Głogów ( [ˈɡwɔɡuv] ; German: Glogau , rarely Groß-Glogau , Czech : Hlohov , Silesian : Głogōw ) is a city in western Poland . It is the county seat of Głogów County , in Lower Silesian Voivodeship . Głogów is the sixth largest town in the Voivodeship; its population in 2021 was 65,400. The name of the town derives from głóg , the Polish name for hawthorn .
57-446: Among the oldest towns in Poland, Głogów was founded in the 10th century as a Piast defensive settlement and obtained city rights in the 13th century from Duke Konrad I . Due to the town's strategic location on several trade routes, the townspeople received many privileges and benefits, which brought wealth and greatly reflected on the city's architecture. Over time, Głogów grew to be one of
114-624: A grad by a West Slavic tribe called the Dziadoszanie , one of the Polish tribes . In the 10th century it became part of the emerging Polish state under first historic ruler Mieszko I of Poland , who erected a new stronghold there. The first known historic record comes from 1010, in Thietmar of Merseburg 's chronicles, after the troops of King Henry II of Germany in the conflict over the March of Lusatia and
171-575: A loan to Philip II of Spain that was never completely paid. Bona was born on 2 February 1494, in Vigevano, Milan, as the third of the four children of Gian Galeazzo Sforza , the legal heir to the Duchy of Milan, and Isabella of Naples , daughter of King Alfonso II of Naples from the House of Trastámara . Her paternal great-uncle Ludovico Sforza , known to history as "Il Moro", usurped her father's power and sent
228-548: A circle of supporters. On 23 January 1519, Pope Leo X , whom Bona had friendly relationship with from her Italian days, granted her the privilege of awarding eight benefices in five Polish cathedrals ( Kraków , Gniezno , Poznań , Włocławek , and Frombork ). In May 1519, the privilege was expanded to fifteen benefices. This was a very important privilege that allowed her to secure support of various officials. Three of her most trusted supporters, Piotr Kmita Sobieński , Andrzej Krzycki , and Piotr Gamrat , were sometimes known as
285-563: A convention of Kings Casimir IV Jagiellon of Poland and George of Poděbrady of Bohemia at which a Bohemian-Polish alliance was concluded. In 1504 century, the Głogów line of the Silesian Piasts died out with the death of Jan II the Mad . Jan's cruel measures had provoked the resistance of the Głogów citizens, and in 1488 the troops of King Matthias Corvinus appeared at the city gates and expelled
342-432: A dress of light blue Venetian satin that reportedly cost 7,000 ducats . The journey to Poland took more than three months. Bona and Sigismund met for the first time on 15 April 1518 just outside Kraków . The wedding and coronation took place on 18 April 1518, but celebrations continued for a week. Almost from the beginning of her life in Poland, the energetic queen tried to gain a strong political position and began forming
399-425: A one-off payment of 50,000 ducats except Isabella Jagiellon , who was to receive 10,000 ducats annually. Her only son, King Sigismund II Augustus, was named as the main beneficiary, but in the end, he would inherit only cash, jewelry, and other personal property. The next day, however, Bona felt better and dictated a new last will to Scipio Catapani that left Bari and other property to Sigismund Augustus. Bona died in
456-534: A part of the North German Confederation . Because the stronghold status had slowed down the city's development for many years, the citizens tried to abolish the stronghold status in the 19th century; the fortifications were only moved to the east in 1873, and finally taken down in 1902, which allowed the city to develop. After 1871, the city was part of the German Empire , within which it remained after
513-516: A possible two-front war . Bona was instrumental in establishing an alliance between Poland and France with the objective of recovering Milan. The negotiations came to an end, and the alliance was disbanded after Francis' troops were defeated by Charles V at the Battle of Pavia in 1525. Despite their blood relation, Bona sometimes was a fierce opponent of the Habsburgs. She advocated attaching Silesia to
