Spytek of Melsztyn ( pl, Spytek z Melsztyna, 1398–1439), also known as Spytko, was a member of the

Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken *Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin screenwr ...

nobility Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy (class), aristocracy. It is normally ranked immediately below Royal family, royalty. Nobility has often been an Estates of the realm, estate of the realm with many e ...

and a strong supporter of Polish cooperation with the

Hussite The Hussites ( cs, Husité or ''Kališníci''; "Chalice People") were a Czech proto-Protestant Christian movement that followed the teachings of reformer Jan Hus, who became the best known representative of the Bohemian Reformation. The Hussit ...

movement.

Biography

Spytek was the owner of

Melsztyn Melsztyn is a village on the left bank of the Dunajec river in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland. It lies approximately north-west of Zakliczyn, south-west of Tarnów, and east of the regional capital Kraków. The village was first mentione ...

estates and a

castellan A castellan is the title used in Medieval Europe for an appointed official, a governor of a castle and its surrounding territory referred to as the castellany. The title of ''governor'' is retained in the English prison system, as a remnant o ...

Biecz Biecz () (german: Beitsch) is a town and municipality in southeastern Poland, in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Gorlice County. It is in the Carpathian Mountains, in the Doły Jasielsko-Sanockie, by the Ropa River. Due to its rich history, it is oft ...

. He was the son of

Spytek of Melsztyn Spycimir, also Spyćmier, Spyćmir, Spyćmierz, Spićymierz, etc., is an old Polish masculine given name. Etymology: ''spyci-'': "in vain", ''-mir'': "peace". Diminutives: Spytko, Spytek. Its name day is 26 April.Bogdan Kupis, ''Nasze imiona'', 1991 ...

, voivode of Kraków. He supported the plan for

Władysław II Jagiełło Jogaila (; 1 June 1434), later Władysław II Jagiełło ()He is known under a number of names: lt, Jogaila Algirdaitis; pl, Władysław II Jagiełło; be, Jahajła (Ягайла). See also: Names and titles of Władysław II Jagiełło. w ...

's acceptance of the Czech crown from the

s. He supported pro-

military expeditions of

Sigismund Korybut Sigismund Korybut ( lt, Žygimantas Kaributaitis; be, Жыгімонт Карыбутавіч; pl, Zygmunt Korybutowicz; cz, Zikmund Korybutovič; uk, Жиґимонт Корибутович or Сигізмунд Корибутович, 1395 � ...

Bohemia Bohemia ( ; cs, Čechy ; ; hsb, Čěska; szl, Czechy) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. Bohemia can also refer to a wider area consisting of the historical Lands of the Bohemian Crown ruled by the Bohem ...

in the years 1422-1427. After Jagiełło's death in 1434 he was the leader of the opposition against the political influences of

Bishop of Kraków A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

, Zbigniew Oleśnicki during the early years of the reign of young

King King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...

Władysław III. Spytek's opposition to Oleśnicki was less personal and more an expression of sympathy with Czech

Hussitism The Hussites ( cs, Husité or ''Kališníci''; "Chalice People") were a Czech proto-Protestant Christian movement that followed the teachings of reformer Jan Hus, who became the best known representative of the Bohemian Reformation. The Hussit ...

, and of opposition to the wealth and influence of the

Catholic Church in Poland , native_name_lang = , image = Basílica_de_Nuestra_Señora_de_Licheń,_Stary_Licheń,_Polonia,_2016-12-21,_DD_36-38_HDR.jpg , imagewidth = 250px , alt = , caption = Basilica of Our Lady ...

. During Church synods of Warka (1434), Sieradz and Piotrkow (1435) he spoke in favor of the abolishing of the

Peter's Pence Peter's Pence (or ''Denarii Sancti Petri'' and "Alms of St Peter") are donations or payments made directly to the Holy See of the Catholic Church. The practice began under the Saxons in England and spread through Europe. Both before and after the ...

in Poland. In 1439 he organized the Korczyn Confederation (also known as "Confederation of Spytko of Melsztyn") against Oleśnicki. This was a reaction to Oleśnicki 's formation of an earlier anti-Hussite confederation there. His actions were condemned by the royal court, and he lost much support. Following a military escalation of the conflict, he died in the

Battle of Grotniki The Battle of Grotniki took place on 4 May 1439 in the vicinity of Grotniki Duże, a village near Nowy Korczyn, currently in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. The battle was fought between the Hussite confederates under Spytko III of Melsztyn aga ...

on 4 May 1439. Spytek's defeat meant also the defeat of the Hussite cause in Poland. His legacy lay in King Władysław's realization that the lesser nobility could be played off against the power of the great magnates and that the Catholic Church could be reigned in.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spytek Of Melsztyn 1398 births 1439 deaths People of the Hussite Wars 15th-century Polish nobility Polish knights Tarnowski family Military personnel killed in action