The town was first mentioned in 1185 as Novo Wladislaw, possibly in honour
of Władysław I Herman or after the settlers from Włocławek. Many inhabitants of
Włocławek settled in Inowrocław fleeing flooding. In 1236, the settlement was
renamed Juveni Wladislawia. It was incorporated two years later by Casimir
Conradowicz. From 1466 to 1772, Inowrocław was the capital of Poland's
Inowrocław Voivodeship, which covered northern Kuyavia. The town's development
was aided by the discovery of extensive salt deposits in the vicinity during
the 15th century.
Inowrocław was annexed to the Kingdom of Prussia in 1772
