Mikołaj Kurowski

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Mikołaj Kurowski of Szreniawa of Kurów (died 1411) was a chancellor of the Kingdom of Poland and a Catholic hierarch. He held the posts of the bishop of Poznań, Wrocław and an archbishop of Gniezno.

Born in Kurów near Bochnia, he was a son to the castellan of Żarnów Klemens Kurowski. In 1385 he received the title of bachelor of arts at the Charles University in Prague. For another ten years he continued his studies there and in 1395 he received the title of magister artium. During his stay in Bohemia he became friends with some of the most prominent Polish politicians of the era to come, among them Paweł Włodkowic and Andrzej Łaskarz. Upon his return to Poland he was ordained a priest. At the same time he started a political career as a clerk in the royal chancellery in Kraków.

He quickly advanced through the ranks of both religious and lay hierarchy and in 1395 he was ordained a bishop of Poznań. In 1399, thanks to the support of King Władysław II of Poland, he became the royal chancellor and bishop of Wrocław. An active politician, he spent more time in the capital than in distant capital of Silesia. In 1402 he yet again changed the bishopry and became the archbishop of Gniezno. As a diplomat, he took part in the Polish-Teutonic negotiations at Raciąż in 1404 and the council of Nowy Korczyn. He was also twice a member of the Polish embassy to the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order and, as the primate of Poland, he held the post of a regent during the king's absence.

During the battle of Grunwald he fielded a banner of his own. After the battle he was one of the authors of the Peace of Thorn (1411) and the negotiations with Sigismund of Luxemburg.

He was heavily wounded on September 7, 1411, in the effect of an accident with his horse, and died later that day. Kurowski was buried in the Cathedral of Gniezno.