Published: 2026-06-11

LEGAL CHARACTERISTICS, APPEARANCE, ECONOMY AND ADMINISTRATION OF WIŁKOWYSZKI IN THE POLISH-LITHUANIAN COMMONWEALTH

Tomasz Naruszewicz
Civitas et Lex
Section: History
https://doi.org/10.31648/cetl.12376

Abstract

The town of Vilkaviškis was founded in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania when it belonged to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. For most of the time in question, it was located in Kaunas County and Trakai Voivodeship. A church and a synagogue were built here around 1620. Over time, a town developed. Vilkaviškis was granted some kind of municipal privilege by King John Casimir, possibly in 1660. Vilkaviškis became a town with Magdeburg rights in 1697. This right was confirmed by King Poniatowski on December 9, 1791. The town had a multi-ethnic character. They lived here, among others: Jews, Lithuanians, Poles, Ruthenians. There were representatives of city authorities, such as commune heads and mayors. The largest group were Jews, whose community was led by rabbis, teachers, etc. The Vilkaviškis coat of arms included a lily on a blue field.

Keywords:

Wiłkowyszki [Vilkaviškis], city, urban economy, administration, legal characteristics

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Citation rules

Naruszewicz, T. (2026). LEGAL CHARACTERISTICS, APPEARANCE, ECONOMY AND ADMINISTRATION OF WIŁKOWYSZKI IN THE POLISH-LITHUANIAN COMMONWEALTH. Civitas Et Lex, 50(2), 23–46. https://doi.org/10.31648/cetl.12376

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