Remarks on the spatial structure of Wrocław in the 11th–13th century

Abstract

In general, medieval Wrocław reflects development trends characteristic of large cities of Central Europe’s inland zone. Previous research conducted by historians, art historians, architecture historians as well as by archaeologists contributed greatly to the reconstructing the development of its structure. The city lies on the Odra River that flows in a few riverbeds separated by islands. Natural factors had a significant impact on both the formation of urban space as well as the conditions of everyday life. During the proto-urban phase, Wrocław had a polycentric structure; individual parts of the settlement complex were located on islands and on both sides of the river. These were the earthen and wooden stronghold with the seat and the cathedral, the settlement of craftsmen and merchants, two abbeys, the magnates’ manors and agrarian settlements. The intensive development of this complex and especially that of the craftsmen’s settlement on the left bank of the Odra River took place in the 2nd half of the 12th and the first half of the 13^th century. In the late stage of its development, proto-urban Wrocław had a diverse ethnic structure. Apart from Polish inhabitants, Germans, Walloons and Jews lived there. In the early decades of the 13th century, there was a significant increase in the surface area occupied by the craftsmen’s settlement on the left bank of the Odra River, probably mainly due to the inflow of newcomers. The newly built St Mary Magdalene’s church was the parish centre. The legal status of the settlement and its inhabitants remains unclear due to the lack of written sources. We know, however, that the building developed here at least until the 1260s, and thus at a time when there already existed a parallel incorporated city. The burghers’ commune ruled by Magdeburg law occupied a zone located to the east of the older settlement, and its centre became the marketplace, called the Rynek (Market Square). The results of archaeological research determined the origins of the Rynek to the second or third decade of the 13th century. The demographic basis of the new commune was settlers from the territories of the German Empire. The lords of the city were dukes from the Silesian line of the Piast dynasty. The rapid development of this structure in the new legal and economic conditions resulted already in the 13th century in the disintegration of older urban elements. The research results allow for the conclusion that a regular spatial structure was formed due to several arrangement actions. As early as in the 13th century the area of the city expanded to the south and west. In the east side, the New City was created, ending the spatial development of the medieval Wrocław.