The foundation charter
You can see a copy of the foundation charter, which is a document describing rules governing the city. Unfold the document and look closely at its extracts.
Table of contents
1. In the name of our Lord, Amen! […] we, Przemysł and Bolesław, brothers by birth, by the grace of God dukes of Poland […] hereby bestow the esteemed man, Tomasz, and his descendants the city commonly known as Poznań so that it can be founded under the German law.
2. We hereby grant the river called Warta […], along one mile and along both banks, with all benefits including fishing and building mills, to the city’s citizens for perpetual ownership.
3. May they enjoy the Magdeburg Law […]. We allow no one to take part in a court trial presided by the aforementioned commune administrator and his citizens that is held in our name […]. The city is to enjoy complete freedom.
4. We also allow citizens, with the permission of the aforementioned Boguchwał, the bishop of Poznań, to build a church in the city.
5. Should there be a [military] campaign into foreign lands, the citizens are exempt from service […] To provide the city with protection, we promised its citizens to appoint and pay with our own money for four watchmen and two crossbowmen whose task will be to protect the city.
6. What is more, we allow the citizens to cut trees in the forests, both within the city’s borders and beyond, for building houses and for other purposes, without any fear of punishment.
7. This took place in Poznań in 1253 AD.