. The church curse fell on the Elbow this time, but it was besides cancelled. After a fewer years Muscat had to humble himself again in front of Archbishop Pig. This is not the end of his conflicts with secular rulers and clergymen. For the bishop dreamed of placing on the Polish throne the Czech king Jan Luxemburg.
In 1311, he supported the Krakow revolt of mayor Albert and hoped to return to join the Czech Republic. The prince's energetic counterattack thwarted the German coup. Eventually, Muscata regained his position, bishop, but completely resigned from the large politics. He died respective days after the top triumph of his opponents – the coronation of Władysław Łocket as King of Poland.
Jan Muskata was an ambitious and tough politician. He did not care much about church matters, which he treated purely instrumentally. He sold himself to the Czechs and the German lifestyle. He repeatedly betrayed both the superior of the Polish ecclesiastical state and secular rulers who sought to restaurant the Polish Crown. He was a strong supporter of Przemyslids, and he resisted the unification of the country under the hub scepter. He was successful, but yet his plans failed.
It is symbolic that the last known event with his participation was the coronation of Władysław Elbow dated 20 January 1320. This proves the complete bankruptcy of his policy. He died a fewer weeks later, on February 7, 1320.
Previous entry from our calendar is available Here.
