Most important Poles and Slavs that ever lived

My Polish favorites:

Chopin, Kosciuszko, the entire Hussar brigades that drove 12 foot pikes up the @$$ of any Austian, Russian, or German that stepped into Polish territory, Pope John Paul II, Maximilian Kolbe, Marie Curie, Kasimir Pulaski, Donald Tusk, Adam Mickiewicz, Henryk Sienkiewicz, Kamil Cyprian Norwid, Adamczyk - boxer, and the dude who commanded the army (Pilsudzski??) in the 1910's and was able to beat back the Russians in an event also known as 'the miracle on the Wisla' where Poland rerouted a Russian army of over 100k and took a good 75% of them prisoner while killing/wounding the rest - very few escaped, and all the PL soldiers and patriots that defended our motherland...

Polish people I don't like

Mr. Anna Gorodzka - I'm not happy about the fact that we have a transgender MP... and it looks freakin disgusting especially with that huge ass mole next to her lip...

Lech Walesa - terrible president...
Eminem - supposedly he's Polish... not born there though of course
like 99% of the Polish women who belong to the Saint Constance parish in Chicago becasue all they do is gossip and will even flat out lie about their childrens' achievements to one up your childrens' achievements...

Shimon Perez - Polish jew
Sarah Silverman - one of the worst actresses ever - also a PL jew

I completely agree with you! His candidature for President is a terrible joke.

My list of most important Slavs (the order doesn't matter)

Jan III Sobieski
Peter the Great
Mikołaj Kopernik (for me he was Polish, not German)
Svatopluk I of Great Moravia
Nikola Tesla
Dmitri Mendeleev
Fryderyk Chopin
Mikhail Lomonosov
Ruder Josip Bošković
Gregor Johann Mendel

It's a pity that there is a limit. Crow why did you do that?! :)

We, Slavs, are great people, no matter what. I'm proud of being Slavic Polish :)

Seriously?

If it was not for him, you would be spending 2 hours per week at the line for bread and 2 hours more at the line for toilet paper.

Go to Cuba or North Korea and see what Lech Walesa avoided to turn Poland into.

In My Opinion, Any list of most important Slavs should have those 3 polish names:

1 - Jan Sobieski
2 - Lech Walesa
3 - Frederyk Chopin

If the list have 15 places instead of 10, can also put the great leader, negotiatior and pacifist Pope John Paul 2.

Definitely those guys made a better world for all of us.

no problem with that. Spot this. There goes the list of 100 most important humans in history. So, why we wouldn`t make list of 100 most important Slavs in history? Later, when we learn more about many important Slavs, we can try to figure out by which order to make the list. Then, we would have idea which Slavs deserve to be among 10 most important Slavs that ever lived

Who's Biggest? The 100 Most Significant Figures in History

By Steven Skiena and Charles B. Ward, Dec. 10, 2013 / TIME
ideas.time.com/2013/12/10/whos-biggest-the-100-most-significant-figures-in-history



yes. i am full of joy whenever enter this thread.

:)

Controversial but yes, very influential. If this list were specifically Poles rather than Slavs in general, I'd say include him. But one of the 10 most important Slavs? No. Another to go on a wider list would be Ryszard Kapuściński.

And nobody mentioned Paderewski or Mickiewicz yet...

I like this idea! Unfortunately I don't know much about important people from Southern Slavic countries. I know, it's a shame! But I would like to learn more. Crow, you are from Serbia, right? It'd be great if you listed important people from your country! :)

I will make my list of the greatest Poles and post it soon.

