DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25050#0045
13. Marcin Marciniec, St Stanislaus’ head reliquary, 1504
One element of Cracow’s growth was its status as capital,
which it held for several centuries. The permanent seat of the
ruler, and the focus of all important state affairs, the city enjoyed
special privileges, attracted more population and had its economic
role secured. After the union with Lithuania, Cracow’s location on
the edge of the reshaped nation impaired its performance as
capital. Cracow was particularly inconvenient as a seat of the Sejm
(Parliament), so the sessions were usually held in Piotrkow until
1569, when the Union of Lublin Act designated Warsaw as the
seat of a joint parliament of the two nations. New central state
institutions founded in the sixteenth century were located away
from Cracow, and none of the royal elections took place here.
42
One element of Cracow’s growth was its status as capital,
which it held for several centuries. The permanent seat of the
ruler, and the focus of all important state affairs, the city enjoyed
special privileges, attracted more population and had its economic
role secured. After the union with Lithuania, Cracow’s location on
the edge of the reshaped nation impaired its performance as
capital. Cracow was particularly inconvenient as a seat of the Sejm
(Parliament), so the sessions were usually held in Piotrkow until
1569, when the Union of Lublin Act designated Warsaw as the
seat of a joint parliament of the two nations. New central state
institutions founded in the sixteenth century were located away
from Cracow, and none of the royal elections took place here.
42