# Veit Stoss completes the altar in St Mary's (1489)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1489-veit-stoss-completes-the-altar-in-st-mary-s
Location: Kraków

Veit Stoss finished the giant carved wooden altarpiece of St Mary's Basilica, one of the greatest Gothic artworks in Europe. Within the broader Jagiellonian Age period: The union with Lithuania created one of Europe's largest states. Victory over the Teutonic Order, the rise of noble democracy and a brilliant Renaissance culture marked the Jagiellonian golden age. At this point in the timeline (1489), the governing authority was Casimir IV Jagiellon (King of Poland). Won the Thirteen Years' War, regaining Pomerelia and Warmia, and placed his sons on the thrones of Bohemia and Hungary. Veit Stoss completes the altar in St Mary's mattered because cultural achievements helped preserve and define Polish identity and influence beyond its borders. The event is placed here so readers can follow it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion and culture across Polish history.

## Why it matters
Veit Stoss completes the altar in St Mary's mattered because cultural achievements helped preserve and define Polish identity and influence beyond its borders.

Ruler at the time: [Casimir IV Jagiellon](https://poland-history.com/rulers/casimir-iv-jagiellon)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Veit Stoss altarpiece in Kraków](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veit_Stoss_altarpiece_in_Krak%C3%B3w)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Veit Stoss completes the altar in St Mary's](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Veit+Stoss+completes+the+altar+in+St+Mary%27s)
- [Wikipedia — Jagiellonian dynasty (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagiellonian_dynasty)