heathen regions. The Ottoman Empire was an ongoing threat and had taken over large parts of Europe, and the Bishop suggested that the Order "do battle with the Turks." The Bishopric was exposed to repeated armed attacks by the Teutonic Order, which attempted to regain the territory. Poland sought to rescind the Prince-Bishopric's autonomy, hoping to force the surrender of its prerogatives to the Polish crown. In this area of conflict, Watzenrode guarded the interests of Warmia and maintained friendly relations with Poland. He was a long-time opponent of the Teutonic Knights, and shortly after his death it was rumored that he had been poisoned by them. Family Watzenrode looked after his orphaned two nephews and two nieces. Katharina married businessman and city councilor Barthel Gertner, while Barbara became a Benedictine nun. Watzenrode sent the brothers Nicolaus (Copernicus) and Andreas to study at the Kraków Academy and in Italy (Bologna, Padua, Ferrara). After his studies, Copernicus assisted his uncle in administrative matters and was his closest advisor as well as his personal physician. Watzenrode also took care of his son Philipp Teschner, whose mother was the daughter of the rector of the Johannes school in Thorn. When Watzenrode became bishop he arranged for Philipp Teschner to become mayor of Braunsberg (now Braniewo). Lucas Watzenrode the Younger died in Thorn (Toruń) during his return from an official journey. Notes References Bücherei Danzig, J. Kretzmer, Liber de episcopatu et episcopi Varmiensis ex vetusto Chronico Bibliotheca Heilsbergensis, 1593 Christoph Hartknoch, Preußische Kirchen-Historia, Frankfurt a.M., 1668 M.G. Centner, Geehrte und Gelehrte Thorner, Thorn 1763 A. Semrau, "Katalog der Geschlechter der Schöffenbank und des Ratsstuhles in der Altstadt Thorn 1233-1602", in: Mitteilungen des Copernicus-Vereins für Wissenschaft und Kunst zu Thorn 46 (1938) Poczet biskupów warmińskich, Olsztyn 1998 Jürgen Hamel: Nicolaus Copernicus. - Spektrum Verlag: Heidelberg, 1994. Further reading Górski Karol, Łukasz Watzenrode : życie i działalność polityczna (1447-1512), Wrocław 1973. 1447 births 1512 deaths 15th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Poland Jagiellonian University alumni Bishops of Warmia Nicolaus Copernicus People from Toruń People from the State of the Teutonic Order Canons of Warmia Canons of Włocławek University of Bologna alumni