The Socio-economic Position of Testators

Abstract

In the 1420s, the Bishop of Poznan, Stanisław Ciołek, wrote the following, in a song of praise to Krakow: “City of Krakow, your citizens united” (Cracovia civitas, Te civium unitas).1 Later, an anonymous fifteenth-century preacher added that if burghers did not create unity, they should not be called burghers, but rather peasants, arguing that Christ, as a burgher himself, greatly valued unitas.2 This ideal of unity among the citizenry was also commonly found among the members of the urban municipality, especially in regards to outside groups or foreign influences – both inside and outside the city walls. When correspondence was exchanged or negotiations conducted with other cities, and when homage was paid to the majesty of the royal power, the Krakow community spoke formally with one voice. For example, in 1425 the city swore an oath of allegiance to King Władysław Jagiełło which begins Nos consules et tota civitas Cracoviensis...3 Yet differences of social and financial position, occupation, ethnicity, family line, place of origin and cultural capital were visible almost everywhere. These differences defined the needs and opportunities of the city’s inhabitants, and thus their social and religious practices, as well. In a community, various factors affect the unity and sense of collective identity of its members. The first of these is certainly the feeling of power that derives from belonging to this community. The bigger, richer and stronger the community, the greater and stronger this feeling becomes. Belonging is here a