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History of Krakow Early middleages 966 - 1370 Krakow is capital of Poland The Golden Age 1386 - 1572 the times of the Renaissance Electing Kingsm, Dividing the country 1572 - 1795 Poland disappears from the map K&K Monarchy 1795 - 1918 The Habsburg's Reich third largest city First and Second World War 1914 - 1945 A short period of democray, then the terror of the Nazis Socialism 1945 - 1989 Years of stagnation before the final upheaval After the Iron Curtain 1989 until today Difficulties with a new economy

Electing Kings, Dividing the country The discontinuity in rulership that - the crown is not hereditary - is reflected in a weak position of Poland towards the surrounding powers. One of the elected kings, of Swedisch origin, makes Warsaw his residence. Krakow is on the decline. From 1655-1657 and again in 1702 the city is being looted by the Swedish army and hearvily damaged. A few years earlier the plague had ravaged the country. Krakow's population was only half the population a hundred years before. During the 18th century Poland becomes a pin ball in the power game of the European super powers. Krakow is a minor city of very little importance. In 1772 Prussia, Austria and Russia agree upon spitting up Poland among them. And when 1791 the Polish parliament tried to establish a democratic constitution inspired by the French Revolution, the super powers split Poland just one more time. An upheavel lead by the later national heroe Kosciuszko fails. When the super powers split Poland for a third time Krakow becomes part of the Austrian Empire. Under the rule of >> rule of Habsburg Krakow blossoms up. .

Krakow City Guide | Orientation | Sightseeing | Going Out | Accommodation | E-mail