Editing Lesser Poland (section)

=== Early period and Kingdom of Poland ===
In the first years of Polish statehood, southern Lesser Poland was inhabited by the [[West Slavs|West Slavic tribe]] of [[Vistulans]], with two major centers in Kraków and [[Wiślica]]. Their land, which had probably been part of [[Great Moravia]], and [[Bohemia]],{{sfn|Lerski|1996|p=309}} was annexed by [[Mieszko I of Poland]] some time in the late 10th century. Cosmas of Prague in his ''Chronicle of Bohemians'' wrote: "Polish prince Mieszko, a cunning man, seized by ruse the city of Kraków, killing with sword all Czechs he found there".{{sfn|Cosmas of Prague|2006|p=155}} Northern part of Lesser Poland (Lublin and Sandomierz) was probably inhabited by another tribe, the [[Lendians]],<ref>[http://www.wyklady.ekpu.lublin.pl/wyklady/segedaew4.htm Kievan Rus and the Old Polish state: historical parallels] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009083120/http://www.wyklady.ekpu.lublin.pl/wyklady/segedaew4.htm |date=9 October 2011 }}"Lendizi (Lędzianie), who, according to G. Lovmyansky, inhabited Sandomierz–Lublin area"</ref> and Dr Antoni Podraza, historian of the [[Jagiellonian University]] claims that ancient division of Lesser Poland into two major parts – Land (Duchy) of Kraków, and Land (Duchy) of Sandomierz, is based on the existence of two Slavic tribes in the area.<ref>[http://www.nowamalopolska.pl/newsysn/formatka.php?idwyb=288 Antoni Podraza, Małopolska w przeszłości i dziś] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626172228/http://www.nowamalopolska.pl/newsysn/formatka.php?idwyb=288 |date=26 June 2015 }}"Można sądzić, że pierwotny podział Małopolski na dwie części, krakowską i sandomierską, wiąże się właśnie z istnieniem nie jednego, a dwóch plemion na tym obszarze"</ref> However, exact location of the Lendians has not been determined to this day. Some historians speculate that they occupied Cherven Cities, and their center was in [[Przemyśl]].{{sfn|Labuda|1988|pp=167–211}}
Around the year 1000, the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kraków]] was created, and its borders covered whole area of Lesser Poland. During the reign of [[Casimir I the Restorer]], Kraków for the first time became the capital of Poland (around 1040), since Greater Poland and [[Silesia]], with main Polish urban centers, such as [[Gniezno]] and [[Poznań]] were ravaged by Duke [[Bretislaus I, Duke of Bohemia|Bretislaus I]] of [[Bohemia]].<ref>[http://www.malopolskie.iap.pl/?id=30876&location=f&msg=1 Official portal of Lesser Poland Voivodeship] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091123094601/http://www.malopolskie.iap.pl/?id=30876&location=f&msg=1 |date=23 November 2009 }} "W roku 1038 Polske najechal czeski ksiaze Brzetyslaw I. Zajal i ograbil Wielkopolske, Slask i Malopolske, zdewastowal takze Gniezno. Jednym z waznych niezniszczonych osrodków ówczesnej Polski byl Kraków, gdzie, po zwyciestwie nad Brzetyslawem, Kazimierz Odnowiciel przeniósl swoja siedzibe."</ref> In 1138, following the [[Testament of Bolesław III Krzywousty]], the country was divided between his sons (see also [[Fragmentation of Poland]]). [[Bolesław III Wrymouth]] created the [[Seniorate Province]], which, among others, consisted of Kraków. At the same time, Lesser Poland was divided into two parts, when its eastern part formed the [[Duchy of Sandomierz]],<ref>[http://www.staypoland.com/cityHistory.aspx?TownId=67 StayPoland portal. History of Sandomierz] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629230527/http://www.staypoland.com/cityHistory.aspx?TownId=67 |date=29 June 2009 }} "In his will, King Bolesław Krzywousty declared Sandomierz to be the capital of a duchy."</ref> carved by the ruler for his son [[Henry of Sandomierz]].

