This publication offers the 1st accomplished research of the occupation of Fryderyk Jagiellon (1468-1503) arguably the main robust churchman in medieval or early smooth critical Europe. Royal prince, bishop of Kraków, Polish primate, cardinal, regent and brother to the rulers of Hungary, Poland, Bohemia and Lithuania, Fryderyk was once a number one dynastic flesh presser, diplomat, ecclesiastic and cultural buyer, and a pivotal determine in 3 Polish royal governments. while Polish historians have frequently solid Fryderyk as a miscreant and nationwide embarrassment, this learn argues that he's in truth a determine of basic significance for our figuring out of church and monarchy within the Renaissance, who can increase our take hold of of the interval in quite a few methods. Jagiellon's occupation constitutes an bold state-building programme - carried out within the 3 spheres of presidency, ecclesiastical governance and cultural patronage - which finds the multi-dimensional ways that Renaissance monarchies may perhaps take advantage of the neighborhood church to their very own ends. This booklet additionally bargains a unprecedented English language perception into the advance of the Reformation in valuable Europe, and an research of the reigns of Kazimierz IV (1447-92), Jan Olbracht (1492-1501), Aleksander (1501-6), Poland's evolving structure, her international coverage, Jagiellonian dynastic approach and, principally, the tripartite dating among church, Crown and state.