Szczekociny is a town on the
Pilica river, in
Silesian Voivodeship,
Poland, with 4,115 inhabitants (2004). The
Battle of Szczekociny was fought near the town on June 6, 1794 during the
Kosciuszko Uprising. Even though Szczekociny administratively belongs to Silesian Voivodeship, it is part of historic province of
Lesser Poland. It was granted town rights in 1398, and lost them in 1870, on the decision of Russian authorities (see
Congress Poland). Szczekociny once again became a town on Jan. 1, 1923. Since its foundation until 1795, Szczekociny belonged to
Kraków Voivodeship. In the
Second Polish Republic, it was part of
Kielce Voivodeship, and since 1999, it has belonged to Silesian Voivodeship, despite the fact that it had never been part of
Silesia.