Roman Grodecki
Encyclopedia
Roman Grodecki was a Polish
economic historian, a professor at the Jagiellonian University
in Kraków, and a member of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Grodecki's scientific research centered around medieval Poland, particularly the history of Polish coinage
, monetary history
and monetary policy
under the Piast dynasty
. Although he wasn't a numismatic himself, Grodecki was widely read by coin collectors of his day, and he engaged in academic discussions and polemics with the noted Polish numismatic Marian Gumowski. In addition to economic history, Grodecki published works on the general history of medieval Poland, focusing on Polish diplomacy of the period, the history of Silesia
and the life of Duke Zbigniew
, the older brother of Bolesław III Wrymouth.
and Bochnia
. After completing a gymnasium
he enrolled at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, in 1907. He published his first, Książęca włość trzebnicka na tle organizacji majątków książęcych w Polsce w XII wieku, work in 1911, while still a student. This thesis became the basis for his doctorate, which he received a year later. Between 1914 and 1917 he served in the Polish Legions
. he finished his studies after World War I
, receiving his habilitation
in 1920.
In 1926 he became a part time member of the Polish Academy of Learning
. World War II
and the Nazi invasion of Poland interrupted the existence of the organization and as a consequence Grodecki did not become a full member of the academy until 1946.
, and most of whom later perished in Nazi concentration camps.
He spent most of the German occupation in Lwow. There he taught at the Underground University
(higher education for Poles was banned by the Germans).
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...
economic historian, a professor at the Jagiellonian University
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University was established in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kazimierz . It is the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world....
in Kraków, and a member of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Grodecki's scientific research centered around medieval Poland, particularly the history of Polish coinage
Coinage
Coinage may refer to:* coins, standardized as currency* neologism, coinage of a new word* COINage, numismatics magazine* Tin coinage, a tax on refined tin* ancestry* Coinage, a board game...
, monetary history
History of money
The history of money spans thousands of years. Numismatics is the scientific study of money and its history in all its varied forms.Many items have been used as commodity money such as natural scarce precious metals, cowry shells, barley, beads etc., as well as many other things that are thought of...
and monetary policy
Monetary policy
Monetary policy is the process by which the monetary authority of a country controls the supply of money, often targeting a rate of interest for the purpose of promoting economic growth and stability. The official goals usually include relatively stable prices and low unemployment...
under the Piast dynasty
Piast dynasty
The Piast dynasty was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. It began with the semi-legendary Piast Kołodziej . The first historical ruler was Duke Mieszko I . The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of king Casimir the Great...
. Although he wasn't a numismatic himself, Grodecki was widely read by coin collectors of his day, and he engaged in academic discussions and polemics with the noted Polish numismatic Marian Gumowski. In addition to economic history, Grodecki published works on the general history of medieval Poland, focusing on Polish diplomacy of the period, the history of Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
and the life of Duke Zbigniew
Zbigniew of Poland
Zbigniew , Duke of Poland from 1102 until 1107.-Early years:Zbigniew was the first-born son of Prince Władysław I Herman and Przecława, who apparently belonged to the Prawdzic clan...
, the older brother of Bolesław III Wrymouth.
Life
Gordecki was born in Rzeszów to Jan Grodecki, a tax official, and Karolina Gorylska. He spent his childhood in Głogów Małopolski and attended school in KolomyiaKolomyia
Kolomyia or Kolomyya, formerly known as Kolomea , is a city located on the Prut River in the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast , in western Ukraine. Serving as the administrative centre of the Kolomyia Raion , the city is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast...
and Bochnia
Bochnia
Bochnia is a town of 30,000 inhabitants on the river Raba in southern Poland. The town lies approximately in halfway [] between Tarnów and the regional capital Kraków . Bochnia is most noted for its salt mine, the oldest functioning in Europe, built circa 1248...
. After completing a gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
he enrolled at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, in 1907. He published his first, Książęca włość trzebnicka na tle organizacji majątków książęcych w Polsce w XII wieku, work in 1911, while still a student. This thesis became the basis for his doctorate, which he received a year later. Between 1914 and 1917 he served in the Polish Legions
Polish Legions in World War I
Polish Legions was the name of Polish armed forces created in August 1914 in Galicia. Thanks to the efforts of KSSN and the Polish members of the Austrian parliament, the unit became an independent formation of the Austro-Hungarian Army...
