Culm is first named in 1065, in Bolesław II's charter for Mogilno; an 11th-century basilica and a large settlement have been found on St Lawrence's hill near Kałdus, about 3 km south-west of the old town (de.wikipedia).
In 1200 it is the Masovian castle and settlement at the head of the Chełmno castellany, guarding the north against the Pomesanian Prussians. The Prussians destroy the castle in 1216; the Teutonic Order founds a new town with Kulm law in 1232-1233 a few kilometres away and moves it to the present site about 1245/50. Not a chartered town in 1200.
Who holds it
- Name
- Konrad (under his mother Helen's regency); castellan not named for 1200
- Title
- duke, through his castellan
- Since
- 1194
- Born
- about 1187/1188
- Family
- see Masovia and Kuyavia
- Confidence
- medium
Wikipedia (de): Chełmno; Wikipedia (de): Kulmer Land
Lord in 1200
The duke through his castellan of Chełmno (not named for 1200).
How things stand that morning
Held for Konrad; castle standing; no raid recorded that winter.
Charter
None in 1200: a ducal castle (gród) with a market settlement (podgrodzie) under Polish law, not a chartered town.
Council
None: the castellan and the duke's officers govern the settlement.
Communities
Slav and Baltic settlers; clergy.
Fairs and markets
Not pinned; a weekly market under the castle by Polish custom.
Militia
The castle levy; the settlement's men serve under the castellan.
Walls and castle
Earth-and-timber castle (its exact site in 1200 is debated).
Trade and crafts
Vistula trade and the frontier exchange with the Prussians (amber, furs).
What the year holds
What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.
- 1216 (after this year)Prussian raid destroys the castle.Depends on: Prussian war Stopped by: a strong frontier
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: de.wikipedia Chełmno and Kulmer Land.
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
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.