@article{4a910cb5-70d2-443d-933a-096f67096b3e,
author = {Mateusz Mataniak},
title = {Salt monopoly in the Free City of Krakow (1815–1846). Organisation and range of competencies of the Salt Guards in the Free City of Krakow},
journal = {Krakow Archives Annual},
volume = {2017},
number = {XXIII},
year = {2021},
issn = {1233-2135},
pages = {65-99},keywords = {},
abstract = {Organisation and range of competencies of the Salt Guards in the Free City of Krakow The article concerns the organisation and activities of the Salt Guards in the Free City of Krakow against a backdrop of the salt monopoly entered into by the authorities of the Republic of Krakow in the years 1815–1847. Salt was transported from the mine in Wieliczka. In the years 1816–1822 a salt monopoly was held by the private Salt Trading Company from Warsaw. Its partners, in exchange for the payment of fees, were awarded exclusive rights to transport and sell salt in the territory of the Republic of Krakow. It was also responsible for maintaining the Salt Guards, in cooperation with the police of the Free City of Krakow, preventing the smuggling of salt (“salt fraud”). In the years 1822–1842 the monopoly was granted to the government of the Kingdom of Poland. The contract conditions did not undergo major modification. The Salt Guards were subordinate, in terms of service, to the government of the Kingdom of Poland, and in terms of jurisdiction to the Senate of the Free City of Krakow. They wore uniforms with the emblems of the Free City of Krakow. It should be added that the principles behind the monopoly were connected with the conditions of the trading treaties between both countries (from 1823 and 1834). Due to the fact that they were not extended, from 1 June 1843, the sale of salt moved into the direct jurisdiction of the Free City of Krakow, which signed agreements with private entrepreneurs regarding the transport of salt to the city. They were Alfus Majer, Franciszek Ripper and Franciszek Dąbrowski. The Salt Administration of the Free City of Krakow was also established and consisted of: a head (M. Mączeński), scribe of the Salt Warehouse (O. Orłowski), controller (A. Oraczewski), warehouse guard, Salt Guards supervisor (W. Wilczyński) and over a dozen guards. The range of their duties was defined in instructions from 25, 27 and 31 May 1843. The head supervised the subordinate clerks, controlled the Salt Warehouse, and submitted reports to the Department of Public Income etc. The clerks of the Salt Administration were responsible for supplying the Salt Warehouse with salt. The guards had to prevent illegal attempts to transport salt to the Free City of Krakow and controlled the salt merchants etc. The Salt Administration functioned until 1847. It was liquidated due to the incorporation of the Republic of Krakow into the Austrian Empire and the resulting change in the owner of the salt monopoly. It should be added that income to the budget from the salt monopoly was quite significant during the whole period of the Free City of Krakow (from 120–195 thousand zloty per annum, in other words, 9–18% of the country’s total income). The work was based to a large extent on rich source materials stored in the National Archives in Krakow.},
doi = {10.4467/12332135KRA.17.003.14657},
url = {https://ejournals.eu/en/journal/krakowski-rocznik-archiwalny/article/monopol-solny-w-wolnym-miescie-krakowie-1815-1846-organizacja-i-zakres-kompetencji-strazy-solnej-wolnego-miasta-krakowa}
}