During the [[History of Poland#Fragmentation|fragmentation period]], both lands of Lesser Poland were frequently ruled by the same prince. Among them were [[Bolesław IV the Curly]], [[Mieszko III the Old]], [[Casimir II the Just]], [[Leszek I the White]], [[Bolesław V the Chaste]], [[Leszek II the Black]], [[Władysław I the Elbow-high]], and [[King of Bohemia]], [[Wenceslaus II of Bohemia]], who united Lesser Poland in 1290/1291. The province was pillaged during the Mongol invasion of Poland, when a combined army of Kraków and Sandomierz was destroyed by [[Baidar]] in the [[Battle of Chmielnik]]. The loss was so heavy that [[Norman Davies]] wrote: "At Chmielnik, the assembled nobility of Małopolska perished to a man."{{sfn|Davies|2005|p=71}} During their [[First Mongol invasion of Poland|1241]], [[Second Mongol invasion of Poland|1259]], and [[Third Mongol invasion of Poland|1287]] invasions, the Mongols burned major cities of Lesser Poland, killing thousands of people. Furthermore, the province, especially its northeastern part, was often raided by the [[Lithuanian people|Lithuanians]], [[Rus' (people)|Rusyns]], [[Yotvingians]], and [[Old Prussians]]. The city of Lublin suffered most frequently – among others, it was burnt by the Rusyns in 1244, the Lithuanians 1255, the Prussians in 1266, and the Yotvingians in 1282.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tnn.pl/Konflikty_przygraniczne_1241_-_1288,2752.html |title=History of Lublin, Border conflicts 1241–1288 |publisher=Tnn.pl |access-date=8 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001053908/http://www.tnn.pl/Konflikty_przygraniczne_1241_-_1288,2752.html |archive-date=1 October 2011}}</ref> Another center of the province, Sandomierz, was destroyed by the Tartars in 1260,{{sfn|Bedford|2008|p=224}} and burnt by the Lithuanians in 1349.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dziedzictwo.ekai.pl/@@sandomierz_katedra |title=The cathedral of Sandomierz |publisher=Dziedzictwo.ekai.pl |access-date=8 October 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009095028/http://dziedzictwo.ekai.pl/@@sandomierz_katedra |archive-date=9 October 2011}}</ref>
[[File:Zamek w Będzinie.jpg|thumb|[[Będzin]] Castle, which guarded the western border of Lesser Poland]]
Unlike other Polish provinces, especially [[Silesia]], Lesser Poland did not undergo further fragmentation, and in the early 14th century became the core of the reunited nation (together with Greater Poland).<ref>[http://src-h.slav.hokudai.ac.jp/coe21/publish/no15_ses/13_purchla.pdf Malopolska or Galicia. Cracow's Dilemmas in Central Europe, by Jacek Purchla] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607074725/http://src-h.slav.hokudai.ac.jp/coe21/publish/no15_ses/13_purchla.pdf |date=7 June 2011 }} (pdf format)</ref> The period of nation's fragmentation came to a symbolic end on 30 January 1320, when [[Władysław I the Elbow-high]] was crowned as [[King of Poland]]. The ceremony took place in Kraków's [[Wawel Cathedral]], and the king of the reunited country decided to choose Kraków as the capital. Through 14th and 15th centuries, Lesser Poland's position as the most important province of the nation was cemented. It became visible during the reign of [[Casimir III the Great]], who favored less known Lesser Poland's noble families, at the expense of Greater Poland's nobility.<ref>{{cite web |author=Grzesiek Supeł |url=http://www.wiw.pl/historia/poczet/termin.asp?et=kazimierz_wielki |title=Kings of Poland – Kazimierz Wielki |publisher=Wiw.pl |access-date=8 October 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926220944/http://www.wiw.pl/historia/poczet/termin.asp?et=kazimierz_wielki |archive-date=26 September 2011}}</ref> The reign of Casimir the Great was a period of growing prosperity of Lesser Poland. With high density of population, fertile soils and rich deposits of minerals (especially salt in [[Bochnia]] and [[Wieliczka]], as well as lead in [[Olkusz]]), the province was the richest part of Poland. After the recapture of the [[Cherven Cities]]/Red Ruthenia, Lesser Poland lost its status of the borderland, and both regions created an economic bridge between Poland and the ports of the [[Black Sea]].{{sfn|Lerski|1996|p=309}} The king, who drew Jewish [[Casimir III the Great#Relationship with Jews|settlers from across Europe to his country]], built several castles along western border of Lesser Poland, with the most notable ones in [[Skawina]], [[Pieskowa Skała]], [[Będzin Castle|Będzin]], [[Lanckorona]], [[Olkusz]], [[Lelów]], [[Bobolice Castle|Bobolice]], [[Krzepice]], [[Ogrodzieniec]], [[Ojców]], [[Olsztyn, Silesian Voivodeship|Olsztyn]], [[Bobolice]], [[Mirów, Silesian Voivodeship|Mirów]] (see also [[Eagle Nests Trail]]). Furthermore, he built or strengthened castles in other parts of the province, such as [[Szydlow]], [[Chęciny Castle|Chęciny]], [[Wiślica]], Radom, [[Niedzica Castle|Niedzica]], Opoczno, [[Lublin Castle|Lublin]], [[Sandomierz Castle|Sandomierz]], as well as the [[Wawel Castle]]. Also, during his reign (1333–1370), Casimir the Great founded on [[Magdeburg rights]] several cities, [[urbanization|urbanizing]] hitherto rural province.<ref>[http://www.pwsos.pl/prace/pluszczynskik/art27.html Anna Beredecka, NOWE LOKACJE MIAST KRÓLEWSKICH W MAŁOPOLSCE W LATACH 1333–1370] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026075713/http://www.pwsos.pl/prace/pluszczynskik/art27.html |date=26 October 2008 }}</ref> Among major Lesser Poland's cities founded by the King, there are:
