Kasper Niesiecki


Kasper Niesiecki, also known as Kacper Niesiecki, was a Polish heraldist, Jesuit, lexicographer, writer, theologian and preacher.

Biography

Niesiecki was born in Greater Poland to a burgher family. In 1699 he began training as a Jesuit in Kraków. From 1701 to 1704 he studied philosophy in Lublin, earning a master's degree. In 1707 Niesiecki started his studies in theology at the Jagiellonian University, graduating in 1711. He undertook further study in Lutsk, Krosno, Bydgoszcz, Chojnice and Kalisz.
Between 1715 and 1723 Niesiecki worked as a preacher in Masovia, Greater Poland, Lesser Poland and Ruthenia. He taught rhetoric in Bydgoszcz and Chojnice, and ethics and mathematics in Kalisz. From 1724 he lived in the monastery of Krasnystaw, where he engaged in his life's work, compiling the Herbarz Polski. Niesiecki died there on 9 July 1744.
The first volume of Herbarz Polski was published in 1728 in Lwów. Niesiecki wanted to write it in Latin, but his patron, Marianna from Potocki-Tarłowa, specified that it was to be published in Polish. Because Niesiecki tried to not use unverified sources and legends, he was opposed by the szlachta. He continued with the work; however, there were delays in printing the next volumes. After the fourth volume was published attacks by the nobles increased; they sent letters of protest to his Polish and Roman superiors. Work on the fifth volume was interrupted by his death; it was completed by Stanisław Czapliński, but never published. In the opinion of historians, the work of Niesiecki obeys all world-standards of genealogy.
In the 19th century the armorial was expanded by several authors and published by Jan Nepomucen de Bobrowicz in Leipzig.

''Polish Armorial''