History of Poland in a pill - illustrated

Here is the briefest listing of Polish history in 10 points:

1. Baptism
2. Kings and queens
3. Golden Age
4. Decline
5. Partitions
6. Risings
7. Resurrection
8. World wars
9. Communism
10 EU.

It covers 1047 years. Not bad.

Pawian, are you looking for other PF members to add illustrations?

I found this one for baptism; a mural in Gniezno:

Yes! With great pleasure! Everybody is welcome! I don`t hold a monopoly on illustrating PF. :):):)


Wow! I didn`t know this one though I once visited the cathedral.
Must be somehow hidden from the public.
Or it is a modern creation. :):):)

Definitely contemporary. Originally Jan Matejko's depiction of the Christianization of Poland came to mind but as you can see the christening itself isn't the main focus of the work.

Christianization of Poland - Jan Matejko

Another angle - A Vatican State stamp from 1966 depicts Mieszko who adopted Christianity for Poland and his Czech wife, Dobrawa.



It seems she played quite a role in converting her husband. Women rule!!
The baptism of Poland refers to the ceremony when the first ruler of the Polish state, Mieszko I, his wife, Dobrawa of Bohemia, and his court, converted to the Christian religion.[7][4] Dobrawa, a zealous Christian, played a significant role in promoting Christianity in Poland, and might have had significant influence on converting Mieszko himself.[1][5]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianization_of_Poland

A good history of the Polish state. Let's try a history of the Polish Nation, which is quite different:

1. Baptism. Mieszko, a tribal duke of unknown ethnicity, forces baptism onto his tribe of uknown name (there is no scientific proof that Polanie ever existed in western Poland). No Polish Nation at that time.

2. Kings and queens. The beginning of the Polish Nation. Some knights begin to think of themselves in broader terms than feudal lords and tribal leaders - as Poles. Most kings and queens are not Polish, but are chosen by Polish knights to rule over the domain. Only the knights (probably less than 1% of the population) belong to the Polish Nation.

3. Golden Age. Rapid growth of the Polish Nation. It now consists exclusively of szlachta - about 8% of all inhabitants of the Commonwealth. 92% of the population are non-Poles. Peasants, Jews, city dwellers are not considered Poles or Polish in any way. The Polish Nation is not ethnic as many of the nobles are not ethnic Poles in contemporaty sense.

4. Decline. The Polish Nation (szlachta) goes nuts. It introduces liberum veto which makes it difficult to collect taxes, reform and defend the state. It elects as king a Swede who starts wars with Sweden (the Deluge).

5. Partitions. The Polish Nation still consists of 8% of the population. The Constitution of May 3 tries to expand the Polish Nation, introduce taxation of szlachta and raise an army, but it's too late.

6. Risings. Rapid decline of the Polish Nation. The partitioning powers take away szlachta's privilages reducing its numbers to about 4% of the population. Decapitated szlachta tries to regain privilages and state sovereignty in 2 uprisings. 96% of the population, however, does not join the remnants of szlachta in uprisings.

7. Resurrection. At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century the remnants of szlachta evolve into Polish intelligentsia. The abolition of serfdom and free education for peasants creates Poles out of peasants. Peasants stop thinking of themselves as local serfs and discover they are free Poles just like szlachta used to be. Polishness is understood now ethnically. The Polish Nation was thus created little more than 100 years ago.

8. World wars. The newly created ethnic Polish Nation regains sovereignty after World War I. However, over 30% of the population is ethnically non-Polish. The new concept of the Polish Nation arises: all citizens of Poland belong to the Polish Nation (despite attempts of Dmowski and nationalists who prefered ethnic concept of Polishness).

9. Communism. German Holocaust and Soviet ethnic cleansing create Poland practically without ethnic minorities for the first time in Polish history. The Polish Nation is a political nation and at the same time an ethnic nation.

10 EU. Poland loses 2 million citizens who prefer a better place to live. Since 2007, 2500 schools were closed in Poland due to lack of students.

