Sanok Castle
Encyclopedia
The Sanok Royal Castle was built in the late 14th century in Sanok
, Poland
. The castle is situated on the San River
at hill 317 m above sea level on a steep slope. Today it is the seat of the Sanok Historical Museum.
The earliest mention of the stronghold comes from 1150 and was written in the Hypatian Codex
. The Ruthenian chronicler describes the expedition of King Géza II of Hungary
to Ruthenia
and the capture of the towns of Przemyśl and Sanok. In the time of the Piast dynasty
, after the recovery of the Red Ruthenia
by King Casimir III the Great, the royal palace surrounded by a defensive wall was built on the hilltop.
During the reign of King Władysław Jagiełło
, his wedding with Elisabeth of Pilica
took place at the castle on May 2, 1417. The town and district authorities with a castellan at the top had their seat at the Sanok castle. In 1425, it was established the Higher Court of German law at the Sanok Castle. It was also a residence of the King's fourth wife Sophia of Halshany
until her death in 1461. Queen Bona Sforza
ordered the rebuilding of the Gothic castle in the Renaissance style between 1523-1548. Between 1555-1556, the castle was the seat of Isabella Jagiellon, Queen of Hungary
, after her escape from Transylvania
. At the end of the 16th century, the castle underwent further expansion: the south wing was built at that time. At the turn of the 18th century the North wing was added.
In 1915, after the Russian invasion, the South wing was demolished. In the interwar period the castle served as the Museum of Sanok. The Museum, established in 1934 by the Society of Friends of the Region of Sanok, had at first collections of the Sanok region, weapons and arms — the history of the town and castle of Sanok, furniture, artistic craftsmanship.
With the beginning of World War II in September 1939, the castle was ransacked. In August 1944, the local German authorities looted the oldest surviving monuments of Polish culture, some of which were retrieved by the Polish Government after the war. Its collections were transferred to the castle where, since 1945, they have formed part of the Historical Museum, added to the latter's collection are some 200 icons from Lemko
villages.
and since 1352 also a seat of starosta
:
Sanok
Sanok is a town in south-eastern Poland with 39,110 inhabitants, as of 2 June 2009. It's the capital of Sanok County in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship. Previously, it was in the Krosno Voivodeship and in the Ruthenian Voivodeship , which was part of the Lesser Poland province...
, 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...
. The castle is situated on the San River
San River
The San is a river in southeastern Poland and western Ukraine, a tributary of the Vistula River, with a length of 433 km and a basin area of 16,861 km2...
at hill 317 m above sea level on a steep slope. Today it is the seat of the Sanok Historical Museum.
History
The first mention of Sanok is found in 12th c. chronicles. The stronghold was destroyed in the 13th c. during the Tatar invasion in 1241. In the 14th c. the town of Sanok became fortified and a defensive castle was built.The earliest mention of the stronghold comes from 1150 and was written in the Hypatian Codex
Hypatian Codex
The Hypatian Codex is a compendium of three chronicles: the Primary Chronicle, Kiev Chronicle, and Galician-Volhynian Chronicle. It is the most important source of historical data for southern Rus'...
. The Ruthenian chronicler describes the expedition of King Géza II of Hungary
Géza II of Hungary
Géza II , , King of Hungary, King of Croatia, Dalmatia and Rama . He ascended the throne as a child and during his minority the kingdom was governed by his mother and uncle...
to Ruthenia
Ruthenia
Ruthenia is the Latin word used onwards from the 13th century, describing lands of the Ancient Rus in European manuscripts. Its geographic and culturo-ethnic name at that time was applied to the parts of Eastern Europe. Essentially, the word is a false Latin rendering of the ancient place name Rus...
and the capture of the towns of Przemyśl and Sanok. In the time of the Piast dynasty
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...
, after the recovery of the Red Ruthenia
Red Ruthenia
Red Ruthenia is the name used since medieval times to refer to the area known as Eastern Galicia prior to World War I; first mentioned in Polish historic chronicles in the 1321, as Ruthenia Rubra or Ruthenian Voivodeship .Ethnographers explain that the term was applied from the...
by King Casimir III the Great, the royal palace surrounded by a defensive wall was built on the hilltop.
