Capital city of Krakow
About a year 1000, when Krakow was already part of the Brave State, a bishopric subordinate to the Gniezno metropolis was established here. Chrobry is credited with building the so-called. the first Wawel Cathedral and, perhaps, huge hall of residence, called "a room on twenty-four pillars". In years 30. there was a fall of the Piast monarchy, completed by the devastating invasion of the Czech prince Brzetysław in 1038 r., during which they were completely destroyed: Gniezno and Poznań as well as the entire church organization of Greater Poland. Krakow survived, although the Czech chronicler boasts, that Brzetysław "destroyed both metropolises,"Ie. archbishoprics. This could mean, however, there was a second Slavic metropolis in Krakow, moved here after its liquidation in Bulgaria.
Thanks to the efforts of Kazimierz the Restorer, Krakow became a center for the reconstruction of the state and in 500 years the capital of Poland. Kazimierz brought five hundred German knights from Cologne with him, probably with the relics of their patron, st. Gereona, Benedictine monks and their abbot Aaron, appointed archbishop of Poland. Benedictines, after a short stay at Wawel, founded around the mid-11th century. abbey in Tyniec. During the times of Casimir the Restorer, a church was also built, partially preserved in the west wing of the Wawel royal castle, or it is called the first Wawel cathedral, be it the cathedral in Chrobrow, be also the church of St.. Gereona.
