Tarnowskie Góry is a town in south Poland with 67,200 inhabitants (1995).

Situated in the Silesian Voivodship (since 1999), previously in Katowice Voivodship (1975-1998).

History of city

Tarnowskie Góry own its splendour and wealth to mineral resources: lead, silver, zinc and iron ores.

The legend tells that the first metallic silver was ploughed up by a peasant Rybka in 1490. It is then when first settlers and mining settlements appeared. First mines were established in the area of Tarnowice village and were called in ancient Polish (Gory) hence the name Tarnowskie Góry. The then owners of those lands Jan II, the prince of Opole and Racibórz and margrave. Jerzy Hohenzollern decided in 1526 to support the growing city by granting a privilege "Miners Freedom Decree". Soon after that Gwarki castle received municipal rights and two years later "a mining order" was announced with a mining office established.

It was the time of a fast development of silver mining and growth of the city where trade and craft flourished. Many tenement-houses built at that period of time still exist today. In 1529 the city received a two-field coat of arms from Jan II of Opole hands. The upper field with blue background has golden wing of Piasts' eagle, the lower field has two mining tools crossed: golden mallet and pick. The coat of arms had been changing through the centuries until 1996, when municipality brought it back to its original shape and colours. In the middle of XVI century Tarnowskie Góry were not only were not only the most modern centre of metallic mining in Upper Silesia district but also one of the biggest in Europe. It was here where the movement of Reformation found its many followers, and it was further consolidated after the death of Jan II the Good when the town passed under Hohenzollerns' rule. First wooden church was built in 1529 by Protestants and subsequently rebuilt in stone two years later. A multi-religious school was established in 1531with its rector Daniel Franconius, an outstanding Arian educator and poet who ruled on the turn of the XVI century. There were many meetings of Protestant men of letters organised here by the leading Silesian Lutheran Andrzej Kochcicki. Amongst the guests one may find such distinguished persons as Walenty RoŸdzieński and Szymon Pistorius. The splendour of Tarnowskie Góry was brought to hold by the 30-year War (1618-1648). 1967 Tarnowskie Góry had to face a plague, which retired after "imploring procession" to Piekary. To commemorate this event people of Tarnowskie Góry committed themselves to visit the Holy Virgin of Piekary Sanctuary each year on first Sunday after 2nd June. This tradition is celebrated until today. At the end of I World War in 1742 the city passed from Austrian to Prussian rule. This situation had not been changed by the following two wars. There were successful quests for metallic ores carried out in the second half of XVIII century, which resulted in the city development again. A smelter works "Fryderyk", named after the king's name, a government mine were established here in the eighties of XVIII century. It was here when in 1788 a steam engine was installed (first on the continent) to pump mining waters out. XIX century brings extensive development of the city again. First school of mining was established in 1803, several years later a new gallery Fryderyk is made, a printing house established, the market square with its connecting Krakowska and Lubliniecka Streets were paved, new factories and iron smelter works are built, and city water-supply system construction was begun. At that time a form of miners' insurance company "Spółka Bracka" was founded. A first railway line to Opole was developed in 1857. The city development culminates in 1873 when Tarnowskie Góry became the Starosty capital. With years to come mineral resources of ores were exhausted and at the beginning of XX century the metallic mining was finished. The city returned to Poland in 1922 as a result of Silesian uprising and plebiscite and remained the Starosty capital until 1975. Tarnowskie Góry regained its Starosty capital status after 1st January 1999 administrative reform. The city enjoyed a good reputation along the centuries and was able to receive the most eminent guests. Not surprisingly the list of Gwarek Town visitors includes such significant persons like: Jan III Sobieski with Queen Mary, August II Mocny, August III, King of Sweden Charles XII, Tz ar Alexander I, distinguished German poet Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Jozef Wybicki, Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz, Robert Koch (later a Noble prize winner) and others.

City's coat-of-arms

Restoration of the town's coat-of-arms

The councillors' decision reminds the Tarnowskie Góry inhabitants of the town's history and through the coat-of-arms goes back to the town's rich and varied past, its multicultural character, and, at the same time, its European roots.

Founder

Jerzy Fryderyk von Ansbach (1539-1603). The only son to Jerzy von Ansbach, co-founder of Tarnowskie Góry, Count of Brandenburg, Prince of Karniów, Regent of Prussian Princehood, lord of Tarnowskie Góry and Bytom. During his long reign (1543-1603) he issued many privileges for the inhabitants of Tarnowskie Góry. By means of the privilege of 25th July 1562, Tarnowskie Góry was bestowed a coat-of-arms. In 1599 he issued the so-called General Privilege, in which he further confirmed the laws formerly granted, and gave the new laws of "a Free Mining town" to Tarnowskie Góry. His reign was the time of greatest influence and prosperity of Tarnowskie Góry.

440th anniversary of the coat-of-arms

25th July this year marked 440 years since the town was bestowed its coat-of-arms by Jerzy Fryderyk von Ausbach, Prince of Karniów. That is the reason why the coat-of-arms contains, apart from the golden wing taken from the coat-of-arms of Opole Prince, Jan 2nd Dobry, and the Upper-Silesian Piast and hammers that symbolise the toil of the first inhabitants of the town, the silver ore miners, also half of black eagle taken from the coat-of-arms of the Hohenzollern family. The founder of the Tarnowskie Góry coat-of-arms, Jerzy Fryderyk Ansbach, was himself a member of the Hohenzollern family. The fact that the coat-of-arms displays ornaments and a jewel is a sign of its particular distinction.

The coat-of-arms used before restoration was introduced in the early 50's during the formation of the communist system as a symbol of propaganda warfare against foreign influence in Silesia. It was based on an image of a seal granted to the Mining Office that in the years 1529-1562 also fulfilled administrative functions. When the functions were separated, the town obtained its own coat-of-arms. Tarnowskie Góry also obtained the so-called privilege of coat-of-arms. The fact that two members of two most influential politically European dynasties, the Piasts and the Hohenzollerns, participated in the building of the town, was reflected in the image included in the coat-of-arms. What is also important in the restoration of the original coat-of-arms from 1562 is the fact, that the founder of the privilege of the coat-of-arms, Jerzy Fryderyk Ansbach, should regain his well-deserved recognition. It is only fair to stop evaluating him from the standpoint of the historical relations between Poland and the Hohenzollerns, as these should by no means diminish the merit of Jerzy Fryderyk Ansbach. It does not seem fitting either to put forward the accusations that the founder of the coat-of-arms belonged to a "non-Polish" dynasty. Many people from all the European nations have been part of the history of Poland.

From the historical point of view, Jerzy Fryderyk Ansbach deserves respect and recognition for the privileges he bestowed on the town which considerably strengthened the position of our town as a significant business centre not only regionally, but even on the scale of the entire Central Europe.

Thus, the restoration of the historical Tarnowskie Góry coat-of-arms is only deeming and proper, all the more so since Poland aspires after membership in European Union.

Quoting Professor Marian Gumowski: "...coat-of-arms, made respectable by the centuries of its existence, tells the history of a town to anyone who can understand it".

The coat-of-arms

The town's coat-of-arms displays a golden wing of an eagle taken from the coat-of-arms of Opole Prince Jan Dobry 2nd from the Upper-Silesian Piast dynasty, next to half of a black eagle from the coat-of-arms of the Hohenzollern family, whose member was Jerzy Fryderyk von Ansbach, the founder of the town's coat-of-arms. The hammers symbolise the toil of the first inhabitants of the town, which was mining silver ore, while the ornaments and a jewel add the coat-of-arms particular distinction.