Johannes von Leysen
Encyclopedia
Johannes von Leysen was the first mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....

 of Allenstein (Olsztyn, Poland
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...

) in 1353.

Leysen originated from a well-known family, recognized in colonizing southern Warmia
Warmia
Warmia or Ermland is a region between Pomerelia and Masuria in northeastern Poland. Together with Masuria, it forms the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship....

 within the State of the Teutonic Order. His grandfather Martin came to Prussia
Prussia (region)
Prussia is a historical region in Central Europe extending from the south-eastern coast of the Baltic Sea to the Masurian Lake District. It is now divided between Poland, Russia, and Lithuania...

 in 1304 as a free peasant. He was a founder and then Schultheiß
Schultheiß
In medieval Germany, the Schultheiß was the head of a municipality , a Vogt or an executive official of the ruler.As official it was...

 of Layß (Łajsy) near Mehlsack (Pieniężno). His father Gerico inherited the position of Schultheiß from his father. Johannes's brother Heinrich von Leysen was the founder of Wartenberg (Wartembork, since 1946 Barczewo
Barczewo
Barczewo is a town in Olsztyn County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland. It is located 20 km NE of Olsztyn.The town was first located in 1325 but was soon after destroyed by Lithuanians. The rebuild town was granted city rights in 1364. In 1466, after the Second Peace of Toruń then known...

) and a village, Skaibotten (Skajboty).

On 13 October 1353, Leysen received a settlement privilege from the Bishopric of Warmia. In 1372 he was promoted to the German nobility
German nobility
The German nobility was the elite hereditary ruling class or aristocratic class from ca. 500 B.C. to the Holy Roman Empire and what is now Germany.-Principles of German nobility:...

, adding the preposition von
Von
In German, von is a preposition which approximately means of or from.When it is used as a part of a German family name, it is usually a nobiliary particle, like the French, Spanish and Portuguese "de". At certain times and places, it has been illegal for anyone who was not a member of the nobility...

.

Literature

  • Anton Funk: Geschichte der Stadt Allenstein 1348–1943. Scientia-Verlag, 1979, ISBN 3-511-09071-7

External links

  • http://www.ostpreussen.net/index.php?seite_id=12&kreis=20&stadt=01
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