Reszel was originally a settlement built by the Bartian tribe of Old Prussians and conquered by the Teutonic Knights in 1241.
The native Prussians later recaptured the settlement and held it for five years, but were eventually defeated by the German crusaders.
Reszel received its town privileges in 1336 under Magdeburg law.

Upon the request of the Prussian Confederation, Polish King Casimir IV Jagiellon signed the act of incorporation of the region along with Reszel to Poland, an event that sparked the Thirteen Years' War.
In 1455 the Teutonic Knights captured the town and later on, in 1462, ceded their power to the Warmian bishop, who once more in 1464 recognized the Polish King as the rightful ruler of Warmia with Reszel.
The incorporation of Reszel to the Kingdom of Poland was confirmed in a peace treaty signed in Toruń in 1466.
In the 17th century, the Jesuits came to Reszel and established a college in 1632 and the Polish King John II Casimir Vasa created a scholarship fund for its students.

In 1772 Reszel became part of the Prussian Partition of Poland.

In 1811 Barbara Zdunk was sentenced by the Prussian court to death for witchcraft and setting the castle alight in 1807.
The trial is sometimes described as the last burning of witches in Europe.

As a result of the treaty of Versailles on 11 July 1920 the 1920 East Prussian plebiscite was organized under the control of the League of nations, which resulted in  3,260 votes to remain in Germany and none for Poland.

Following the Potsdam Conference of 1945, just after the Second World War, the town was transferred from Germany to Poland for administration, as of half of East Prussia.
Reszel was originally a settlement built by the Bartian tribe of Old Prussians and conquered by the Teutonic Knights in 1241. The native Prussians later recaptured the settlement and held it for five years, but were eventually defeated by the German crusaders. Reszel received its town privileges in 1336 under Magdeburg law.
Upon the request of the Prussian Confederation, Polish King Casimir IV Jagiellon signed the act of incorporation of the region along with Reszel to Poland, an event that sparked the Thirteen Years' War. In 1455 the Teutonic Knights captured the town and later on, in 1462, ceded their power to the Warmian bishop, who once more in 1464 recognized the Polish King as the rightful ruler of Warmia with Reszel. The incorporation of Reszel to the Kingdom of Poland was confirmed in a peace treaty signed in Toruń in 1466. In the 17th century, the Jesuits came to Reszel and established a college in 1632 and the Polish King John II Casimir Vasa created a scholarship fund for its students.
In 1772 Reszel became part of the Prussian Partition of Poland.
In 1811 Barbara Zdunk was sentenced by the Prussian court to death for witchcraft and setting the castle alight in 1807. The trial is sometimes described as the last burning of witches in Europe.
As a result of the treaty of Versailles on 11 July 1920 the 1920 East Prussian plebiscite was organized under the control of the League of nations, which resulted in  3,260 votes to remain in Germany and none for Poland.
Following the Potsdam Conference of 1945, just after the Second World War, the town was transferred from Germany to Poland for administration, as of half of East Prussia.
Reszel