A Lechitic stronghold was founded in the 9th century, located in the Greater Poland region, which in the 10th century would become the cradle of the emerging Polish state. Kłecko was granted town rights probably by Duke Bolesław the Pious in 1265. It was a royal town of Poland, administratively located in the Gniezno County in the Kalisz Voivodeship in the Greater Poland Province of the Polish Crown. In 1331, during the Polish–Teutonic War, the Teutonic Knights plundered and destroyed the town, and murdered its defenders. A battle between the Swedish Army and Polish forces stood here on 7 May 1656 during the Deluge (Swedish invasion of Poland). The battle was an important victory for Sweden. A painting picturing the battle can be seen in the museum at the current Home of the Swedish royal family Drottningholm Palace near Stockholm, Sweden.