Rebellion of wójt Albert
Encyclopedia
The Rebellion of wójt Albert was an uprising of burghers of the Polish city of Kraków
against the duke Władysław I the Elbow-high in the years 1311–12. It ended with Władysław's victory.
, it was re-established according to Magdeburg Law
by Prince Bolesław V the Chaste in 1257 and populated with German
settlers in the course of the Ostsiedlung
. In 1291 the Duchy of Kraków
fell to the Přemyslid
king Wenceslaus II of Bohemia, himself a vassal of the Holy Roman Emperor
, who in 1300 also became King of Poland. Upon the extinction of the Přemyslids in 1306, the Piast
duke Władysław I the Elbow-high assumed the rule at Kraków, while in 1310 the Bohemian Kingdom passed to the House of Luxembourg
. The new king John of Bohemia continued to claim the Polish royal title and moreover sought to vassalize the Piast
dukes of the adjacent Silesia
n region.
– over to the Bohemian House of Luxembourg. Albert, himself of German or Czech origin, had a support of many of the German burghers. He had the support of Bishop Jan Muskata
, himself of German-Silesian origin, and the Silesian duke Bolko I of Opole
, who in turn was appointed stadtholder
by King John, as well as of many Kraków citizens. After Władysław laid siege to the city, the revolt ended in failure. Similar rebellions took place in several other cities – particularly Sandomierz
and Wieliczka
, also crushed by Władysław.
and his house was demolished, while the Polish Primate
Archbishop Jakub Świnka
of Gniezno charged Bishop Jan Muskata with being "an enemy of the Polish people". In the aftermath the City of Kraków lost many of its privileges for the support some of its burghers
showed to the uprising. From Prince Władysław's view the revolt had been motivated by anti-Polish sentiments and the German citizens proved disloyal. He reacted with severity, culminating in the implementation of the shibboleth
Soczewica, koło, miele, młyn ("Lentil, wheel, grinds (verb), mill) to distinguish and prosecute the German-speaking minority of Kraków. After the failure of the rebellion the citizens lost their political ambitions and began to Polonize
. The uprising was chronicled in a contemporary Latin poem De quodam advocate Cracoviensi Alberto ("About a Certain Reeve Albert of Cracow") written by an anonymous author.
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
against the duke Władysław I the Elbow-high in the years 1311–12. It ended with Władysław's victory.
Background
After Kraków had been devastated during the 1241 Mongol invasion of PolandMongol invasion of Poland
The Mongol Invasion of Poland from late 1240 to 1241 culminated in the battle of Legnica, where the Mongols defeated an alliance which included forces from fragmented Poland and members of various Christian military orders, led by Henry II the Pious, the Duke of Silesia. The first invasion's...
, it was re-established according to Magdeburg Law
Magdeburg rights
Magdeburg Rights or Magdeburg Law were a set of German town laws regulating the degree of internal autonomy within cities and villages granted by a local ruler. Modelled and named after the laws of the German city of Magdeburg and developed during many centuries of the Holy Roman Empire, it was...
by Prince Bolesław V the Chaste in 1257 and populated with German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
settlers in the course of the Ostsiedlung
Ostsiedlung
Ostsiedlung , also called German eastward expansion, was the medieval eastward migration and settlement of Germans from modern day western and central Germany into less-populated regions and countries of eastern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The affected area roughly stretched from Slovenia...
. In 1291 the Duchy of Kraków
Seniorate Province
Seniorate Province, also known as the Senioral Province , Duchy of Kraków , Duchy of Cracow, Principality of Cracow, Principality of Kraków, was the superior among the five provinces established in 1138 according to the Testament of Bolesław III Krzywousty...
fell to the Přemyslid
Premyslid dynasty
The Přemyslids , were a Czech royal dynasty which reigned in Bohemia and Moravia , and partly also in Hungary, Silesia, Austria and Poland.-Legendary rulers:...
king Wenceslaus II of Bohemia, himself a vassal of the Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
, who in 1300 also became King of Poland. Upon the extinction of the Přemyslids in 1306, the Piast
Piast dynasty
The Piast dynasty was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. It began with the semi-legendary Piast Kołodziej . The first historical ruler was Duke Mieszko I . The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of king Casimir the Great...
duke Władysław I the Elbow-high assumed the rule at Kraków, while in 1310 the Bohemian Kingdom passed to the House of Luxembourg
House of Luxembourg
The House of Luxembourg was a late medieval German dynasty, which between 1308 and 1437 ruled the Holy Roman Empire, twice interrupted by the rivaling House of Wittelsbach.-History:...
