Jan z Jani



Jan z Jani (Joannes de Janie in Medieval Latin, Jan von der Jane in German) (1400–1461) - of the Clan of Ostoja was the first Polish Duke of Pomerelia (from 1454 to 1461) and one of the leaders of the Prussian Confederation, serving as a commander in the Thirteen Years' War (1454–66). He was also the Lord of Regality of Tczew, Nowe County and Kiszewskie, Lord of Starogard Gdański, Rabelnaw, Robaw, Pancze, Wonental, Szwarczenwalt, Weisenwalt, Moealwalt, Landesende, Turze, and Lord of Gniew.

Jan z Jani's origin was from a noble family that entered the Clan Ostoja through marriage with the sister of Mikołaj Szarlejski, who was part of the Clan of Ostoja and Duke of Inowrocław and Kujawy, Lord of Bydgoszcz, and member of the Prussian Confederation. Together with Szarlejski, Jan z Jani raised army units in Pomerania during Thirteen Years' War (1454–66) and the conflict with Teutonic Knights. He also cooperated with another member of the Clan of Ostoja, Stibor of Poniec, Lord of Regality of Greater Poland and the renowned diplomat in order to raise funds to attack Malbork, the headquarters of the Teutonic Knights.

A local legend speaks of the mighty knight Jan z Jani who designed a new coat of arms and called it the Ostoja.