570-550: Is not documented in contemporary sources. The first "Piasts", probably of Polan descent, appeared around 940 in the territory of Greater Poland at the stronghold of Giecz . Shortly afterwards they relocated their residence to Gniezno , where Prince Mieszko I ruled over the Civitas Schinesghe from about 960. The Piasts temporarily also ruled over Pomerania , Bohemia and the Lusatias , as well as part of Ruthenia , and
627-550: The Battle of Głogów . In 1157 the town finally fell to the forces of Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa , invading the Silesian lands in aid of Duke Władysław II the Exile and his sons. In 1180, under the rule of Władysław's II youngest son Konrad Spindleshanks , Głogów was rebuilt and became the residence of his principality, which fell back to the Duchy of Silesia upon his death about 1190. In
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#1732876910512684-589: The Duchy of Masovia (until 1526) and in the Duchies of Silesia until the last male Silesian Piast died in 1675. The Piasts intermarried with several noble lines of Europe, and possessed numerous titles, some within the Holy Roman Empire . The Jagiellonian kings ruling after the death of Casimir IV of Poland were also descended in the female line from Casimir III's daughter. The early dukes and kings of Poland are said to have regarded themselves as descendants of
741-449: The Duchy of Savoy if his brother Charles III abdicated. The initial and most likely plan to marry Maximilian Sforza failed after he was deposed after the French victory in the Battle of Marignano in 1515. Pope Leo X proposed his nephew Lorenzo de' Medici, Duke of Urbino , as he hoped to install Lorenzo as Duke of Milan by using Bona's inheritance claims. However, the French hold on Milan
798-668: The Germanized name of Groß-Glogau ("Greater Glogau") to differentiate it from the town of Oberglogau ("Upper Glogau", present-day Głogówek ) in Upper Silesia . Despite Germanisation attempts, the population of the area around Głogów was still largely Polish. During the Napoleonic Wars , the Polish forces of General Jan Henryk Dąbrowski were stationed in the town, and the city was also visited three times by Napoleon Bonaparte . Glogau
855-469: The House of Sforza was restored to the Duchy of Milan in 1512, Isabella hoped to wed Bona and Duke Maximilian Sforza , thereby providing further legitimacy to Maximilian's reign. There were other proposals as well: Spanish King Ferdinand II of Aragon proposed Giuliano de' Medici , brother of Pope Leo X . Isabella counter-proposed Ferdinand's 10-years-old grandson Ferdinand of Austria ; Pope Leo X proposed Philippe, Duke of Nemours , who would succeed to
912-616: The Milceni lands had attacked the forces of the Polish Duke Bolesław I Chrobry and again besieged Głogów on August 9, 1017, without result. The next year Henry and Bolesław concluded the Peace of Bautzen . In 1109, King Henry V of Germany, entangled in the fratricidal war between the Piast dukes Bolesław III Wrymouth and Zbigniew besieged the town, but could not overcome the Polish forces in
969-625: The Treaty of Versailles of 1919. In 1939 it had 33,000 mostly German inhabitants. During World War II , the Germans established six forced labour camps in the town, including a subcamp of the Nazi prison for youth in Wołów (in the present-day Paulinów district). In 1942–1945, there was also a transit camp for kidnapped Polish children intended for Germanisation , and in 1944, a transit camp for Poles transported from
1026-706: The 1 April 1548, Sigismund I the Old died and was succeeded by Sigismund Augustus. The mother and the son had entered into a conflict over his marriage to Barbara Radziwiłł , a former mistress who was vehemently opposed by the nobility, but she eventually accepted her son's decision. Still, their relationship turned difficult, and after her husband's death, Bona moved with her unmarried daughters to Masovia and stayed there for eight years before moving back to Bari. In February 1556, Bona left Poland for her native Italy with treasures that she had accumulated over 38 years. In May, she reached Bari and took possession of her mother's duchy. She
1083-543: The Brave ( Bolesław I Chrobry ). Głogów is twinned with: Piast The House of Piast was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland . The first documented Polish monarch was Duke Mieszko I ( c. 960 –992). The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of King Casimir III the Great . Branches of the Piast dynasty continued to rule in
