Career
The Baysen family was part of a larger Flemish family which came in the 13th century from Lübeck or its vicinity. They named themselves after their possession, Basien (modern Bażyny) near Wormditt (modern Orneta) in Ermland (modern Warmia). He was one of the order"s native lay associates.
In service of the Grand Masters, January traveled on diplomatic missions to England, Denmark and Portugal in the years 1419–1422.
According to legend he was knighted by the King of Portugal for his military service against the Moors during the Reconquista, which was reflected in a modification to his family"s Coat of Arms. After Michael Küchmeister resigned as head of the order, Bażyński also terminated his service with the knights.
As the Standard-bearer of Ostróda (Osterode) he took part in the founding of the Prussian Confederation, and was one of the signatories of the founding document of the Confederation on March 14, 1440 in Kwidzyn (Marienwerder). He was the head of the delegation which came from Toruń (Thorn) to Krakow in February 1454, which asked the King of Poland Casimir IV Jagiellon to reincorporate Prussian lands into the Polish kingdom.
Consequently he led the uprising of the Prussian Estates against the Knights.
In 1454, during the Thirteen Years" War, in which the cities of the Prussian Confederation financed Polish military expenses, he was made governor of Royal Prussia by the King of Poland, which after the war became a part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. As the governor his residence was in Elbląg. In 1454 he was made the starosta of Sztum (Shtum) and in 1456 of Tolkmicko (Tolkemikt).
He died at Marienburg Castle (Malbork Castle) and was buried at Elbląg.
In honour of January Bażyński the authorities of Ostróda named him in 1966 as the patron of the First General Lyceum in the town, thus making it The First General Lyceum of January Bażyński. Besides the Lyceum there is also Bażyński Oak – a 700-year-old oak located in Kadyny.
