Historical calendar: 20 January 1320 – act of coronation of Władysław Elbow

Historical calendar – anniversary of the coronation of Prince Władysław Łocket as King of Poland. The ceremony took place in the Kraków Cathedral and was celebrated by Archbishop Janisław.

Today in our calendar we will look at 1 of the key moments in the past of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland.

At the territory Breakdown Wawel became the object of tenders between rival princes for power. The period of political confusion ended with the regulation of Prince Władysław Łokiet (1306-1333), who had defeated the enemies occupied Kraków and held his residence on Wawel. After the unification of the Polish lands, with the approval of the Holy See, he crowned himself in the Wawel Cathedral.

Krakow was at that time a highly shaped centre of political life. Furthermore, the remains of St. Stanislaus, the patron of the Kingdom of Poland, rested in the city. Since the time of the alleged Statute of Krzywousty, Krakow has besides been associated with the pricypat. Here too, in Wawel Cathedral, regalia was stored, as well as St. Maurice's spear.

On 20 January 1320, at the old Romanesque cathedral in Wawel, renovated after the fire of the early 14th century, the coronation of Władysław Łocket and his wife Jadwiga, the Kalician Duchess, took place. It was the first documented royal coronation in Krakow.

“So erstwhile Sunday came, the celebration of St Fabian and Sebastian, all states and layers, the prelates and Polish masters went to Krakow. Archbishop of Gniezno Janisław during the solemn Mass of the Holy Spirit celebrated in the Krakow Cathedral, as well as Bishop of Kraków Muscata and Poznań Domarat and Abbots of Tyniec, Mogiln, Jędrzejów and Brzeska, in caps and infusions, and a large crowd of powerful masters and nobles anointing Prince Władysław Łokiet as king, and his wife Jadwiga, daughter of Duke of Poznań Bolesław, as queen.

He crowns them with royal crowns, which with apple, scepter and another royal insignia were besides transferred from Gniezno to Krakow. This day passed highly solemnly among the general joy. ... Since then, the Wawel Cathedral has received for the first time a distinguished privilege of crowning Polish kings, which it was to enjoy forever. ... The coronation of Polish kings and queens in Kraków Cathedral was besides decided in the future.”

Władysław Elkettek utilized to coronate insignias: crowns, scepters, apples and ceremonial swords called Szczerbce. Many historians believe that then a state flag was made with a white eagle mark on a purple background.

Jan Długosz recalled that the next day, after the coronation, “the king Władysław, clothed in royal form, came down with the prelates and masters to the city of Krakow to take up the throne prepared for him, and, having previously surrounded the city, accepted the tribute and oath of allegiance voluntarily made by the townspeople of Krakow.”

Elbow died on 2 March 1333 at the Royal Castle in Wawel. He was the first ruler of Poland to be buried in Wawel Cathedral, which has since become a royal necropolis.

Kraków besides officially became the coronation city of the kings of Poland (except for Stanisław Leszczyński and Stanisław August Poniatowski). The last coronation on Wawel – August III and Maria Józefa was held in 1734.

Previous entry from our calendar is available Here.