Byczyna

Byczyna

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Byczyna
Coordinates: 51°7′N 18°13′E / 51.117°N 18.217°E / 51.117; 18.217
Country  Poland
Voivodeship Opole
County Kluczbork
Gmina Byczyna
Area
 • Total 5.79 km2 (2.24 sq mi)
Elevation 197 m (646 ft)
Population (2006)
 • Total 3,677
 • Density 640/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Postal code 46-220
Website http://www.byczyna.pl

Byczyna [bɨˈt͡ʂɨna] (Latin: Bicina, Bicinium, German: Pitschen) is a town in Kluczbork County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,708 inhabitants (2004).

The town of Byczyna was first mention in 1054 when it temporarily served as the capital of the Bishopric of Wrocław. After the loss of the Silesian duchies by the kingdom of Poland in the early 14th century Pitschen was for centuries a border town [1] (near the border to Poland) and located north of Kluczbork and Rosenberg in Upper Silesia. The battle (Battle of Pitschen) took place near Byczyna between Maximilian III, Archduke of Austria, who was elected as king of Poland, and Sigismund Vasa who also was elected as king, on January 24, 1588. Maximilian was defeated. He surrendered and went to imprisonment. The German author Gustav Freytag[2] reports in his memories about yearly border violations at Byczyna.

Famous persons connected to Byczyna

  • Eliasz Kreczmar (von Löven), physician and astronomer, married Maria Cunitz
  • Maria Cunitz (1610-1664), German astronomer, born in Wohlau (Lower Silesia), died at Pitschem
  • Priest Johann Dzierzon, scientist, an autochthon Silesian, went to school at Byczyna
  • Piotr Steinkeller (1799-1854), industrialist, "Polish King of Zinc" exploited local ore deposits
  • Martin Wilhelm Kutta (November 3, 1867 – December 25, 1944), mathematician
  • Adam Quasius (1673–1736), theologian and Deacon at St. Elisabeth Church in Breslau (now Wroclaw)

References

Coordinates: 51°07′N 18°13′E / 51.117°N 18.217°E / 51.117; 18.217



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