Economic development of Varaždin in the XV. century

Srednjovjekovni gradovi nastajali su uz prometnice i plovne rijeke. Varaždinska varoš je svoje predgrađe počela formirati u blizini utvrde. Razvoj Varaždina je najbolje pratiti od vladavine Bele III. (1181.). Varaždin je bio sjedište arhiđakonata, te je župna crkva privlačila ljude iz obližnjih sela. Iz povelje Andrije II. saznaje se o opisu prvih stanovnika grada. Oni su se bavili trgovinom, obrtom i poljoprivrednom djelatnošću. Andrija II. je smrću svog brata sjeda na prijestolje, te kao novi vladar uzdiže Varaždin u slobodan i kraljevski grad. Građani su imali izbora da sami biraju suca. Već odlukom koju je donio kralj Žigmund i potvrđujući povelju, dao im je na biranje kada žele da se održavaju sajmovi. Kako je bio slobodan kraljevski grad te oslobođen plaćanja određenih poreza to je išlo u korist trgovcima i obrtnicima u gradu i okolici. Za razvoj trgovine bio je potreban povoljan prometni položaj. Uz trgovinu vezali su se i sajmovi. Na sajmovima se okupljalo stanovništvo ne samo iz grada, nego i okolnih sela. Bili su mjesta koja su stanovništvo opskrbljivali namirnicama. Trgovačke putnike su sajmovi privlačili jer su bili u mogućnosti tamo prodati robu poput začina ili kože, koji su imali na vrijednosti. Osim trgovine, obrt je također bio bitan dio gospodarskih aktivnosti Varaždina u XV. stoljeću. Poveljom Andrije II. grad je bio oslobođen plaćanja trgovački poreza. Udruživanjem u bratovštine, obrtnici su čuvali vrijednosti svog zanata. Sredinom XV. stoljeća u Varaždinu postoje tri bratovštine; Svetog Nikole, Tijela Kristova te Blažene Djevice Marije. Najduže se održala bratovština koju su osnovali mesari. Osim trgovine i obrta, važno mjesto je zauzelo i vinogradarstvo kao poljoprivredna djelatnost Varaždina. Koliko su bili važni govori činjenica da se spominju u povelji Andrije II., pa nakon toga u povelji kod Sigismunda. Već pri kraju XII. stoljeća počelo se s kovanjem novca. Utjecaj dolazi iz Njemačke, Austro-Ugarske, Venecije te Bizanta. Banovi i hercezi hrvatske počeli su prvo kovati hrvatske frizatike. Nakon njih počinje se s kovanjem pfeninga (obitelj Frankapan i Celjski), dukata (bosanski kralj Stjepan Tomašević), denari (bosanski kralj Nikola Iločki). Polovica XV. stoljeća donosi nam srebrne dinare, talire i groševe (ban Nikola Zrinski za kralja Ferdinanda I. i Ludovika I.) Bela IV. je već za vrijeme svog oca Andrije II. počeo kovati slavonske banovce. Osim novčanog sustava, pojavljuju se novi oblici poreza; maltarina , tridesetina te placovina. Maltarina se plaćala kada je neka cesta prolazila privatnim posjedom. Tridesetina se još naziva i harmicom, a ubirala se kod uvoza ili izvoza robe, dok je placovina bio porez koji se ubirao u gradu, kad je netko želio prodati robu, da si osigura mjesto. Placovinu je određivala gradska općina.Medieval cities were established near roads and navigable rivers. The Varaždin county formed it's suburb nearby the fortess. The uprising of Varaždin is best to research from the reign of Bela III (1181). Varaždin was the center of archdeaconry and the local church which attracted local village people. The Charter of Andrew II brings descriptions of the first citizens who were engaged with agriculture and market. After his brother's passing, Andrew II came to the throne. During that period Varaždin became a free and royal city. The citizens had the right to choose their own judge. After the resolution of king Sigismund, they had the right to choose when the fairs were held. The city was free from paying taxes which went in favor of the local merchants. A favorable traffic setting was required for trade development. The fairs were places that gathered people from cities and local villages where they could get supplies of variety of groceries. Handicraft was also a big part of Varaždin's economy in XV century. By joining a confraternity artisans conserved the values of their craft. In mid XV century there were three confraternities in Varaždin: St. Nicholas, Body of Christ and The Blessed Virgin Mary. The longest held confraternity was the one founded by the butchers. In addition to trade and crafts, viticulture as an agricultural activity also took an important place in Varaždin's economy. Viticulture was also mentioned in Andrew II Charter as well as king Sigismund Charter. Forging money started by the end of XII century which derived from Germany, Austria-Hungary, Venice and Byzantine Empire. Croatian bans and dukes first began to forge croatian frizatik. Then they forged pfenings (the Frankapan and Celjski families), ducats (Stjepan Tomaševiĉ, king of Bosnia), denars (Nikola Iloĉki, king of Bosnia). By the mid XV century silver dinars, talirs and groschens were in use (Nikola Zrinski for the king Ferdinand I and Louis I). During his father Andrew II reign, Bela IV began with forging of slavonian banovac. In addition to the monetary system, new forms of tax are emerging such as maltarina, tridesetina and placovina. Maltarina was payed when a road passed by private property. Tridesetina is also called harmica and and was collected when importing or exporting goods. Placovina was payed to the city when someone wanted to sell goods to secure his social status. Placovina was determined by the city municipality