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 THE GOTHIC AGE decided on, it happened not unfrequently that the Magistri of Cracow spoke the word which turned the scale.

The opinion of the young Jagellonian school carried great authority with the powers of all Christendom in that period. The fame of some scholars spread far beyond the limit of their native country: Filelfo and Paul Vladimiri had taken a distinguished part in the Council of Constance; Jacobus a Paradiso, well known in Germany as a theologian, was one of the most ardent promoters of Church reorganization; Zaborowski and Elgot were famous decretists; so was Nicholas of Blonia, Sedziwoj Czechel (who was only active for a short time in the University), and later on, the excellent Latinist and theologian Gregorius of Sanok, a precursor of the classical Renascence. Some mention must also be made of the illustrious circle which gathered round that highly educated statesman and strenuous defender of the rights of the Church, Zbigniew Oleśnicki, Bishop of Cracow and cardinal; to this belonged, above all, the greatest historiographer of medieval Poland, John Dlugosz (1415-1480). Towards the end of the fifteenth century the University possessed a great theological authority in Johannes Sacranus, of Oswiecim, famous also for his knowledge of Cicero and for his oratorical powers; and a renowned scholar in history and medicine in Miechowita (d. 1523).

Naturalists, mathematicians, and astronomers of world-wide fame, such as Martin Król, Adalbert of Brudzewo, John of Glogów, attracted pupils from remote foreign countries. Another Cracow scholar, Martin Bylica, whose work was mostly done outside Poland, also exercised considerable influence on the progress of science. Finally, the Cracow school of naturalists produced the greatest astronomer of modern times, Nicholas Copernicus. Even till the late seventeenth century the University preserved its fame as a place where the mathematical sciences were particularly cultivated; in this period its fame was chiefly upheld by the astronomer and astrologer, Broscius.

Now let us return to the glorious reign of King Ladislaus Jagiello. The first political success achieved by the union of Poland with