Losice
Encyclopedia
Łosice AUD is a town in eastern Poland
. It is situated in Masovian Voivodeship
(since 1999); previously it was in Biała Podlaska Voivodeship (1975-1998). It is currently the seat of Łosice County.
issued by King Aleksander Jagiellończyk in Radom
on May 10, 1505; thus releasing Łosice from under the Ruthenian and Lithuanian city laws, and giving it more progressive Magdeburg rights
. Private judiciary was revoked enabling the inhabitants to form a municipal government with mayor and city council. The Privileges allowed also for weekly markets and four fairs a year at a more convenient location; and, proposed the establishment of a town hall.
By 1551, there were two Orthodox churches, and two Roman Catholic church
es in Łosice founded and endowed by King Sigismund I
. Throughout the 16th century the town enjoyed a period of economic development, with most inhabitants living of trade in leather, furs, and salt; as well as crafts, and a variety of services. According to 1580 registry, there were 47 carpenters, 32 tailors, 20 bakers, 10 butchers, 7 stove fitters, and 4 blacksmiths in the town, not to mention millers, a locksmith, a goldsmith and a weaver. Nearly a complete destruction of Łosice came during the Swedish Deluge in 1655-1660. Only in the second half of the 18th century, the town began to gradually recover.
After the Third partition of Poland
Łosice fell under the Austrian rule. Later, as a result of the Treaty of Vienna in 1815, it came under the rule of the Tsar of Russia. During the November Uprising
a Polish battalion of Colonel Raczyński formed in the town with many local residents. Before and during the January Uprising
against the Russian rulership, local doctor Władysław Czarkowski led the unit of several hundred conspirators on attack against the garrisons. After the Uprising's defeat, the invader brought reprisals against the Polish population. Łosice had been deprived of the Roman Catholic parish, and in 1867 lost its civic rights. The process of Russification intensified right until the liberation of Poland.
The biggest attraction in Łosice is a recreational reservoir, situated near the city center and the train station. In summer, there is a concession there as well as, kayak-and-water-bike rentals. The complex is located near the city park, built at the site of the former Jewish cemetery which was destroyed by the Nazis during World War II
. The cemetery was established in 1690 under the privilege granted by King Jan III Sobieski. The collection of tombstones put on display, is the largest collection of Jewish sacral art in southern Podlasie region. The oldest stonework dates back to the first half of the 19th century.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. It is situated in Masovian Voivodeship
Masovian Voivodeship
-Administrative division:Masovian Voivodeship is divided into 42 counties : 5 city counties and 37 "land counties"...
(since 1999); previously it was in Biała Podlaska Voivodeship (1975-1998). It is currently the seat of Łosice County.
Historical Overview
Łosice was first mentioned in 1264 as a medieval settlement from around 11th – 13th centuries; situated near the village of Dzięcioły. However, the location prevented the town's further development and in late 15th and 16th century, the community was moved to Łosice's present location. The first documented history of the town is preserved in the PrivilegesTown privileges
Town privileges or city rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium.Judicially, a town was distinguished from the surrounding land by means of a charter from the ruling monarch that defined its privileges and laws. Common privileges were related to trading...
issued by King Aleksander Jagiellończyk in Radom
Radom
Radom is a city in central Poland with 223,397 inhabitants . It is located on the Mleczna River in the Masovian Voivodeship , having previously been the capital of Radom Voivodeship ; 100 km south of Poland's capital, Warsaw.It is home to the biennial Radom Air Show, the largest and...
on May 10, 1505; thus releasing Łosice from under the Ruthenian and Lithuanian city laws, and giving it more progressive Magdeburg rights
Magdeburg rights
Magdeburg Rights or Magdeburg Law were a set of German town laws regulating the degree of internal autonomy within cities and villages granted by a local ruler. Modelled and named after the laws of the German city of Magdeburg and developed during many centuries of the Holy Roman Empire, it was...
. Private judiciary was revoked enabling the inhabitants to form a municipal government with mayor and city council. The Privileges allowed also for weekly markets and four fairs a year at a more convenient location; and, proposed the establishment of a town hall.
By 1551, there were two Orthodox churches, and two Roman Catholic church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
es in Łosice founded and endowed by King Sigismund I
Sigismund I
Sigismund I may refer to:*Sigismund of Burgundy , King of the Burgundians*Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor *Sigismund, Archduke of Austria *Sigismund of Bavaria , Duke of Bavaria...
. Throughout the 16th century the town enjoyed a period of economic development, with most inhabitants living of trade in leather, furs, and salt; as well as crafts, and a variety of services. According to 1580 registry, there were 47 carpenters, 32 tailors, 20 bakers, 10 butchers, 7 stove fitters, and 4 blacksmiths in the town, not to mention millers, a locksmith, a goldsmith and a weaver. Nearly a complete destruction of Łosice came during the Swedish Deluge in 1655-1660. Only in the second half of the 18th century, the town began to gradually recover.
After the Third partition of Poland
Third Partition of Poland
The Third Partition of Poland or Third Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in 1795 as the third and last of three partitions that ended the existence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.-Background:...
Łosice fell under the Austrian rule. Later, as a result of the Treaty of Vienna in 1815, it came under the rule of the Tsar of Russia. During the November Uprising
November Uprising
The November Uprising , Polish–Russian War 1830–31 also known as the Cadet Revolution, was an armed rebellion in the heartland of partitioned Poland against the Russian Empire. The uprising began on 29 November 1830 in Warsaw when the young Polish officers from the local Army of the Congress...
a Polish battalion of Colonel Raczyński formed in the town with many local residents. Before and during the January Uprising
January Uprising
The January Uprising was an uprising in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth against the Russian Empire...
against the Russian rulership, local doctor Władysław Czarkowski led the unit of several hundred conspirators on attack against the garrisons. After the Uprising's defeat, the invader brought reprisals against the Polish population. Łosice had been deprived of the Roman Catholic parish, and in 1867 lost its civic rights. The process of Russification intensified right until the liberation of Poland.
Points of interest
- Neo-Gothic parish church of St. Zygmunt, built between 1906-1909
- Former convent of Communion priests, rebuilt as hospital
- Neo-Gothic cemetery chapel of St. Stanisław from 1845
- Baroque roadside statue erected in 1775
- Monument to Children of Zamojszczyzna who died in Łosice during the Nazi German kidnaping raid of 1943, located at the local cemetery
- Parish church in Niemojki of 1783
The biggest attraction in Łosice is a recreational reservoir, situated near the city center and the train station. In summer, there is a concession there as well as, kayak-and-water-bike rentals. The complex is located near the city park, built at the site of the former Jewish cemetery which was destroyed by the Nazis during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The cemetery was established in 1690 under the privilege granted by King Jan III Sobieski. The collection of tombstones put on display, is the largest collection of Jewish sacral art in southern Podlasie region. The oldest stonework dates back to the first half of the 19th century.