HistoryHistoryofof

PolandPoland

Once upon a time, over a thousand years ago, when the area of today’s Poland was covered with Once upon a time, over a thousand years ago, when the area of today’s Poland was covered with thick and wild forests, there lived three brothers. Their names were Lech, Czech and Rus.thick and wild forests, there lived three brothers. Their names were Lech, Czech and Rus.

One day they decided to leave their parents and village and, accompanied by their servants and One day they decided to leave their parents and village and, accompanied by their servants and warriors, look for a new place to settle down and start a new life.warriors, look for a new place to settle down and start a new life.

For many days they wandered together, but finally understood that they could never find a piece For many days they wandered together, but finally understood that they could never find a piece of land that would please all three of them. They decided to choose separate paths. Czech took of land that would please all three of them. They decided to choose separate paths. Czech took the path leading to the south, Rus – to the east and Lech went westwards.the path leading to the south, Rus – to the east and Lech went westwards.

Lech and his people made their way through the forests and they observed that with each day the Lech and his people made their way through the forests and they observed that with each day the landscapes became more and more beautiful. Finally, after many days, they came to an landscapes became more and more beautiful. Finally, after many days, they came to an exceptionally charming spot. As it was getting late, he ordered the camp to be put up for the night exceptionally charming spot. As it was getting late, he ordered the camp to be put up for the night around a huge oak tree. Suddenly, the sun started to set and covered the sky with its red flames around a huge oak tree. Suddenly, the sun started to set and covered the sky with its red flames and some strange noise could be heard, as if of the huge wings breaking the forest’s silence. The and some strange noise could be heard, as if of the huge wings breaking the forest’s silence. The warriors raised their heads and saw a huge, white eagle approaching its nest in the oak tree.warriors raised their heads and saw a huge, white eagle approaching its nest in the oak tree.

Lech understood that the place was not only beautiful, but also abundant in goods of all kinds and Lech understood that the place was not only beautiful, but also abundant in goods of all kinds and very safe. He thrust his sword in the ground under the oak tree and said: “Here I will build my very safe. He thrust his sword in the ground under the oak tree and said: “Here I will build my kingdom and around this magnificent oak tree its capital will appear. Because the eagle’s nest is kingdom and around this magnificent oak tree its capital will appear. Because the eagle’s nest is in the oak’s branches, the city will be called Gniezno (“gniazdo” is a Polish word for “nest”) and in the oak’s branches, the city will be called Gniezno (“gniazdo” is a Polish word for “nest”) and the symbol of our country will be the white eagle in the red sky.”the symbol of our country will be the white eagle in the red sky.”

966 966 The Polish state was born with the baptism of Mieszko I, duke of the The Polish state was born with the baptism of Mieszko I, duke of the

Slavic tribe of Polans and founder of the Piast dynasty. His conversion Slavic tribe of Polans and founder of the Piast dynasty. His conversion from Paganism to Christianity was Poland's first recorded historical from Paganism to Christianity was Poland's first recorded historical

event.event.

Mieszko's son Mieszko's son Bolesław the Brave Bolesław the Brave built on his father's built on his father's

achievements, for the achievements, for the first time uniting all first time uniting all the provinces that the provinces that subsequently came subsequently came

to comprise the to comprise the traditional territory traditional territory of Poland. In 1025 of Poland. In 1025 he became the first he became the first

king of Poland.king of Poland.

11381138A Period of FragmentationA Period of Fragmentation

After After Boleslaw the Boleslaw the BraveBrave died in 1138, died in 1138, however, the kingdom however, the kingdom was divided among four was divided among four of his sons, ushering in of his sons, ushering in a period of a period of fragmentation.fragmentation.

1226 1226 In 1226, Konrad I of In 1226, Konrad I of

Masovia invited the Masovia invited the Teutonic Knights to Teutonic Knights to Poland to help him fight Poland to help him fight the pagan Prussians on the pagan Prussians on the border of his lands. the border of his lands. After exterminating the After exterminating the Prussians, the Knights Prussians, the Knights turned their attention to turned their attention to Poland and Lithuania, Poland and Lithuania, waging war with them waging war with them for most of the 14th and for most of the 14th and 15th centuries.15th centuries.

1320 The End of Regional Division1320 The End of Regional Division The regional division ended when The regional division ended when

Władysław the Elbow-high united Władysław the Elbow-high united the various principalities of the various principalities of Poland. His son Kazimierz the Poland. His son Kazimierz the Great, the last of the Piast Great, the last of the Piast dynasty, considerably dynasty, considerably strengthened the country's position strengthened the country's position in both foreign and domestic in both foreign and domestic affairs. Before his death in 1370, affairs. Before his death in 1370, the sonless king arranged for his the sonless king arranged for his nephew, the Andegawen Louis of nephew, the Andegawen Louis of Hungary, to inherit the throne.Hungary, to inherit the throne.

