Wojskowa emanacja władzy królewskiej w osobie hetmana na przełomie XV i XVI w.
Military emanation of the royal power in the person of hetman at the turn of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries

Author(s): Katarzyna Niemczyk-Wiśniewska
Subject(s): Political history, 15th Century
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Keywords: The Jagiellons; hetmanship; Mikołaj Kamieniecki; Aleksander Jagiello; campiductor
Summary/Abstract: The article discusses the reasons for which the monarch in the fifteenth century decided to cede part of their military prerogatives to the person of hetman, as well as the stages of the development of this position. The creation of the hetman office was the result of several factors. Firstly, in the mid-fifteenth century, significant changes took place in the military system: in place of the general militia, the role of the primary military unit was assumed by mercenaries. Simultaneously, firearms appeared and military tactics developed. In the new conditions, the monarch needed someone who was able to take command over a professional army, who had adequate knowledge and skills. Another factor influencing the formation of the hetman office was a constant threat to the south-eastern Polish border, which necessitated the formation of regular troops to defend the south-eastern borders and the establishment of their permanent leader. Finally, the third factor was the tradition of establishing in Poland general prefects or commanders of the court military troops as deputies of the king. These three factors engendered the formation of the office of hetman. The creation of the office went through several phases and in each of them the hetman prerogatives and powers were different. The titulature was also subject to transformation and in each of the phases the term of the Crown Hetman had in practice different significance.

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