Inputs to the history of hospitals in medieval Gdańsk
The network of hospital in the three‑strand urban settlement unit of Gdańsk (Main Town, Old Town and Young Town) was shaped in the 14th and the start of the 15th century in accordance with a certain rule known also in other towns of the Teutonic Prussia, namely of establishing care homes intended for specific social groups. On the other hand, hospitality in Gdańsk also shows certain specificity resulting from the position of Gdańsk as the most important city in Prussia.
The group of main or general hospitals included two facilities. The Hospital of the Holy Spirit established and opulently benefited by the Teutonic Order (before 1333) was given to the Main Town in 1382. It was directly controlled by the city council, which appointed hospital providers from among its ranks. Arguably, from that moment on its character began to change; gradually, among its residents the role of prebendaries –persons who had purchased a place in the home, would increase (at the beginning of the 15th century the fee amounted to 100–200 grzywna). It seems that the financial situation of the hospital in the first half of the 15th century was good and perhaps already then its extension occurred. The hospital of St. Elisabeth was of different character, also founded and opulently benefited by the Order in 1394 and run by it until 1454, previously a mansion for strangers, meaning people travelling. The sick were looked after here, as well as pilgrims and children, whereas prebendaries were not received. Its financial situation was good, incomes would systematically increase, also thanks to rich donations, such as those from Małgorzata Winterfeld. Running the facility gave the Teutonic Order the possibility to influence the society of Gdańsk, yet at the same time it created a field for conflicts due to the Order taking over financial resources of the city inhabitants.
A separate group consisted of facilities for lepers of St. George (in the Main and the Young Town) and of Corpus Christi (the Old Town), as well as shelters intended for „strangers”: St. Gertrude hospital in the western suburb of the Main Town, initially the mansion of St. Elisabeth and probably the home of All God’s Angels in the Young Town. The home of St. James in New Dyke (Nowa Grobla – Łagiewniki Street), subordinate to the Teutonic Order was intended for sailors and was most probably the only „professional” shelter in the vicinity of the settlement system of Gdańsk. St. Roch hospital, as well as St. Barbara hospital in Long Gardens (Długie Ogrody) perhaps, should be excluded from the network of medieval hospitals in Gdańsk.
Little is known on the subject of the genesis of hospitals for lepers and newcomers. It is likely they were established as initiatives of brotherhoods or private persons and approved by the Church and the Teutonic Order. Such facilities, except for St. Elisabeth hospital and St James hospital in New Dyke, quickly came under financial and personal control of city authorities, who appointed from among their own ranks or the ranks of burghers people who would exercise a direct control over the homes, which were under current management of hospitallers.
The social position of shelter residents varied. Some of them had purchased a place in the facility and depending on the character of the emolument enjoyed lower or higher privileges. It must be highlighted that the process of buying out places also included homes which had initially been intended for those suffering from leprosy.
There is no more complete information on the subject of some hospital chapels’ staff. In accordance with the privilege of Wilhelm of Modena from 1242, the right to present candidates was reserved for the Teutonic Order, whereas the institution to the bishop of Wrocław, yet there is no source information that would confirm that practice.
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