We shall see for the final list of 10 most important Slavs but, let us not exclude these names from the list of 100 most important (names not mentioned till now in this thread):

*** Stanislav Lem
*** Adam Mickiewicz
*** Wislawa Szymborska
*** Jan Matejko
*** Władysław II Jagiełło
*** Jozef Pilsudski
*** Mikhail Illarionovich Golenischev-Kutuzov
*** Georgy Zhukov
*** Ilya Muromets
*** Anna Pavlova
*** Aleksandar Sergejevich Pushkin
*** Nikita Mikhalkov
*** Miloš Obilić
*** Laza Kostić
*** Sava Šumanović
*** Paja Jovanović
*** Mihajlo Pupin
*** Emil Nemanja Kusturica
*** Gabriela Beňaèková
*** Josef Jireèek
*** Pavel Josef Safarik
*** Matija Gubec

mongols - burkas , I couldnt make the connection. you meant Turks?

Okay. My looong list of the greatest Poles. I think that every Pole knows these surnames. Tell me if I forgot about someone important.

Zygmunt Krasiński
Juliusz Słowacki
Józef Piłsudski
Adam Mickiewicz
Fryderyk Chopin
Jan III Sobieski
Maria Skłodowska-Curie
Jan Paweł II
Mikołaj Kopernik
Jan Heweliusz
Władysław Jagiełło (a Lithuanian but very important king of Poland)
Henryk Sienkiewicz
Władysław £okietek
Zbigniew Religa
Jan Henryk Dąbrowski
Jan Kochanowski
Julian Tuwim
Joseph Conrad (Józef Korzeniowski)
Stefan Batory (he was Hungarian but he was also our beloved king who defeated Ivan the Terrible, he had this Polish spirit)
Marian Rejewski
Jan Długosz
Mieszko I (many modern Polish historians believe that he was a viking, he is considered the creator of the Polish country)
Bolesław Chrobry
Kazimierz Odnowiciel
Jadwiga Andegaweńska
Lech Wałęsa (controversial but important figure in the world)
Jan Karol Chodkiewicz
Jeremi Wiśniowiecki
Jan Zamoyski
Tadeusz Kościuszko
Ignacy Paderewski
Stanisław Moniuszko
Pola Negri
Leopold Okulicki
Jerzy Popiełuszko
Bolesław Prus
Władysław Reymont
Tadeusz Rozwadowski
Juliusz Słowacki
Edward Rydz-Śmigły
Józef Poniatowski
Witold Gombrowicz
Józef Haller
Kazimierz Jagiellończyk
Józef Bem
Antoni Kosiński
Jan Matejko
Andrzej Wajda
Roman Polański
Anna German
Stanisław Lem
Ignacy £ukasiewicz
Władysław Sikorski
Wisława Szymborska
Jan Tarnowski
Stefan Żeromski
Stanisław Żółkiewski
Zygmunt III Waza (Polish king from Sweden)
Adam Jerzy Czartoryski
Władysław Anders
Krzysztof Baczyński
Jan Bytnar
Ignacy Krasicki
Bona Sforza (she was from Italy but she is also important in Polish history)
Jan Brzechwa
Aleksander Czekanowski
Ignacy Daszyński
Stefan Czarniecki
Roman Dmowski
Andrzej Sapkowski
Jan Henryk Dąbrowski
Stefan Drzewiecki
Maksymilian Faktorowicz
August Emil Fieldorf
Aleksander Fredro
Marek Grechuta
Zbigniew Herbert
Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz
Jacek Kaczmarski
Jan Karski
Krzysztof Kieślowski
Hugo Kołłątaj
Maksymilian Maria Kolbe
Jan Kiliński
Maria Konopnicka
Wojciech Korfanty
Józef Kostrzewski
Faustyna Kowalska
Witold Urbanowicz
Feliks Dzierżynski (we are not proud of him but nonetheless he is important)
Ryszard Kukliński
Tadeusz Kutrzeba
Robert Kubica
Aleksander Kamiński
Bolesław Leśmian
Józef Lompa
Walerian £ukasiński
Stanisław Małachowski
Jacek Malczewski
Bronisław Malinowski
Czesław Miłosz
Cyprian Kamil Norwid
Zofia Nałkowska
Czesław Niemen
Tadeusz Bór-Komorowski
Eliza Orzeszkowa
Ignacy Paderewski
Jan Chryzostom Pasek
Witold Pilecki
Edward Raczyński
Mikołaj Rej
Eugeniusz Romer
Stefan Rowecki
Kazimierz Siemienowicz
Piotr Skarga
Władysław Sikorski
Stanisław Skarżyński
Stanisław Staszic
Roman Strzałkowski
Romuald Traugutt
Bolesław Wieniawa-Długoszowski
Wincenty Kadłubek
Paweł Strzelecki
Stanisław Wigura
Wincenty Witos
Stanisław Wyspiański
Stefan Wyszyński
Tadeusz Zawadzki
Zawisza Czarny
Władysław Wilczkowski
Kazimierz Pułaski
Tadeusz Mazowiecki
Ryszard Kapuściński
Krzysztof Penderecki
Witold Lutosławski
Zbigniew Preisner
Wojciech Kilar
Henryk Arctowski
Ernest Malinowski
Kazimierz Funk
Ludwik Zamenhoff
Adam Małysz
Kazimierz Deyna
Robert Korzeniowski
Zbigniew Boniek

