Zapomniana mniejszość: Ormianie w Piotrkowie Trybunalskim w XVII i XVIII wieku

Abstract

A forgotten minority: Armenians in Piotrków Trybunalski in the 17th and 18th century

Until now the problem of the presence of the Armenian minority in Piotrków Trybunalski in the 17th and 18th century was not engaged in historiography. The article discusses the history of Armenians who settled in Piotrków in the 17th and 18th century. The convenient location of the city at the intersection of important trade routes and the presence of the rich gentry, who arrived to participate in the debates of the Royal Tribunal, created the opportunity of running profitable business ventures. This was the main reason that made the Armenian merchants settle in Piotrków. Within a short period of time, owing to the business that they ran competently, they accessed the economic and political elite, and held important offices at the Merchant Guild and the city council.