Population of the Royal Court of Casimir IV Jagiellon in the Light of the Censuses of Courtiers from the Years 1470 and 1478

Abstract

The hitherto unpublished excerpts from the account record of sub-treasuries from the years 1470 and 1478, which were dispensed by Tomasz Trąmbczyński, and which are kept in the Central Archives of Historical Records in Warsaw (Crown Treasury Archive Complex, Branch 1 Royal Accounts, ref. no. 338; Division 85 Crown Army Signature Registers, ref. no. 1) feature comprehensive lists of equerries with the court of Casimir IV Jagiellon, therefore constituting invaluable sources of knowledge about the organization, composition and population of the Polish royal court at that time. Among some of the insights they offer is the clear distinction between courtiers and royal valets among the members of the court who maintained post riders in their service. The inventory indicates that the royal court at that time consisted of about 80 persons having post riders at their disposal. Half of this quorum was composed of the members of the court who served as royal courtiers, including those who held central and court-based offices. The group of royal valets with post riders at their disposal also amounted to 40 people. Based on the data drawn from the lists of equerries, it can be estimated that in 1478 there were about 650–660 horses in the postal service of the members of the court of King Casimir IV Jagiellon. These findings show that the court of the ruler consisted of 30 persons with post riders more than calculated by M. Wilska on the basis of the published royal accounts. Taking into account the new data, it can be assumed that the court of King Casimir IV Jagiellon consisted of at least 160 courtiers, while upon consideration of the number of equestrian postal units, it may be inferred that this quorum encompassed 730–740 persons.