A reader points out that there are some terrific comic books out there put out, it seems, in the ’80s that cover various Polish legends. These include, the story of Krak and Wanda, of Popiel and finally of Piast the Wheelwright.

These stories came out in Polish but with side-by-side translations in (depending on the version) English, German, Russian and French.

This is the beginning of the story of “The Wawel Dragon and Queen Wanda”:

And here we have “König Popiel und die Mäuse”:

And finally, we have “Piast le Charron”:

The series apparently continued with more historical tales of “Mieszko I and His Son Boleslaw the Brave,” that is, Chrobry, of “Boleslaw the Wrymouthed” and “Wladyslaw the Short.”

While I’ve already posted the Piast Legend right here, Paul Knoll and Frank Schaer have recently published a new English translation of the entire Gallus Anonymous Chronicle. Most of the sources posted here are non-Slavic as they predate most Suavic polities but, in time, these polities began to put together their own stories (the so-called Gallus, Cosmas of Prague and Nestor being the three earliest for Poland, the Czech lands and Ruthenia, respectively). Hence here is the story of the beginning of Poland as told by the anonymous monk, allegedly French (hence Gallus). The story was put together at the court of Boleslaw III Wrymouth in the early 1100s.  The Latin text is below. For the rest of it, I recommend getting the full Knoll/Schaer version. The pictures are from the Zamoyski manuscript from the Polish National Library.

Piast’s homestead – the comic book version

Here Begin the Chronicles and Deeds

of the Dukes, or Princes, of the Poles

First: the Introduction

Many a king and many a duke throughout this wide world performs deeds of note beyond counting, but for the neglect and scorn of the learned, or perhaps for the lack of them, these have been buried in silence. I have therefore thought it worth the while, for all my poor style, to record something of the exploits of the Polish princes, in honor of one of the most glorious and victorious of dukes, by name Boleslaw, rather than to leave posterity no record at all of deeds worth imitating. In particular, too, because he was born by the gift of God and the prayers of St. Giles, thanks to whom, as we believe, he was blessed with good fortune and ever victorious. But as the country of the Poles is far from the routes of travelers, and known to few apart from persons crossing to Russia for the purposes of trade, let no one think it out of place if this subject is briefly discussed, nor regard it as burdensome if a description of the whole is given rather than the part.

Starting from the north, then, Poland is the northernmost part of Slavonia; it borders to the east on Russia, to the south on Hungary, towards the east on Moravia and Bohemia, and to the west on Denmark and Saxony. On the Northern Sea, or Sea of Amphitryon, it has as neighbors three most savage nations of pagan barbarians, Selencia, Pomerania, and Prussia, and the duke of the Poles is constantly at war with these countries, fighting to convert them to the faith. But neither has the sword of preaching been able to sway their hearts from faithlessness, nor the sword at their throats wipe out this generation of vipers9 in its entirety. Yet often their leaders when defeated in battle by the Polish duke have taken refuge in baptism, only to deny the Christian faith when they recovered their strength and to take up arms afresh against the Christians. Even farther away and within the arms of Amphltryon are other barbarous pagan nations, as well as uninhabitable islands where there is perpetual

(1) Duke Popel,* Called Choscisko

In the city of Gniezno (whose name means ‘nest’ in Slavic) lived a duke named Popiel, who had two sons. Now when the time came for the cutting of their hair – a custom among the pagans – he prepared a great banquet and invited large numbers of his nobles and friends. But by God’s secret plan it happened that two strangers arrived there. However, not only were they not invited to join the banquet but they were treated injuriously and driven away from the entrance of the city. Disgusted by the rudeness of the townsmen, they made their way forthwith down into the suburb, where by chance and by fortune they found themselves before a little cottage belonging to a plowman of the aforesaid duke, who was about to make a banquet for his sons. Although just a poor man, he was kind. He invited the strangers into his cottage and most warmly offered them his modest means. They accepted the poor man’s invitation with pleasure and, as they entered the hut, they said: ‘May you truly be glad we have come, and may our arrival bring you abundance of good things, and honor and glory in your offspring!’

