In his Annals, or Chronicles of the Famous Kingdom of Poland, Jan Długosz wrote for the year 1347: ‘Casimir, King of Poland, wanted to put an end to the condemnable and grave abuses, namely slanders and injustices, which had given the Kingdom of Poland under all of his predecessors, kings and princes […] severe oppression… Continue reading The Statutes of Casimir III the Great (selection)
The unification of Poland by kings Władysław Łokietek and Kazimierz Wielki (Kazimierz III the Great) required the codification of laws and qualified officials to serve the Kingdom. The need for the latter is generally considered the main motive behind the establishment of a university in Cracow, Poland’s capital, by King Kazimierz. Issuing a foundation charter… Continue reading Foundation Charter of the University of Cracow
Issued in 1264 by Bolesław Pobożny (Boleslaus the Pious), Duke of Wielkopolska (Greater Poland), this charter of liberties for the Jews – known as the Statute of Kalisz – was modeled on earlier rights extended to Jews in Bohemia, Austria, and Hungary. Composed of thirty-six articles, the Statute regulated matters of jurisdiction over the Jewish… Continue reading General privilege for the Jews in Greater Poland – the statute of Kalisz
