Pawel Wlodkowic
Encyclopedia
Paulus Vladimiri was a distinguished scholar, jurist and rector of the Cracow Academy who defended Poland
and native non-Christian tribes against the Teutonic Knights
and its policies of conquest.
Though it is commonly assumed that "Włodkowic" was a surname, it was in fact a patronymic
denoting that he was the son of a certain Włodko or Włodzimierz. He was born in Brudzeń near Dobrzyń
and studied at Prague University, where he took degrees in 1393. He continued studying law at Padova, Italy, in 1404–1408.
In 1411 or 1412 he was made a doctor of canon law
at the Academy in Kraków
, where he also began to lecture. He was influenced by the philosophies of William of Ockham
, Matthew of Cracow and Stanisław of Skarbimierz. In 1413 he served as King Jogaila
's emissary at Buda
, Hungary, during disputes with the Teutonic Order. In 1414–1415 he became rector
and in 1418 prorector of Cracow Academy.
Paulus Vladimiri represented Poland at the 1414 Council of Constance
, where he delivered a thesis about the power of the Pope and the Emperor, the Tractatus de potestate papae et imperatoris respectu infidelium (Treatise on the Power of the Pope and the Emperor Respecting Infidels). In it he drew the thesis that pagan and Christian nations could coexist in peace and criticized the Teutonic Order for its wars of conquest of native non-Christian peoples in Prussia
and Lithuania
. Due to his influence, in 1421 the Pope sent Antionio Zeno to investigate the Teutonic Order and its activities.
In 1420 Paulus Vladimiri represented Poland at a conference between Poland and the Teutonic Order held in Breslau (Wrocław) under the aegis of Sigismund of Luxemburg.
As early as the beginning of the 15th century, along with Stanisław of Skarbimierz, Paulus Vladimiri strongly supported the idea of conciliarism
and pioneered the notion of peaceful coexistence among nations – a forerunner of modern theories of human rights
. Throughout his political, diplomatic and university career, Paulus Vladimiri expressed the view that a world guided by the principles of peace and mutual respect among nations was possible and that pagan
nations had a right to peace and to possession of their own lands.
After 1424 Paulus Vladimiri retired from public life to Kłodawa, where he died in 1435.
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...
and native non-Christian tribes against the Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
and its policies of conquest.
Though it is commonly assumed that "Włodkowic" was a surname, it was in fact a patronymic
Patronymic
A patronym, or patronymic, is a component of a personal name based on the name of one's father, grandfather or an even earlier male ancestor. A component of a name based on the name of one's mother or a female ancestor is a matronymic. Each is a means of conveying lineage.In many areas patronyms...
denoting that he was the son of a certain Włodko or Włodzimierz. He was born in Brudzeń near Dobrzyń
Dobrzyn
The terms Dobrzyń and Dobrin may refer to:* Order of Dobrzyń, military order* Golub-Dobrzyń, town in Poland* Dobrzyń nad Wisłą, town in Poland* Dobrzyń, Masovian Voivodeship...
and studied at Prague University, where he took degrees in 1393. He continued studying law at Padova, Italy, in 1404–1408.
In 1411 or 1412 he was made a doctor of canon law
Canon law (Catholic Church)
The canon law of the Catholic Church, is a fully developed legal system, with all the necessary elements: courts, lawyers, judges, a fully articulated legal code and principles of legal interpretation. It lacks the necessary binding force present in most modern day legal systems. The academic...
at the Academy in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, where he also began to lecture. He was influenced by the philosophies of William of Ockham
William of Ockham
William of Ockham was an English Franciscan friar and scholastic philosopher, who is believed to have been born in Ockham, a small village in Surrey. He is considered to be one of the major figures of medieval thought and was at the centre of the major intellectual and political controversies of...
, Matthew of Cracow and Stanisław of Skarbimierz. In 1413 he served as King Jogaila
Jogaila
Jogaila, later 'He is known under a number of names: ; ; . See also: Jogaila : names and titles. was Grand Duke of Lithuania , king consort of Kingdom of Poland , and sole King of Poland . He ruled in Lithuania from 1377, at first with his uncle Kęstutis...
's emissary at Buda
Buda
For detailed information see: History of Buda CastleBuda is the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest on the west bank of the Danube. The name Buda takes its name from the name of Bleda the Hun ruler, whose name is also Buda in Hungarian.Buda comprises about one-third of Budapest's...
, Hungary, during disputes with the Teutonic Order. In 1414–1415 he became rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
and in 1418 prorector of Cracow Academy.
Paulus Vladimiri represented Poland at the 1414 Council of Constance
Council of Constance
The Council of Constance is the 15th ecumenical council recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, held from 1414 to 1418. The council ended the Three-Popes Controversy, by deposing or accepting the resignation of the remaining Papal claimants and electing Pope Martin V.The Council also condemned and...
, where he delivered a thesis about the power of the Pope and the Emperor, the Tractatus de potestate papae et imperatoris respectu infidelium (Treatise on the Power of the Pope and the Emperor Respecting Infidels). In it he drew the thesis that pagan and Christian nations could coexist in peace and criticized the Teutonic Order for its wars of conquest of native non-Christian peoples in Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
and Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. Due to his influence, in 1421 the Pope sent Antionio Zeno to investigate the Teutonic Order and its activities.
In 1420 Paulus Vladimiri represented Poland at a conference between Poland and the Teutonic Order held in Breslau (Wrocław) under the aegis of Sigismund of Luxemburg.
As early as the beginning of the 15th century, along with Stanisław of Skarbimierz, Paulus Vladimiri strongly supported the idea of conciliarism
Conciliarism
Conciliarism, or the conciliar movement, was a reform movement in the 14th, 15th and 16th century Roman Catholic Church which held that final authority in spiritual matters resided with the Roman Church as a corporation of Christians, embodied by a general church council, not with the pope...
and pioneered the notion of peaceful coexistence among nations – a forerunner of modern theories of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
. Throughout his political, diplomatic and university career, Paulus Vladimiri expressed the view that a world guided by the principles of peace and mutual respect among nations was possible and that pagan
Paganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
nations had a right to peace and to possession of their own lands.
After 1424 Paulus Vladimiri retired from public life to Kłodawa, where he died in 1435.
Sources
- http://original.britannica.com/eb/topic-646378/Pawel-Wlodkowic
- http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/646378/Pawel-Wlodkowic
- http://www.123exp-biographies.com/t/00034177042/
- http://www.wzks.uj.edu.pl/epi/2004/lha11/zyciorys.html (in Polish)
See also
- Francisco de VitoriaFrancisco de VitoriaFrancisco de Vitoria, OP was a Spanish Renaissance Roman Catholic philosopher, theologian and jurist, founder of the tradition in philosophy known as the School of Salamanca, noted especially for his contributions to the theory of just war and international law...