Służba najemna/zaciężna i dowódcza jako droga do awansu społecznego polskiej szlachty późnośredniowiecznej. Studium kilku pozytywnych przypadków
Mercenary/contractual and command service as a path of social advancement of Polish nobility in the late Middle Ages. A study of several positive cases

Summary/Abstract: This article is devoted to the understudied issue of whether merce-nary/contractual and command service had an impact on the socialadvancement of late medieval Polish nobility. It needs to be notedthat the study is a contribution which only presents several specificexamples. The careers of the following Polish figures are discussed:Tomasz Tobiec of Młotków, Gotard of Radlin, Feliks of Paniewo, PiotrDonin of Prawkowice, active in the second half of the fifteenth century,and Zawisza Czarny of Garbów (Zawisza the Black), active until 1428.In all analysed cases military service significantly contributed to theelevation of social status. However, it should be noted that only TomaszTobiec of Młotków and Gotard Bystram of Radlin had a career basedalmost exclusively on mercenary/contractual service, which led to theirsignificant financial advancement. As a result of the royal treasury’sfailure to pay the debt for service during the Thirteen Years’ War,they obtained numerous crown lands with castles and towns in RoyalPrussia. On the other hand, a mixed type of career, combining militaryservice in a commanding role (commander ­in ­chief, hetman, organiserof mercenary/contractual units) with other types of service for ­ Polishand foreign monarchs (diplomatic and political service, service as a sta-rosta) provided much greater opportunities. The cases in point arethe careers of Zawisza the Black, Feliks of Paniewo and Piotr Doninof Prawkowice. Following such a career, the latter two obtained highland offices giving them the right to sit on the royal council.

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