:{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; width:90%;"
|-
! #
! City
! Founded
! Current voivodeship
|-
| 1.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL Kraków COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Kazimierz]]'''
| 1334
| now a district of Kraków
|-
| 2.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL Kłobuck COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Kłobuck]]'''
| 1339
| Silesian Voivodeship
|-
| 3.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL gmina Dobczyce COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Dobczyce]]'''
| 1340
| Lesser Poland Voivodeship
|-
| 4.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL Grybów COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Grybów]]'''
| 1340
| Lesser Poland Voivodeship
|-
| 5.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL Tuchów COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Tuchów]]'''
| 1340
|Lesser Poland Voivodeship
|-
| 6.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL gmina Lelów COA.png|20px]] '''[[Lelów]]'''
| 1340
| Silesian Voivodeship
|-
| 7.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL Myślenice COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Myślenice]]'''
| 1342
| Lesser Poland Voivodeship
|-
| 8.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL Nowy Targ COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Nowy Targ]]'''
| 1346
| Lesser Poland Voivodeship
|-
| 9.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL Biecz COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Biecz]]'''
| 1348
| Lesser Poland Voivodeship
|-
| 10.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL gmina Krościenko nad Dunajcem COA.jpg|20px]] '''[[Krościenko nad Dunajcem]]'''
| 1348
| Lesser Poland Voivodeship
|-
| 11.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL Piwniczna-Zdrój COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Piwniczna-Zdrój]]'''
| 1348
| Lesser Poland Voivodeship
|-
| 12.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL Opoczno COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Opoczno]]'''
| 1350
| Łódź Voivodeship
|-
| 13.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL Radom COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Radom]]'''
| 1350
| Masovian Voivodeship
|-
| 14.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL Tymbark COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Tymbark]]'''
| 1354
| Lesser Poland Voivodeship
|-
| 15.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL Pilzno COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Pilzno]]'''
| 1354
| Subcarpathian Voivodeship
|-
| 16.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:Gmina checiny herb.svg|20px]] '''[[Chęciny]]'''
| 1354
| [[Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship]]
|-
| 17.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL Proszowice COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Proszowice]]'''
| 1358
| Lesser Poland Voivodeship
|-
| 18.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL Będzin COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Będzin]]'''
| 1358
|Silesian Voivodeship
|-
| 19.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL Dębica COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Dębica]]'''
| 1358
| Subcarpathian Voivodeship
|-
| 20.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL gmina Stopnica COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Stopnica]]'''
| 1362
| Lesser Poland Voivodeship
|-
| 21.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL Ropczyce COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Ropczyce]]'''
| 1362
| Subcarpathian Voivodeship
|-
| 22.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL Skawina COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Skawina]]'''
| 1364
| Lesser Poland Voivodeship
|-
| 23.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL Muszyna COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Muszyna]]'''
| 1364
| Lesser Poland Voivodeship
|-
| 24.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL Jasło COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Jasło]]'''
| 1366
| Subcarpathian Voivodeship
|-
| 25.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL gmina Brzostek COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Brzostek]]'''
| 1366
| Subcarpathian Voivodeship
|-
| 26.