. The new king John of Bohemia continued to claim the Polish royal title and moreover sought to vassalize the Piast
Silesian Piasts
The Silesian Piasts were the oldest line of the Piast dynasty beginning with Władysław II the Exile, son of Bolesław III Wrymouth, Duke of Poland...
dukes of the adjacent Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
n region.
Rebellion
In 1311 wójt Albert (?-1317), mayor of Kraków (1290-1312), instigated a mutiny against Prince Władysław, with the goal of turning the city – then the capital of the Polish Seniorate ProvinceSeniorate Province
Seniorate Province, also known as the Senioral Province , Duchy of Kraków , Duchy of Cracow, Principality of Cracow, Principality of Kraków, was the superior among the five provinces established in 1138 according to the Testament of Bolesław III Krzywousty...
– over to the Bohemian House of Luxembourg. Albert, himself of German or Czech origin, had a support of many of the German burghers. He had the support of Bishop Jan Muskata
Jan Muskata
Jan Muskata was bishop of Kraków from 1294 to 1309.Muskata was born in Wrocław, Silesia. He was the son of a German spice trader. The name Muskata is derived from Latin, for nutmeg....
, himself of German-Silesian origin, and the Silesian duke Bolko I of Opole
Bolko I of Opole
Bolko I of Opole , was a Duke of Opole from 1282 , Niemodlin and Strzelce Opolskie until his death.He was the third son of Władysław, Duke of Opole-Racibórz, by his wife Euphemia, daughter of Władysław Odonic, Duke of Greater Poland.-Life:Around 1277 Bolko I was named co-ruler of the Duchy of...
, who in turn was appointed stadtholder
Steward (office)
A steward is an official who is appointed by the legal ruling monarch to represent him or her in a country, and may have a mandate to govern it in his or her name; in the latter case, it roughly corresponds with the position of governor or deputy...
by King John, as well as of many Kraków citizens. After Władysław laid siege to the city, the revolt ended in failure. Similar rebellions took place in several other cities – particularly Sandomierz
Sandomierz
Sandomierz is a city in south-eastern Poland with 25,714 inhabitants . Situated in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship , previously in Tarnobrzeg Voivodeship . It is the capital of Sandomierz County . Sandomierz is known for its Old Town, a major tourist attraction...
and Wieliczka
Wieliczka
-External links:***...
, also crushed by Władysław.
Aftermath
Albert fled to BohemiaKingdom of Bohemia
The Kingdom of Bohemia was a country located in the region of Bohemia in Central Europe, most of whose territory is currently located in the modern-day Czech Republic. The King was Elector of Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806, whereupon it became part of the Austrian Empire, and...
and his house was demolished, while the Polish Primate
Primate (religion)
Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....
Archbishop Jakub Świnka
Jakub Swinka
Jakub Świnka was a Polish Catholic priest, the Archbishop of Gniezno and a notable politician and supporter of the idea of unification of all Polish lands under the rule of Władysław I the Elbow-high. His Coat of Arms was Świnka....
of Gniezno charged Bishop Jan Muskata with being "an enemy of the Polish people". In the aftermath the City of Kraków lost many of its privileges for the support some of its burghers
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
showed to the uprising. From Prince Władysław's view the revolt had been motivated by anti-Polish sentiments and the German citizens proved disloyal. He reacted with severity, culminating in the implementation of the shibboleth
Shibboleth
A shibboleth is a custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people, especially a long-standing one regarded as outmoded or no longer important...
Soczewica, koło, miele, młyn ("Lentil, wheel, grinds (verb), mill) to distinguish and prosecute the German-speaking minority of Kraków. After the failure of the rebellion the citizens lost their political ambitions and began to Polonize
Polonization
Polonization was the acquisition or imposition of elements of Polish culture, in particular, Polish language, as experienced in some historic periods by non-Polish populations of territories controlled or substantially influenced by Poland...
. The uprising was chronicled in a contemporary Latin poem De quodam advocate Cracoviensi Alberto ("About a Certain Reeve Albert of Cracow") written by an anonymous author.