Early Medieval History

Town hall at the Market Square

In the Early Middle Ages, the region in which Kąty Wrocławskie is in today was inhabited by the Silesians, one of the Polish tribes, which became part of the Polish state after its establishment in the 10th century.^[2] The Polish settlement with a wooden church probably already existed in 1101, as mentioned in later centuries.^[3] As a result of the 12th-century fragmentation of Poland it was part of various Polish duchies of Lower Silesia, the first being the Duchy of Silesia. A castle already existed in 1293,^[4] and remained in possession of the Polish Piast dynasty until 1474.^[5]

Founding of the town

The town was established in 1297 by Bolko I the Strict under the Neumarkter Recht/Prawo średzkie law. In 1298, records show that a town, named Kant was already established. In 1302, more records mention the presence of a hereditary vogt ruling over the town, as well as the existence of a Catholic parish church of Saints Peter and Paul.

In the first years of its existence, Kąty Wrocławskie was ruled by the Polish dukes of Wrocław, and it was only until later that the town became fully sovereign. In 1310, the town became a notable center of trade in the region. The success of the town was helped by the existence of a nearby ford in the river Bystrzyca. In 1322, the town was gifted to the daughter of the Henry VI the Good, who married Konrad I of Oleśnica. From 1329, the town belonged to the Duchy of Jawor-Świdnica, later coming under the control of the Duchy of Ziębice. In 1339, the duke Bolko II the Small sold the town to Konrad II the Gray. In 1449, Konrad IV the Older, in exchange for a loan, gave the town to the Bishop of Wrocław. Because the loan never got paid back, Kąty Wrocławskie became the property of the Diocese of Wrocław.

In the mid-15th century, Hussites invaded and partially destroyed the town and its walls. Later in the 15th century, a fire severely damaged the town. During the Thirty Years' War the town was plundered several times by various armies, including the Swedes in 1632 and Austrians in 1633.^[6] Until 1810 the town remained under the suzerainty of the Diocese of Wrocław.^[7] In 1843 a railway connection with Wrocław was opened, the second oldest in Silesia.^[8]

Footnotes