Seal of the Higher Court of German Law at the Krakow Castle
The Higher Court of German Law at the Krakow Castle was established in 1356 by King Casimir the Great (Kazimierz Wielki, 1310-1370) as the court of appeals of German law. The aim of the establishing The Higher Court was to make Polish courts independent of ruling and opinion by the juried courts of Magdeburg which was until this time the court of appeal in controversial matters. The jurisdiction of The Higher Court covered all royal cities, towns and villages as well as the cities, towns and villages subject to German law all over the country, but in reality it was limited to the province of Małopolska. This court played an important role as a class court for the owners of wójtostwa [original hereditary posts of superior persons within municipalities acting on behalf of the sovereign of the city] and sołectwa [village administrator’s offices]. Higher courts of German law were had their seats in the starost’s [governor of a castle and surrounding royal lands] castles of Małopolska, even if Krakow remained their only official seat. The Higher Court of German Law at the Krakow Castle ended its activity in 1791, when the Law on Cities came into being.
14th century
Iron
State Archive in Krakow, ref. no T 91