Kowary
Encyclopedia
Kowary k is a town in Jelenia Góra County
, Lower Silesian Voivodeship
, in south-western Poland
.
It lies approximately 14 kilometres (9 mi) south-east of Jelenia Góra
, and 93 kilometres (58 mi) south-west of the regional capital Wrocław.
in 1241.
Other possible date of the start of the town is 1355 and connects it to Ostsiedlung.. Publications published in German Empire disputed the origin of Kowary and called it 'Schmedewerk'. In 1355 year Duke Bolko II the Small, the grandson of the Polish king Władysław I the Elbow-high, the last independent Silesian Piast, granted mining privileges to the local miners.
Since 1401 the village belonged to the possessions of the Schaffgotsch
family. As a mining center Schmiedeberg received several privileges and was seat of a Vogt
since 1368. An accord with Hirschberg Jelenia Gora
in 1454 elevated the settlement above the status of a village, it wasn't until 1513 however that Casper Schaffgotsch acquired the municipal law from Bohemias king Vladislas II against the opposition of Hirschberg. Mining flourished until the Thirty Years' War
, when the town was destroyed in 1633. The town's webpage states that the main export partner was Poland, with record trade in 1558, it was also famous for its gunsmiths, with Polish King Sigismund II Augustus
ordering 2000 gun barrels(later German publications claimed it was only 200).
After the war veil weaving became more and more important for the town, whereas mining diminished. In the early 18th century the town became one of the biggest veil trading places in Silesia with trade relations to Bohemia, Italy
, Spain
, Russia
and North America
. When Prussia
annexed Silesia in 1742 an economic decline followed. Aid by the Prussian king, the settling of Saxon
damask weavers, couldn't stop the downturn. Only the Industrialisation
, beginning around 1850, led to a recovery of the local economy. In 1882 the town received a rail connection to Hirschberg, which further strengthened the economy.
Schmiedeberg, belonging to the duchy of Schweidnitz-Jauer (Swidnica-Jawor), remained in possession of the Schaffgotsch family until 1634. In the 16th century the population adopted the Protestant faith
. When Hans Ulrich of Schaffgotsch was arrested as a follower of Wallenstein
the town came under Imperial
custody. In 1639 the emperor sold the town to Bohemian count Hermann of Czernin
, which kept Schmiedeberg until Prussian takeover of Silesia. Frederick II.
immediately sold the possessions to the town, which thereby became sovereign.
After the Peace of Westphalia
the town experienced Counter-Reformation
. The Protestant could now practice their faith only at the church of peace in Jawor (Jawor
) and later in Hirschberg and Landeshut Kamienna Góra
. After Prussia annexed Silesia the Protestants received their own church (Bethaus).
During World War II
Poles were used as slave labour by Nazi Germany
in local mines. There was also a labour camp for Jewish prisoners established in 1943
After World War II Silesia became part of Poland and the German population fled or was expelled westwards, the town was resettled by the Poles and renamed to Kowary.
As of 2006, the town had a population of 11,824.
Jelenia Góra County
Jelenia Góra County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, south-western Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998....
, Lower Silesian Voivodeship
Lower Silesian Voivodeship
Lower Silesian Voivodeship, or Lower Silesia Province , is one of the 16 voivodeships into which Poland is currently divided. It lies in southwestern Poland...
, in south-western Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
It lies approximately 14 kilometres (9 mi) south-east of Jelenia Góra
Jelenia Góra
----Jelenia Góra is a city in Lower Silesia, south-western Poland. The name of the city means "deer mountain" in Polish, Czech and German. It is close to the Krkonoše mountain range running along the Polish-Czech border – ski resorts such as Karpacz and Szklarska Poręba can be found...
, and 93 kilometres (58 mi) south-west of the regional capital Wrocław.
History
The official site of the town dates the history of Kowary dates to 1148 when Laurentius Angelus mined iron ore in the location on the behalf of Polish Duke Bolesław IV the Curly, ten years later on the orders of the Polish ruler a mining settlement was founded in the area, the official page of the town also states that the Kowary miners took part in Battle of LegnicaBattle of Legnica
The Battle of Legnica , also known as the Battle of Liegnitz or Battle of Wahlstatt , was a battle between the Mongol Empire and the combined defending forces of European fighters that took place at Legnickie Pole near the city of Legnica in Silesia on 9 April 1241.A combined force of Poles,...
in 1241.
Other possible date of the start of the town is 1355 and connects it to Ostsiedlung.. Publications published in German Empire disputed the origin of Kowary and called it 'Schmedewerk'. In 1355 year Duke Bolko II the Small, the grandson of the Polish king Władysław I the Elbow-high, the last independent Silesian Piast, granted mining privileges to the local miners.
