Casimir the Great is remembered as a great ruler of Poland. He was the last king of the Piast dynasty. His reign was extremely effective, and many people found employment in the construction of successive buildings. It is said that „he found Poland made of wood and left it made of stone.” Was this really the case? How should we interpret these words?
Childhood and Coronation of Casimir the Great
Casimir the Great was born on April 30, 1310, in Kujawy. His father was Duke Władysław the Elbow-high, and his mother was Jadwiga Bolesławówna. He had no brothers, so after his father assumed the crown, it was known that upon his death, he would become king.
He was excellently prepared for this task. He was introduced to the intricacies of diplomacy and governance. He also married Aldona – the daughter of the ruler of Lithuania. This marriage was intended to enter into another alliance favorable for Poland. He frequently visited the Hungarian court, and in 1331 he was appointed governor of Sieradz, Greater Poland, and Kujawy.
His coronation took place on April 25, 1333. From the very beginning of his reign, he had plenty of work. He was determined to achieve peace with neighbors. He began by concluding peace with Brandenburg (1333). The Congress of Visegrád (1339) also proved very fruitful for him. After intense negotiations with the Teutonic Order, he managed to avert conflict (1343) and the risk of another war outbreak.
The King’s Territorial Conquests
Casimir the Great was very involved in the conflict in Ruthenia. The expedition to Lviv (1340) proved successful, through which the king took control of Halych Ruthenia. This was only the beginning of eastward expansion. Casimir also managed to negotiate with the Teutonic Knights the return of Kujawy, the Dobrzyń and Michałów lands, and Pomerania.
Despite persistent efforts, however, he failed to recover Pomerania. It was a success to maintain this peace until 1409.
The subsequent conquests of Władysław the Elbow-high’s son were equally impressive. He recovered the Wschowa land, and events in Silesia led to conflict with Bohemia. He managed to maintain peace on all borders, which then allowed him to engage in Ruthenia, where he could boast significant territorial acquisitions.
Great Reforms of the Last Piast
Casimir the Great placed enormous emphasis on the internal development of the state. This is excellently demonstrated by the construction of defensive walls and castles. This is precisely why it is said that „he found Poland made of wood and left it made of stone.” This formulation can refer not only to buildings but also to the many reforms carried out by the ruler and his territorial conquests. During Casimir’s reign, many people found employment.
He was a supporter of founding new towns and villages. He supported Jewish and Armenian settlement, but also the hard work of merchants. Under his rule, lead mines and salt mines developed. He brought about monetary reforms and strengthened the position of the clergy and knighthood.
Casimir the Great brought about significant legal changes. The Kraków Academy was extremely important to him, and he issued a foundation privilege for it (1364). He cared about educating legal experts, and this is precisely what Poland’s first institution of higher learning dealt with.
Did Casimir the Great „Find Poland Made of Wood and Leave It Made of Stone”?
This well-known saying comes from the „Annals” of Jan Długosz. This is how the Kraków canon wrote about Casimir the Great: „Such great desire dwelt in him to glorify and enrich the Kingdom of Poland that he undertook very difficult and considerable expenses for the construction of stone churches, castles, cities, and manors, making every effort so that Poland, which he found made of clay, wood, and dirt, he would leave made of stone and give it great renown, which he indeed succeeded in doing. He also awakened in Poland among everyone enthusiasm for erecting stone buildings.”
Not all this information is accurate. It turns out that some of the mentioned buildings were foundations of previous rulers. Some of Casimir’s achievements were omitted, as we know from analyses and research conducted in this area. Historians managed to verify as many as 23 city walls and 60 castles erected during the reign of the king described here.
Among the famous achievements of the last ruler of the Piast dynasty is part of the Wawel Castle and several Gothic churches located in various places in Poland. It is difficult to determine specific numbers, but without doubt Casimir the Great significantly contributed to the expansion of the country. He was considered an excellent ruler who cared for his state and its inhabitants.
Selected Bibliography
- Klubówna A., Kazimierz Wielki, Warsaw 1967.
- Wyrozumski J., Kazimierz Wielki, Wrocław 1986.
