The statute of Kalisz was issued by the Polish prince Bolesław the Pious in 1264 as the first privilege for Polish Jews. It is a legal symbol of the friendly coexistence of Christians and followers of Judaism. Successive rulers in Poland also followed that example.
Although Bolesław the Pious was a Polish prince, he did not rule all of Poland. Initiated by the death of Bolesław Krzywousty in 1138, the division of Polish provinces among his sons was Boleslaw’s attempt to avoid fratricidal fights for the throne between his offspring. Hence, everyone got a share to rule.
Some of these provinces were again divided among the grandsons and later by their grandsons, deepening the division of the country. It was not an isolated case, as similar processes took place, for example, in the Kingdom of Bohemia and Ruthenia.
One of such princes ruling his part of Poland was Bolesław the Pious, who was in power in Greater Poland and the Kalisz Land.
The first privilege for Polish Jews
At that time, Jews already inhabited the Polish provinces. Bolesław the Pious as the first prince noticed the need for a legal regulation to facilitate the lives of the followers of Judaism and Christians. On August 16, 1264, he issued the statute of Kalisz, the first privilege for Polish Jews.
The document regulates matters concerning the coexistence of the followers of Judaism and Christians, starting from Jewish relations with the authorities, to trade and credits regulations. Jews could only be tried by the prince or his official – the voivode. It was forbidden to accuse the followers of Judaism of killing Christians for the purpose of performing rituals. Apparently, it was already then realized that the myths and rumors that came to Poland from Western Europe were not true. Respecting cultural distinctiveness, the statute of Kalisz also forbade the destruction of synagogues or Jewish cemeteries.
It was no exception
When Poland was finally reunited into a single political organism by king Władysław the Short in 1320, other Polish rulers like Władysław’s son, Kazimierz III the Great also confirmed the Kalisz statute and extended it within the entire kingdom in 1334. His successors followed this example and this act constituted the basis of legal regulations for the Jews in Poland.
Source: polin.pl, sztetl.org.pl,