1364 1364 . The First University in Poland. The First University in Poland

Originally founded as Originally founded as Cracow AcademyCracow Academy by by Casimir III the Great Casimir III the Great

13851385 TThe Union of Krewo was signed between he Union of Krewo was signed between

Louis' daughter Jadwiga and the Lithuanian Louis' daughter Jadwiga and the Lithuanian Grand Duke Jogaila (later known as Grand Duke Jogaila (later known as

Władysław II Jagi), beginning the Polish-Władysław II Jagi), beginning the Polish-Lithuanian Union and strengthening both Lithuanian Union and strengthening both nations in their shared opposition to the nations in their shared opposition to the

Teutonic Knights and the growing threat of Teutonic Knights and the growing threat of Muscovy.Muscovy.

ełłoełło

14101410 BATTLE OF GRUNWALD BATTLE OF GRUNWALD

In the north-west, the Teutonic Knights, in control of In the north-west, the Teutonic Knights, in control of Prussia since the 13th century, were forced after their Prussia since the 13th century, were forced after their

defeats by a combined Polish-Lithuanian force in the Battle defeats by a combined Polish-Lithuanian force in the Battle of Grunwaldof Grunwald

1506 – 1572 1506 – 1572 Poland’s Golden Age Poland’s Golden Age

In politics, it was a period of might and lack of dangers. Only a few In politics, it was a period of might and lack of dangers. Only a few wars were fought on Poland's peripheries or on Lithuania's borders. In wars were fought on Poland's peripheries or on Lithuania's borders. In

culture, it was a period of Renaissance and development of Polish-culture, it was a period of Renaissance and development of Polish-language literature. In economy, it was a period of prosperity.language literature. In economy, it was a period of prosperity.

1600 – 16991600 – 1699 The 17th-century crisis The 17th-century crisis

Period of Wars against Sweden, Russia, Turkey and the Period of Wars against Sweden, Russia, Turkey and the CossacksCossacks

16101610 The Polish army entered Moscow and The Polish army entered Moscow and

took over the Kremlintook over the Kremlin

16831683AA powerful Turkish army lay siege to Vienna, the powerful Turkish army lay siege to Vienna, the

imperial capital was relieved, thanks to Polish imperial capital was relieved, thanks to Polish assistance. The united allied armies were under the assistance. The united allied armies were under the

command of King John III Sobieskicommand of King John III Sobieski

PartitionPartition of of Poland (1795-1918) Poland (1795-1918)

Polish Polish independence independence ended in a series ended in a series of partitions of partitions (1772, 1793 and (1772, 1793 and 1795) 1795) undertaken by undertaken by Russia, Prussia Russia, Prussia and Austriaand Austria

17911791ConstitutionConstitution of May 3, the first modern of May 3, the first modern codified constitution on the European codified constitution on the European

continentcontinent

1794, 1830, 1864 1794, 1830, 1864 Polish National Uprisings - the Poles Polish National Uprisings - the Poles

launched attempts to regain independencelaunched attempts to regain independence

11 XI 1918 11 XI 1918 INDEPENDENCE REGAINED INDEPENDENCE REGAINED

13-25 VIII 1920 13-25 VIII 1920 The Battle of Warsaw The Battle of Warsaw

The Battle of Warsaw was fought from August 13 to August 25, 1920 as Red ArmyThe Battle of Warsaw was fought from August 13 to August 25, 1920 as Red Army forces forces approached the approached the Polish capital Polish capital of of Warsaw Warsaw and nearby Modlin Fortress. On August 16, and nearby Modlin Fortress. On August 16,

PolishPolish forces commanded by Józef Pilsudskiforces commanded by Józef Pilsudski counterattacked from the south, forcing the counterattacked from the south, forcing the Russian forces into a disorganised withdrawalRussian forces into a disorganised withdrawal eastward and behind the Neman River.eastward and behind the Neman River.

1 IX 1939 1 IX 1939 The German onslaught on Poland The German onslaught on Poland

started the Second World War.started the Second World War.

1944 1944 TheThe Warsaw Uprising Warsaw Uprising

After the uprising, the entire population, nearly one million people, was After the uprising, the entire population, nearly one million people, was expelled from the city (taken to concentration camps). The Germans expelled from the city (taken to concentration camps). The Germans

started destroying what was left of Warsaw.started destroying what was left of Warsaw.

19441944 TThe beginning of the Communist he beginning of the Communist

Regime in PolandRegime in Poland

1980 1980 TThe he BirthBirth of Solidarity of Solidarity

4 VI 1989 4 VI 1989 thethe “Autumn of Nations”“Autumn of Nations”

““Round – table” talks started the Round – table” talks started the process of dismantling process of dismantling the the Communist Regime in PolandCommunist Regime in Poland