[* note: There are two versions of the name: Popel and, in chapter 3, Pumpil]

(2) Pazt the Son of Chościsco*

There were two domestics in the house, by name Pazt the son of Choscisko and Rzepka** his wife, who with heartfelt goodwill ministered to the needs of their guests, as best they might. When they saw how wise they were, they thought to bring about something secret, if such there was, with their advice. So when they were seated and were talking about this and that as usually happens, the strangers asked if there was any drink to be had; then their good host the plowman said, ‘I have a jar of fermented ale, which I brewed for the cutting of my only son’s hair. But what use is such a small amount? Drink it if you will.’ For this poor peasant had earlier decided to make ready a few dishes to celebrate his own boy’s hair-cutting at the same time as his lord the duke was preparing a banquet in honor of his sons*** (for he could not do so at any other time because he was so poor). He had been planning to invite some of his friends and poor people to dinner, or rather to share a breakfast. He had also been fattening a piglet and keeping it for the same occasion. What I am going to say will amaze you – but whose thoughts can encompass the marvelous works of God, or who would venture to question His goodness? For at times He exalts the poor and humble in this world and does not disdain to reward even pagans for their hospitality. Well, the guests had no qualms in ordering the ale to be served, for they well knew that the ale would not run out but go on increasing the more they sampled it. And Indeed, we are told, the ale kept on increasing,

Till the cups that passed among them were all brimful every round
Even those the duke’s companions earlier had empty found.

They ordered the piglet to be slaughtered too, whereupon – marvelous to relate – ten buckets (in Slavic, cebri) are reported to have been filled from it. When Pazt and Rzepka saw these miraculous things happening, they realized that something of great significance was being foretold for the boy.

So the duke and all his fellows they were minded to invite, yet they did not dare to do so until they had asked the strangers’ advice first. Well, to put it briefly, the two guests counseled and urged them to do so, and Pazt the farmer invited their lord the duke and all his guests, nor did the duke disdain to accept the invitation from his peasant. For the duchy of Poland had not yet grown so mighty, nor was the prince of the city so haughty and swollen with pride, strutting in pomp amid crowds of retainers. So the feasting began as a feast should, with everything laid on in abundance, and the (two) guests cut the boy’s hair, and in presage of the future they gave him the name Siemowit.****

[* note: The name Pazt or Past as in chapter 3 is the form that appears in Anonymous. The etymology may be from OCS pasti or Old Polish pastwić that is “to nourish, feed,” or Latin pascere. The version Piast appears first in Marcin Kromer. This entire section may be a later addition as Pazt/Past/Piast is now identified as the son of Choscisko (who, we were told in the prior chapter was the nickname of Popiel, Piast’s duke).]
[**Rzepka is likely a diminutive for the nickname “turnip.”]
[***note: this is confusing because we were just told that Piast had only one son.]
[**** note: the name may mean “our lord” – compare with the Russia ‘semia’ or OCS ‘simuja’ (household members) or, for that matter, with the Semnones of the Suevi or the duke Semno of the Logiones in Zosimus’ history. The suffix -vit refers to ‘lord’ or ‘master’ or ‘hero’. It is cognate with the Lithuanian and Baltic versions such as Vytautas and the Baltic Witland of Albert’s Orosius’ Wulfstan and Ohthere fame. This -vit is cognate too with the Italian Guido and the German Wido.]

(3) The Duke Samouithay Called Siemowit, the Son of Pazt

After the events described, the boy Siemowit, the son of Pazt Chościsko, increased In age and strength, and his excellence grew ever day by day until the King of Kings and Duke of Dukes in harmony made him duke of Poland, and he rid the kingdom once and for all of Pumpil and all his progeny. Venerable persons of old tell a further story, that after this Pumpil was driven from the kingdom he was beset by a horde of rats, and so plagued that his followers ferried him over to an island. However, these horrible creatures even swam over there. For a while he kept himself safe in a wooden tower. But as the stench from the multitude of dead vermin grew, finally he was abandoned by all, and he died a vile and shameful death, gnawed to pieces by these monsters. But let us pass over the story of the deeds of men stained by error and idolatry, lost to memory in the oblivion of ages, and turn to recount those whose memory has been preserved in faithful record, and briefly list their names. So once Siemowit became prince he did not waste his youth foolishly in pleasure, but by his steady efforts won both fame for martial prowess and the glory of honor, and extended the boundaries of the realm farther than anyone previously. And on his passing he was succeeded by his son Leszek, whose prowess and boldness in martial deeds equaled his father’s. And when Leszek died, his son Siemomysł succeeded him, who increased threefold the memory of his ancestors both in nobility and dignity.

