The history of Wawel is deeply intertwined with the history of the Polish lands and Polish royal dynasties already in the Middle Ages.
From the late 18th century, when Poland lost its independence during the period of foreign partitions, Wawel became a symbol of an enduring nation and was the setting for demonstrations and gatherings of Cracovians protesting against the continuing foreign occupation by the Austrian, Prussian, and the Russian empires.