Free City of Krakow: Map & History
The Free City of Cracow, also known as the Republic of Cracow, and officially the Free, Independent, and Strictly Neutral City of Cracow and its District, was a nominally independent city-state that existed from 1815 to 1846.
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The Free City of Cracow, also known as the Republic of Cracow, and officially the Free, Independent, and Strictly Neutral City of Cracow and its District, was a nominally independent city-state that existed from 1815 to 1846. It was established by the Congress of Vienna using territory from the former Duchy of Warsaw, which had been divided among the Russian, Prussian and Austrian empires after the Congress in 1815. The Free City comprised the Polish city of Cracow (Kraków) and its surrounding district.
Free City of Krakow in Depth
History
The Free City was approved and guaranteed by Article VII of the Treaty between Austria, Prussia, and Russia of 3 May 1815. The statelet received an initial constitution at the same time, revised and expanded in 1818, establishing significant autonomy for the city. The Jagiellonian University could accept students from the partitioned territory of Poland. The Free City thus became a centre of Polish political activity on the territories of partitioned Poland.
During the November Uprising of 1830–1831, Kraków was a base for the smuggling of weapons into the Russian-controlled Kingdom of Poland. After the end of the uprising, the autonomy of the Free City was severely restricted. The police were controlled by Austria and the election of the president had to be approved by all three powers.
Geography, population and economy
The Free City of Cracow was created from the southwest part of the Duchy of Warsaw (part of the former Kraków Department on the left bank of the Vistula river). At its smallest, the city encompassed an area of 1,164 to 1,234 km2 (sources vary). It bordered the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Empire. It comprised the city of Kraków and its environs; the other settlements in the area administered by the Free City included 224 villages and three towns (Chrzanów, Trzebinia and Nowa Góra).
In 1815, its population was 95,000; as of 1843, it had a population of 146,000. 85% of them were Catholics, 14% Jews, while other religions comprised 1%. The most notable szlachta family was the Potocki family of magnates, who had a mansion in Krzeszowice.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Free City of Cracow (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Free City of Krakow: Key Facts
| Capital | Kraków |
|---|---|
| Official language | Polish |
| Religion | Catholic Church |
| Form of government | republic |
| Currency | Kraków złoty |
| Founded | 3 May 1815 |
| Dissolved | 6 November 1846 |
Facts from Wikidata Q501303 (CC0).
Free City of Krakow Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 1,734 km² in 1832 CE.
Free City of Krakow: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Free City of Krakow exist?
Free City of Krakow is dated to 1815 CE – 1845 CE, in the Industrial era.
What was the capital of Free City of Krakow?
The capital of Free City of Krakow was Cracow (Kraków).
How large was Free City of Krakow at its peak?
At its peak in 1832 Free City of Krakow covered about 1,734 km².
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