Greek-Latin Church Union at the Council of Constance in the Mirror of Polish-Teutonic Relations

Abstract

Greeks and Latin’s negotiated on the church union already at the Council of Constance (1414-1418). The Embassy of Byzantine Emperor and the Embassy of Grigory Tsamblak, the Archbishop of Kiev, spoke for the Greek Church. Direct communication between these two embassies was absent. The second embassy was initiated by the rulers of Poland and Lithuania. It was found, that they used the initiative as the instrument of propaganda against the Teutonic Order. Partly they succeeded. A possible union with Orthodox Christians deprived the Order of right to expansion in East Europe for the benefit of Poland. Besides Poland the Roman King Sigismund (1410-1437) put pressure on the Order. Only at the last moment the Order entered into the alliance with Pope Martin V (1417-1431), who was elected by the Council. It was possible reason, why the Pope refused to develop the negotiation with the Embassy of the Archbishop of Kiev. However, Poland succeeded in its propaganda.

Keywords

• констанцский собор, церковная уния, византия, польша, тевтонский орден