Editing Płock (section)

===Middle Ages===
[[File:Diadem of Płock.PNG|thumb|left|[[Płock Diadem]], 13th century]]
The area was long inhabited by pagan peoples. In the 10th century, a [[Castle of the Masovian Dukes in Płock|fortified location]] was established high of the Vistula River's bank. This location was at a junction of shipping and trade routes and was strategic for centuries. Its location was a great asset. In 1009 a [[Benedictine]] [[monastery]] was established here. It became a center of science and art for the area.

During the rule of the first monarchs of the [[Piast dynasty]], even prior to the [[Baptism of Poland]], Płock served as one of the monarchial seats, including that of Duke [[Mieszko I]] and King [[Bolesław I the Brave]]. The king built the original fortifications on Cathedral Hill ({{langx|pl|Wzgórze Tumskie}}), overlooking the [[Vistula|Vistula River]]. From 1037 to 1047, Płock was capital of the independent Mazovian state of [[Miecław]]. Płock has been the residence of many Mazovian dukes. In 1075, a [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Płock|diocese]] seat was created here for the Roman Catholic church.<ref name=pwn>{{cite web|url=https://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo/Plock;3958401.html|title=Płock|website=Encyklopedia PWN|access-date=11 July 2020|language=pl}}</ref> From 1079 to 1138, during the reign of the [[Polish monarchs]] [[Władysław I Herman]] and [[Bolesław III Wrymouth]], the city was [[List of former national capitals|the capital of Poland]], then earning its title as the Ducal Capital City of Płock ({{langx|pl|Stołeczne Książęce Miasto Płock}}).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ump.pl/en/main.php?cid=poznaj&iid=getknow |title=Get to know Płock |publisher=From official Płock website.en |access-date=2011-02-17}}</ref> As a result of the fragmentation of Poland into smaller duchies, from 1138 it was the capital of the [[Duchy of Masovia]], and afterwards the Duchy of Płock.<ref name=pwn/> In 1180 the present-day [[Marshal Stanisław Małachowski High School, Płock|Marshal Stanisław Małachowski High School]] (''Małachowianka''), the oldest still existing school in Poland and one of the oldest in [[Central Europe]], was established.<ref name=MAL>{{cite web|url=http://malachowianka.plock.org.pl/historia_plocka/|title=Z dziejów Płocka|website=Małachowianka OnLine|access-date=1 September 2019|language=pl}}</ref> Among its notable graduates is scholar and jurist [[Paweł Włodkowic]], a precursor of [[religious freedom]] in Europe, who studied there in the late 14th century.<ref>{{cite book |last=Erlich |first=Ludwik |date=1968 |title=Pisma wybrane Pawła Włodkowica (Preface) |location=Warsaw |publisher=PAX |page=13 }}</ref>

{{stack|[[File:AGAD Kazimierz Wielki, krol polski, wyznacza fundusz na budowe murow miejskich Plocka.png|thumb|right|Privilege of King [[Casimir III the Great]] from 1353 created a fund for the construction of defensive walls.]]}}
In 1237 Płock was officially granted [[town rights]], renewed in 1255.<ref name=pwn/> Płock was located on a trade route connecting [[Toruń]] with Warsaw, [[Lublin]], [[Chełm]] and [[Włodzimierz Wołyński|Włodzimierz]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Bartoszewicz|first=Henryk|year=1994|title=Drogi handlowe ziemi dobrzyńskiej w XV–XVI w.|magazine=Miscellanea Historico-Archivistica|language=pl|location=Warszawa|publisher=Naczelna Dyrekcja Archiwów Państwowych, Wydawnictwo DiG|volume=IV|page=166|issn=0860-1054}}</ref> In the 14th century King [[Casimir III the Great]] vested Płock with vast [[privilege (law)|privileges]].<ref name=pwn/> The first [[Jews|Jewish]] immigrants came to the city in the 14th century, responding to the extension of rights by the Polish kings. In 1495 the Duchy of Płock was integrated directly with the Polish Crown as a reverted [[fief]].