zamek królewski w Międzyrzeczu

#zamek #dronevideo #międzyrzecz #historia #castle #polska #drone #travel #podróże 📜 history of the object: The existence of a fortified stronghold located at the confluence of the Obra and Paklica rivers as early as the 10th century is confirmed by the chronicler Thietmar of Merseburg, who mentions the settlement of 'Mezerici'. Archaeological research has established that Slavic settlement in this area began between the 6th and 8th centuries. The stronghold of Międzyrzecz remained one of the most important defensive points on the western frontiers of the early Piast dynasty. In 1138, after the death of Bolesław III Krzywousty, Międzyrzecz became part of the district governed by Mieszko III (the Old). The Piasts of Greater Poland likely did not invest much in improving the stronghold's defenses, since in 1234 Władysław Odonic failed to defend himself against the invasion of Henry the Bearded's Silesian troops and ceded all of southern Greater Poland (up to the Warta river), including Międzyrzecz, to him. Międzyrzecz remained in the hands of the Silesian Piast dynasty for a short period (from 1234 to approximately 1242/1243 and again in 1246-47). In the 13th century, a brick tower was erected on the site of the Międzyrzecz stronghold. However, it is difficult to determine whether this took place during the rule of the Silesian Piast dynasty or after 1247, when the Międzyrzecz stronghold returned to the hands of the princes of the Greater Poland line (Przemysł and Bolesław). The most important period in the history of Międzyrzecz Castle was the mid-14th century, when king Casimir III the Great erected a completely new defensive structure. The new structure had a roughly oval shape and followed the line of the previous stronghold's wooden and earthen ramparts. The entrance to the castle (gate tower) was located on the eastern side. The main residential building likely occupied the western part of the fortified complex. In 1474, the castle was captured by supporters of the Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus – the Mayor General of Silesia, Stefan Zápolya (later father-in-law of king Sigismund I the Old) and duke Frederick I of Legnica. However, it was not the stronghold's fortifications that failed, but the human factor. As John Długosz reports, 'the castle was poorly guarded', and the invaders entered it (and the town) as a result of the betrayal of burgrave Sędziwoj. However, royal forces soon retook Międzyrzecz. As a result of military operations during the Polish-Teutonic conflict of 1520-21, the castle suffered significant damage. It was occupied by Teutonic mercenaries and subsequently burned. The stronghold was rebuilt in the 16th century, adapting it to the new conditions of war (the development of artillery): two bastions were built on the eastern side of the complex. They had a diameter of approximately 15 meters, were 9 meters high, and the walls were up to 3.5 meters thick. The stronghold's decline occurred in the 17th and 18th centuries, when Swedish and Russian troops devastated the outdated structure during the so-called 'Northern Wars'. Subsequent attempts to rebuild the complex failed. Currently, the structure is a permanent ruin and an excellent example of a Gothic-Renaissance brick lowland castle, although it should be emphasized that the preserved height of the buildings is only a fraction of its original height.