ABSTRACT
The Teutonic Order's relinquishing of power in Gdansk and the city's acknowledgement of the Polish King Kazimierz Jagiellonczyk as sovereign, heralded a period of vital decision-making that was to have a significant impact on the future of the city and its inhabitants, and in particular on the ruling patrician elite. This led Gdansk to side with Poland in the war against the Teutonic Order, concluded by the signing of the Second Peace of Torun, which saw Pomerelia returned to the Kingdom of Poland. It also led to a series of specific privileges being granted by the Polish king between 1454 and 1457, which, in due course, were instrumental in determining the city's political, economic and social destiny. The people of Gdansk recognised the authority over their city of Kazimierz Jagiellonczyk and his successors. Aleksander Jagiellonczyk began by greeting the church dignitaries before listening to a welcoming speech honouring both him and the Grand Chancellor of the Crown, Jan Laski.
