Jan Zamoyski

Jan Zamoyski (; 19 March 1542 – 3 June 1605) was a Polish szlachcic (nobleman), magnate, statesman and the first ordynat of Zamość. He served as Royal Secretary from 1565, Deputy Chancellor from 1576, Grand Chancellor of the Crown from 1578, and Great Hetman of the Crown from 1581.

Zamoyski was the general starost of the city of Kraków from 1580 to 1585, and starost of Bełz, Międzyrzecz, Krzeszów, Knyszyn, and Tartu. An important advisor to the Polish kings Sigismund II Augustus and Stephen Báthory, he was one of the major opponents of Báthory's successor, Sigismund III Vasa, and one of the most skilled diplomats, politicians and statesmen of his time, standing as a major figure in the politics of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth throughout his life.

Biography

Childhood and education

Jan Zamoyski was born on 19 March 1542 to Stanisław Zamoyski and Anna Herburt in Skokówka.

From 1589, Zamoyski, in his role as the hetman, tried to prevent the intensifying Tatar incursions along the Commonwealth's south-eastern border, but with little success.