During the reign of King Władysław Jagiełło
Jogaila
Jogaila, later 'He is known under a number of names: ; ; . See also: Jogaila : names and titles. was Grand Duke of Lithuania , king consort of Kingdom of Poland , and sole King of Poland . He ruled in Lithuania from 1377, at first with his uncle Kęstutis...
, his wedding with Elisabeth of Pilica
Elisabeth of Pilica
Elisabeth of Pilica was Queen consort of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania as the third wife of Jogaila who was Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland, reigning 1387 to 1434....
took place at the castle on May 2, 1417. The town and district authorities with a castellan at the top had their seat at the Sanok castle. In 1425, it was established the Higher Court of German law at the Sanok Castle. It was also a residence of the King's fourth wife Sophia of Halshany
Sophia of Halshany
Sophia of Halshany , was a Lithuanian princess of Halshany, Queen of Poland from , and the last wife of Jogaila.-Biography:...
until her death in 1461. Queen Bona Sforza
Bona Sforza
Bona Sforza was a member of the powerful Milanese House of Sforza. In 1518, she became the second wife of Sigismund I the Old, the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, and became the Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania.She was the third child of Gian Galeazzo Sforza and his wife...
ordered the rebuilding of the Gothic castle in the Renaissance style between 1523-1548. Between 1555-1556, the castle was the seat of Isabella Jagiellon, Queen of Hungary
Eastern Hungarian Kingdom
The Eastern Hungarian Kingdom was the name of the area under the rule of King John I of Hungary. John I of Hungary was the former voivode of Transylvania and the wealthiest and the most powerful landlord after Mohács, secured the eastern part of the kingdom with the help of the Ottomans...
, after her escape from Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
. At the end of the 16th century, the castle underwent further expansion: the south wing was built at that time. At the turn of the 18th century the North wing was added.
In 1915, after the Russian invasion, the South wing was demolished. In the interwar period the castle served as the Museum of Sanok. The Museum, established in 1934 by the Society of Friends of the Region of Sanok, had at first collections of the Sanok region, weapons and arms — the history of the town and castle of Sanok, furniture, artistic craftsmanship.
With the beginning of World War II in September 1939, the castle was ransacked. In August 1944, the local German authorities looted the oldest surviving monuments of Polish culture, some of which were retrieved by the Polish Government after the war. Its collections were transferred to the castle where, since 1945, they have formed part of the Historical Museum, added to the latter's collection are some 200 icons from Lemko
Lemkos
Lemkos , one of several quantitatively and territorially small ethnic groups who also call themselves Rusyns , are one of the ethnic groups inhabiting the Carpathian Mountains...
villages.
Castellans and starosts of Sanok
Starting from the 14th century the castle was the seat of a castellanCastellan
A castellan was the governor or captain of a castle. The word stems from the Latin Castellanus, derived from castellum "castle". Also known as a constable.-Duties:...
and since 1352 also a seat of starosta
Starosta
Starost is a title for an official or unofficial position of leadership that has been used in various contexts through most of Slavic history. It can be translated as "elder"...
:
- His Great and Mighty Grace Mikołaj BłociszewskiMikołaj BłociszewskiMikołaj Błociszewski of Ostoja coat of arms - the court knight and deputy of King Jogaila to negotiate with the Teutonic Knights...
(d. 1419) Castellan of Sanok (1401–1415), - HGMG Sebastian Lubomirski (d.1558) Starost of Sanok (1553–1558),
- HGMG Jan Herburt (1524–1578) Castellan of Sanok (1572, 1573),
- HGMG Stanisław Bonifacy Mniszech (1580–1644) Starost of Sanok (1602),
- HGMG Zygmunt Fredro (d.1663) Castellan of Sanok (1652–1661),
- HGMG Franciszek Szembek (d.1693) Castellan of Sanok (1685–1688).