Brief History of Warsaw Capital of Poland

by Weronika Pawlikowska & Jakub Mastalerz

Legendary beginnings of the city: „Mermaid story” and „Wars and Sawa story”

According to the legend, a mermaid swimming in the sea stopped on the riverbank near the Old Town to rest. She found the place so beautiful that she decided to stay. A local fisherman saw her singing, and fell in love but a rich merchant trapped the mermaid and imprisoned her. The young fisherman heard the mermaid’s cry and released her. The mermaid offered the fisherman her help whenever he needs it. Ever since, the mermaid, armed with a sword and shield, is ready to protect the city and its residents.

The other legend explains the origin of the city name. There was a fisherman named Wars living with his wife called Sawa. They were so generous, hospitable and helpful to other people that settlement was named after their names – WARSZAWA.

Beginnings of the city

Officially Warsaw became a city in the XIII century.

At first Warsaw wasn’t an important city, but in 1596 Polish King Zygmunt III Waza moved the capital from Cracow to Warsaw, because of its strategical position

in the center of the country. Warsaw started to be the seat of a royal residence, the city kept on

developing and had a significant population growth.

XVIIth century - The Swedish Deluge and other wars

After prosperous time, there came a very difficult

period in the history of the city. Between 1655 and 1658, Warsaw was attacked three times and it was occupied by Swedish and Transylvanian armies.

These tragical years and all the invasions made city destruction and the loss of many cultural treasures.

After the King Jan III Sobieski election, known as the Warrior King - Warsaw became a strong economical and cultural city. A beautiful Wilanów Palace was built at that time, Krasiński Palace and also some magnificent churches in the New and Old Town: Sakramentek Church, Kapucynów Church, Karmelitów Church.

Wilanów Palace

Krasiński Palace Karmelici Church

Elements of the Royal Castle destroyed by Swedish

XVII-XVIII century Warsaw at Saxon Times and Warsaw „golden time” under the rule of Stanisław August Poniatowski

The Saxon Times were not the happiest period for

Poland, but it was great time for Warsaw. During this time, the Saxon Axis, a massive baroque urban plan of Warsaw was designed. Athough it was never completed, contributed to the large development of urban architecture. The Saxon Palace, the Saxon Gardens, and also the first public library in Warsaw, founded by the Załuscy brothers, were all built there.

At the end of XVIII century Warsaw was the political, economical, commercial and industrial centre of the country. Famous architects created wonderful monuments for the city, like the Royal Place of Łazienki and the National Theatre - the first permanent professional Polish theatre.

During the years of Russian occupation Warsaw stayed the centre of national life. People started to create patriotic organisations which had their habitat in the city.

Warsaw started to be a place of political independence and revolutions.

XIX th century – Poland under partitions Warsaw - the center of national life

1st World War and ’’The Miracle on the Vistula”

For Poland the 1st World War was a chance of becoming once more an independent country. The Poles chose the Entente side, because they believed they would be freed if they helped in war. That was the beginning of 2nd Polish Republic. The most important battle for Poland was „the Miracle on the Vistula”, where Warsaw was successfully defended from the Bolshevik army. Polish troops, led to the victory by Marshal Piłsudski, stopped the Red Army’s march to the western Europe.

’’The Miracle on the Vistula” – painting by Jerzy Kossak

November Uprising, street battles in Warsaw

Warsaw 1918- 1939 - development of the metropolis

The 1920s were a difficult time in the reconstruction of the Polish state, but by the 1930s, Warsaw was a very beautiful and fashionable capital city, known as 'The Paris of the North'. The city had also a wonderful, modern architecture. On Napoleon Square stood the city's first 'skyscraper', a 16-floor building which was the highest in the country. The construction of the main railway station began – it was one of the most modern stations in Europe at the time. Streets were covered with asphalt and a new airport was built in Okęcie. In 1938 the first

television transmitter was placed on the roof of the Prudential building.

2nd World War

Poland had its independance for only 20 years. After this it was invaded by the Nazis. Poland was conquered quite fast. The first attack was from the sea, on the Westerplatte peninsula on 1st of September 1939. The Warsaw was attacked on 9th of September, and defended itself until 28th.

In 1944 Warsaw was under Nazis occupation. The Poles were treated like slaves and were massively killed. The anger was so big that the uprising began. It started on 1st of August. Varsovians thought that the uprising would take up to three days, because the Soviet army was coming from the east. The Poles were winning for the first few days, but they were worse equipped and less numerous. Unfortunately the Soviets stopped on the other side of the river, and waited for the uprising to fall. It took 63 days. After this, nearly the whole city was destroyed and left by the Nazis and the Soviets entered Warsaw without much fight. .

Warsaw Uprising Prudential builting hit from a mortar

Statue of the kids in the Uprising

Ruins of Warsaw

Poland and Communism of XXth century

Warsaw 1945-1989 After the war the system of socialism prevailed, as well as the reconstruction of the country and its capital city. The restoration of Warsaw took place under the slogan „The whole nation is building its capital”. The following decades were times of political transition and hard living of all Poles as well as Warsaw citizens. Then came the strong economic crisis and times of strikes when people started to fight for their dignity and democracy.

Warsaw nowadays Now Warsaw is a big, fast growing city with about 1,7 million of citizens. Warsaw has a modern city center with skyscrapers. The capital is also one of „the greenest” cities in the EU. It has over 100 parks and nature reserves.