Długi wiek XIII w Chełmnie

Abstract

Complex processes that took place in the north-western part of the Slavs’ territory in the 13th century, essentially ones that changed the existing traditional model of community, influenced many spheres of life, including the most important socio-economic and political transformations. In the case of Chełmno Land which was a borderland located between Mazovia, Kujawy, Eastern Pomerania and Old Prussian Pomezania, in its structure referring to German marches, these processes can be characterized by a few keywords such as ‘feudalization’, ‘decentralization/centralization’, ‘colonization’ or ‘urbanization’. The history of Chełmno Land in the second half of the 12th–first half of the 13th century, which is described relatively well in written sources, can be example of Chełmno, the centre of this area. The name is eponymous with regard to the whole region, which clearly emphasizes its exceptional importance. In the history of this centre’s ‘moving’ in geographical terms according to the will of the then policy-makers, fundamental socio-economic and political transformations were enacted, creating the symbolic ‘long’ duration of the 13th century. Located at the crossroads of long-distance trade routes, on the western outskirts of the Vistula, Drwęca and Osa River basins, it was for a long period a ‘gateway’ to Chełmno Land. The political and socio-economic centre was to be on the border periphery, initially of the Polish state within the castellan organization, and then of the Teutonic Order, at least in the first stage of its being. The primary role of Chełmno in the region between the Vistula, Drwęca and Osa Rivers is also confirmed by the results of archaeological research conducted intensively in Chełmno Land for many decades (Kola 1975; Chudziak 2003, 2010 – therein earlier literature). They have generally been carried out in two separate areas, traditionally distinguished in Polish archaeology: one concerning early medieval settlement (Kałdus) and the second, focusing on the study of late medieval culture that was generally associated with the history of the Teutonic Order in this area (Starogród and Chełmno). Despite the significant organizational differences between the strongly urbanized castellan centre in Kałdus/Chełmno in the second half of the 12th and the first quarter of the 13th century and the urban centre of the Teutonic Order, reflecting two urbanization phases of this area, it should be noted that the elements of continuation in this working urban settlement transferred along the edge of the height over a distance of only a few kilometres. It is worth noting the capital rank of this area that acted, regardless of the changing legal and political system – as a centre of political, religious, socio-economic and cultural functions. In the case of both stages of its development it was also the most important place in the region for exchange and production, with long-distance connections, a continuation of which in the 14th century, seems to have been the participation of Chełmno in the Hanseatic League. followed in particular on the

W artykule przedstawione zostały dzieje Chełmna, centralnego ośrodka ziemi chełmińskiej, w okresie od 2. połowy XII do 1. połowy XIII wieku. W jego historii skupiają się zasadnicze przeobrażenia społeczno-gospodarcze i polityczne, składające się na symboliczne „długie” trwanie XIII wieku. Warto podkreślić stołeczną rangę tego ośrodka pełniącego – niezależnie od zmieniających się uwarunkowań prawno-ustrojowych – centralne funkcje polityczne, religijne, społeczno-gospodarcze i kulturotwórcze.