JOHANN DE LADIMIRIA: THE PROBLEM OF ETHNIC ORIGIN OF THE CHAPLAIN OF THE SILESIAN DUKE HENRY VI THE GOOD

Abstract

The article deals with the biography of Johann de Ladimiria, who became a chaplain, a notary, a cantor and a personal confessor of Henry VI the Good, duke of Wroclaw, and his wife Annа of Austria. It is concluded, that Johann (terminus post quem 1320 – terminus ante quem 1349) was a member of catholic community of Volodymyr in Volhynia and, probably, was a descendant of German settlers of the city. The analysis of the historical sources (especially, the so-called Galician-Volhynian Chronicle – The Chronicle of Romanovychs) showed an active trade and political contacts of Volodymyr, a capital of Romanovychs, with various European lands. Because of residence in Volodymyr, Johann marked himself as de Ladimiria after his relocating to the land of Piast dynasty. It was a certain sign of children’s and youthful sentiments for a “small homeland”.

In our opinion, Johann’s self-identification does not demonstrates his ethnical origins, but reflected to his Vohynian past. His predicate has the same spelling as other Silesian settlements, for example, Lyuboměž or Ljudměj, but it does not correlate with them. Johann during his ministry belonged to the sympathizers of the German Wroclaw clergy (which probably was due to his origin). He was not afraid of the church seclusion and entered into an open conflict with the Polish bishopric, headed by Nanker, which may further indicate his ethnic roots. It is known, that Johann worked in Opatów, Opole, Wrocław and Kraków. He lived for the longest time in the capital of Silesia, remaining deeply loyal to the local prince Henry VI the Good and his family until the death of the overlord in 1335. The last years of his life Johann de Ladimiria spent in Kraków, where he, probably, died.

His birth in Rus’ (the state of Romanovych dynasty, the Kingdom of Rus’) has not affected the place at the court of Silesian Piasts during his ministry. Оn our opinion, it could not have happened at all. In general, the cases of embracing higher ecclesiastical governments in the Latin world by the Rurikids occurred at least from the 12^th century. In particular, orthodox princesses married to the Polish dukes, gave birth to children, which sometimes received church governments or became monks at local monasteries. But ordinary people, who did not belong to the ruling dynasty in Rus’, could make a spiritual career in the West too. One of them was Johann de Ladimiria, who, paradoxically, during his stay in Wrocław or Kraków had no contacts with another identified burghers from Rus’.

Keywords: Johann de Ladimiria, Henry VI the Good, pope Johan XXII, bishop Nanker, Piast dynasty, Luxembourg dynasty, Wrocław, burghers, German community.