Jan Łasicki

Who was Jan Łasicki?

Jan Łasicki was a Polish historian and theologian. He was well-educated and traveled extensively in Western Europe from 1556 to 1581. Around 1557 he converted to Calvinism, becoming a follower of the Unity of the Brethren after 1567.

His major work is eight-volume Historia de origine et rebus gestis fratrum Bohemicorum. Only one volume survives, which deals with customs and organization of the Brethren and was first published in 1660. His other works include Historia de ingressu Polonorum in Valachiam cum Bogdano about Polish invasion in Wallachia. The work was translated into Polish by Władysław Syrokomla in 1855. His 18-page Concerning the gods of Samagitians, and other Sarmatians and false Christians provides a list of Lithuanian gods and is an important resource in the study of the Lithuanian mythology.