gniezno ( ) is a city in central-western poland, about 50 km east of poznań, inhabited by about 70,000 people. it is in the greater poland voivodeship. it is the administrative capital of the gniezno county (powiat). gniezno is a cradle of the polish state and until 1038 was capital of poland. in the 1000 here took place gniezno congress, meeting betwen duke boleslaus i the brave and otto iii, the emperor of the holy roman empire. in gniezno cathedral until 14th century took place royal coronations. patron of gniezno is saint adalbert of prague.