„Praenobiles et spectabiles Domini, domini amici observandissimi…”. Kontakty chełmińsko-toruńskie w okresie nowożytnym

In the early modern period, Chełmno (Ger. Kulm), under the governance of the bishops of Chełmno, markedly differed from other towns in Royal Prussia. The bishops successfully thwarted the Reformation within the town, leading to the gradual Polonisation of its inhabitants. Despite its early prominence, in the fifteenth century Chełmno’s significance began to wane, gradually ceasing to be an active participant in the political life of Prussia. Nevertheless, it maintained connections with other Prussian towns, particularly falling within the sphere of influence of major urban centres like Gdańsk (Ger. Danzig) and Toruń (Ger. Thorn). This article examines the multifaceted nature of Chełmno’s interactions with Toruń, drawing on various sources such as registers of admissions to municipal law, treasurer office books, craft guilds’ registers, and especially correspondence. By analysing the content and frequency of these letters, the study concludes that, compared to the medieval period, the eighteenth-century contacts between Chełmno and Toruń were infrequent and limited in both economic and political realms. This scarcity of contacts was attributed to the situation of Chełmno outlined above, setting it apart from Toruń, Gdańsk, and other towns in Royal Prussia.