FREDRO, MAXIMILIAN, a celebrated Polish author who died in 1676. He was Palatine of Podolia, and spent his life in the service of his country, in the council as well as in the camp, in both of which he occupied many important posts. His works are written chiefly in Latin, and are full of interesting details both on war and politics; while the vigour and conciseness of his style have procured for him the name of the "Polish Tacitus."
His principal works are—Proverbs and Counsel, Moral, Political, and Military, in Polish; Considerations on the Military Service, also in Polish; Vir Consilii Monitis Ethicorum, nec non prudentie civilis discendum instructus; Monita Politico-Moralia et Icon. ingnorum; Militarium seu axiomatum belli ad harmoniam toge accommodatorum libri; Fragmenta Scriptorum toge et belli. The first-mentioned work is that upon which chiefly rests the reputation of Fredro, whose thorough knowledge of the world appears in every sentence.