1140-755: The Czech Crown during the rule of the Jagiellonian dynasty until 1526, when it was inherited by the Austrian House of Habsburg and was incorporated into the Habsburg monarchy . During the Thirty Years' War , Głogów was turned into a stronghold in 1630. It was conquered by Protestants in 1632, reconquered by Imperial troops in 1633, fell to Sweden in 1642, and finally reverted to the Habsburgs in 1648. One of two main routes connecting Warsaw and Dresden ran through
1197-630: The Hungarian Spiš region in present-day Slovakia . The ruler bore the title of a duke or a king , depending on their position of power. The Polish monarchy had to deal with the expansionist policies of the Holy Roman Empire in the west, resulting in a chequered co-existence, with Piast rulers like Mieszko I, Casimir I the Restorer or Władysław I Herman trying to protect the Polish state by treaties, oath of allegiances and marriage alliances with
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#17328769105121254-737: The Imperial Ottonian and Salian dynasties. The Bohemian Přemyslid dynasty , the Hungarian Arpads and their Anjou successors, the Kievan Rus' , later also the State of the Teutonic Order and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were mighty neighbours. The Piast position was decisively enfeebled by an era of fragmentation following the 1138 Testament of Bolesław III Wrymouth . For nearly 150 years,
1311-581: The Piasts became extinct with the death of Duke Janusz III in 1526. The last ruling duke of the Silesian Piasts was George William of Legnica who died in 1675. His uncle Count August of Legnica , the last male Piast, died in 1679. The last legitimate heir, Duchess Karolina of Legnica-Brieg died in 1707 and is buried in Trzebnica Abbey . Nevertheless, numerous families, like the illegitimate descendants of
1368-459: The Polish crown in return for her hereditary principalities of Bari and Rossano, but Sigismund the Old did not fully support this idea. Wanting to secure her eldest daughter in the Kingdom of Hungary, Bona successfully supported her son-in-law John Zápolya as successor against Ferdinand of Habsburg after Louis II of Hungary was killed at Mohács in 1526. Alongside her husband's profound interest in
1425-570: The Polish state shattered into several duchies, with the Piast duke against the formally valid principle of agnatic seniority fighting for the throne at Kraków , the capital of the Lesser Polish Seniorate Province . Numerous dukes like Mieszko III the Old , Władysław III Spindleshanks or Leszek I the White were crowned, only to be overthrown shortly afterwards, and others restored and ousted, at times repeatedly. The senior branch of
1482-507: The Silesian Piasts, descendants of Bolesław III Wrymouth 's eldest son Duke Władysław II the Exile , went separate ways and since the 14th century were vassals of the Bohemian Crown . After the Polish royal line and Piast junior branch had died out in 1370, the Polish crown fell to the Anjou king Louis I of Hungary , son of late King Casimir's sister Elizabeth Piast . The Masovian branch of
1539-495: The Silesian duke Adam Wenceslaus of Cieszyn (1574–1617), link their genealogy to the dynasty. About 1295, Przemysł II used a coat of arms with a white eagle – a symbol later referred to as the Piast coat of arms or as the Piast Eagle . The Silesian Piasts in the 14th century used an eagle modified by a crescent, which became the coat of arms of the Duchy of Silesia . Piast kings and rulers of Poland appear in list form in
1596-604: The Triumvirate. She became openly involved in various state affairs, which did not agree with the traditional ideal of a royal wife to use discreet manipulation in government. Although the royal couple disagreed on many domestic and foreign issues, the marriage was a supportive and successful partnership. Believing that one of the most important things needed for strengthening royal authority was appropriate revenue , Bona sought to assemble as much dynastic wealth as possible, which would give her husband's financial independence to defend
