Komunikacja polityczna, miejsca pamięci i późnośredniowieczna Świdnica

This study was inspired by the comments on the role of „public spectators“ in the interpretation of elements of symbolic communication in the Middle Ages. The author focuses on three types of issues. The first concerns the reasons for which Sigismund of Luxemburg accepted the tribute of Silesian dukes in Świdnica. The second part of the article concerns the strategic role Wrocław played in this rulers reign, while the third focuses on some aspects of exercising ruling seniority in the Świdnica and Jawor duchies. Bogusław Czechowicz put forth a controversial proposition about the reason for receiving tribute in Świdnica. He pointed out that the main addressee of this show of loyalty to the monarch were the Bohemian Hussites or Prague. However, some (lost) iconographic relics were to legitimize Sigismund’s claim to the Roman throne. The author of this study notes that while interpreting elements of symbolic discourse one must always take into account not only the historical context of the event but also the recipient of said work. The author also points out interpretational difficulties caused by the recipient changing through time, his expectations and interpretational limitations of modern historiography. One may assume that in the first part of the 15th century the “memory” of the dukes of Świdnica and Jawor retained actions related to the power holding and its legitimization in these duchies.