Mazovians in Offices in the Bełz Land in the 14th and 15th Centuries

The rule of the Mazovian Piasts in the land of Bełz lasted from 1387/8 to 1462. Legally, the land of Bełz was treated in the same manner as other Mazovian territories. It is difficult to fully reconstruct the personal composition of the local administration, especially since the first mentions of some offices date from the period after Bełz was incorporated into the Crown in 1462. This pertains to offices such as cześnik (1634), łowczy (huntmaster) (1523), miecznik (swordbearer) (1637), pisarz (scribe) (1462), podczaszy (cupbearer) (1574), podstoli (1635), skarbnik (treasurer) (1635), stolnik (pantler) (1506), and wojski mniejszy (lesser standard-bearer) (1766). For the Mazovian period, we have earlier mentioned of offices such as chorąży (ensign) (1456), kasztelan (castellan) (1427), podkomorzy (chamberlain) (1426), podsędek (deputy district judge) (1436), sędzia (judge) (1435), starosta (starost) (1384), wojewoda (voivode) (1435), and wojski większy (major standard-bearer). The study focuses exclusively on individuals of Mazovian origin who held offices in the land ruled by the dukes of Mazovia. During the period under discussion, a considerable number of Mazovians held offices in the Bełz land, which was under Mazovian rule from 1387/8 to 1462. Aleksander Świeżawski emphasized the particular significance of the Bełz land compared to Mazovia, describing it as especially profitable in contrast to the sandy soils of western Mazovia. It is therefore unsurprising that Duke Siemowit IV actively pursued colonization and settlement in the region, founding the towns of Busk in 1411, Tyszowce in 1419, and Sokal in 1424. By appointing Mazovians to starost and land offices and granting them estates, he built an efficient system of governance and secured the loyalty of his Mazovian subjects. Notable Mazovians holding office in the region included chancellors of Ruthenia (Grzymisław of Krzykos, Czambor of Iłów, Stanisław Pawłowski, Mikołaj Mnich of Wiśniowa), starosts of Bełz (Paweł of Radzanów, Jan Ćwikliński, Andrzej Wydżga, Jan of Załuski, Stanisław of Żuromin), starosts of Busk (Stanisław Rogożewski, Wacław of Słubica), chamberlain of Bełz (Gotard of Falęcice), castellan of Bełz (Jan Magiera), and district officer of Bełz (Mikołaj Łaźniewski of Łaźniewo).