1653-773: The Vatican, she sought to maintain good relations with the Ottoman Empire and had contacts with Hürrem Sultan , chief consort of Suleiman the Magnificent . It is believed that the good relationship between the Queens saved Poland from the attack of the Ottoman Army during the Italian Wars . Worried about the growing ties between the Habsburgs and Russia by 1524, Sigismund signed a Franco-Polish alliance with King Francis I of France to avoid
1710-461: The administrative reform of 1999 it became part of Lower Silesian Voivodeship . The city's major sports clubs are handball team SPR Chrobry Głogów , which competes in the Polish Superliga , the country's top division, and football team MZKS Chrobry Głogów , which competes in the I liga , the country's second division (as of 2023–24). Both teams are named after medieval Polish King Bolesław I
1767-603: The boy from the family and granted Bari and Rossano to her mother. The plans were interrupted by the Italian War of 1499–1504 . King Louis XII of France deposed Ludovico and took Francesco to Paris. With nothing left in Milan, her remaining family departed for Naples in February 1500. However, the war reached the Kingdom of Naples and her maternal great-uncle, King Frederick of Naples ,
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1824-527: The city and the majority of Lower Silesia fell into the Soviet Zone of Occupation who expelled its German population in accordance with the Potsdam Agreement and began replacing them with Polish settlers who came to the once again Polish city of Głogów to find a seriously war-damaged town; it has not been fully rebuilt to this day. The town started to develop again only in 1957, after a copper foundry
1881-689: The city in the 18th century and Kings Augustus II the Strong and Augustus III of Poland traveled that route many times. Głogów remained part of the Habsburg-ruled Crown of Bohemia until the First Silesian War . In March 1741 it was captured in a night attack by the Prussian Army under General Prince Leopold II of Anhalt-Dessau , and like the majority of Silesia became part of Kingdom of Prussia under King Frederick II . The city became known by
1938-552: The consent of all the noble brothers. In 1539, Bona reluctantly presided over the burning of the 80-year-old Katarzyna Weiglowa for heresy, but that event ushered in an era of tolerance. The Queen's confessor, Francesco Lismanini , assisted in the establishment of a Calvinist Academy in Pińczów . Bona was instrumental in establishing alliances for Poland, but she was rumored to be a notorious conspirator because of her gender and Italian heritage. In addition of her good relationships with
1995-510: The course of the fragmentation under Duke Bolesław II the Bald and his younger brother, the Duchy of Głogów under Duke Konrad I was established in 1251. Two years later he vested the town with Magdeburg rights . From the 13th century the city prospered thanks to trade and craft, brewing and clothmaking developed. Likewise the many Duchies of Silesia , Głogów also fell under the overlordship of King John of Bohemia in 1329. In 1462, Głogów hosted
2052-511: The duke. In 1491–1506 Głogów was ruled by John Albert and Sigmund the Old , future kings of Poland. In 1506 the duchy was incorporated into the Bohemian (Czech) Kingdom, although Polish King Sigismund I the Old still claimed the duchy before renouncing claims in 1508, while his wife, Polish Queen Bona Sforza still made attempts to reintegrate the city and the duchy with the Kingdom of Poland in 1522, 1526 and 1547. Nevertheless, it remained under
2109-581: The early morning of 19 November 1557, at the age of 63. It is suspected she was poisoned by trusted household members. She was buried in the Basilica di San Nicola in Bari, where her daughter, Anna , had a tomb erected for her in Renaissance style. Bona was considered from her youth a very ugly woman, so much so that the proposal (advanced by Naples) of a marriage between her and the fourteen-year-old Federico Gonzaga
2166-488: The following table. For a list of all rulers, see List of Polish monarchs . Bona Sforza Bona Sforza (2 February 1494 – 19 November 1557) was Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania as the second wife of Sigismund the Old , and Duchess of Bari and Rossano by her own right. She was a surviving member of the powerful House of Sforza , which had ruled the Duchy of Milan since 1450. Smart, energetic and ambitious, Bona became heavily involved in
