Zbigniew Oleśnicki (cardinal)

His Eminence Zbigniew Oleśnicki
Cardinal Archbishop of Kraków
Installed	1423
Term ended	1455
Predecessor	Wojciech Jastrzębiec
Successor	Tomasz Strzępiński
Other posts	Statesman and diplomat
Personal details
Born	5 December 1389 Sienno, Kingdom of Poland
Died	1 April 1455 Sandomierz, Kingdom of Poland
Buried	Wawel Cathedral
Nationality	Polish
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Coat of arms

Zbigniew Oleśnicki (Polish: [ˈzbʲiɡɲɛf ɔlɛˈɕɲit͡skʲi]; 5 December 1389 in Sienno, Masovian Voivodeship – 1 April 1455), known in Latin as Sbigneus, was a high-ranking Roman Catholic clergyman and an influential Polish statesman and diplomat. He served as Bishop of Kraków from 1423 until his death in 1455. He took part in the management of the country's most important affairs, initially as a royal secretary under King Władysław II Jagiełło and later as the effective regent during King Władysław III's minority. In 1449 he became the first native Polish cardinal.

At the age of twenty he was secretary to King Władysław Jagiełło, and fought with him in the battle of Grunwald on 15 July 1410. A favourite with the king, he took part in the management of the country's most important affairs. His influence with the king greatly aided him in opposing the Hussites, who had gained royal favour. On 9 July 1423, he was appointed to the episcopal See of Kraków, and in 1433 he was sent by the king as legate to the council of Basle, where he endeavoured to be on friendly terms with both parties.

In the 1430s he opposed Spytek of Melsztyn in a conflict which led to a short lived civil war and Spytek's death in 1439.

On 18 December 1439, he was created cardinal priest with the titular church of St. Prisca, by Pope Eugene IV. (The antipope Felix V also made him a cardinal on January 20, 1440.). As cardinal, his influence in Poland was second only to that of the king, and, during the frequent absence of Casimir IV in Lithuania, he transacted the affairs of the State.

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