EN
The issue of early Piast strongholds is among the most important scholarly problems relating to the realm of Mieszko I. The current possibilities of historical and natural sciences offer fresh opportunities to enhance our knowledge of fortified settlements. Very important in this context is dendrochronology, which allows a fairly accurate determination of the chronology of these structures. Analyses have demonstrated that Mieszko I continued to develop strongholds founded by his predecessors in Wielkopolska. One notable example is Poznań, one of the central strongholds of the then realm, which greatly expanded under the fi rst Polish historical ruler. It is evident that Mieszko’s actions concerning strongholds were carefully planned. The duke expanded and used some tribal centres for his own purposes, some examples including Międzyrzecz, Pszczew or Santok, located on the western fringe of the Piast domain and established new strongholds on newly occupied lands, for example Płock and Głogów. The paper examines military, economic or judicial functions of fortifi ed settlements.