Treaty of Lubowla

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Treaty of Lubowla of 1412 was a treaty between Władysław II of Poland and Sigismund of Luxemburg, king of Hungary. Negotiated in the town of Stará Ľubovňa in modern Slovakia, it was confirmed later that year in Buda.

The treaty was negotiated by Zawisza Czarny, one of the most famous Polish knights of late Middle Ages. The Hungarian state was experiencing large financial problems due to constant wars with the Ottoman Empire, as well as because of pressure from the side of the Habsburg family. The provisions of the treaty included confirmation of the First Peace of Toruń between Poland and the Teutonic Order. At the same time, Hungary offered to secretly support the Polish rights to the province of Pomerania, lost to the Teutons. Finally, in exchange for a loan of sixty times the amount of 37.000 Prague groshes, that is approximately 7 tonnes of pure silver, the Hungarian crown pawned 16 rich salt-producing towns in the area of Spisz, as well as a right to incorporate them into Poland until the debt is repaid.

After the meeting in Stará Ľubovňa, the Polish delegation with king Władysław Jagiełło proceeded to Košice, where they were met by the Hungarian king. Then they proceeded to Tokaj, Debrecen and finally to the tomb of Saint Ladislaus in Nagyvárad. From there they proceeded to Buda, where the treaty was officially signed in presence of king Tvrtko II of Bosnia, 14 dukes and princes, 3 archbishops, 11 bishops and embassadors of 17 states, including the Tartar Orde and the Ottoman Empire, as well as roughly 40.000 nobles and knights. To commemorate the event, a tournament was organized, in which both Polish and Hungarian knights took part. Among them were Zawisza Czarny, his brother Firlej, Dobko of Oleśnica and Powała of Taczew.

The treaty was never broken yet the debt was not repaid and the area of Spisz remained a part of Poland until the Partitions of Poland in late 18th century.