Church, State and Dynasty in Renaissance Poland

Natalia Nowakowska is Tutor and Fellow in History at Somerville College, University of Oxford, UK.

• Contents: Series Editor's preface; Introduction; Towards renaissance monarchy?: The Jagiellonians and the Polish crown,1386-1492; 'Supremus consiliarius huius regni': Fryderyk Jagiellon's role in royal government; 'Reformanda reformare': Fryderyk Jagiellon and the Polish church; 'Imperiun sine fine': Fryderyk Jagiellon, image-making and propoganda; 'Cardinalis Cracoviensis': Fryderyk Jagiellon and the Papacy; 'Vita cardinalis': Fryderyk Jagiellon's legacy in Poland 1503-35; Dynastic bishops and cardinal-ministers: Fryderyk Jagiellon in European context; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.

Prize: Winner of the Polish Studies Association's 'Jerzy and Aleksandra Kulczyccy Award for Best book in Polish Studies, 2007-08' 'Nowakowska's work is a long-desired contribution to our understanding of church and monarchy in the Renaissance from a perspective of late medieval and early modern Poland ... [a] beautifully written and well structured book... This book is part of the welcome Ashgate series, Catholic Christendom, 1300-1700... In meeting the series' goal, Nowakowska's work is one of its most exemplary.' Renaissance Quarterly ’This book is a welcome corrective and a fine addition to the literature on late-medieval and Renaissance church-state relations and on late-medieval Poland.’ The Catholic Historical Review ’Presentation and layout in the volume are excellent. The chapters are a pleasure to read, both scholarly and lively. A map of central Europe, a family-tree of the Jagiellonian dynasty, a chronological table of the cardinal's life and times, several other tables, and six well chosen illustrations, guide and illuminate the reader. A full bibliography reveals the extensive literature in Polish and other languages. The Index is full and long entries are helpfully divided into sub-categories.’ Gregorianum ’The monograph is well conceived and highly readable ... an important book, stimulating further research in late medieval political and ecclesiastical history of Central European nations.’ Sixteenth Century Journal ’Le large contexte historique bien souligné en introduction et la présentation de plusieurs éléments nouveaux font de cet ouvrage un travail d’importance exceptionelle.’ Revue d'Histoire Ecclésiastique