Szamotuły is a town with a long and interesting history that dates back to the origins of the Polish statehood in the times of the first Piast kings and that is closely connected with the history of the mightiest and most influential noble families of Great Poland. Over the centuries, Szamotuły strongly marked its presence in the Polish history.

 

Beginnings of the settlement belonging to the Szamotulski family using the coat-of-arms Nałęcz. The settlement united four separate centres: the oldest, the Osówka stronghold situated in the vicinity of today’s Gałowo; the Stare Szamotuły market settlement situated approx. 2.5 km north of today’s town center; the so-called Nowe Szamotuły that covered the area of the present-day centre and the Świdlin-Ostrówek stronghold located on the right bank of the river Sama.

 

The first mention about the settlement named "Szamotuły" preserved in written sources related to Stare Szamotuły.

 

Prince Przemysł I grants the right to hold markets to the town of Szamotuły.

 

The Prince of Wielkopolska Przemysł II confirms the earlier granted market rights and related privileges and exempts the estates of the Poznań castellan Tomisław of Szamotuły from market fees.

 

Nowe Szamotuły, located in the area of today’s town centre, is set up.

 

The parish of St. Stanislas is created.

 

For the first time Nowe Szamotuły is referred to as "town" in available historical sources.

 

A war between the families of Grzymalici and Nałęcze. Szamotuły and its surroundings were a frequent target of attacks and were heavily destroyed.

Stare Szamotuły, burnt to the ground, almost ceased to exist.

 

Division of the town into a southern part handed over to Wincenty Świdwa Szamotulski, and the northern part handed over to Dobrogost Świdwa Szamotulski. A small fortified castle was built in the northern part of the town in the second half of the 15th century.

 

The oldest known love letter in the Polish language, preserved until today, was written by an unknown author in Szamotuły.

 

King Władysław Jagiełło repeated municipal rights for Szamotuły.

 

A stone church in the Gothic style was erected, replacing the old wooden church of St. Stanislas, to become an important centre of religious and cultural life of Szamotuły.

 

The Poznań castellan Dobrogost Świdwa Szamotulski founded the parish school. The school operated under the patronage of municipal authorities and educated many outstanding Szamotulians who later studied at the Cracow Academy.

 

King Kazimierz Jagiellończyk confirms twice the municipal rights for Szamotuły. That fact was later commemorated in the coat-of-arms of Szamotuły. That coat-of-arms, developed in the 17th century, depicts a crowned head on a blue field, with two jewels shaped as rhombuses underneath. Later, a crown was added over the escutcheon and two ribbons at the two sides, with the digits "14" to the left and the digits "55" to the right, combining into the date "1455".

 

After the death of Andrzej Szamotulski, the northern part of the town becomes the property of Łukasz II Górka, the Voivode of Poznań. In the years 1513-1528 Górka rebuilt the old castle turning it into a magnificent residence in the Gothic style.

 

The Church of St. Stanislas is risen to the range of the Collegiate Church.

 

The Czech Brethren, Calvinists and Lutherans settle in Szamotuły, favoured by town owners: Łukasz III Górka and Jan Świdwa Szamotulski. As a result, Szamotuły became one of more active centres of Renaissance and Reformation in Great Poland.

 

A probable date of establishment of the first printing house in Great Poland. It was founded by the Czech Brethren and situated in the outbuilding of the Górka Castle. Printed mainly Czech religious texts, including one of the major Czech historical prints, "The Szamotuły Psalm-Book" (1561). Existed probably until 1575.

 

Death of Jan Świdwa Szamotulski, the last male descendant of the family holding the southern part of the town. Since that date, Szamotuły had many owners coming from various families.

 

Szamotuły is an important centre of oil and cloth production, pottery and rope-making. Rich trade guilds were set up gathering the representatives of numerous trades (the number of such guilds operating in the town reached 14).

 

The inheritor of Szamotuły, the Kalisz castellan Jan Korzbok-Łącki brings the Reformed Franciscans to the town. In the years 1675-82 the monks built a monastery in the Świdlińskie suburb, using the walls of the old castle of the Świdwa Szamotulskis.

 

The town went into decline during the Swedish wars. Revival came only at the beginning of the

19th century.

 

Szamotuły, together with the entire region, was annexed to Prussia as a result of the second partition of Poland.

 

An elementary school was opened following the principles specified by the National Education Commission.

 

Szamotuły became part of the Great Duchy of Poznań.

 

The Szamotuły poviat was established which, with small corrections, exists nowadays within more or less the same administrative borders.

 

In the times of the Prussian rule, the citizens of Szamotuły actively resisted Germanisation. Many fought in all national uprisings. Edmund Callier. Born in Szamotuły, was the leader of the armed forces in Mazovia (Mazowsze) region in the 1863-1864 January Rising.

 

A Citizens’ Mess was set up in Szamotuły, which became an important centre of local business, culture and social life. The Mess operated in the building known as "Ognisko" (meaning "camp-fire", but also "centre" or "seat") which exists today and houses the town’s public library.

 

A group of members of the Citizens’ Mess established the Association of Collectors of Domestic Antiquities, considered to be the first archaeological society in Poland. The Association operated until 1846 when it was liquidated by Prussian authorities.

 

Several big industrial plants are opened, including a sugar factory, oil factory, mills and a furniture factory.

 

Szamotuły, constituting one of the major centres of the Wielkopolskie Rising, liberated itself from the German rule. Consequently, the town was incorporated into the reborn Polish Republic.

 

The town falls into the hands of German troops; the Nazi occupation begins, bringing death or deportation to many inhabitants.

 

Liberation of Szamotuły from the Nazi occupation.

 

Rebirth of autonomous municipal and communal self-government after Poland regains national sovereignty and political independence.