Private towns in Crown Ruthenia until the end of the 15th century Cover Image

Miasta prywatne na Rusi Koronnej do końca XV wieku
Private towns in Crown Ruthenia until the end of the 15th century

Author(s): Andrzej Janeczek
Subject(s): History, Economic history, Political history, Middle Ages
Published by: Instytut Historii im. Tadeusza Manteuffla Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Keywords: Red Ruthenia; late medieval urbanization; German law; private towns; town classifi cation; small towns;

Summary/Abstract: Red Ruthenia, incorporated into the Crown in mid-14th century, underwent numerous integration and modernisation processes, including urbanisation. The process of urbanisation led to the creation of ca. 117 towns in Ruthenia until the end of the 15th century; they were all organised according to the urban model applied in the Polish territory. Out of these urban centres, 69 were private towns, founded primarily on the estates of magnates and wealthy nobility. The classification of the towns, encompassing the evaluation of their population, wealth, consumption scale and economic power, shows that they were predominantly small-sized towns and localities. The dominance of small towns was characteristic of the entire urban landscape of Red Ruthenia, but it was most visible among private towns.

  • Issue Year: 2016
  • Issue No: 77
  • Page Range: 143-178
  • Page Count: 36
  • Language: Polish