Frontier town · Duchy of Masovia · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Wizna

Castle on the Narew watching the eastern border of Masovia and a river crossing since the 11th century, seat of a castellan since the mid-12th century (en.wikipedia), facing the Yotvingians beyond the Biebrza.

A frontier castle with a small settlement, 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 (en): Wizna

Lord in 1200

The duke through his castellan (not named for 1200).

How things stand that morning

Held for Konrad; 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

Polish settlers and the garrison.

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

Frontier castle of earth and timber on the Narew.

Trade and crafts

The Narew crossing; furs and goods from the Yotvingian and Rus' side.

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: en.wikipedia Wizna.

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.

Sources and studies

  1. Wikipedia (en): Wizna

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.