That's quite a long list - Certainly more than 10. Hard to see where Marek Grechuta and Adam Malys fit in, plus some controversial political figures. What about Janusz Korczak?

I would think the guys who built a working copy of the Enigma should be included.

Rzewuski should certainly be included. Including too many though, can dilute the impact. Most of those in the list above are unknown outside the country.

Can't you read? It's my list. These people are important in Poland, most of them are well-known. Some of them are important for the whole world. Stop judging other people's choices and make your own list. You're no expert. The fact that you don't know most of these people doesn't mean that they are not important for Poles.

I've already done a list of the most important Slavs.
It's my list of the greatest Polish people from which we may choose the most important ones for the world.
I would like to see such lists from other Slavic countries.


If you are referring to my list, read properly. I put there Marian Rejewski.

Why so tetchy? A very interesting list, however I wonder why you would say I "don't know most of" the people on the list. I suspect you don't either, especially those long dead. I do however know of all but 3 or 4 and have had the privilege of knowing several (and meeting several more) of the living and recently deceased on your list. There are some very good choices there, and there are certainly some surprising ones - popular singers and sports personalities, and some notable omissions however I suppose that can be excused in the absence of defined Criteria for inclusion. Any repetitions with your list, like Rzewuski, should be taken as a sign of the list's length.

I'd add to that list, in no special order
Janusz Korczak,
Michal Karasiewicz-Tokarzewski
Krystyna Feldman,
Krystyna Janda,
Agnieska Osiecka,
Agnieska Holland,
Krzysztof Kieslowski,
Zygmunt Bauman,
Jan Józef Lipski,
Tadeusz Gliwic,
Bronislaw Geremek
Zbigniew Brzezinski,
Adam Michnik,
Andrzej Strug,
Wanda Landowska,
Jacek Kuroń,
Jerzy Giedroyc,
Jerzy Urban,
Tadeusz Boy-Zelenski
Stefan Kurylowicz,
Stefan Banach,
Jan Kulczyk,
Tamara De Lempicka,
Rosa Luxemburg
Aleksander Kwasniewski,
Józef Hoene-Wronski,
Irene Sendler,
Gabriel Narutowicz,
Krzysztof Komeda,
Zdzislaw Beksinski,
And the first Polish President of the European Commission, Donald Tusk.

Emilia Plater,
Witold Gombrowicz,
Maria Dabrowska,
Karol Szymanowski
also deserve a place on such a list. Although I questioned popular singers being on the list, there's a case for Violetta Villas - her fame was for a time international and her music is played today.

If there's a difference between "know sth", "know of" and "know about" you should explain it to me instead of trying to mock me. I am a native Polish speaker. I do mistakes in English. But I am sure that you knew what I meant.

