Stanisław of Skarbimierz (1360–1431; Latinised as ''Stanislaus de Scarbimiria'') was the first rector of the

University of Krakow The Jagiellonian University ( Polish: ''Uniwersytet Jagielloński'', UJ) is a public research university in Kraków, Poland. Founded in 1364 by King Casimir III the Great, it is the oldest university in Poland and the 13th oldest university in ...

following its restoration in 1399. He was the author of ''Sermones sapientiales'' ( pl, Kazania sapiencjalne), comprising 113 sermons. Stanisław was born in

Skarbimierz Skarbimierz (german: Hermsdorf) is a village in Brzeg County (Brieg), Opole Voivodeship (Oppeln), in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Skarbimierz. It lies approximately south-west of Brzeg ...

, a town some 50 km north-east of Kraków. His sermons were the foundation of Polish political doctrine that culminated in the system of Nobles' Democracy ("

Golden Liberty Golden Liberty ( la, Aurea Libertas; pl, Złota Wolność, lt, Auksinė laisvė), sometimes referred to as Golden Freedoms, Nobles' Democracy or Nobles' Commonwealth ( pl, Rzeczpospolita Szlachecka or ''Złota wolność szlachecka'') was a pol ...

") in Poland and, from 1569, in the

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and, after 1791, as the Commonwealth of Poland, was a bi-confederal state, sometimes called a federation, of Crown of the Kingdom of ...

. Many ideas central to this doctrine may be found in subsequent works by

Wawrzyniec Grzymała Goślicki Wawrzyniec is a Polish masculine given name. Notable people with the name include: * Wawrzyniec Cyl (1900-1974), Polish footballer * Wawrzyniec Grzymała Goślicki (circa 1530-1607), Polish nobleman * Wawrzyniec Mitzler de Kolof (1711-1778), Polis ...

(1530–1607) that appear to have influenced the 17th-century

English Commonwealth The Commonwealth was the political structure during the period from 1649 to 1660 when England and Wales, later along with Ireland and Scotland, were governed as a republic after the end of the Second English Civil War and the trial and execut ...

as well as the

Founding Fathers of the United States The Founding Fathers of the United States, known simply as the Founding Fathers or Founders, were a group of late-18th-century American Revolution, American revolutionary leaders who United Colonies, united the Thirteen Colonies, oversaw the Am ...

. Along with Paweł Włodkowic, Stanisław framed the Polish position at the

Council of Constance The Council of Constance was a 15th-century ecumenical council recognized by the Catholic Church, held from 1414 to 1418 in the Bishopric of Constance in present-day Germany. The council ended the Western Schism by deposing or accepting the res ...

, pioneering ideas of modern

human rights Human rights are Morality, moral principles or Social norm, normsJames Nickel, with assistance from Thomas Pogge, M.B.E. Smith, and Leif Wenar, 13 December 2013, Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyHuman Rights Retrieved 14 August 2014 for ce ...

and

international law International law (also known as public international law and the law of nations) is the set of rules, norms, and standards generally recognized as binding between states. It establishes normative guidelines and a common conceptual framework for ...

. His sermons "About Just War" (''De bellis justis'') and "About robbery" (''De rapina'') laid foundations of the medieval theory of

just war The just war theory ( la, bellum iustum) is a doctrine, also referred to as a tradition, of military ethics which is studied by military leaders, theologians, ethicists and policy makers. The purpose of the doctrine is to ensure that a war is m ...

. The sermons justified the position of the

Kingdom of Poland The Kingdom of Poland ( pl, Królestwo Polskie; Latin: ''Regnum Poloniae'') was a state in Central Europe. It may refer to: Historical political entities *Kingdom of Poland, a kingdom existing from 1025 to 1031 *Kingdom of Poland, a kingdom exist ...

in its war against the

Teutonic Knights The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, commonly known as the Teutonic Order, is a Catholic religious institution founded as a military society in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem. It was formed to aid Christians on ...

. Stanisław died in 1431 in

Kraków Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 1596 ...

.R. M. Zawadzki: Stanisław ze Skarbimierza, n:

Polski słownik biograficzny ''Polski Słownik Biograficzny'' (''PSB''; Polish Biographical Dictionary) is a Polish-language biographical dictionary, comprising an alphabetically arranged compilation of authoritative biographies of some 25,000 notable Poles and of foreigners ...

, vol. 42,

Warszawa Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officiall ...

2003, p. 76-80 - http://www.ipsb.nina.gov.pl/a/biografia/stanislaw-ze-skarbimierza His ''Sermons'' were influenced by earlier works of

Augustine of Hippo Augustine of Hippo ( , ; la, Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Af ...

and

Wincenty Kadłubek Wincenty Kadłubek ( 1150 – 8 March 1223) was a Polish Catholic prelate and professed Cistercian who served as the Bishop of Kraków from 1208 until his resignation in 1218. His episcopal mission was to reform the diocesan priests to ensure ...

Footnotes

References

* (in Polish) L. Ehrlich: Polski wykład prawa wojny XV wieku. Kazanie Stanisława ze Skarbimierza De bellis iustis, ed. Wydawnictwo Prawnicze,

1955; * (in Polish) Olszewski Mikołaj, Świat zabobonów w średniowieczu. Studium kazania O zabobonach Stanisława ze Skarbimierza, ed. WYDAWNICTWO NAUKOWE Semper,

2002, * (in Polish) R. M. Zawadzki: Stanisław ze Skarbimierza, n:

, vol. 42,

2003, p. 76-80 - http://www.ipsb.nina.gov.pl/a/biografia/stanislaw-ze-skarbimierza Canons of Kraków Academic staff of Jagiellonian University Burials at Wawel Cathedral 1360 births 1431 deaths Rectors of the Jagiellonian University People from Kazimierza County 14th-century Polish Roman Catholic priests 15th-century Polish Roman Catholic priests {{Poland-reli-bio-stub