The Catholic Church in the Kingdom of Poland at the time of Ladislaus Jagiello's rule

The article constitutes an attempt to show in a synthetic way the main elements of Jagiello’s policy in relation to the Polish Church and the latter one’s situation in the complex reality of the western schism, the conciliar movement as well as Hussitism; it also draws attention to the most important processes taking place in the Gniezno province. The author of the article also describes the monarch’s active policy in relation to the issue of appointments to church posts. As a rule it was the well-educated people who had proved themselves in the service of the monarch’s office as well as in the diplomatic service who were appointed as heads of bishoprics. The monarch had also conducted an active policy in relation to the appointments of some prelatures and canonries in cathedral chapters. The article discusses the foundational activity of the king and its impact on the development of the parish network. While presenting the reform initiatives within the Polish Church at the time of the great western schism and the conciliar movement, the author tries to prove that it was the synods and their legislation that became the main instrument of these changes. In the synodal statutes one can observe a process of gradual deepening of the religious life of the faithful as well as striving to their moral formation. The intellectual and moral requirements as regards the clergy and their pastoral ministry were also on the increase. The author proves that the figures of Queen Hedwig and Ladislaus Jagiello had played a key role in the history of the state and of the Polish Church at the turn of the 14th and at the beginning of the 15th century and that the most important fruits of their activity and decisions have continued to exert an impact throughout centuries right up until the present times.