Henryk Samsonowicz
Encyclopedia
Henryk Bohdan Samsonowicz (born January 23, 1930 in Warsaw
) is a Polish
historian specializing in medieval Poland, prolific writer, and professor of the University of Warsaw
. In 1989–1990, he was the minister of education in the government of prime minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki
.
. In 1971 Samsonowicz was named a professor
. Since 1967, he was a vice-dean of Department of Humanistic Studies at University of Warsaw, and in 1970 - 1973, he was the dean of the Department. Also, in 1975 - 1980, Samsonowicz was the director of the Institute of History.
In 1980, he became a member of Solidarity, and on October 1, 1980, he was nominated a rector of the University of Warsaw. Dismissed from this post on April 8, 1982, Samsonowicz participated in late 1980s in talks of the Round Table
. After the June 4, 1989 election, he became Minister of Education, and in 1990, upon his decision, teaching of religious studies returned to Polish schools. Samsonowicz remained a minister until January 1991.
Currently, he lectures at the Humanistic Academy in Pułtusk, is a member of the Polish Academy of Learning
, and of the Polish Academy of Sciences
. He also has honorary degree
s of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, and University of Wrocław. He is a bearer of the Samson coat of arms, in 1984 he was awarded Légion d'honneur
. Since 2008, he has been an honorary citizen of Pultusk and Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski
.
s. Selected works include:
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
) is a Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
historian specializing in medieval Poland, prolific writer, and professor of the University of Warsaw
University of Warsaw
The University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland and one of the most prestigious, ranked as best Polish university in 2010 and 2011...
. In 1989–1990, he was the minister of education in the government of prime minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki
Tadeusz Mazowiecki
Tadeusz Mazowiecki is a Polish author, journalist, philanthropist and Christian-democratic politician, formerly one of the leaders of the Solidarity movement, and the first non-communist prime minister in Central and Eastern Europe after World War II.-Biography:Mazowiecki comes from a Polish...
.
Life
Samsonowicz graduated in 1950 from University of Warsaw, and 1954 he received a PhD, and in 1960 was habilitatedHabilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
. In 1971 Samsonowicz was named a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
. Since 1967, he was a vice-dean of Department of Humanistic Studies at University of Warsaw, and in 1970 - 1973, he was the dean of the Department. Also, in 1975 - 1980, Samsonowicz was the director of the Institute of History.
In 1980, he became a member of Solidarity, and on October 1, 1980, he was nominated a rector of the University of Warsaw. Dismissed from this post on April 8, 1982, Samsonowicz participated in late 1980s in talks of the Round Table
Polish Round Table Agreement
The Polish Round Table Talks took place in Warsaw, Poland from February 6 to April 4, 1989. The government initiated the discussion with the banned trade union Solidarność and other opposition groups in an attempt to defuse growing social unrest.-History:...
. After the June 4, 1989 election, he became Minister of Education, and in 1990, upon his decision, teaching of religious studies returned to Polish schools. Samsonowicz remained a minister until January 1991.
Currently, he lectures at the Humanistic Academy in Pułtusk, is a member of the Polish Academy of Learning
Polish Academy of Learning
The Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences or Polish Academy of Learning , headquartered in Kraków, is one of two institutions in contemporary Poland having the nature of an academy of sciences....
, and of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Polish Academy of Sciences
The Polish Academy of Sciences, headquartered in Warsaw, is one of two Polish institutions having the nature of an academy of sciences.-History:...
. He also has honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
s of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń is located in Toruń, Poland. It was named after Nicolaus Copernicus who was born in this town in 1473.-The beginnings of higher education in Toruń:...
, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, and University of Wrocław. He is a bearer of the Samson coat of arms, in 1984 he was awarded Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
. Since 2008, he has been an honorary citizen of Pultusk and Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski
Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski
Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski is a town in south-central Poland with 74,211 inhabitants .Main industry is metallurgy. Ostrowiec is the capital city of Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski County, part of Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship , previously it belonged to Kielce Voivodeship .- History:The oldest testimonies of...
.
Works
Samsonowicz has written around 800 scientific papers, mostly on history of medieval Poland, including 16 books and university textbookTextbook
A textbook or coursebook is a manual of instruction in any branch of study. Textbooks are produced according to the demands of educational institutions...
s. Selected works include:
- Henryk Samsonowicz, Historia Polski do roku 1795 (History of Poland until 1795), Kraków 2000,
- Henryk Samsonowicz, Późne średniowiecze miast nadbałtyckich. Studia z dziejów Hanzy nad Bałtykiem w XIV-XV w. (Late Middle Ages of Baltic cities. Studies of history of the Hanseatic LeagueHanseatic LeagueThe Hanseatic League was an economic alliance of trading cities and their merchant guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe...
in the 14th and 15th century), Warsaw 1968 - Henryk Samsonowicz, Miejsce Polski w Europie (Poland's location in Europe), Warsaw 1995
- Henryk Samsonowicz, Ziemie polskie w X wieku i ich znaczenie w kształtowaniu się nowej mapy Europy (Polish lands in the 10th century and their significance in shaping of new map of Europe), Kraków 2000
- Henryk Samsonowicz, Tysiącletnie dzieje (Thousand years of history, together with Janusz TazbirJanusz TazbirJanusz Tazbir is a Polish historian, specializing in the culture and religion of Poland in the 16th and 17th centuries.-Career:...
), Wrocław 1997 - Henryk Samsonowicz, Idea uniwersytetu u schyłku tysiąclecia (The idea of a university at the dawn of the millennium, co-author), Warsaw 1998.