Dobiesław of Oleśnica


Dobiesław Oleśnicki was a soldier, aristocrat and politician in 15th century Poland.
Born in Sienno into the Dębno family, he was castellan of Wojnicki, Lublin and Sandomierz ; starosta of Kraków ; podczaszy of Kraków ; and voivode of Sandomierz. He was a participant in the Battle of Grunwald and the commander of the Siege of Marienburg. He built a new castle in Rymanów, founded churches, and was the father of the Sienieńskich family. He was a brother of the Primate of Poland and is described by Maurycy Dzieduszycki as "comparing to lives of the Knights in song and poem".

Battle of Grunwald

Oleśnicki is best known for his role in the, which affected Polish/Prussian relations for over a century. According to Cronica conflictus, Dobiesław of Oleśnica thrust a lance through the Grand Master's neck, while Jan Długosz presented Mszczuj of Skrzynno as the killer. With the death of the Grand Master, the Teutonic Knights and Prussian army fell into disarray and were defeated by the Polish/Lithuanian forces, thus securing Polish supremacy in central Europe.
Among 50 Polish units in the battle of Grunwald, Długosz lists Oleśnicki's squadron as the 38th, and his banner as a white cross on a red field.

Life

Oleśnicki was born in Sienno. In 1404, he accompanied King Jogaila to a Congress with the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, Konrad von Jungingen. In a tournament organized by the Grand Master, Oleśnicki conquered all challenges by successively dropping from the saddles all previous winners of the fights.
In 1413, he married Catherine, the daughter of Dymitr of Goraj and his wife Beata of Mokrsko. Through his marriage he was the Lord of Rymanów, a town in Krosno County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship. He began construction of a castle there and in 1409 hosted King Władysław Jagiełło there. In 1431 Dobiesław founded a brick church in the Gothic style in the nearby town of Sienno, where he was born.
With Jan Kobylański of Grzymała, he also besieged the city of Malbork. As a trusted advisor to the King he was a signatory to the Act of Union of Horodło of 1413 and he signed the peace in Brest Kujawski, on 31 December 1435. In 1440, he traveled with his nephew Zbigniew Oleśnicki, the Bishop of Kraków, to Budapest on a diplomatic trip. He died in 1440.

Gallery

Family