An old Lesser Polish castellany seat first named in 1117, at the meeting of the Soła and the Vistula, given to Mieszko in 1177 (or about 1179).
Its town charter comes about 1272.
Who holds it
- Name
- Duke Mieszko Tanglefoot, through his castellan
- Title
- Lord
- Confidence
- medium
Lord in 1200
Duke Mieszko Tanglefoot, through his castellan
How things stand that morning
Held by Mieszko; claimed by Kraków's lords.
Charter
No town charter and no German town law in 1200: a ducal castle (gród) with a market settlement (suburbium) under the castellan's court and Polish law.
Council
None. The castellan or the duke's officers judge and collect dues.
Communities
Polish castle folk, craftsmen and traders; no foreign community pinned for 1200.
Militia
None as a town; the castle folk and the knights of the district.
Walls and castle
Castle; no town wall.
Trade and crafts
Vistula crossing and river traffic.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: The castle is attested; its market settlement in 1200 is inferred from the castle-district pattern.
Primary sources for Racibórz (Mieszko Tanglefoot)
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.