John I Albert

John I. Albrecht ( Albert, Polish Jan I Olbracht, Lithuanian Jonas Albrechtas; * December 27, 1459 in Krakow, † June 17 1501 in Thorn ) was from 1492 until his death King of Poland. He was descended from the dynasty of the Jagiellonian.

Life

The third of the sons of Casimir IV Andreas came to the throne in 1492 after the death of his father, while his younger brother Alexander ruled the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He introduced reforms that strengthened the nobility in his position. The Statute of 1496 was determined that access to higher ecclesiastical offices was only reserved for the nobles, that the acquisition of estates was forbidden the commoners and restricted the freedom of the peasants. In foreign policy, he focused on the Turkish affairs and tried to improve the situation in Poland, controlled by the Danubian principalities.

The southern parts of Poland and Lithuania were devastated by raids of the Crimean Tatars, who were encouraged by the Ottomans to the conquered fortresses and Kilija Białogród on the Black Sea in 1484. King Jan Olbracht undertook in 1497 a campaign against the Ottoman rule in these two cities, but had no success, as his nominal vassal, Ştefan cel Mare, turned against him.

During his reign lay down since 1493, a meeting custom of bicameral Reichstag established, which consisted of Deputies and the Senate.

As compensation for this, that he had not a candidate against his brother, the Czech king Vladislav II in the royal election in Hungary, gave him this on February 20, 1491 pledge dominion over the Silesian Duchy of Glogau, which he held until 1496.