Jan Zamoyski


Zamoyski, Jan

 

Born Mar. 19, 1542, died June 3, 1605. Polish statesman.

Zamoyski studied at the Universities of Paris, Rome, and Padua. Appointed royal chancellor in 1578 and grand hetman of the kingdom in 1581, he was instrumental in drawing up the Henrician Articles of 1573, giving up the whole of the szlachta (nobility) the right to participate in the election of the king, as well as the Pacta Conventa of 1573. Zamoyski promoted the election of Stephen Bàthory to the Polish throne and played an important part in organizing his aggressive campaigns against the Russian state. A relentless opponent of the Hapsburgs, Zamoyski defeated Archduke Maximilian, the rival for the Polish throne, at Byczyna in 1588 and took him prisoner.