(4) The Blindness of Mieszko, the Son of Duke Siemomysl

Siemomysł’s son was the great and memorable Mieszko, the first of that name, who was blind for the first seven years of his life. But when his seventh birthday came around, the boy’s father, following custom, called a gathering of his comites and other princes to celebrate a grand and lavish banquet. Yet as they feasted, no one remarked how he did but sigh from the bottom of his heart for the blindness of his son – thinking, it would seem, of the sadness and shame of it. But while the others rejoiced and clapped their hands, as the custom was, a new joy augmented their joy, for it became clear that the blind boy had recovered his sight. But his father would not believe anyone who told him the news, until his mother rose from the feast and went to the boy’s room, and cut the knot of his father’s doubt when she presented the boy who now could see all the seated company. Then indeed everyone’s happiness was complete when the boy recognized those whom he had never seen, turning the shame of his blindness to indescribable joy. Then Duke Siemomysł questioned the older and wiser among those present carefully, asking whether some portent was indicated by the boy’s blindness and the recovery of his sight. Their explanation was that as he had once been blind, so too Poland had, as it were, been blind before; but in time to come, they prophesied, Poland would be illuminated by Mieszko and exalted over all the neighboring nations. And indeed, this is what came to pass. However, another interpretation could have been given. For Poland was indeed blind before, for she knew neither the worship of the true God nor the teachings of the Faith; but when Mieszko was enlightened Poland was enlightened too, because when he came to believe, the people of Poland were saved from the death of unbelief. For it was a fitting progression that Almighty God first restored to Mieszko his corporeal vision and then gave him spiritual sight, so that he might pass from visible things to the understanding of invisible ones, and through knowledge of His works gain some inkling of the omnipotence of the Artisan. But why let the wheel run ahead of the cart? As it was, Siemomysł grew old and weak, and he bade the world a last farewell.

Incipiunt Cronice et Gesta Ducum

Sive Principum Polonorum

Primo Prohemium

Quoniam orbis terrarum in universitate spaciosa a regibus ac ducibus plurimis plurima memorabilia geruntur, que fastidiosa negligentia philosophorum, forsitan inopia, silencio conteguntur, opere pretium duximus quasdam res gestas Polonicorum principum gratia cuiusdam gloriosissimi ducis ac victoriosissimi nomine Bolezlaui stilo puerili pocius exarare, quam ex toto posterorum memorie nichil imitabile reservare. Ob hoc etiam maxime, quod Dei dono precibusque sancti Egidij natus fuit, per quem, ut credimus, bene fortunatus, semperque victoriosus extitit. Sed quia regio Polonorum ab itineribus peregrinorum est remota, et nisi transeuntibus in Rusiam pro mercimonio paucis nota, si breviter inde disseratur nulli videatur absurdum, et si pro parte describendo totum inducatur, nemo reputet onerosum. Igitur ab aquilone Polonia septemtrionalis pars est Sclauonie, que habet ab oriente Rusiam, ab austro Vngariam, a subsolano Morauiam et Bohemiam, ab occidente Daciam et Saxonlam collaterales. Ad mare autem septemtrionale vel amphitrionale tres habet affines barbarorum gentilium ferocissimas naciones, Selenciam, Pomoraniam et Pruziam, contra quas regiones Polonorum dux assidue pugnat, ut eas ad fidem convertat. Sed nec gladio predicacionis cor eorum a perfidia potuit revocari, nec gladio iugulationis eorum penitus vipperalis progenies aboleri. Sepe tamen principes eorum a duce Poloniensi prelio superati ad baptismum confugerunt, itemque collectis virlbus fldem christianam abnegantes contra christianos bellum denuo paraverunt. Sunt etiam ultra eas et infra brachia amphitrionis alie barbare gentilium naciones et insule inhabitabiles, ubi perpetua nix est et glacies. Igitur terra Sclauonlca ad aquilonem hiis regionibus suis partialiter divisivis sive constitutivis existens, a Sarmaticis, qui et Gete vocantur, in Daciam et Saxoniam terminatur, a Tracia autem per Ungariam ab Hunis, qui et Ungari dicuntur, quondam occupatam, descendendo per Carinthiam in Bauariam diffinitur; ad austrum vero iuxta mare mediterraneum ab Epyro derivando per Dalmatiam, Crouaciam et Hystriam finibus maris Adriatici terminata, ubi Venetia et Aquileia consistit, ab Hytalia sequestratur. Que regio quamvis multum sit nemorosa, auro tamen et argento, pane et carne, pisce et melle satis est copiosa, et in hoc plurimum aliis preferenda, quod cum a tot supradictis gentibus et christianis et gentilibus sit vallata et a cunctis insimul et a singuiis multociens inpugnata, nunquam tamen ab ullo fuit penitus subiugata. Patria ubi aer salubris, ager fertilis, silva melliflua, aqua piscosa, milites bellicosi, rustici laboriosi, equi durabiles, boves arabiles, vacce lactose, oves lanose. Sed ne digressionem nimium prolixam fecisse videamur, ad intentionis nostre propositum revertamur. Est autem intencio nostra de Polonia et duce principaliter Bolezlao describere eiusque gratia quedam gesta predecessorum digna memoria recitare. Nunc ergo sic ordiri materiam incipiamus, ut per radicem ad ramum arboris ascendamus. Qualiter ergo ducatus honor generacionl huic accident, subsequens ordo narratlonis intimabit.

