Jan Tarnowski facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hetman Jan Amor Tarnowski
Coat of arms	Leliwa
Born	1488 Tarnów, Poland
Died	16 May 1561 (aged 72–73) Wiewiórka, Poland
Noble family	House of Tarnowski
Spouse(s)	Barbara Tęczyńska Zofia Szydłowiecka
Issue	with Barbara Tęczyńska Jan Aleksander Tarnowski Jan Amor Tarnowski with Zofia Szydłowiecka Zofia Tarnowska Jan Krzysztof Tarnowski
Father	Jan Amor Junior Tarnowski
Mother	Barbara of Rożnów

Jan Amor Tarnowski (born 1488, died 1561) was a very important Polish nobleman. He was a brave knight, a skilled military leader, and a wise statesman. He served the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland.

From 1527, he held the high rank of Grand Crown Hetman. This meant he was the chief commander of the Polish army. He also founded the city of Tarnopol. There, he built the Ternopil Castle and created the Ternopil Pond. In 1547, he became the first person in his family to be named a Count of the Holy Roman Empire.

Early Life and Beginnings

Jan Amor Tarnowski was born in 1488. His father was Jan Amor Junior Tarnowski, who was a high-ranking official called a castellan in Kraków. His mother was Barbara of Rożnów. She was the granddaughter of the famous knight Zawisza the Black.

Jan came from a very important family. This family started in the mid-1300s with Spycimir Leliwita. Jan was first meant to become a priest. But after his father died in 1500, his teacher convinced his mother to change this plan. In 1501, Jan went to the king's court. However, King John I Albert died soon after, and Jan returned home.

Military Career and Travels

Jan Amor Tarnowski was a strong fighter from a young age. In 1508, he fought against Muscovy in the battle of Orsza. The next year, in 1509, he fought against Moldavia in the battle of Chocim. He even led his own military unit, called a chorągiew. In 1512, he helped defeat the Tatars in the battle of Łopuszna.

He also traveled far and wide. He made a special trip to the Holy Land. In 1518, he became a knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. He traveled across Europe. King Manuel I of Portugal even made him a knight for his help against the Moors in Africa.

Important Roles and Achievements

Tarnowski owned many lands and towns, including Tarnów and Przeworsk. He held many important government jobs. In 1522, he became the castellan of Wojnicz. A castellan was like a governor of a castle or town.

In 1527, he became the voivode of the Ruthenian Voivodeship. A voivode was a regional governor. Later, in 1535, he became the voivode of the Kraków Voivodeship. In 1536, he became the castellan of Kraków. He also became a starost in several towns. A starost was a royal official who managed royal lands.

Military Victories

In 1521, Tarnowski took part in the Ottoman-Habsburg wars. He was one of the first Hetmans to lead the Polish Army after it was greatly improved. He led the army to many important victories.

One famous victory was the Battle of Obertyn in 1531. Here, he defeated the Moldavians. In 1535, during the wars with Muscovy, he captured Starodub. He was a very successful military commander.

Military Innovations

Jan Amor Tarnowski was not just a great leader; he was also a military thinker. He introduced many new ideas to the Polish army. He helped develop horse artillery, which meant cannons could be moved faster on horseback. He also created field hospitals, which were paid for by the government. This was very advanced for his time.

He also set up headquarters services and field sappers. Sappers were soldiers who built fortifications or dug tunnels. Throughout his time as Hetman, he believed in being flexible in battle.

Family Life

Around 1511, Jan Amor Tarnowski married Barbara Tęczyńska. She was the daughter of Mikołaj Tęczyński. After Barbara passed away, Tarnowski married Zofia Szydłowiecka in 1530. He had four children. Two of his notable children were Zofia Tarnowska and Jan Krzysztof Tarnowski.

Legacy

Jan Amor Tarnowski was a very respected figure in Poland. The famous poet Jan Kochanowski wrote a poem about his death. Tarnowski is also shown in a famous painting by Jan Matejko called Prussian Homage.

Images for kids

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  Bust of Tarnowski on the Krasiński Palace in Ursynów.

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  Tarnowski's parade burgonet helmet.

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  Hetman Tarnowski

See also

In Spanish: Juan Amor Tarnowski para niños