The first mention of Mława in historical sources dates back to the 14^th century. In 1429, the Masovian Dukes Siemowit, Kazimierz, and Władysław granted the settlement city rights under the Chełmno Law. In the 14^th century, the town became a county capital and a seat of the alderman. A favourable location by the trade route leading from Ruthenia to Prussia and numerous privileges granted to the town (1543, 1565, 1576, 1602, 1667, 1724, 1745, 1779) led to Mława's further development[1.1]. Long-range trading in Ruthenian cattle was one of the most profitable ways of making money. At the time, Mława was one of the largest towns in the region, while its customs house yielded some of the highest amounts of income in all Masovia.

In 1564, there were 429 houses and 22 building plots in the town. Many inhabitants of Mława were craftsmen: apart from shoemakers, there were 225 various craftsmen, including 140 brewers, as well as potters, blacksmiths, tailors, bakers, carpenters and butchers[[refr:|Mława, [in] Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich, ed. B. Chlebowski, W. Walewski, F. Sulimierski, vol. 6: Malczyce – Netreba, Warszawa 1885, p. 528.]].

In the 17^th century, the town gradually started to fall into decline. In 1616, there were 320 houses and 85 empty building plots in Mława. The number of craftsmen decreased to 284. The town also suffered considerably during the Swedish invasion in the years 1655–1660. In 1664, only 45 houses and 20 craftsmen remained. Out of 40 voloks (ca. 720 hectares) of land belonging to the town, only 17 were sown. Moreover, a fire in 1692 brought even more damage the town and completely destroyed the Town Hall and the local parish church. In 1765, only 85 houses remained in Mława, all of which were occupied by poor craftsmen. While the town was still being rebuilt, another fire broke out in 1783 and destroyed almost all the houses[1.2].

After the Partitions of Poland, Mława became a part of the Kingdom of Prussia (1795–1807). Later on, it was incorporated into the Duchy of Warsaw (1807–1815). In 1815, it was annexed by Russia (Congress Poland) and remained within its territory until Poland regained independence. In the years 1815– 1918, Mława was a frontier town, located 7km from the Prussian border.

The town's significance increased in 1877, when it became a part of the Vistula River Railway, connecting Mława with Kovel through Warsaw, Lublin, and Chełm. Three kilometeres away from Mława, in Wólka, the Russians built a frontier train station. It was used for the transshipment of goods carried in broad-gauge wagons. The development of transport gave a boost to the town's industry. In the second half of the 19^th century, a number of industrial plants were built in Mława, including a farming tools factory, a vinegar factory, three brickyards, several tanneries, soap-works, breweries, mills, five oil factories, three soap factories. The town grew extremely quickly and in 1867, it became a county capital in the Płock Governorate.

During WWI, the Mława Commuter Rail was opened; the narrow-gauge route connected the town with Przasnysz. In the interwar period, the town lost some significance, but still remained a local economic centre and a communication hub. It was also the capital of one of the counties within the Warszawskie Province.

From 1 to 4 September 1939, Mława was the scene of one of the most important battles of the September Campaign[1.3]. During the Nazi occupation, both Polish and Jewish residents faced mass extermination and relocation. Over 60% of the town’s buildings were destroyed during the battles of January 1945.

At present, Mława is a local centre of industry (food industry, shoemaking, machine production, electrical engineering, clothing industry), education, and communication. People sightseeing the town can visit the Museum of the Zawkrze Region. The Mausoleum of the Soldiers of September 1939 is located 6 km north of Mława, in the village of Uniszki Zawadzkie. In 1999, Mława became a county capital in the Mazowieckie Province.

Footnotes

• A. Grochowski, P. Miecznik, M. Nowakowski, Najciekawsze zabytki Mławy, Mława 2012.

• R. Juszkiewicz, Mława – jej dzieje (lata 1914–1939), Mława 2004.

• Mława, [in] Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich, ed. B. Chlebowski, W. Walewski, F. Sulimierski, vol. 6: Malczyce – Netreba, Warsaw 1885, p. 528.

• D. Staszewski, Mława: opis historyczny, Warsaw 1907.