Stanisław Karnkowski

Stanisław Karnkowski ( born May 10, 1520 in Karnków, † June 8, 1603 in Łowicz ) was from 1567 to 1580 Bishop of Cujavia and since 1581 Archbishop of Gniezno and thus Primate of Poland. He has contributed significantly to recatholicization Poland.

Life

He studied 1539-1549 in Krakow, Padua and Wittenberg. He received his Ph.D. in Padua for Doctor iuris utriusque.

Since 1550, he was secretary of the Bishop of Chelm. In 1555 he became a secretary in the service of the King Zygmunt II August. In 1558, he was Kronreferendar. A short time he became a canon in Gniezno in the ecclesiastical career. He became in 1567 Bishop of Cujavia based in Wloclawek. A year later, he called for a reform synod which aim at introducing the principles of the Council of Trent. As the first bishop he founded in 1569 in Wloclawek a spiritual seminar in Poland.

After the death of Zygmunt II August, he has spoken out during the first interregnum for Henri de Valois. After his dismissal, he has used in the second interregnum for Stefan Báthory.

Since 1581 he was Archbishop of Gniezno and thus Primate of Poland. As such, he has promoted the Polish Bible translation of the Jesuit Jakub Wujek.

After the death of King Báthory 1586 and renewed interregnum, he served as Interrex (Poland) and ushered in the transition period the state. The upcoming free choice Karnkowski supported the later King Zygmunt III. August Wasa because he was a strict Catholic.

As archbishop he founded with the goal of Counter-Reformation more seminaries in Kalisz and Gniezno. He has convened several synods and promoted the Jesuit Order. Even as a preacher and author, as well as a diplomat, he worked in the Counter-Reformation sense. As Primate he was instrumental in the recatholicization of Poland - Lithuania.