Summary This collection of studies explores the complexities of the royal courts of Poland from the late medieval period to the cusp of modernity. Drawing on pioneering research and primary sources, the volume authors dissect the multifaceted roles and dynamics of courtiers, positioning them within the broader socio-political and cultural paradigms of their time. From the distinct cultural imprints of the Jagiellon dynasty to the challenges faced by monarchs elected during the eighteenth century, each study within this collection provides a rigorous examination of courtly structures, influences, and transformations. The volume examines the symbiotic relationships between courtiers and monarchs, the changing ideals of courtly service, and the impact of both domestic traditions and foreign influences on the Polish courts. It offers invaluable insights for scholars of court culture, bringing to the world stage evidence from the archives of Poland and seeking to understand the evolution of court life and its implications for the broader historical narratives of Poland throughout the entire existence of this composite monarchy. TABLE OF CONTENTS The Polish Courtier: A Background to the Profile DARIUS VON GÜTTNER SPORZY?SKI AND BO?ENA CZWOJDRAK Chapter 1. Court Culture in Poland during the Reign of the First Jagiellon Monarchs PIOTR W?COWSKI Chapter 2. The Structure and Development of Rulers' Courts in Late Medieval Poland BO?ENA CZWOJDRAK Chapter 3. A Courtier in the Service of Sigismund I the Elder MAREK FERENC Chapter 4. King's Courtiers in the Queen's Service. The Ideal Courtier at the Royal Courts of the Wives of King Sigismund II Augustus (1543-1566) AGNIESZKA JANUSZEK-SIERADZKA Chapter 5. The Gentlemen at Arms (aulici) of King Stephen Báthory DOMINIK KADZIK Chapter 6. A 'Polish' Courtier in the Service of the House of Vasa (1587-1668) ALEKSANDRA BARWICKA-MAKULA Chapter 7. Men in the Service of the King: At the Court of Michael Korybut-Wi?niowiecki (1669-1673) and John III Sobieski (1674-1696) ALEKSANDRA SKRZYPIETZ Chapter 8. A 'Polish' Courtier in the Service of the House of Wettin (1697-1763) KATARZYNA KURAS Chapter 9. The Courtier and Social Changes in the Age of Enlightenment (1764-1795) ANGELA SO?TYS Glossary Index