Społeczność Wielunia w pierwszej połowie XVI wieku
The Society of Wieluń in the First Half of the 16th Century

Summary/Abstract: Wieluń in the first half of the 16th century was a middle-sized town but could be considered a big one in Greater Poland. The described town society had to live in the finest period in Wieluń’s history, without wars and natural disasters, but in a convenient location on trade routes. The town was a conglomerate of various social, professional, religious and informal groups. Along with natural divisions resulting from the place of residence (within the town walls and outside), profession or identity there also existed differences in terms of their class. New burgesses came from the very bourgeoisie, but also from peasantry and gentry, though mainly poor. The society of Wieluń could also be divided in a considerably lesser degree on account of their ethnic affiliation and professed religion, Jews and Protestants infrequently settled there. The role of a keystone, the element binding together bourgeoisie varying in terms of their social background and economic status was best performed on religious plane, although it was far from equality even there. However, all of them met in the parish church (and other churches), belonged to the same fraternities, gave donations for the building of the same altars and finally were buried at the same cemeteries.

• Details
• Contents