An author of the first written source, in which in 966 there is Krakow mentioned, is Ibrahim ibn Jakub. In the Latin documents in 973 it is mentioned in "Cracoua" form. Jerzy Nalepa, a linguist, claims that "krak" root stands for a river branch, which is hard to find on the city's map. According to the legend written in the end of the 13th century by Vincent Kadlubek, the Krakow name derives from a name of Krak duke, while in Czech legends there is a figure of Krok duke.
The Middle Age
The oldest settling center was, among others, on the fortified Wawel Hill and it was one of the most important burg cities in a tribal state of Vistulans. The territories of Vistulans might have been ruled by the Great Moravia for a certain time. In the 10th century, (most probably around 960, 986) Krakow became dependent on the state of the first Přemyslid dynasty members. It was a loose dependence, of a tribute nature and it did not leave any distinct reminiscences in the historical tradition, and some historians are questioning Czech reign over Krakow in this period. In about 990, the burg city was within the borders of the Piast state, and the attempts of establishing the exact time of incorporation to the Piast state oscillate between 987 and 989. The first reliable written mention of Krakow derives from the Dagome iudex document from about 992.
At Vistula River, next to Wawel Hill, on a small hill from Jurassic white stone, according to the legend, there was a pagan temple formerly, which was subsequently replaced by the Romanesque church under the invocation of St. Michael Archangel.
At least since 1000 in Krakow there has been a seat of the bishopric and during the reign of Casimir I the Restorer Krakow became the main ducal seat.
In the period of fragmentation, Krakow was a seat of the senior duke; nevertheless, in the course of time the Krakow dukes lost an actual supremacy over other Piast rulers. In 1241 the city was destroyed during the Tatar invasion. It might have decided about a failure of the first Krakow's location, which most probably took place in the beginning of the 13th century. Krakow rebuilding was initiated. On 5th June 1257, Bolesław V the Chaste, his mother Grzymisława and wife - St. Kinga gave a city the location on the basis of Magdeburg law, in Kopernia near Pińczów. The founders were three village-mayors: Gedko Stilvoyt, Jakub from Nysa and Dytmar Wolk from Wroclaw. Newly demarcated city was settled mainly by the newcomers from Silesia and Germany, which explains the fact of using German by Krakow middle class till the 16th century.
It was also the time when the characteristic chessboard layout of the city was established, in which the prior preserved elements were fitted in (Grodzka Street, St. Mary's Church). Between Krakow and Wawel Hill there was Okół - formerly the settlement beyond the city walls, which was incorporated to Krakow by Władysław Elbow-high the king after the rebellion of Albert the village-mayor. In 1320 in the Wawel cathedral the Władysław Elbow-high's coronation took place, which metaphorically ended the period of fragmentation. Since then, up to 1734, Krakow had been a place of kings of Poland coronation.
In the 14th century, another two cities were established in the suburbs of Krakow: in the south it was Kazimierz (1335), in the north it was Kleparz (1366).
As a capital of one of the European powers in the 15th and 16th centuries, Krakow developed architecturally, commercially, culturally, and scientifically. The Wawel castle complex was rebuilt and built up in Renaissance style. The university established 1364 was renovated. The Barbican was also built then.
Modern times (16th - 19th centuries)
After the Polish-Lithuanian Union and the creation of the Republic of the two Nations, Krakow found itself out of the way to the great state. The Seyms and elections of new monarchs took place in Warsaw, located more or less in a half a way between the capitals of the Crown and Lithuania. From 1596 the process of departure of the court of Sigismund III Vasa from Krakow to Warsaw began, which was ended in about 1611. Nevertheless, the act of transferring the capital formally did not take place then. The Wawel cathedral remained the place of burial of kings of Poland, and Krakow remained capital and king's city. Even much later, Turkish vizier, Kara Mustafa, wrote to John III Sobieski who was related to Krakow: "I will destroy your Krakow...".
Together with the collapse of the Republic, the collapse of Krakow began. The war damages impaired the city's position considerably and brought its development to stop. The first time when Krakow was destroyed by foreign forces was in 1655 - during the Deluge (however suburbs suffered heavily in 1587, during the attempt to conquer the city by Maximilian Habsburg, the archduke). In the 18th century Krakow was conquered by Prussian, Swedish, Austrian, and Russian forces. On 24th March 1794, on the Krakow Main Square, a governor Tadeusz Kościuszko took the oath towards the Nation, starting the uprising in this way. After the Third Partition of Poland, Krakow was taken over by Austrians. Aleksander Rożniecki, a cavalry commander participating in Austrian-Polish war, starting from Raszyn with the unit and the outpost, reached Krakow on 14th July 1809 (a day before Poniatowski did) and broke the last resistance of Austrians by the victorious invasion of the duke. On 14th October 1809, by virtue of the Schönbrunn treaty, Krakow and Podgórze were incorporated to Duchy of Warsaw as a capital of the department. Between 1815 and 1846 it was the capital of small area, formally independent state - the Republic of Krakow. In this period, a complete modernization and re-building of the city, which still stuck in the middle-ages urban architecture, was started. Most of the city walls were demolished, the moat was filled up - a park was created at its place - the Planty Park.
After the "Krakow revolution" - military uprising against Austrian domination, the city was in 1846 incorporated by Austria, and it remained within its borders up to 1918. The name „Republic of Poland" was replaced by a new one: "Grand Duchy of Krakow".
Since then, the Austrian emperor used a title of honor: Great Duke of Krakow. In 1850 a great fire destroyed approximately 10% of the city's area.
The latest history (20th - 21st centuries)
In 1915 there was Krakow connection with Podgorze - a city founded in 1784 in the opposite bank of Vistula River. In the interwar period, just after the regaining of independence, Polish central government recognized Wawel castle as a representative edifice, dedicated to the State Governor, and subsequently to the president; by the resolution of the Seym of the Republic of Poland from 1921, the architectural ensemble on the Wawel became one of the official residences of the President of Poland. Till today, there is an apartment of the RP President, Ignacy Mościcki.
German forces took over the city 6 days after the beginning of the Second World War. During the Nazi occupation (1939-1945) the city functioned as a capital of the General Government. The German occupier closed in the ghetto, and then murdered the Jewish population of the city (before the war, Jewish people constituted 25% of the city's residents, after the war - there was only over 2%). Many pieces of art were transported to Germany; many of those have not returned to Poland. Krakow was slightly damaged during the city's bombardment by the Red Army's air forces. On 18th January 1945 the Soviet Army entered the city. Krakow was the only big city, which did not experience a considerable loss of people, and in 1945 it was the most populated city in Poland.
In the post-war period, the great territorial and people development of the city took place. In 1951 Nowa Huta was incorporated to Krakow, which according to the original plans, should have constituted a separate city. Till today, one of the historical places in this district is Plac Ratuszowy, where, according to the building plans of the "socialist city", the town hall was going to be built.
Currently, Krakow is one of the most popular places in the world. In June 2007, Krakow had its 750th anniversary of the city's location. Despite the growing cosmopolitization it remains a depository of the Polish emblem. As the only city in Poland it has a right to use Polish State's emblem in its own crest. This possibility, according to heraldic symbolism, is entitled only to capital cities.