Jerzwałd

Jerzwałd
Village
Jerzwałd
Coordinates: 53°46′53″N 19°31′40″E / 53.78139°N 19.52778°E / 53.78139; 19.52778
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Warmian-Masurian
County	Iława
Gmina	Zalewo
Population	370

Jerzwałd [ˈjɛʐvau̯t] (German Gerswalde) is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Zalewo, within Iława County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland.^[1] It lies approximately 9 kilometres (6 mi) south-west of Zalewo, 21 km (13 mi) north of Iława, and 64 km (40 mi) west of the regional capital Olsztyn.

The village has a population of 370.

The village is also the headquarters of the Landscape Parks Complex called "Iława Lake District Landscape Park",^[2] Dylewo Hills Landscape Park. The famous Polish writer Zbigniew Nienacki (1929 – 1994) lived and died here. His grave is located in the local cemetery. In the village his house can be still found, marked by a plaque. The village and its inhabitants are the prototype for the village Skiroławki described in the artist's novel entitled Once a year in Skiroławki (Raz do roku w Skiroławkach).

History

Before the arrival of the Teutonic Knights Jerzwałd, as we know it today, belonged to the brood of the Prussian brood "Geriowie", whose territory reached from the village of Karpowo to Jerzwałd including the Central Lagoon. After the Geriowie migrated they left some settlements in the lands of "Koziny" and Dobrzyki as well as defensive earthen shafts in the Karpiarnia area, near Witoszewskie Lake, and also in the area between Dobrzyki and Likszany. In the area of the village there can be found an enclosed cremation graveyard wchich is said to have been built in the period of the early Middle Ages.

The Prussian peoples on Jerzwałd's lands usually were farmers and breeders. They grew oats, barley, rye and wheat. In terms of breednig each settled Prussian family mainly had its own horses (they were very numerous at the time) but also its own cattle, sheep, goats and even bees. Apart from breeding, Prussian men were known for their hunting (especially fishing) skills. Carpentry was a well known art to the Prussian people, they used to craft items from animal bones and horns.

Formerly, on Jerzwałd's lands, there was a Prussian village called Keysy (the name was taken from the name of the founder). Commander dzierzgoński, Luther of Brunswick, granted Skipiele (Skypelo) and his successors 10 fishing trawlers on the land of Keyserswalde (later Gerswalde / Gerswalden). The catch was free from tithes. In 1333, renovated the document of foundation and the Grand Master granted Skipiele and his successors the permission to create small and large settlements as well as fish using "small equipment" for their own needs in both Rucewskie Lakes (Large Rucewo, Small Rucewo) and Jeziorak Lake. In exchange they had to contribute some wheat and rye from each plow to the Grand Master. He also sent Skipiele one military division (serving in the Prussian armor).

Shortly afterwards, the lands of Jerzwałd, which were slightly larger than Skypelon's fields, received from the Teutonic Knights two Prussians, Lutyne and his brother Warpune. This was written down in the Act of giving from January 2, 1343. It also says that the Grand Master Ludolf Koenig gave the faithful Lutyne and his brother Warpune two villages: Keyserswalde and Luxeine, in exchange for the goods which they owned in the village of Doythimiten. Each village had an obligation to military serve in the Prussian armor. In a register dating from 1437 it isn't mentioned anymore whether the villages had to serve anymore or not.^[3] Therefore, it can be concluded that the villages have changed their nature, making them into what Jerzwałd is today.

References

Coordinates: 53°46′53″N 19°31′40″E / 53.78139°N 19.52778°E / 53.78139; 19.52778