Kraków w polityce księcia Władysława Opolczyka

Abstract

Vladislaus of Opole (1326/1330–1401), a representative of the Upper Silesian line of the Piast dynasty, played an important role in the history of a few countries in the central and eastern Europe. He was certainly one of the most skillful monarchs in the second half of the 14th century. He owed his career not only to his skills but also to the protection of the Hungarian court. On all lands that he ruled, starting from Hungary, through Red Ruthenia, the land of Wieluń, the land of Dobrzyń, Kujawy, to the inherited Duchy of Opole, he was known as a great landlord and organizer. Due to the fact that he was assigned numerous tasks by the king’s court and he ruled on lands that were part of the Kingdom of Poland, and for a short period of time also in the kingdom itself as a regent (1377/1378), Vladislaus of Opole remained in contact with Krakow. During the 30 years (1363–1393), his itineranium mentions his presence in the city seven times. His visits were connected to political matters and economic affairs. When it comes to the former, the most important visits include his presence on the Krakow convention (1364), participation in the funeral of Casimir the Great and the coronation of his successor Louis I of Hungary in 1370 (then he was granted Wieluń as a fief), meetings with the regent Elizabeth Piast (1374, 1379) and Queen Jadwiga (1385). Vladislaus of Opole could not work out proper relations with the King Vladislaus Jagiello and in May 1389 (after meeting with the Polish monarch) he was accused of an attempt of taking over the Krakow castle. For a long time, Duke carried out financial operations with Krakow city councilors, borrowing money from them. There are a couple of records in the city bills that notify about sending money to Vladislaus of Opole and maintaining the messengers of the Duke that were sent to collect that money. Contacts of Vladislaus of Opole with Krakow stopped with the outburst of wars with the Kingdom of Poland (1391–1396).