So, certainly you have no knowledge about most of these people. Why? First, most of them are known only in Poland.
Second, even Polish people themselves may not recognize some of them. Third, we have been talking before Jon, and I know that you are no expert on Poland and Polish history. That's why I don't expect you to know about all people from my list.

Yeah, I know Mr. Putin personally. It's easy to say such things in the Internet. It's a major argument.
Moreover, you listed above two people who I already had on my list. It means that you didn't read properly.
Anyways, why start another pointless argument? Make your very own limitless list. I won't judge your choices.

Nope - there were only maybe three or four on the list who were unfamiliar names - and about that number that I've met for various reasons. Remember, I've lived in Poland longer than some of the Polish people here have been alive and have been quite lucky in certain other ways too.


It means it was a very long list without much order - that's all. But good we agree on their inclusion.


My feelings too - however rather than judge a list, it's fair to comment on it. One problem is that there aren't any defined criteria. Some people might include Doda or Wisniewski and some might prefer only scientists. Some might exclude Stefan Batory (who I think you were right to include); some might exclude Janusz Korczak. Some might exclude Dmowski and others might exclude Dzierzinski.

Now if you had to narrow the list down to 10 (or 15 at a pinch) who would you include?

As I told you, our previous conversation was a sign for me that you are no expert on Poland. I advise you to give up this "I've met them" argument. You already know why. I have lived in Poland for 20 years, I'm a native Polish speaker, I was born in a traditional Catholic family with "national average salary". I know Polish society from the perspective of someone who lives in a big city, from the perspective of someone who lives in the country, I know very well even the dark side of the society. Moreover, unlike some Poles, I love Poland, Polish history, Polish culture and Polish language. You certainly have some knowledge about Poland. But do I think that I know my country better than you as a foreigner? Yes. And we shouldn't argue about it.


Certainly not Wiśniewski or Doda!
Well, it depends on the criteria. What criteria do you suggest? Should we choose Poles who are important to the whole world or those important only to Polish people like some national heroes?

Moreover, can we add people who were not native Poles like Batory? I would gladly make such a specified list and I would like to see yours.

No argument.


Rather a lot of knowledge even - those who start as outsiders often have a great thirst for it and come with very few preconceptions. Anyway, I agree, why argue? In any case we seem to be agreeing more than arguing!


Definitely. Also we can give Mandarynka a miss. Niemen and Grechuta were much better artistes but still no, much as I like Grechuta.


I think ones who had an international impact or are known outside Poland are easiest to include - Chopin and Curie are obvious examples, as are Wałęsa and JPII. For those less known (or almost unknown outside) there's probably a higher benchmark. I'd suggest lasting impact. Perhaps Prus, Osiecka, Religa, £ukasiewicz. I'd also strongly suggest Korczak, Singer and Michnik, though Jewish, since that's a long-lasting part of Poland's heritage too.

i would start to give short biographies about some persons for whom i am sure (100% sure) that deserve to be among 100 most important Slavs ever. i would also provide links from Wikipedia so that people can click and investigate for more info. Think that could be interesting.

Mikołaj Kopernik (Nicolaus Copernicus), Polish, scientist, mathematician, astronomer

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolaus_Copernicus



Man of many talents far in front of his time. Positive impact on popularization of the science and boost to creative thinking all over the Slavic world. Moral giant of his Polish people. Contribution to the entire humanity enormous. He was a renaissance mathematician and astronomer who formulated a model of the universe that placed the Sun rather than the Earth at its center. He was a polyglot and polymath, obtaining a doctorate in canon law and also practicing as a physician, classics scholar, translator, governor, diplomat. He derived a quantity theory of money - a key concept in economics. One needed not only to be ingenious but also brave to be able to defend his theories in his time.