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:POL Wojnicz COA.svg|20px]] '''[[Wojnicz]]'''
| 1369
| Lesser Poland Voivodeship
|}
[[File:Kozlowka palac lubelskie foto28.JPG|thumb|[[Kozłówka Palace]]]]
[[File:Pałac w Kurozwękach.jpg|thumb|Palatial residence in [[Kurozwęki]]]]
{{multiple image
 | align = right
 | direction = vertical
 | width = 219
 | image1 = Royal Castle in Lublin.JPG
 | caption1 = [[Neogothic]] façade of [[Lublin Castle]]
 | image2 = Lublin Donżon i dziedziniec zamku.jpg
 | caption2 = [[Lublin Castle|Castle]] courtyard with a fortified [[keep]]
}}
In the [[Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)|Kingdom of Poland]], Lesser Poland was made of three [[voivodeship]]s – [[Kraków Voivodeship (14th century – 1795)|Kraków Voivodeship]], [[Sandomierz Voivodeship]], and [[Lublin Voivodeship (1474–1795)|Lublin Voivodeship]], created in 1474 out of eastern part of the Sandomierz Voivodeship.<ref name="nowamalopolska.pl">[http://www.nowamalopolska.pl/newsysn/formatka.php?idwyb=288 Antoni Podraza, Małopolska w przeszłości i dziś. Wspólnota Małopolska, 1 June 1999] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626172228/http://www.nowamalopolska.pl/newsysn/formatka.php?idwyb=288 |date=26 June 2015 }}</ref> Borders of the province remained unchanged until 1772. The only exception was large part of contemporary [[Upper Silesia]] (the area around [[Bytom]], [[Toszek]], [[Siewierz]], and [[Oświęcim]]), which belonged to Duchy of Kraków until 1179. In that year, prince of Kraków [[Casimir II the Just]], handed these lands to Prince of [[Opole]] [[Mieszko I Tanglefoot]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bytom.pl/pl/9/1197155410/1197128419/4 |title=History of Bytom |publisher=Bytom.pl |date=13 December 2007 |access-date=8 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007170713/http://www.bytom.pl/pl/9/1197155410/1197128419/4 |archive-date=7 October 2011}}</ref> The [[Duchy of Siewierz]], ruled since 1443 by the [[Archbishop of Kraków]], merged with Lesser Poland in 1790. Other Silesian realms lost in 1179, also returned to Lesser Poland – [[Duchy of Zator]] (in 1513), and [[Duchy of Oświęcim]] (1564). Both duchies merged into a Silesian County of the Kraków Voivodeship, and shared the fate of Lesser Poland. Apart from Jews, among other ethnic minorities of the province were the [[Walddeutsche]], who settled the borderland of Lesser Poland and Red Ruthenia (14th through 17th centuries). In the Middle Ages, the Germans inhabited several cities of Lesser Poland, especially Kraków and Sandomierz (see [[Rebellion of wójt Albert]]).

