Send Gift Baskets to Rybnik, Poland

The city’s name derives from the Proto-Slavic word for “fish” (Ryba) and means “fishpond” in Old Polish. Fish farming in the Middle Ages would be economically crucial for a city, and this is reflected in its coat of arms. Today, it continues to be an essential part of its economy.

Rybnik was founded in the 9th and 10th centuries and has since developed into a bustling center of commerce where cultures collide. There was no Polish state until the 10th century, so this is likely, not true. Rybnik was a part of Poland in medieval times, and at some point before 1308, they were granted city status and rights governing them according to the law known as the Magdeburg Law. This, however, is not to be confused with a change in national affiliation. Rybnik continued to be part of the Kingdom of Poland until most of Silesia became a fiefdom of the Bohemian Crown in 1327. However, Rybnik was still ruled by a local Polish duke.

The city continued to grow as it developed into a regional trade center in the 15th century, with the Hussites defeating it and nearby on that same hill in 1433. The land was fought over by Poles and Czechs on both sides, who both found success after their battles. The northern part of the city passed under Hungarian control in 1469 but resurfaced again in 1490. From 1521, Rybnik was ruled by Polish Piast Dukes before being incorporated into the Duchies of Opole and Racibórz in 1532. Bohemia eventually came under the authority of Habsburg monarchs. From 1600 to 1788, the country had Polish and Hungarian nobility. However, in 1786, Austria decided to take control of the city, and it became the capital of its province within a larger country.

When the War of the Austrian Succession began, most of Silesia, including Rybnik, was annexed by Prussia in 1740. This took approximately six years to come through as Austria allowed certain places to remain, with Austria maintaining control over important cities such as Krynica. In the 18th century, coal mining gained importance in this region, offered many benefits for the economy, and became more critical as time passed. In 1871, Rybnik became a part of German Germany. At this point, Rybnik was part of the first modern German nation-state. Poland had already ceased as an independent state and was divided between the German Empire, Austria, and Russia.