The History of Warsaw – the current capital and largest city of Poland, dates back to the 12th or 13th century, when the historically oldest manor of the Mazovian princes, Jazdów (now Ujazdów), was established. The oldest significant settlement from the 10th century, associated with the incorporation of Mazovia into the State of Mieszko I, is Stare Bródno, from which settlement moved to the banks of the Vistula River. Over the centuries, the city experienced periods of prosperity but also faced near-total destruction several times during Swedish, Russian, and German invasions. The current character of the city is largely shaped by the destruction caused by World War II and the subsequent reconstruction process. Approximately 30% of the historic character has been preserved or restored.
During World War II, the capital of Poland was 90% destroyed by German bombings. In the following years, Poles rebuilt the devastated city and all its monuments.