The state of studies, elaborations and scientific postulates concerning the Teutonic Order Castle in Toruń
Journal Title: Archaeologia Historica Polona - Year 2011, Vol 19, Issue 0
Abstract
The interest in the Teutonic Order Castle in Toruń dates back as far as the beginning of Modern Times. Works originating from 17th, 18th and the beginning of 19th century concentrated on quoting the castle history, general facts and legends related to the object, first attempts to establish its erection chronology and spatial planning. First known attempt of the castle plan’s reconstruction as a rectangular body in a view surrounded by approaches and first, still amateur excavation works at the castle area conducted in the first half of 19th century by anonymous Prussian officer come from that period (about half of 17th century exactly). First serious elaboration touching the castle problem in a scientific manner was the work of Conrad Steinbrecht on mediaeval Toruń. The author dated the beginning of the object’s erection for the period before first Prussian uprising outbreak (1241) and reconstructed the main castle as a building set on a plan close to a rectangle with the main tower situated in the south-eastern corner. That false reconstruction, because of lack of archaeological studies’ results’ support had been commonly obligatory until undertaking archaeological-architectonic surveys in the 50’s of 20th century. Articles of Arthur Semrau from the beginning of 20th century are essential works. He occupied with the castle erection history, tried to reconstruct particular rooms and castle buildings’ situating. In accordance with this author the castle had been erected in the beginning of 2nd half of 13th century. The beginning of 20th century delivers also various kinds of guide-books and smaller subject works of Polish and German authors, including first of all C. Steinbrecht’s ascertainments applying to the castle look and various details of its history (among others: its siege and capture in the beginning of 13 year war). On Polish literature grounds it was Gwido Chmarzyński, who first took up in a scientific way the subject of Toruń castle. In his elaboration included in the work from 1933 published to commemorate 700 years of Toruń he repeated after C. Steinbrecht the ascertainments referring to the object’s lay-out, described sewage tower in details and noted oriental-Sicilian influences in the building. The end of the 20 years between the wars brought excavation works at the area of the castle, supervised by Jacek Delekta, which purpose was to explain several basic questions concerning the castle. Unfortunately, they were stopped by WW II outbreak and their documentation got destroyed during German occupation. After WW II, due to 500 years anniversary of signing II Torunian Peace Treaty the decision was made of ruble clearance in the castle and initiating archaeologicalarchitectonic works in order to explain problems of the castle’s beginning, supposed earlier settlement at the site and configuration of the oldest Teutonic fortress in Chełmno Land. As a result of exploration works carried out in 1958–1966 under supervision of Kazimierz Żurowski and Jadwiga Chudziakowa the castle ruins were revealed. It turned out, that it had been set on a horse-shoe plan with a huge octagonal main tower situated in the courtyard, not mentioned until that time. Moreover it was established, that before the castle’s building the place had been the site of Lusatian culture settlement, an open settlement and next another one dated for the Early Middle Ages. The research results were presented in the work of J. Chudziakowa and Andrzej Kola, as well as numerous articles of J. Chudziakowa. The studies mentioned above were also the basis for Jerzy Frycz’s elaboration, which presented new Toruń castle reconstruction as an irregular setting with grand octagonal tower. In the 2nd half of 20th century and the beginning of 21st century there appeared many elaborations touching the subject of Toruń castle. Many of them are of strictly historic character – they treat about various history aspects, with special attention turned to those ones placed in the first volume of Historia Torunia. [...]
Authors and Affiliations
Adam Chęć
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP140935
- DOI -
- Views 54
- Downloads 0
Lost mediaeval churches of Toruń
Mediaeval Toruń churches – St. Johns, Holy Virgin Mary and St. Jackob – due to their high artistic values were enrolled in 1998 into UNESCO World Heritage List. But for the fact that in 19th c they had been destroyed,...
Chełmińskie suburb in the light of archaeological studies
In the Middle Ages and Modern Times the area of site 114 was a part of the biggest Torunian Chełmińskie suburb, being crafts and economic back-up of the city. It housed, among others, slaughters, stalls, St. Laurence c...
St. Laurence place (Chełmińskie suburb) – road network and settlement before the first half of 17th c in the light of historic sources
One of the most precious territories for archaeological exploration on the outskirts of old Toruń is without doubt, the square of St. Laurence (separate until the end of 17th c), which can be at present identified with...
Przeobrażenia rzeźby i powierzchniowej budowy geologicznej dzielnicy Torunia – Mokre (Przedmieście Mokre) w czasach historycznych
Stan badań i opracowań oraz postulaty badawcze dotyczące zamku krzyżackiego w Toruniu