Działalność Bodzanty z Kosowic herbu Szeliga na stanowisku arcybiskupa gnieźnieńskiego
The activity of Bodzanta of Kosowice of the Szeliga coat of arms as the archbishop of Gniezno

Summary/Abstract: Bodzanta of Kosowice of the Szeliga coat of arms raises extreme opinions among historians – from an experienced political player and a good administrator to an awkward man of shaky poitical views. Bodzanta’s negative image was created by Jan of Czarnków, who presented him in a negative light in his Chronicle. Such differing opinions have inspired the author of the article to attempt to examine the activity of the archbishop in the years 1382-1338, particularly after the civil war in Greater Poland. The article covers the period from the nomination of Bodzanta as archbishop until his death and its main aim is to undermine the opinion of Jan of Czarnków about Bodzanta being harmful for the Polish church. The current state of research on the archbishop’s activity is limited to a detailed description of his political activities during the civil war in Greater Poland. The article emphasizes the legal and economic activity of the archbishop, which took place after the events presented in the Chronicle of Jan of Czarnków. The author finds particularly valuable his analysis of the document so far overlooked regarding the conflict between Bodzanta and Władysław Opolczyk from 1387 and the description of the legal and economic activity of the archbishop. The main purpose of the article is to collect and organize information on the activities of Bodzanta from Kosowice in the years 1382–1388. The article also attempts to show the relationship between the archbishop and the monarchs of Europe at that time. It is also important to show the significance of the activity of the head of the Polish Church in developing the destroyed archbishop's domain. It seems that only such a perspective at the activities of the archbishop allows to draw objective conclusions regarding his office.

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