MIKOŁAJ SIENICKI, of Bończa coat of arms (c 1521-1583)

Marshal of seyms:

at Piotrków (surely) (15 V-26 VII 1550)

in Cracow (1 II-29 III 1553)

at Piotrków (22 IV-15 VI 1555)

in Warsaw (6 XII 1556-14 I 1557)

at Piotrków (5 XII 1558-8 II 1559)

(surely) in Warsaw (22 XI 1563-1 IV 1564)

at Parczew (24 IV-12 VIII 1564)

at Piotrków (8 I-14 IV 1565)

election Seym at Wola (7 XI-15 XII 1575)

A prominent politician and parliamentarian, the outstanding leader of the anti-magnate 'execution' camp. His famous seem speeches gained him a nickname of 'Polish Demosthenes'. In the 1569 Lublin Seym he was an ardent supporter of the union with Lithuania. After the death of Zygmunt Augustus he was a coauthor of the Henrician Articles and the Crown Tribunal project. Being an Arian he demanded calling national assembly chaired by the monarch and participated in organizing the dissenters' Confederation of Warsaw. Collaborating with Chancellor John Zamoyski he was an advocate of strengthening the state by improving its executive and judiciary powers. At the time of the second interregnum he supported the candidacy of Stephen Bathory.

Medallion with a portrait of M. Sienicki, 1981

by Anna Jarnuszkiewicz

patinated bronze; 212mm (diameter)

Warsaw, The Museum Department of the Seym Library (cat. no MSP-485)