2223-630: The kingdom from external threats without the Parliament's slow support. The royal family gained numerous estates in Lithuania and finally took over the Grand Duchy by 1536–1546. She helped to reform agriculture taxation , including uniform duties on the peasants and area measurements . Those actions generated huge profits . Wanting to ensure the continuity of the Jagiellonian dynasty on the Polish throne,
2280-550: The largest fortified towns in Lower Silesia . The demolition of fortifications at the beginning of the 20th century improved the chances for further growth. However, towards the end of the Second World War Głogów was once again turned into a defensive fortress and as such suffered almost complete destruction. Currently reconstruction works are being carried out with the aim of restoring the historic pre-war appearance of
2337-630: The political and cultural life of the Polish–Lithuanian union . To increase state revenue during the Chicken War , she implemented various economic and agricultural reforms, including the far-reaching Wallach Reform in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania . In foreign policy, she allied with the Ottoman Empire and sometimes opposed the Habsburgs . Her descendants became beneficiaries of the Neapolitan sums ,
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2394-717: The revival of classical antiquity, Bona was instrumental in developing the Polish Renaissance . She brought renowned Italian artists, architects and sculptors from her native country. Her most known artistic involvement were the expansion of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in Vilnius and the construction of Ujazdów Castle , which included a large park and a menagerie. The plans were prepared by Bartolomeo Berrecci da Pontassieve , who designed several other projects in Poland. On
2451-443: The royal couple decided to make the nobles and magnates to recognise their only son, the minor Sigismund Augustus, as heir to the throne. First, the Lithuanian nobles gave him the ducal throne (ca. 1527–1528). In 1529, he was then crowned Sigismund II Augustus . This led to huge opposition from Polish lords, which led to the adoption of the bill that the next coronation would take place after the death of Sigismund Augustus and only with
2508-428: The semi-legendary Piast the Wheelwright ( Piast Kołodziej ), first mentioned in the Cronicae et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum (Chronicles and deeds of the dukes or princes of the Poles), written c. 1113 by Gallus Anonymus . However, the term "Piast Dynasty" was not applied until the 17th century. In a historical work, the expression Piast dynasty was introduced by the Polish historian Adam Naruszewicz ; it
2565-404: The small family to live at the Castello Visconteo in Pavia , where her father died the same year she was born. Rumors spread that he was poisoned by Ludovico. Bona's family moved to the Sforza Castle in Milan, where they lived under the watchful eye of Ludovico, who was afraid that Milan residents would rebel and install her popular brother Francesco . To minimize the risk, Ludovico separated
2622-413: The town. The castle, which was rebuilt between 1971 and 1983, now houses the Historical and Archaeological Museum, displaying artifacts such as Lusatian burial artifacts from Wróblin Głogowski . Since 1984 the town also has been the venue for the Głogów Jazz Festival, which features local and international singers, musicians and performers. Głogów is one of the oldest towns in Poland. It was founded as
2679-432: The transit camp in Pruszków near Warsaw after the suppression of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising . Many Polish resistance members were imprisoned and sentenced to prison or death in the city. The city was made into a stronghold by the German government early in 1945 in the last stages of World War II. It was besieged for six weeks by the Soviet Red Army , which left 98% of the buildings completely destroyed. After May 1945
2736-406: The young Ettore Pignatelli as her lover. He was the eldest son of Alessandro Pignatelli, who, in turn, was the lover of her mother Isabella d'Aragona, Duchess of Milan . However, Ettore died under mysterious circumstances. It is believed that he was poisoned by Bona after he refused to follow her to Poland, where she intended to marry Sigismund. Widowed by her husband in 1548, Bona became involved in
