Rytm pracy w kancelarii księcia wschodniopomorskiego, Mściwoja II (1266-1294)
The rhythm of work in the Chancellery of Mściwoj (Mestwin) II (1220-1294), an East Pomeranian Duke (1266-1294)

Summary/Abstract: The article analyses all the documents issued by the 13th-century chancellery of Mestwin II. an East Pomeranian Duke, year by year, as well as in particular months and days. These data have been processed statistically in order to obtain cyclical and seasonal fluctuations in the rhythm of work in the Chancellery. The results of the analysis prove that Mestwin's Chancellery, like all the Medieval Chancelleries, generally functioned on a permanent basis. Yet. some cyclical and seasonal fluctuations may be detected, which shows the uniqueness of chancellery work at the court of the last of the Samborides (German: Samboriden. Polish: dynastia Sobieławiców). What was noticed in the case of the annual cycles was an increase of documents issued each year after 1273. which might be associated with a process, speeded up under Mestwin. of strengthening the legal role of documents as evidential proof or a way to realise political objectives. Yet. that steady process was disrupted in the years in which the number of diplomas issued was decisively higher. Those increases resulted from the current needs of external and internal policies. The analysis of the rhythm of work in particular years indicates some seasonal fluctuations caused by the year's seasons, because fewer documents were issued in autumn and winter. Seasonal fluctuations were also caused by the liturgical calendar, because the dating of documents were cumulated during some ecclesiastical holidays, like Lent or Christmas. It is also probable that the liturgical calendar influenced the chancellery's activity during the week, as the most documents were dated on Monday: it may result from the fact that the legal activities made public during the Sunday's Mass were put down on paper on that day. Many documents were also dated on Sunday, as well as on Friday, which ma)' be connected with the ceremony of diploma handing in on dies Dominicus.

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