Rebellion of mayor Albert

In the so-called revolt of the bailiff Albert in Cracow in the years 1311/12, which was also the allied cities Sandomir and Wieliczka participated, tried 1257 after Magdeburg rights re-established city of Krakow under the leadership of its bourgeoisie, to free themselves from the country splendid tutelage. This was, for example, by the by Vogt (lat. advocate, poln wójt ) exercised jurisdiction over the important Cracow Saltworks ( Wieliczka Salt Mine and Bochnia ) for expression. At the uprising, however, did not participate in all patricians.

Prehistory

The uprising took place five years after years of disputes over the Polish throne after the violent murder of Wenceslas III. had found from Bohemia to an end. After the Mongol invasion, the Polish rulers had many German settlers brought into the country to rebuild the affected areas. In re-founded Krakow only German could acquire the rights of citizenship. Silesia had turned to Bohemia and the emperor, in 1308, the takeover of Danzig by the Teutonic Order.

Uprising and crackdown

The insurrection of Krakow's citizens was pro-German and anti-Polish, both politically and culturally. Involved at church organizations were Johann Muskata, the German -born Bishop of Krakow, as well as some dominated by German monks in monasteries Little Poland. Among the supporters of the insurgency was also Duke of Opole Bolko I., who was appointed in 1312 by the Czech king John of Luxembourg governor of Krakow. The Duke of Cracow Ladislaus the Elbow- - (later King of Poland from 1320 ) - defeated the rebellion after a year's siege with great severity down, not least in order to prevent a move the city to the west. The subsequent repression broke the political aspirations of the cities, especially Krakow, permanently.

Consequences for the Germans

The house of the bailiff Albert, who fled into exile in Czech and there died in 1317, was demolished. The loyalty of the citizens was checked by a simple Polish language test: who soczewica, koło, miele, młyn could not repeat without error, was considered guilty. Many German were banned or have been victims of violence. About Albert Vogt was written poem De quodam advocate Cracoviensi Alberto a " germanophobes ". Jakub Świnka, the Archbishop of Gniezno, lamented Bishop Johann Muskata as an "enemy of the Polish people " on, urged the influence of foreign (especially German ) Clerics back and promoted the occupation of church offices with Poland. According to the British historian Norman Davies showed in this dispute first signs of a Polish chauvinism. Nevertheless, German still had held the office of Podestà in the coming decades, and had the majority in the City Council. Furthermore, the Council documents were written in German. The proportion of Germans at the Krakow citizenship remained until the late 15th century at about 35 percent. Polish historians estimated the number of Germans in Krakow for the mid-14th century to around 3,500 people.

Krakow was a Hanseatic city for some time, many German students came to Krakow. Even in 1505, the laws of artisan guilds in Krakow were written in German language, as you can still existing in exquisite Balthasar Behem Code.