In the late [[Middle Ages]], Lesser Poland gradually became the center of Polish statehood,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://travel.poland.com/texts/en/t-ap-4-1.php|title=LESSER POLAND|publisher=Poland.com portal|access-date=19 April 2011|quote=However, already by the mid-11th century Lesser Poland had risen in status to be Poland's principal province.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715101725/http://travel.poland.com/texts/en/t-ap-4-1.php|archive-date=15 July 2011}}</ref> with Kraków being the capital of the country from the mid-11th century until 1596. Its nobility ruled Poland when [[Jadwiga of Poland|Queen Jadwiga]] was too young to control the state, and the [[Union of Krewo]] with the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] was the brainchild of Lesser Poland's [[szlachta]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://historia.gazeta.pl/historia/1,99863,6713823,krolowa_Jadwiga_Andegawenska.html|newspaper=[[Gazeta Wyborcza]]|title=Królowa Jadwiga Andegaweńska|first=Martyna|last=Bandurewicz|date=12 June 2009|quote=Ze względu na małoletniość Jadwigi rządy w jej imieniu sprawowali możnowładcy małopolscy. To oni zadecydowali o unieważnieniu zaręczyn z księciem austriackim, i oni prowadzili rokowania w sprawie wyboru jej przyszłego małżonka.|language=pl|access-date=19 April 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807114518/http://historia.gazeta.pl/historia/1,99863,6713823,krolowa_Jadwiga_Andegawenska.html|archive-date=7 August 2011}}</ref>

In the 15th and 16th centuries, Lesser Poland remained the most important part of the country. After the death of Casimir the Great, Lesser Poland's nobility promoted [[Louis I of Hungary]] as the new king, later supporting his daughter [[Jadwiga of Poland]] in exchange for [[Privilege of Koszyce]]. Since Jadwiga, crowned on 16 October 1384, was too young to rule the country, Poland was in fact governed by the Lesser Poland's nobility, who decided to find her a husband, [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania|Grand Duke of Lithuania]], [[Jogaila]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://historia.gazeta.pl/historia/1,99863,6713823,krolowa_Jadwiga_Andegawenska.html |title=Królowa Jadwiga Andegaweƒska, by Martyna Bandurewicz, Gazeta Wyborcza, 12 June 2009 |publisher=Historia.gazeta.pl |date=12 June 2009 |access-date=8 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009063604/http://historia.gazeta.pl/historia/1,99863,6713823,krolowa_Jadwiga_Andegawenska.html |archive-date=9 October 2011 }}</ref> Consequently, unions of Poland and Lithuania at [[Union of Krewo|Krewo]] and [[Union of Horodło|Horodło]] were the brainchildren of Lesser Poland's nobility,<ref>[http://www.omp.org.pl/index.php?module=subjects&func=viewpage&pageid=615 Wladyslaw Konopczynski – O idei jagielloƒskiej] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716110507/http://www.omp.org.pl/index.php?module=subjects&func=viewpage&pageid=615 |date=16 July 2011 }} "Unia krewska i horodelska byly dzielem panów malopolskich"</ref> among whom the most influential individuals were [[Spytek z Melsztyna (died 1399)|Spytek z Melsztyna]], and cardinal [[Zbigniew Oleśnicki (cardinal)|Zbigniew Olesnicki]]. Other famous Lesser Poland's families are [[Lubomirski family]], [[Kmita family]], [[Tarnowski family]], [[Potocki family]], [[Sobieski family]], [[Koniecpolski family]], [[Ossolinski family]], [[Poniatowski family]].

Since Lesser Poland was the most important province of [[Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)|the country]], several important events took place on its territory. In 1364, Casimir the Great called the [[Congress of Kraków]], and in 1401, the [[Union of Vilnius and Radom]] was signed. In 1505 in Radom, the Sejm adopted the [[Nihil novi]] title, which forbade the King to issue laws without the consent of the nobility. In the same year, also in the same city, Polish law was codified in the [[Łaski's Statute]], and the [[Crown Tribunal]] (the highest appeal court in the Crown of the Polish Kingdom) held its sessions in Lublin. In 1525, the [[Treaty of Kraków]] was signed, ending the [[Polish–Teutonic War (1519–1521)|Polish–Teutonic War]]. Lesser Poland also is home to the oldest Polish university – the [[Jagiellonian University]], founded in 1364 by Casimir the Great, and several outstanding figures of early Polish culture were born here, such as [[Jan Kochanowski]], [[Mikołaj Rej]], [[Jan z Lublina]], [[Mikołaj Gomółka]], [[Maciej Miechowita]], [[Marcin Kromer]], [[Łukasz Górnicki]], and [[Mikołaj Radomski]].