dr Emil Kalinowski

Section 11.: Women and Power in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Times (Central Europe)

Bona Sforza was undoubtedly a pivotal figure in the history of Poland and Lithuania in the first half of the 16th century, at the crossroads of the Middle Ages and Early Modern Era. While her national role has been extensively studied by Polish historiography, her local connections have received less attention. Despite previous works by Władysław Pociecha (1949-58), Jan Siedlecki (1989), and Zbigniew Romaniuk (2023), new insights can be gained from recently accessible court records from this province. Bona’s active involvement in Podlasian affairs, as evidenced by her role in conflicts of the local nobility with the Radziwiłłs (1522-1536) and Olbracht Gasztołd (1532-1533), and her establishment of a district castle court in Brańsk (1535/1536), highlights the significance of exploring her influence on the region’s noble political elite from the beginnings of her activity in Polish-Lithuanian politics to the depart to Italy and death.