. he finished his studies after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, receiving his habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
in 1920.
In 1926 he became a part time member of the Polish Academy of Learning
Polish Academy of Learning
The Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences or Polish Academy of Learning , headquartered in Kraków, is one of two institutions in contemporary Poland having the nature of an academy of sciences....
. 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...
and the Nazi invasion of Poland interrupted the existence of the organization and as a consequence Grodecki did not become a full member of the academy until 1946.
World War II
At the outbreak of World War II, Grodecki was already fifty years old but nonetheless an officer of the Polish army reserves. During the mobilization of the first days of the war he left Kraków in order to join his unit. As a result he escaped the fate of many of his academic colleagues from the Jagiellonian University, who were arrested by the Germans during the Sonderaktion KrakauSonderaktion Krakau
Sonderaktion Krakau was the codename for a German operation against professors and academics from the University of Kraków and other Kraków universities at the beginning of World War II....
, and most of whom later perished in Nazi concentration camps.
He spent most of the German occupation in Lwow. There he taught at the Underground University
Education in Poland during World War II
This article covers the topic of underground education in Poland during World War II. Secret learning prepared new cadres for the post-war reconstruction of Poland and countered the German and Soviet threat to exterminate the Polish culture....
(higher education for Poles was banned by the Germans).
Major works
- Nieznane pieczęcie m. Krakowa (1912) ("Undiscovered coin stampsHammered coinageHammered coinage is the most common form of coins produced since the invention of coins in the first millennium BC until the early modern period of ca...
of Kraków") - Dzieje klasztoru premonstrateńskiego w Busku w wiekach średnich (1913) ("History of the PremonstratensianPremonstratensianThe Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines, or in Britain and Ireland as the White Canons , are a Catholic religious order of canons regular founded at Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert, who later became Archbishop of Magdeburg...
Abbey in BuskBusk, UkraineBusk is a city located in Busk Raion in Lviv Oblast of western Ukraine. The city's population was 8,896 as of the 2006 Ukrainian Census.It is administrative center of the Busk Raion....
during the Middle Ages") - Studya nad dziejami gospodarczymi Polski w XII wieku (1916) ("Studies in economic history of Poland of the 12th century")
- Dziesięcina mennicza w Polsce średniowiecznej (1918–1919) ("The monetary titheTitheA tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural products...
in medieval Poland") - Przyczynki do dziejów rolnictwa w Polsce średniowiecznej (1919) ("Development of agriculture in medieval Poland")
- Mincerze we wcześniejszym średniowieczu polskim (1921) ("Coin minters in early medieval Poland")
- Polityka mennicza książąt polskich w okresie piastowskim (1921) ("Monetary policy of Polish dukes during the Piast period")
- Przywilej menniczy biskupstwa poznańskiego z roku 1232 (1921) ("The monetary privilages of Poznan Bishops in 1232")
- Mistrz Wincenty Kadłubek, biskup krakowski (1923) ("The Master Wincenty Kadłubek, Bishop of Krakow")
- Dzieje Polski do roku 1194 (1926) ("History of Poland up to the year 1194")
- Dzieje Polski średniowiecznej (1926, with Stanisław Zachorowski and Jan Dąbrowski) ("History of medieval Poland")
- Dzieje Polski do roku 1386 (1928, in: "Polska, jej dzieje i kultura") ("History of Poland up to the year 1386")
- Dzieje polityczne Śląska do roku 1290 (1930) ("Political history of SilesiaSilesiaSilesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
up to the year 1290") - Dzieje zwierzchności menniczej w Polsce średniowiecznej (1930) ("History of monetary sovereignty in medieval Poland")
- Początki immunitetu w Polsce (1930)
- Kraków i ziemia krakowska (1934, with Kazimierz Lepszy and Józef Feldman)
- Kongres krakowski w roku 1364 (1939)
- Początki gospodarki folwarcznej w Polsce (1949)
- Sprawa św. Stanisława (1979)