Zawisza Czarny z Garbowa

(Zawisza the Black of Garbów,

also known as

The Black Knight

He served as a soldier and diplomat under the Polish king Władysław II and Hungarian-Bohemian king Sigismund of Luxembourg.

His nickname is due to his dark hair and complexion and the fact that he also wore black armor, which survives and is currently located at Jasna Góra Monastery.

In 1410 he took part in the Battle of Grunwald against the Teutonic Order . After the battle he proposed a peace treaty between the King Jagiełło of Poland and King Sigismund of Luxembourg of Hungary, which came to be known as the Treaty of Lubawa. In 1412 he participated in the conference at Buda, where he won the tournament held there, with 1500 knights present.

Jan Matejko-The battle of Grunwald

After his death, he was praised by the Polish historian Ja Długosz, the poet and Canon of Gniezno , and by King Sigismund of Luxembourg.

For many Poles, Zawisza became a popular folk hero, famed for his bravery, reliability, and loyalty. The Polish Scouts oath is "Polegać na nim jak na Zawiszy" ('to rely on him as on Zawisza').

A monument to Zawisza bears the inscription: "In Golubac, his life was taken by the Turks in 1428, the famous Polish knight, the symbol of courage and honor, Zawisza the Black. Glory to the hero!"

Several Polish football clubs and other sports teams were named after him, including, Zawisza Bydgoszcz.

The Black KnightThe most famous Polish knight of the 15th century -Zawisza Czarny (the Black) of Garbów.

He was a man of impeccable honor renowned for his valor, the glorious winner of a number of tournaments.