(1) De Duce Popelone Dicto Chosisco 

Erat namque in civitate Gneznensi, que nidus interpretatur sclauonice, dux nomine Popel, duos filios habens, qui more gentilitatis ad eorum tonsuram grande convivium preparavit, ubi plurimos suorum procerum et amicorum invitavit. Contigit autem ex occulto Dei consilio duos iiluc hospites advenisse, qui non solum ad convivium non invitati, verum eciam a civitatis introitu cum iniuria sunt redacti. Qui statim civium illorum inhumanitatem abhorrentes et in suburbium descendentes, ante domunculam aratoris predicti ducis pro filiis convivium facientls, forte fortuna devenerunt. Ille vero bone compassionis pauperculus hospites illos ad suam domunculam invitavit, suamque paupertatem eis benignissime presentavit. At illi pauperis invitationi gratanter inclinantes et hospitalitatis tugurium subeuntes: bene, inquiunt, nos advenisse gaudeatis et in nostro adventu bonorum copiam et de sobole honorem et gloriam habeatls.

(2) De Pazt Filio Chosisconis

Erant enim hosplcii domestici Pazt filius Chossistconis et uxor eius Repca vocabulo nuncupati, qui cum magno cordls affectu pro posse suo hospitum necessitati mlnistrare sathagebant, eorumque prudentlam intuentes, secretum, sl quid erat, cum eorum consilio perficere disponebant. Cumque de more residentes colloquerentur de plurimis et peregrini, an ibi potus aliquid habeatur, inquirerent, arator hospitalis respondit: est, inquit, mihi vasculum cervisie fermentate, quam pro cesarie filii quem habeo unici tondenda preparavi. Sed quid prodest hoc tantillum, si libeat ebibatis. Decreverat enim rusticus ille pauper, quando dominus suus dux pro filiis convivium prepararet, nam in alio tempore pre nimia paupertate non posset, aliquid obsonii pro suo tondendo parvulo preparare et quosdam amicorum et pauperum non ad prandium sed ad gentaculum invitare; qui etiam porcellum nutriebat, quem ad illud servitium reservabat. Mira dicturus sum, sed quis valet Dei magnalia cogitare, vel quis audet de divinis beneficiis disputare; qui temporaliter pauperum humilitatem aliquociens exaltat4et hospitalitatem etiam gentilium remunerare non recusat. Imperant igitur cum hospites securi cervisiam propinari, quam bene noverant pitissando non deficere sed augeri. Usque adeo enim crevisse fertur cervisia,

Donec vasa mutuata replerentur omnia
Et que ducis convivantes invenere vacua.

