Sieradz

Sieradz is a city of the center of the Poland, located on the Warta. It is the seat of a county ( Powiat ) and belonged to the Voïvodie de Łódź. It counted 44.512 inhabitants with the December 31st 2003.

History

Sieradz is one of the oldest towns of Poland. The archaeological excavations showed that the site was already inhabited with the VI {{E}} /7e century. A fortified town appears at the 11th century. The Arab geographer Al Idrissi mentions Sieradz in 1136 and puts it on the same foot as Gniezno, Cracow and Wrocław.

It was the capital of one of the duchies of Poland during the territorial dismemberment of the country, with the XIII {{E}} century, the duchy of Sieradz and Łęczyca (see the Royaume of Poland (1138-1320))

Conrad Ier de Mazovie grants to Sieradz the urban Privilège S towards 1250. At the end of the 14th century, a new castle replaces the strong old man. The urban development is slowed down by the attacks Tatar are and Czech, and at the 14th century, by the Teutoniques.

13th century at the 15th century, 15 general meetings of the Noble S take place themselves in Sieradz to indicate a king. The February 26th 1383, it is in Sieradz which one confirms with the Ambassadeur Hungary that the queen of Poland will be Hedwige of Anjou, the girl of Louis Ier of Hungary. In 1432, the Polish nobility, joined together with Sieradz, recognizes the right to the son of the king Ladislas II Jagellon to succeed to him. In 1445, it is still in Sieradz that the noble ones choose Casimir IV Jagellon as king.

It is with the Renaissance that the city knows its apogee. At the beginning of the 16th century, 162 Artisan S there are established, gathered in 12 Corporation S, in particular the clothiers, the Pelletier S and the tailors. The Commerce is very developed. The Marché S attract foreign purchasers, who come sometimes from Spain or the Portugal. The wars with the Sweden, of the fires and the epidemics of plague explain the decline of the city as from the 17th century, and which continues until half of the 18th century.

At the end of the 18th century, the city slowly starts to be rebuilt. It counts 1500 inhabitants, 191 dwelling houses, 80 craftsmen representing 21 trades. After the divisions of Poland, the inhabitants take an active part in all the engagements for independence, independence which Poland finds in November 1918. The Entre-deux-guerres is one period gilded for Sieradz. The Industry and the craft industry very quickly exceed the production of pre-war period, the cultural life develops. September 1st 1939 bursts the Second world war. The November 9th 1939, the city is annexed by the Reich. The Nazi S endeavor to erase any trace of the Polish past of Sieradz, burning all the Polish writings, renaming the streets, destroying the statues and the plates commemorating the historical events. In answer, resistance movements appeared, fought with eagerness by the Gestapo.

The January 23rd 1945, the Red Army releases a city which lost most of its inhabitants and which is partly destroyed. Sieradz was repopulated after the war, the rebuilding of industrial fabric requiring an important labor.

Tourism

To see:

old house of the 15th century
the archaeological and ethnographic museum
church and convent of the Dominicain S of the 17th century
the parish church Gothic with sculpture of the Moyen-âge
with the site of the castle of Casimir III Large the ruins some, a village
in Tubądzin, beside Sieradz, the museum of the interiors in an old manor

See too

List of the dukes of Sieradz and Łęczyca

External bond

Official site of the city

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