Pyotr Velikiy (Peter the Great), Russian, ruler, Emperor, politician, statesman

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_the_Great



Altruistic man who well balanced Russian-Polish interests on vast territory from what is today`s Ukraine to the Baltic see. Side by side with Poles and coordinating with them, halted Swedish expansion onto the Slavic world. Healed the rift between divided Slavs. Violently fought against Turkish invaders that threatened not only Russia, but primarily Slavic South and, after all, entire Europe and Near East. Founded of the first Russian Navy base. Great Russian, visionary, who helped his people catch with progress and modernization. With it, strengthened Russia ultimately contributed to the image of power and vitality of entire Slavic civilization.

Nikola Tesla, Serbian, scientist, inventor, thinker

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_Tesla



It is globally accepted that Tesla represent one of most important scientist and inventors of the modern age. Revolutionary contributions in the field of electricity and magnetism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His patents and theoretical work formed the basis of modern alternating current electric power (AC) systems, including the polyphase power distribution systems and the AC motor and invention of Radio, with which he helped usher in the Second Industrial Revolution. All credits for our modern use of any kind of wireless communication and electric energy goes to Tesla. Proud Serbian, involved in Slavic circles of his time, servant of humanity. Nominated for the Nobel Prize but, he himself refused it.

Okay. I have got this.

The most important Poles in the world in my opinion:

1. Jan III Sobieski (thankfully, he stopped the spreading of Ottoman Empire)
2. Mikołaj Kopernik (heliocentrism)
3. Jan Paweł II (one of the best popes ever)
4. Adam Mickiewicz (he is considered one of the best European poets, our "Slavic bard")
5. Maria Skłodowska-Curie (radioactivity researcher, first women to win Nobel Prize)
6. Fryderyk Chopin (one of the best composers in the world)
7. Lech Wałęsa (he's very controversial for us, nonetheless he's known and important in the world)
8. Józef Piłsudski (Battle of Warsaw)
9. Jan Heweliusz (astronomy,
the founder of lunar topography)
10. Kazimierz Funk (concept of vitamins)

List of Polish people important for our country:

1. Jan III Sobieski
2. Józef Piłsudski
3. Stefan Batory (creator of husaria, defeated Ivan the Terrible)
4. Adam Mickiewicz
5. Tadeusz Kościuszko (national hero, led Kościuszko Uprising)
6. Fryderyk Chopin
7. Mieszko I (creator of the Polish state)
8. Jan Paweł II
9. Kazimierz Wielki (found Poland built in wood and left in built in stone)
10. Władysław Jagiełło (Battle of Grunwald)

The order doesn't matter. It's extremely difficult to choose only a few people when we have so many...


Thanks for this! I will gladly read.

Quite a good list - I'd agree with most of those names.


Agreed - this argument could run and run.

Crow..tesla was the smartest guy on the lists above for my money. He gets more recognition here now, used to get much less. Edisons pr machine was and is as good at pr as Teslas brain power was at science.

Tesla was a real scientist.... Edison was just JP Morgan's suka...

moved from


Have you ever heard of Nikola Tesla?

I find it very surprising if you haven't, considering you reside in the US.

;)

Tesla Monument at Goat Island, Niagara Falls, New York.


teslasociety.com/niagarafalls.htm

I reside in Warsaw. And there's a saying: jedna jaskółka wiosny nie czyni (one lark does not make spring). Even the tiniest of nations such as Slovenia. Montenegro, Liechtenstein or Andorra can point to this or that inventor or other claim to fame. But that does not change the fact that Slavs are far behind the Latinic and Germanic nations in terms of overall contributions to mankind.

What about Lech Wałęsa? Hero or traitor? Winner or loser?

Walesa? The one who was raped on London airport?

Anyway, people. Polonius is drunk or don`t have sex these days. Forgive him his nonsense.

Wojciech Kilar needs to be mentioned.

Other than that, Haylel's lists are pretty good.
ok, minus pope.

Why minus pope? Poles regard him as the greatest Pole that ever lived.