Wow! It is a good one! Thanks.

However, you do you so often repeat the phrase about Polish nation being non-existent or minority:


Do you feel bitter about sth or what?

So the partitioning powers did Poland a favor?

Why do you think so?

You missed Polish 3rd May Constitution which gave rights to peasants but was abolished by Russia and others through partitions.

Both from justice, humanity and Christian duty, as from our own self-interest properly understood, we accept under the protection of the law and of the national government the agricultural folk, from under whose hand flows the most copious source of the country's wealth, and who constitute the most numerous populace in the nation and hence the greatest strength of the country, and we determine that henceforth whatever liberties, assignments or agreements squires authentically agree to with peasants of their estates, whether those liberties, assignments and agreements be done with groups or with individual inhabitants of a village, shall constitute a mutual obligation, in accordance with the true sense of the conditions and provisions contained in such assignments and agreements, subject to the protection of the national government. [...]

en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_May_3,_1791

Declaration of 3rd May Constitution:

Thanks for pointing that out Pawian; I didn't know that. But what about the other partitions? Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Prussia try to abolish serfdom in 1794 through the "allgemeines preussisches Landrecht" already and then introduce the "Preussische Agrarverfassung" in 1798 to free the peasants for example?

In Eastern Orthodox iconography St. Helen, Mother of Emperor Constantine, Equal of the Apostles and her son are usually depicted together and she is regarded as having influenced him as well

antiochian.org/node/18634

After St. Constantine became the sole ruler of the Western Roman Empire, he issued the Edict of Milan in 313 which guaranteed religious tolerance for Christians. St. Helen, who was a Christian, may have influenced him in this decision. In 323, when he became the sole ruler of the entire Roman Empire, he extended the provisions of the Edict of Milan to the Eastern half of the Empire. After three hundred years of persecution, Christians could finally practice their faith without fear.

Empress Helen is also recognized in the RCC as a saint (but often alone in statues and paintings of her). She is buried in Rome. It would be very interesting if centuries later Dobrawa learned of Helen and was inspired by her in anyway. Being of the literate classes I imagine she did hear of her so it wouldn't be surprising if there was a strong desire by Dobrawa and other royal figures of the day to emulate once great historical ruling figures right down to choice of religious beliefs.

TheOther, are you trying to find excuses for wiping a country off the map? If yes, then it's pretty lame, imho.

No, we were simply discussing serfdom and whether Astoria's statements that "the abolition of serfdom and free education for peasants creates Poles out of peasants" and "the Polish Nation was thus created little more than 100 years ago" are correct. Mentioning Prussia in a historical context isn't anti-Polish, Paulina. It's actually pretty lame to assume that... ;)

I didn't write anything about "anti-Polish". Sorry, but after reading this "So the partitioning powers did Poland a favor?" I suddenly remembered all those discussions I and other Poles had with Russians and some Russians were doing just that. And since you have German roots and always defend Germany and Germans... A knee-jerk reaction on my part, I guess :)

Nah, not defending. I'm trying to correct biased views on occasions, that's all. Must be a...


...as well. :)

Who knows?

As for baptism, it is interesting to know what pagan Slavs worshipped in pre-christian era.

E.g.,
Swiatowid

and oak trees and celebrated Night of Kupala, whose atmosphere must have resembled that of today`s carnival in Brazil.



No wonder, things didn`t go so smoothly with conversion. There were pagan risings (first in Poland!) in 11 century. Rulers ordered to deprive restive pagans of their teeth if they didn`t want to fast.

@Pawian

I would be interested in your answer: how do Polish historians see the Prussian role in the abolition of serfdom (see post #10)?

Those acts you are talking about didn`t introduce freedom to peasants in Prussian occupied Poland - their subjection was abolished in 1807 (except Poznań region in 1823).


Well, what do you expect? That Polish historians are enthusiastic about it? :):)
Yes, it is admitted the Prussian occupiers were the first partition party to abolish serfdom in occupied Poland.

