Jan Zabrzeziński

Who was Jan Zabrzeziński?

Jan Jurjewicz Zabrzeziński or Zaberezhsky was a noble of Leliwa coat of arms from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, who achieved the height of his influence during the reign of Alexander Jagiellon. He was duke's marshal, regent of Polatsk, castellan of Trakai, voivode of Trakai, and Grand Marshal of Lithuania. Zabrzeziński was married to Anna, daughter of Jan, elder of Brest and Hrodna.

In the period 1476–1492, he witnessed three legal acts by the Grand Duke and was sent to two diplomatic missions. In 1501, as a member of the Lithuanian Council of Lords, he supported the proposed Union of Mielnik. Soon Zabrzeziński began a political rivalry with Michael Glinski, a quickly-rising favorite of Alexander Jagiellon. In 1504, under Glinski's influence, Alexander confiscated land possessions of Zabrzeziński's son-in-law near Lida. The conflict was soon suppressed by Alexander, who imposed large fines and removed Zabrzeziński from all of his positions. However, soon Zabrzeziński was reinstated as the Grand Marshal and received a generous benefice.