Mediaeval documents in Czartoryski Museum in Cracow

While in Cracow most tourists go to the museum of Czartoryski family. It was an aristocratic family of collectors of art and not only art. The best known object in the museum is the picture of a lady with an ermine by Leonardo, but there are some things for calligraphy freaks there as well.

     There are royal charters there given in the end of 14th century and beginning of 15th century by kings Ludwik (a king of Poland and Hungary) and Jagiello (a king of Poland and Lithuania). The document called in Polish "Unia Horodeska" was the document that started the united kingdom of Poland and Lithuania, an union that lasted several centuries. All these are excellent examples of chancery hand of that time. All documents are written in Latin, which was official language of all three kingdoms involved.

Charter of Koszyce, 1374

Union of Horodlo, 1413

Union of Horodlo

Charter of Jedlna, 1430

Charter of Jedlna

Royal grant to Czartoryski family, 1442

Royal grant to Czartoryski family

There is a book available, based on this blog.  

On the blog there is, so to speak, more room, one can show more illustrations there. Blogs, however, come and go, there is no certainty that it will be there ten years from now. The book, on the other hand, once you acquire it, will last, one can be sure of that.