2793-479: Was built there. It is still the largest industrial company in the town. It has since become a major world supplier of silver, which along with gold is often found in copper ore. In 1974, Głogów was awarded the Order of Polonia Restituta , one of the highest Polish state decorations . In 1945–1950, Głogów was part of Wrocław Voivodeship and in 1950 became part of the newly created Zielona Góra Voivodeship . In 1975–1998 it belonged to Legnica Voivodeship , and after
2850-422: Was captured by French forces after the Battle of Jena in 1806. The town, with a garrison of 9,000 French troops, was besieged in 1813–14 by the Sixth Coalition ; by the time the defenders surrendered on 10 April 1814, only 1,800 defenders remained. In 1815, after the Congress of Vienna , Glogau became part of the Prussian Province of Silesia and was therefore a part of the German Confederation and as of 1867
2907-550: Was deposed. Together with other relatives, Bona was temporarily hidden at the Aragonese Castle on Ischia . By April 1502, Bona was the only surviving of her siblings. She and her mother settled at the Castello Normanno-Svevo in Bari more permanently, where Bona started an excellent education. Her teachers included Italian humanists Crisostomo Colonna and Antonio de Ferraris , who taught her mathematics, natural science, geography, history, law, Latin , classical literature, theology, and how to play several musical instruments. When
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#17328769105122964-446: Was eliminated because of her age, and Eleanor's older brother instead selected King Manuel I of Portugal for her husband, Polish nobles suggested Anna Radziwiłł , the widow of Konrad III of Masovia . Isabella sent Bona's old teacher, Crisostomo Colonna, and diplomat Sigismund von Herberstein to Vilnius to convince Sigismund to select Bona. They succeeded and the marriage treaty was signed in September 1517 in Vienna . Bona's dowry
3021-571: Was guaranteed by custom duties collected in Foggia and the agreements were signed on both 23 September and 5 December 1556. However, the Habsburgs were determined to obtain Bari and did not intend to repay the loan. On 8 November, Bona became ill with stomach ache. On 17 November, as she was losing consciousness, her trusted courtier Gian Lorenzo Pappacoda brought to her the notary Marco Vincenzo de Baldis, who wrote her last will. It left Bari, Rossano, Ostuni and Grottaglie to Philip II of Spain and large sums to Pappacoda's family. Her daughters would receive
3078-446: Was not even taken into consideration by his mother Isabella d'Este , nor by the archdeacon Alessandro di Gabbioneta, who considered it a sin to sacrifice the flourishing beauty of the young Federico to a "mature and ugly" woman like Bona. The latter, for her part, tried to make her face more graceful through jewelry and fabrics, but with little success, since "little or nothing has graced her." During her youth in Bari, Bona Sforza took
3135-457: Was soon visited by envoys of King Philip II of Spain , who attempted to convince her to give up the duchies of Bari and Rossano in favour of Habsburg Spain. However, Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba , the viceroy of Naples , feared a French attack and raised money for troops. Perhaps having ambitions of becoming a viceroy of Naples herself, Bona agreed to lend the Duke of Alba a huge sum of 430,000 ducats at 10% annual interest. The loan
3192-450: Was too strong and the plan failed. After Polish King Sigismund I the Old was widowed in October 1515, Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor , did not want Sigismund to marry another Habsburg opponent like his late wife, Barbara Zápolya . Therefore, the Emperor acted quickly and selected three suitable candidates for Sigismund: his granddaughter Eleanor of Austria , widowed Queen Joanna of Castile , and Bona Sforza. Although 36-year-old Joanna
3249-415: Was very large: 100,000 ducats, personal items worth 50,000 ducats and the Duchy of Bari . In exchange, Sigismund granted his future wife the towns of Nowy Korczyn , Wiślica , Żarnów , Radomsko , Jedlnia , Kozienice , Chęciny , and Inowrocław . Jan Konarski, Archbishop of Kraków , travelled to Bari to bring Bona to Poland. The wedding per procura took place on 6 December 1517 in Naples. Bona wore
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