Since 1401 the village belonged to the possessions of the Schaffgotsch
House of Schaffgotsch
The Schaffgotsch family is one of the oldest noble Silesian families extant, dating back to the thirteenth century. They were first mentioned in the St. Gallen book of documents in 804 and 809, when they were domiciled in the Margraviate of Meissen, Franconia, and the Tyrol...
family. As a mining center Schmiedeberg received several privileges and was seat of a Vogt
Vogt
A Vogt ; plural Vögte; Dutch voogd; Danish foged; ; ultimately from Latin [ad]vocatus) in the Holy Roman Empire was the German title of a reeve or advocate, an overlord exerting guardianship or military protection as well as secular justice...
since 1368. An accord with Hirschberg Jelenia Gora
Jelenia Góra
----Jelenia Góra is a city in Lower Silesia, south-western Poland. The name of the city means "deer mountain" in Polish, Czech and German. It is close to the Krkonoše mountain range running along the Polish-Czech border – ski resorts such as Karpacz and Szklarska Poręba can be found...
in 1454 elevated the settlement above the status of a village, it wasn't until 1513 however that Casper Schaffgotsch acquired the municipal law from Bohemias king Vladislas II against the opposition of Hirschberg. Mining flourished until the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
, when the town was destroyed in 1633. The town's webpage states that the main export partner was Poland, with record trade in 1558, it was also famous for its gunsmiths, with Polish King Sigismund II Augustus
Sigismund II Augustus
Sigismund II Augustus I was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, the only son of Sigismund I the Old, whom Sigismund II succeeded in 1548...
ordering 2000 gun barrels(later German publications claimed it was only 200).
After the war veil weaving became more and more important for the town, whereas mining diminished. In the early 18th century the town became one of the biggest veil trading places in Silesia with trade relations to Bohemia, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. When Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
annexed Silesia in 1742 an economic decline followed. Aid by the Prussian king, the settling of Saxon
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
damask weavers, couldn't stop the downturn. Only the Industrialisation
Industrialisation
Industrialization is the process of social and economic change that transforms a human group from an agrarian society into an industrial one...
, beginning around 1850, led to a recovery of the local economy. In 1882 the town received a rail connection to Hirschberg, which further strengthened the economy.
Schmiedeberg, belonging to the duchy of Schweidnitz-Jauer (Swidnica-Jawor), remained in possession of the Schaffgotsch family until 1634. In the 16th century the population adopted the Protestant faith
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
. When Hans Ulrich of Schaffgotsch was arrested as a follower of Wallenstein
Albrecht von Wallenstein
Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius von Wallenstein , actually von Waldstein, was a Bohemian soldier and politician, who offered his services, and an army of 30,000 to 100,000 men during the Danish period of the Thirty Years' War , to the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II...
the town came under Imperial
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
custody. In 1639 the emperor sold the town to Bohemian count Hermann of Czernin
Czernin von und zu Chudenitz
The Czernin family is one of the oldest and most important dynasties originating in Bohemia, present-day Czech Republic.- History :The family is descended from the clan of "Drslavice", like several other Bohemian families. The first known bearer of the family name was "Comes" and Camerarius regis ...
, which kept Schmiedeberg until Prussian takeover of Silesia. Frederick II.
Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II was a King in Prussia and a King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty. In his role as a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, he was also Elector of Brandenburg. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
immediately sold the possessions to the town, which thereby became sovereign.
After the Peace of Westphalia
Peace of Westphalia
The Peace of Westphalia was a series of peace treaties signed between May and October of 1648 in Osnabrück and Münster. These treaties ended the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire, and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic, with Spain formally recognizing the...
the town experienced Counter-Reformation
Counter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation was the period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent and ending at the close of the Thirty Years' War, 1648 as a response to the Protestant Reformation.The Counter-Reformation was a comprehensive effort, composed of four major elements:#Ecclesiastical or...
. The Protestant could now practice their faith only at the church of peace in Jawor (Jawor
Jawor
Jawor is a town in south-western Poland with 24,347 inhabitants . It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship . It is the seat of Jawor County, and lies approximately west of the regional capital Wrocław.In the town can be found a Protestant Church of Peace...
) and later in Hirschberg and Landeshut Kamienna Góra
Kamienna Góra
Kamienna Góra is a town in south-western Poland with 21,440 inhabitants . It is the seat of Kamienna Góra County, and also of the rural district called Gmina Kamienna Góra, although it is not part of the territory of the latter .Kamienna Góra on the Bóbr river is situated in Lower Silesian...
. After Prussia annexed Silesia the Protestants received their own church (Bethaus).
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Poles were used as slave labour by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
in local mines. There was also a labour camp for Jewish prisoners established in 1943
After World War II Silesia became part of Poland and the German population fled or was expelled westwards, the town was resettled by the Poles and renamed to Kowary.
As of 2006, the town had a population of 11,824.