Royal city in Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the history of Poland, a royal city or royal town (Polish: miasto królewskie) was an urban settlement within the crown lands (Polish: królewszczyzna).[1]

Medal commemorating the Law on the Cities

The most influential royal cities enjoyed voting rights during the free election period in Poland (1572–1791). These cities were Gdańsk, Warsaw, Kraków, Poznań, Lwów, Wilno, Toruń, Lublin, Kamieniec and Elbląg.[2] Other important royal cities included Gniezno (ecclesiastical capital of Poland and former capital of early medieval Poland), Płock (former capital of medieval Poland), Piotrków (second most important political center of Poland in the early and mid-16th century as the main location of the Sejm, and then the main Crown Tribunal location alongside Lublin, thus one of the two judiciary capitals of Poland), Grodno (de facto capital of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 1580s[3] and then the general sejm location alongside Warsaw), Bydgoszcz and Kalisz (temporary locations of the Crown Tribunal), and Sandomierz, Przemyśl, Kazimierz.[4][5]

Law on the Cities

Main article: Free Royal Cities Act

On April 18, 1791, the Great Sejm adopted the Free Royal Cities Act (full title: "Miasta nasze królewskie wolne w państwach Rzeczypospolitej" - "Our Free Royal Cities in the States of the Commonwealth"), included as Article III into the Constitution of May 3, 1791.

The law granted a number of privileges for the residents of royal cities. Many of these privileges and rights have already been enjoyed by major royal cities, and the law effectively equalized all royal cities in this respect. It also includes some rights earlier enjoyed only by szlachta.

Royal cities by region

Crown of the Kingdom of Poland

Greater Poland Province

Warsaw in the 18th century
Gdańsk in the 16th century
Poznań in the 17th century
Elbląg in the 18th century
Toruń in the 17th century
Piotrków in the 17th century
Grudziądz in the 17th century
Brześć Kujawski in the 17th century
Sztum in the 18th century

Lesser Poland Province

Kraków, Kleparz and Kazimierz in the 17th century - agglomeration of three royal cities
Lwów in the 17th century
Lublin in the 17th century
Kamieniec Podolski in the 17th century
Przemyśl in the 17th century
Sandomierz in the 17th century
Chełm in the 17th century
Biecz in the 17th century
Łuck in the 18th century

Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Vilnius in the 17th century
Grodno in the 16th century
Kaunas in the 17th century
Brest in the 17th century
Mogilev in the 18th century
Trakai in the 17th century

Royal castles and residences

Examples of Polish royal castles and residences found in former royal cities of Poland:

Old towns

The historic old towns of Kraków, Warsaw, Toruń, Vilnius and Lviv are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Additionally the old towns of Gdańsk, Kazimierz Dolny, Lublin, Przemyśl, Sandomierz and Tykocin are designated Historic Monuments of Poland.[14] and those Kaunas and Trakai – as Monuments of Culture of Lithuania.[15]

Gallery of Commonwealth royal cities historic centers include:

See also

References

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