The Beginning of Wawel's Royal History

Wawel Hill has always dominated the landscape of Cracow. Almost from the very beginnings of the Polish state, it served as its political center. It's therefore hardly surprising that the Polish ruler Władysław the Elbow-high chose Wawel Cathedral as the site of his coronation in 1320.

It's worth noting that the ruler's nickname stemmed from his rather modest height – "elbow" was a unit of measurement, and admittedly, he didn't have many. Nevertheless, he ushered in a new era in Wawel's history. From then on, almost all Polish monarchs were crowned and buried at Wawel Cathedral.

Royal Tombs and Medieval Symbolism

Visiting Wawel Cathedral and admiring the royal tombstones allows for a better understanding of how artistic styles changed. It also offers a unique opportunity to immerse ourselves in the strange medieval symbolism, often obscured by modern times.

Examples of such symbolism include the fantastical and real animals that rest beneath the feet of sculpted images of monarchs. Today, for example, it is impossible to say with any certainty what the menacing-looking dragon resting beneath the feet of the Polish King Władysław Jagiełło signifies.

The Mysterious "Dragon Bones"

Continuing on the topic of dragons, it's worth noting that at the entrance to the Cathedral are "dragon bones." Of course, we're not trying to convince anyone that a fire-breathing beast actually existed. However, it should be assumed that our ancestors interpreted the remains of Ice Age animals discovered in the Cracow area as the bones of a terrifying reptile.

Sigismund the Old and Wawel's Golden Age

A very important ruler for the history of Wawel Hill is Sigismund I, known as the Old. It's worth explaining where this nickname comes from. The king actually lived to a very old age for his time (he died at over eighty). But this was not the main reason for giving him this nickname.

The main reason was the coronation of his only son, also named Sigismund, while his father was still alive (which, incidentally, happened only once in Polish history). So, technically, we had an "old king" and a "young king," hence the nickname "old."

It was this monarch who is largely responsible for the present appearance of Wawel Castle. The residence was rebuilt in the first half of the 16th century in the Italian Renaissance style. And it was during his reign that the castle experienced its golden age.

Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever.

The Vasas and the Move to Warsaw

The following years were not so favorable for the royal residence on Wawel Hill. Suffice it to say that just 50 years after King Sigismund's death, another monarch of the same name, this time from the Swedish Vasa family, moved his residence to Warsaw.

It's worth explaining two issues at this point. First, how Swedish kings came to be on the Polish throne. To understand this, knowledge of Polish politics at the end of the 16th century is essential. When King Sigismund II died childless, a new method of electing kings was introduced, almost similar to modern elections. Since Sigismund III Vasa's mother was the daughter of Sigismund I, he was considered the natural candidate for the Polish throne. And so, the Swedish king ascended the Polish throne.

The Fire at Wawel Castle

The second issue is the still-popular myth that the king himself set fire to his Wawel castle while conducting alchemical experiments (which, by the way, he actually conducted with his "professional alchemist"), forcing him to relocate.

This myth has been debunked, but it doesn't change the fact that part of the castle was actually engulfed in flames. And it was then rebuilt in a different Baroque style, which we can clearly see when visiting the Wawel halls today.

The End of the Royal Era

After years of glory, Wawel Hill lost its importance, but fortunately, the most important element of its royal splendor was not deprived. It was there almost until the end of the First Polish Republic (1795 and the Third Partition of Poland ended its existence for over 120 years).

As I mentioned earlier, until 1734, that is, almost until the very end, royal coronations and burials took place at Wawel Hill, specifically in Wawel Cathedral, making this beautiful church the most important Polish church to this day.

Wawel Under Austrian Rule

So what happened on Wawel Rock when the kings disappeared? Well, things weren't going so well. For almost the entire 19th century, Kraków, and therefore Wawel, were part of the Austrian Empire, and later the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

It was the new "rulers" of Wawel who decided to turn Cracow into a fortress, which involved housing soldiers in the former royal halls. Needless to say, this was not beneficial for our castle. Many elements of the former, magnificent architecture were lost, replaced by simple solutions.

Fortunately, after World War I, thanks to the generosity of many individuals and institutions, and at enormous financial cost, the former royal residence was restored to its previous glory, ushering in a completely new era in its history. A time when the castle serves as a museum.

The Darkest Chapter in Wawel's History

When recalling the Castle's history, it's impossible to ignore the darkest period in its past: the Nazi occupation. The former royal seat was chosen by Nazi dignitary Hans Frank as his residence, where he lived with his family. This was a time when the swastika flag, hated by Cracow residents, flew atop the hill.

Wawel Today

After 1945, the castle was revived as a museum, and remains so to this day.

Therefore, I can only invite everyone on a journey through history to learn about the lives of Polish rulers, royal scandals, and understand why Wawel remains such a special place for Poles to this day.