Local history
Information about the town – Polska / małopolskie
A huge fortified settlement Wawel - a capital of the state of the Wiślanie tribe, existed at the turn of the 8th and 9th centuries at the heart of the present-day Kraków. In the 10th century, Kraków was already one of the main economic, political, military and cultural centers in Małopolska (Lesser Poland) located on the trade route Ruthenia-Czech Republic-Western Europe. From circa 1040, the city was the capital of Poland and main residence of the Polish monarchs. In 1241, the Tatars invaded and ravaged Kraków, which did not have any defensive walls at that time. In 1275, Duke Bolesław Wstydliwy chartered the city on Magdeburg Rights, which meant exempting the settlers and investors from taxes. This attracted a large number of settlers, mostly Germans, but also Jews, who found here particularly favorable conditions.
In 1335, King Kazimierz Wielki (Casimir the Great) chartered near Kraków, on the site of Bawół village, on the opposite site of the Vistula River, another city – Kazimierz. At the same time, more Jews began to settle in Kraków, which started to be considered as an even more significant center of trade with Silesian towns, Moravia, Czech Republic, Ruthenia and Hungary. The Jewish newcomers mostly settled near Kraków: in the town of Kazimierz and in Kleparz (a borough of Kraków).
In 1364, King Kazimierz Wielki established in Kraków the first Polish university - Kraków Academy. In 1495, by the decision of King Jan Olbracht, the Jews had to leave Kraków and most of them settled in the neighboring town of Kazimierz. The reason for expelling the Jews were unexplained circumstances of the fire that broke out in the center of Kraków and charges against the Jewish residents concerning this case. Great plagues, for example in 1651-1652 and the Swedish incursion in 1655-1657 set the beginning of the collapse of Kraków.
Since 1795, Kraków was under the control of Austria. Between the years 1815-1846, the city was the capital of the Republic of Kraków. Kraków became the center of cultural and scientific life as of the second half of the 19th century.
During World War II, in September 1939, Polish troops defending Kraków were outflanked by Germans and retreated in danger. When the Nazis assumed power, Kraków played the role of a seat of the German administrative authorities and headquarters of the military district of the General Government. The Germans resorted to stark terror towards the inhabitants of Kraków and the neighboring towns.
The Administrator has made all possible efforts to present the content accuratly and up-to-date in a way that does not infringe upon the rights of third parties, including copyrights, but cannot guarantee it. Therefore erroneous information on the website may not be the basis for claims. If you have any questions, please contact us at the following e-mail address: sztetl@jewishmuseum.org.pl
