The city that was Poland’s capital in the fourteenth century was Krakow, also written Kraków or Cracow.
Kraków was the political and royal center of the Kingdom of Poland during the fourteenth century. Polish monarchs were associated with Wawel Castle and Wawel Cathedral, where kings were crowned and many were later buried. The city’s position on the Vistula River also made it an important center for trade and administration.
The fourteenth century was a major period of growth. King Casimir III the Great supported urban development, strengthened fortifications, and founded the University of Kraków in 1364, now known as Jagiellonian University. The city’s Main Market Square and Gothic churches also took shape during this era.
Kraków remained Poland’s royal capital until the royal court moved to Warsaw in 1596 under Sigismund III Vasa. Warsaw is the modern capital, but Kraków remains Poland’s historic and cultural capital in popular usage. The spelling “Krakow” without the Polish accent is a standard English form.