An Accusation of Murder against the Parish Priest of Korczew: A Newly Discovered Letter from the 1380s Cover Image

Oskarżenie proboszcza z Korczewa o morderstwo na podstawie nieznanego dotąd listu z lat 80. XIV wieku
An Accusation of Murder against the Parish Priest of Korczew: A Newly Discovered Letter from the 1380s

Author(s): Michał Hankus
Subject(s): History, Criminal Law, Local History / Microhistory, 13th to 14th Centuries, Canon Law / Church Law
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Keywords: Korczew; Sieradz; Rzechta; Łowicz; Official of Gniezno; Archbishop of Gniezno; parish priest; murder; 14th century

Summary/Abstract: An analysis of one of the manuscript volumes held in the Jagiellonian Library has revealed the existence of a previously unknown letter dating from the late fourteenth century. The document concerns the controversial conduct of a clergyman from the parish of Korczew in the region of Sieradz. The local parish priest, Stanisław, was allegedly responsible for a terrible crime for which he never faced adequate punishment. Outraged, the heirs from Rzechta decided to write a letter – most likely addressed to Bodzanta of Kosowice, the then Archbishop of Gniezno – in an effort to bring the matter to a definitive resolution. The article presents an edition of the newly discovered source as well as the historical context surrounding the events it describes.

  • Issue Year: 25/2025
  • Issue No: 20
  • Page Range: 1-12
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: Polish
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