Precipiunt et porcellum supradictum occidi, unde X situle, sclauonice cebri, mirabile dictu memorantur adimpleri. Visis igitur Pazt et Repca miraculis que fiebant, aliquid magni presagii de puero sentiebant. lamque ducem et convivas invitare cogitabant sed non audebant, nisi prius peregrinos de hoc inquirant. Quid moramur? Consilio itaque hospitum et exhortatione dominus eorum dux et convive omnes ipsius ab agricola Pazt invitantur, neque rustico suo dux invitatus condescendere dedignatur. Nondum enim ducatus Polonie erat tantus, neque princeps urbis tanto fastu superbie tumescebat, nec tot cuneis clientele stipatus ita magnifice procedebat. Inito de more convivio et habundanter omnibus apparatis, hospites illi puerum totonderunt, eique Semouith vocabulum ex presagio futurorum indiderunt.

(3) De Duce Samouithay Qui Dicitur Semouith, Filio Past

Hiis itaque peractis puer Semouith, films Pazt Chossistconis viribus et etate crevit et de die in diem in augmentum proficere probitatis incepit, eotenus quod rex regum et dux ducum eum Polonie ducem concorditer ordinavit et de regno Pumpil cum sobole radicitus exstirpavit. Narrant etiam seniores antiqui, quod iste Pumpil a regno expulsus, tantam a muribus persecutionem paciebatur, quod ob hoc a suis consequentibus in insulam transportatus et ab illis feris pessimis illuc transnatantibus in turre lignea tam diu sit defensus, donec pre fetore pestifere multitudinis interempte ab omnibus derelictus, morte turpissima, monstris corrodentibus, expiravit. Sed istorum gesta, quorum memoriam oblivio vetustatis abolevit et quos error et ydolatria defedavit, memorare negligamus et ad ea recitanda, que fldelis recordatio meminit, istos succincte nominando transeamus. Semouith vero principatum adeptus non voluptuose vel inepte iuventutem suam exercuit, sed usu laboris et militie probitatis famam et honoris gloriam acquisivit, atque sui principatus fines ulterius quam aliquis antea dilavit. Cuius loco decedentis Lestik fllius eius subintravit, qui paterne probitati et audacie gestis sese militaribus adequavit. Lestik quoque morienti Semimizl eius genitus successit, qui parentum memoriam et genere et dignitate triplicavit.

(4) De Cecitate Meschonis Filii Zemimizl Ducis

Hic autem Semimizl magnum et memorandum Meschonem progenuit, qui primus nomine vocatus illo, VII annis a nativitate cecus fuit. VII vero recurrente nativitatis eius anniversario, pater pueri more solito convocata comitum aliorumque suorum principum concione, copiosam epulacionem et sollempnem celebrabat et tantum inter epulas pro cecitate pueri, quasi doloris et verecundie memor, latenter ab imo pectore suspirabat. Aliis equidem exultantibus et palmis ex consuetudine plaudentibus, letitia alia aliam cumulavit, que visum recepisse cecum puerum indicavit. At pater nulli nuntianti hoc credidit, donec mater de convivio exsurgens ad puerum introivit, que patri nodum ambiguitatis amputavit, cunctisque residentibus videntem puerum presentavit. Tunc demum cunctis leticia plena fuit, cum puer illos, quos numquam viderat, recognovit, sueque cecitatis ignominiam in gaudium inextricabile commutavit. Tunc Semimizl dux seniores et discreciores, qui aderant, subtiliter sciscitatur, si quid prodigii per cecitatem et illuminacionem pueri designatur. Ipsi vero per cecitatem Poloniam sic antea fuisse quasi cecam indicabant, sed de cetero per Meschonem illuminandam et exaltandam super naciones contiguas prophetabant. Quod et ita se habuit, at aliter tamen interpretari potuit. Vere Polonia ceca prius erat, que nec culturam veri Dei nec doctrinam fidei cognoscebat, sed per Meschonem illuminatum est et ipsa illuminata, quia eo credente Polonica gens de morte infidelitatis est exempta. Ordine enim competenti Deus omnipotens visum prius Meschoni corporalem restituit, et postea spiritalem adhibuit, ut per visibilia ad invisibilium agnicionem penetraret et per rerum noticiam ad artificis omnipotenciam suspicaret. Sed cur rota currum precurrit? Semimizl autem senio confectus extremum vale mundo fecit.