Affidavit Prince Fedko of Nesvizh (1434)

Nicholas Zharkikh

Shortened text of the section.
Full text in ukrainian version.

We have already seen this prince as the main supporter of Švitrigaila in the fight against the Poles in Podillja.

And so in the preamble of the charter we read that Švitrigaila suspected Fedko of treason and imprisoned him together with his wife and children and even intended to execute him. We further read that the Polish lords Vincentii Shamotulski and Mykhailo Buczacki liberated Fedko and his family by armed force and on this occasion Fedko swore allegiance to the Polish king Władysław (3rd, son of Jagiello-Władysław II; the latter died on June 1, 1434).

The only direct evidence from the charter are: 1, that Fedko was the starosta (headman) of Kremenets and Bratslav districts before his arrest and continued to hold that title (but not to be!) after the "liberation"; 2, that he could use his influence among the local people to sway them to the side of Poland.

There is no mention of the king confirming Fedko’s possession. There is also no mention of Fedko after the charter of 1435.