Jan Tęczyński (1581-1637)

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Jan Tęczyński (1581-1637) of Topór Coat of Arms, voivode of Cracow (1620-1637), Crown Cupbearer (czesnik koronny) from 1618, starosta of Płock. Owner of Tęczyn and Rytwiany.

Son of Andrzej Tęczyński. In 1606 married Dorota Mińska. As his three sons died young, he became the last of this line of Tęczyński family.

Jan Tęczyński in his youth has travelled throughout Europe and studied under Galileo. This experience has made him a sponsor of art and science. Expanded the palace at Rytwiany, and his court was always open to writers and philosophers, like Jan Andrzej Morsztyn, one of the most famous Polish baroque poets. Piotr Kochanowski dedicated to him his translation of Jerusalem Delivered by Torquato Tasso. He was the patron of Jan Brożek, professor of Cracow Academy. Jan Tęczyński was also a writer himself.

His libarary and much of his wealth was inherited by son in law of his brother Andrzej Tęczyński, Łukasz Opaliński, husband of Izabela, also a famous writer and patron of arts and sciences.