Born: 1150(?)-1160(?), Karwow, Poland
Died: March 8, 1223, Jedrzejow, Poland.
Early days. Kadłubek was born supposedly to a noble Polish (family coat of arms Poraj). Others claim that he was a son of a peasant with PRZYDOMEK “kadlub” whence the name Kadlubek. He got his primary education in Cracow’s cathedral school. During the period 1167-1185 he studied in Bologna or in Paris. Later he signed his name as Magister Vincentius, from which some conclude that he was then a canon of Cracow and principal of the cathedral school.
Work. Chronica seu originale regum et principum Poloniae (Chronicles of the Kings and Princes of Poland) is a Latin history of Poland written by Wincenty Kadlubek between 1190 and 1208. The work was probably commissioned by Kazimierz II Sprawiedliwy (Casimir II the Just) Duke of Poland. Consisting of four volumes, it describes Polish history, from the time of wars with "Galls" to the partition of lands after the war. The first three volumes take the form of a dialogue between Archbishop Jan of Gniezno (1148-65) and Maciej, Bishop of Kraków (1145-65). The first volume's sources are legends, the second is based on the chronicle of Gallus Anonymus, and the last two are based upon Kadłubek's own experiences. He followed Gallus in further developing the idea of the Latin proverb vox populi vox dei ("the voice of the people is the voice of god") and argued that the ruler (king) should always follow a council that includes bishops and representatives of clans, since not the ruler but the council has higher authority originating from the laws of God. He also claimed that the ruler should be elected by the council and rulers abusing their power should be removed. This work had a huge impact on the Polish political doctrine of the 14th and 15th centuries as created by Stanisław of Skarbimierz and others, as well as on the 16th century works of Wawrzyniec Grzymała Goślicki. These ideas led to the Nobles' Democracy in Poland, for it is in his works, that for the first time the terms res publica were used in the context of Poland. Upon the death of Fulk, Bishop of Cracow, on September 11, 1207, the chapter voted for Kadlubek. The Pope Innocent III approved the election 28 March, 1208, and Wincenty was consecrated by Henry Kielicz, Archbishop of Gniezno. Poland was then in a state of political and ecclesiastical demoralization, and Innocent III had asked the archbishop, his schoolmate, to bring about a reform in clergy and people. Wincenty worked in harmony with his metropolitan, and in visitations and sermons sought to obey the papal instructions. In 1218 Wincenty sent in his resignation, and, after its acceptance by the Pope Honorius III, entered the Monastery of Jedrzejow. He was the first Pole to receive the habit of the Cistercians, and lived among them until his death. He was buried before the high altar of the abbey church In 1682, King Jan III Sobieski petitioned the Holy See for his beatification. A similar request was made in 1699 by the General Chapter of the Order of Cîteaux (a branch of Cistersians). On February 18, 1764, Kadłubek was beatified by the Pope Clement XIII.
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