Książyk in Royal Chronicles
Insights from the King Alexander Time
In 1897, the book Liber Quitantarium Alexandri Regis ab a. 1502 ad 1506 – Ksiega skarbowa krola Aleksandra Jag. was published famous genealogist Adolf Pawinski in Warszawa 1897. This book is a chronicle of royal treasure activities during the reign of King Alexander Jagiello from 1502 to 1506. Interestingly, the text refers to money granted by the King to his entourage. A courtier with Court functions, Andrzej Książyk is one of them.
The texts from the 16th century were writen in latin by several authors. Pawinski kept the original writing. The Digital Library of Wielkopolska proposes a digitized version of this book. Andrzej Książyk is also listed in the Index Personarum with other officials who served the King.
The reading of the texts highlights that during the early 16th century, many names had unstable or approximative spelling. The royal chronicles mentions Andreas Książyk, Andre Xianzyk and Andree Knyazyk. Two genealogy experts in Warsaw (Biblioteka Narodowa and Glówne Akt Dawnych) confirm that these alterations refer to the surname Książyk. They also specify that archaic names Xsiążyk and Xiazyk can also be found in old documents.
This page presents the mentions of Andrzej in the 240 pages of the Liber Quitaniarum.
- Andre Xyanzyk data est quitancia super octo ulnas panni florentini ad thesaurum, ad tationem erarii, eodem die, ut supra.
- eodem die ibidem Andree Xziazyk cubiculario data est quitancia ad Stephanum Fissel super duodecim marcas peciniarum, ad racionem exactionum ex Judeis exactarum.
- Andree Kniazyk viginti
The text specifies that Andrzej has received about 8 metrers of precious fabric from Florence. He has also received a 12-mark compensation for a loss caused by the Jew Stephanum Fissel. According to Piotr Tafiłowski (University of Warsaw), Stefan Żiszel-Powidzki was a converted Jew who married a woman from the family of Chancelor Jan Łaski.
Skarbowość polska za Aleksandra Jagiellończyka - Jan Rutkowski - Lwow 1909. This book investigates the royal treasure at the time of Aleksander Jagello.