But still Polish acts had been earlier. First, 3 May Constitution, then the Połaniec Declaration by Tadeusz Kosciuszko:


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proclamation_of_Połaniec


Are you satisfied?

Have we finished with baptism? Can we move to

I would have expected that Polish historians (and politicians) had developed a more neutral view on Prussia and the other partioning powers by now. Selling "evil oppressors" to the general public is of course much easier than to admit that the partitioning powers were not as evil as people were told since the end of WW2 (or maybe even WW1)...


Kind of. Since you are a history teacher, I thought I would get a little more information on how this part of Polish history is handled in schools and on a political level.

More neutral view? :):):) Joke.

One day ,when I get to Partitions Chapter, we can talk about germanisation and russification policies adopted by the most aggressive and determined occupiers. Only Austrian partition zone was the bearable one, with Polish politicians even becoming Prime Ministers of Austria. Prussian/German and Russian partitions were real occupations and Polish historians don`t have to be more neutral . :):):)

Come on - the partitions lasted for 5 or 6 generations. You seriously want to tell me that no positive development whatsoever occured during that time span and that everything was solely aimed at oppressing the Poles and making their life miserable? That sounds like propaganda.


Not occupied, Pawian ... annexed. Talking about Polish historians... :)

Of course not. It is natural there was development. But having had their 3 May Constitution reforms put in practice and not invaded by our neighbours, Poles would have developed on their own in a better way than they did under occupation. Don`t you understand it?


When you introduce your troops and administration to control the country, it is occupation first of all. When the act is accepted by other international bodies, it becomes a politically correct annexation.

Allow me to refrain from PC for a while. :):):)

So, Poles in Prussia and Russia felt like Ukrainians before in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth?

Be patient.


:):)


Some kings had funny names/nicks.

Władysław Elbow-High





facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.285206498280063.1073741830.117147018419346&type=3

I wonder how many cultures have a version of this story. The Muslims tell of Muhammad and Abu Bakr's flight from Mecca. Pursued by Meccan soldiers, led by Satan himself, they sheltered the first night in a cave, and Allah caused a spider to weave a web over the entrance, thus fooling their pursuers into believing the cave was unoccupied.

As I remember, he had quite a lot to do with Wiślica. Have you seen the excavations behind the church there?

Very interesting. It only proves we are all the children of the same planet.

@Jon357
The last time I visited Wiślica was in 2007. But going to Busko Zdrój for vacation this year, I think we will drop by.

Why do you say that Polish nation was created only 100 years ago, when in chapter King and Quines you write "Kings and queens. The beginning of the Polish Nation." ?

Greeks and Romans had also slaves and It doesn't mean that their nation was not existing.


According to this definition polish peasants were part of the nation.

But slaves weren`t considered nation. The same with Poland - only royals and nobility were nation for a long time here.


Tell it to the Polish magnates and szlachta a few hundred years ago. :):) I assure you they wouldn't be so enthusiastic about it. You might end up fighting a duel with an annoyed noble.


Casimir the Great found a Poland made of wood and left it made of stone". in 14 century. Considered one of the greatest kings of Poland.



Till today we can see his production:



etc etc


1525, Polish king Sigismund Old receives homage from the Prussian prince:



en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prussian_Homage

This plaque in Krakow`s Market Square reminds of the event



Sigismund Old`s son, Sigisimund August, fell in love and married a woman against his mother`s and ruling class members` wish, causing a great scandal.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Radziwi%C5%82%C5%82

The young wife was allegedly poisoned and the king never got over her death.



See their story in a nice 1980s Polish film trailer:

youtu.be/o_H3jU4Qwbk

Merged:

The Struggles for Poland

Just an fyi I was able to find the DVD for the 1988 PBS Series The Struggles for Poland (Neal Ascherson) here store.earthstation1.com/the-struggles-for-poland-dvd-set-all-9-shows-5-dis95.html