Rozwój przestrzenny Elbląga w średniowieczu i okresie wczesnonowożytnym

Abstract

The establishment of Elbląg in 1237 by the Teutonic Knights was associated with the military and political activities of the Order, while leading Christianisation in Prussia but also military action, initiated the creation of its own state. The construction of the castle and the new town situated next to it began on a so-called greenfield site. The town was surrounded by suburbs, and on the opposite bank of the river Granary Island was located. In the period 1331–1341, the New Town was created. The connection of all the elements of this complex occurred in 1478, creating a unified settlement complex known as Old Town Elbląg. The trapezoidal plan of the town was defined by earthen fortifications, and since the end of the 14th-century stone and brick walls, with the main axis – Old Market Street and six streets perpendicular to it formed the intra muros space. An administrative and cult centre was established and rectangular building blocks were filled with plots. The oldest buildings were concentrated in the central part of the town, amongst the streets leading to the river and gradually moved to the east and west. Within the suburbs surrounding Elbląg (port, northern, eastern and southern ones), a port and equipment for its operation, craft workshops, warehouses and equipment related to trade was located. The demolition of the Teutonic Knights’ castle and the changing political situation in the second half of the 15th and early 16th century resulted in attention being drawn to Elbląg’s fortifications. At the end of the 16th century, in the area of the eastern suburb the construction of the first elements of bastion fortifications began. Hence, older buildings were demolished, amongst others, St James’ church. In the first half of the 17th century, he Old Town with the suburbs and Granary Island was surrounded by a powerful system of bastion fortifications in the Old Dutch system. This resulted in spatial changes within the suburbs, where the buildings began to move further away from the town centre. In 1773, a decision was made to demolish the town’s fortifications and to create a new centre with a market square and town hall on the east side of the Old Town.