An educated Jagiellonian prince

Abstract

Education and being educated is a relevant part of life, and it was the same around the turn of the medieval and the early modern period when many extremely significant changes ensued not only in the development of technology but also in scientific life. Historians reckon this period as the golden age of the Polish Kingdom. Great alteration could be seen concerning pedagogical theory and practice, in line with other cultural progressions, such as the development of Polish as a literary language. In the focus of my paper -- as the title itself has already uncovered -- is a royal dynasty, the Jagiellonian family. However the scientific literature concerning the topic of education, royal education and education of Jagiellonians could be estimated as rather detailed and outstanding, there is still a group of written sources, which were faded into the background. The court account books of the members of the dynasty, fortunately, remained to us in a significant number. These books were/are mostly considered as economical sources, but the fact is, that the colourful notes of everyday expenses give us an insight into the everyday life and through this image, accounts shed light on many elements of education and upbringing of children as well.