Ceremonie na ratuszu krakowskim w XV–XVIII wieku

Kraków’s town hall served as a pivotal center for political influence and social communication during the 15th to 18th centuries, acting as both a stage for official ceremonies and a symbolic barrier between municipal authorities and citizens. The study reveals that these ceremonies, including council elections and royal homages, allowed Kraków to project its significance even after the royal court moved to Warsaw, while also reinforcing the city’s autonomy within Poland’s elite circles. Historical records, primarily ledgers, highlight the town hall’s dual role: promoting Kraków’s prestige through elaborate events while simultaneously maintaining a hierarchical distance from ordinary residents. The square before the town hall functioned as a 'municipal theatre,' underscoring its importance in shaping the city’s extroverted collective life and political dynamics.

Wyżga, M. (2014). Ceremonie na ratuszu krakowskim w XV–XVIII wieku. Roczniki Dziejów Społecznych I Gospodarczych, 74, 139. https://doi.org/10.12775/rdsg.2014.07