The archbishops of Gniezno are Poland's greatest church landlords.
Innocent II's bull of 7 July 1136 confirmed their estates, among them the castellany of Łowicz on the Masovian border, Żnin with 29 villages in the Pałuki, and Uniejów on the Warta, an archiepiscopal residence. These are lordships over villages, strongholds and their people, but the dukes still take dues and services from them: full immunity comes only with the privileges of 1210-15. Henryk Kietlicz, archbishop since 1199, means to win it.
Who holds it
- Name
- Henryk Kietlicz
- Title
- Archbishop of Gniezno, metropolitan of Poland
- Since
- 1199 (elected 1198 or 1199)
- Confidence
- high
Born about 1150 into a family from Bohemia that moved to Silesia and then Poland; earlier an administrator for Mieszko III. A reformer of Innocent's school: clerical celibacy, clergy free of lay courts, free election of bishops. His great clashes with the dukes, and the immunity he wins at Borzykowa in 1210, are still ahead. Dies 22 March 1219.
What it holds
- Łowicz: castellany and stronghold on the Bzura, on the Masovian border (1136 bull)
- Żnin and 29 villages in the Pałuki (1136 bull)
- Uniejów on the Warta, an archbishops' residence since the 12th century (1136 bull)
- Scattered villages and tithes across Greater Poland, Kujawy and Masovia (not drawn)
How it was acquired
Ducal grants of the 11th and 12th centuries, confirmed by the bull of 1136. The dukes confirmed the archbishops' ownership of Łowicz, with immunity, only in 1214-15.
How things stand that morning
Held, with the usual ducal burdens. Kietlicz is new in the see and has not yet broken with any duke.
Wealth
Land rents and labour, markets and river crossings on the Bzura and the Warta; Żnin lies on the trade road from Silesia to Gdańsk.
Threats
- Ducal dues, services and jurisdiction on church land
- The war for the seniorate between Mieszko III and the Lesser Poland lords
Advocates and rivals
The dukes: Mieszko III the Old in Greater Poland, and the sons of Casimir II in Masovia and Kujawy, who still levy dues and services on church land.
Places of note
- Łowicz stronghold: Castellany seat; the brick castle comes only about 1355
- Żnin: Archbishop's town of the Pałuki
- Uniejów: Archbishops' residence on the Warta
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: The 1136 bull is solid for the names of the holdings (Wikipedia on Łowicz, Żnin, Uniejów). The bounds of each castellany in 1200 are not pinned; they are drawn as modern communes.
On the map: Communes stand in for castellanies whose 1200 bounds are unknown. The archbishop's many other villages are not drawn.
Primary sources for Masovia and Kuyavia
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- Chronicle of the Poles, by Master Vincent (Wincenty Kadłubek), Wincenty Kadłubek (about 1190 to 1208). Book 4 is a contemporary's account of the fight for the senior throne of Kraków. Read online
- The annals of the Kraków chapter and the other Polish annals (kept from the 11th century; the Kraków chapter annals continued to 1266). Short dated entries that fix the chronology Kadłubek blurs: the deaths of dukes and bishops, Mieszko the Old's captures of Kraków, Prussian raids on Masovia, church consecrations. Read online
Sources and studies
- Łowicz (en.wikipedia)
- Żnin (en.wikipedia)
- Uniejów (en.wikipedia)
- Henryk Kietlicz (en.wikipedia)
- Bull of Gniezno (en.wikipedia)
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.