Brodnica Poland description, location, history. Poland map.

Brodnica Poland description, location, history. Poland map.

Brodnica is a town and and a commune in Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship (Province), Brodnica Poviat (second-level admin. unit) located on the both sides of the Drwęca River.

The first reference to the settlement known as Straisberg, which was burnt down by Yotvingians (one of the extinct Baltic Baltic tribes), appears in 1263 in the chronicle of Peter from Dusburg. The second information about the attack of the Lithuanians on Brodnica settlement comes from 1298.

Brodnica was granted town rights before 1298.

The first record of Brodnica as "civitas" - the town granted municipal charter under Magdeburg law - dates back to 1317. In 1320, a double stone wall started to be built around the town; it was finished, along with two main gates - Mazurska and Chełmińska (also known as Kamienna), in 1370.

During the 14th century the town developed economically. It grew mainly thanks to the numerous privileges, granted lands and its location on the intersection of the trade routes.

It became a dynamic centre of trade and craft. Military and economic significance of the town was a result of its location on the border.

During the turbulent years of the Polish-Teutonic wars in the first half of the 15th century, Brodnica and the Miachałowska Land founded themselves under the Polish rule a number of times.

The second period of development was connected with Anna Wazówna who, as a Protestant, could not stay on the court of the ultracatholic brother of Sigismund III. Queen Anna took charge of the Brodnica district in 1605 and lived there until her death in 1625.

After her death, Brodnica experienced a period of decay. The town was devastated by a number of wars and religious conflicts as well as plagues and fires.

The outbreak of World War I renewed the citizens' aspirations for independence. Brodnica again became a Polish town in 1920 by virtue of the Treaty of Versailles.