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Wroclaw, Poland: the capital of Polish Silesia
proud of its Roman - Catholic
past, present and future
On
the territory of the oldest Europe's civilization to the east of what
was later named by the Germans 'limes Sorabicus', over thousands of
years emerged autochthonic nations of West Slavs. Only Poles and Czechs
created their own states and survived the Drang nach Osten
extermination. All began ca 5 000 BC as documented by archaeological evidence linked to Goseck, Ayrthra, Nickern, Sleza and numerous other discoveries of the following cultures 4 000 - 1 800: Linear Pottery culture, 3 500: Lengyel culture, 3 500 - 3000: Funnelbeaker culture, 2 500: Globular Amphora culture, 2 000: Corded Ware culture (Indo-European invasion), 1900: Bell-Beaker culture, 1 800: Marszowice (Marschwitz) group of the Corded Ware culture (Protoslavic), 1 800 - 1 500: Unetice Culture, 1 500 - 1 300: pre-Lusatian Culture, 1 300 – 500: Lusatian Culture (pre-Slavic), 400 –0 The Hallstatt and La Tène Cultures of the Celts influences, 400 BC –500 AD Przeworsk culture (early Slavic) of Slavic Lugii or Veneds, ca 400 AD occasionally invaded by roaming Germanic hordes. After 500 AD, an ethnic and linguistic group the West Slavic culture – the Lechites who inherited areas of compact settlement east of Elbe (Laba) still homologous but facing the threat of extermination by the Germans, created separate unions, or nations like the Polish nation of Polans, Slezans, Pomeranians, Vistulans, Mazovians and other minor tribes under rule of the clan of Piasts. The fertile area that stretches from Mt Sleza (of what all Silesia took its name) to to the large Odra River Valley was a cradle of evolution for the West Slavic Slezans tribe. At the crossroads of north-south (via ambra, Amber Road) and west-east (via regia, High Road) trade routes, the Slezans' prince Wrocisław (Vratislav) established fortified settlements on Odra river islets, named after him Wroclaw (Vratislavia, Wratislavia). By the end of the first millennium after Christ, Wroclaw was enough important to be declared one of metropolises of the mediaeval Europe, as thanks to Boleslaw I the Brave, the first king (1025) of newly created Christian Polish state (966), at the Congress of Gniezno, 7 to 15 March 1000, Wroclaw became one of four seats of Roman Catholic bishops in Poland, the other three were in Krakow, Poznan and Kolobrzeg, all subordinated to Gniezno Archbishopric. The most famous heir of Slezans tribe was Peter Wlastowic (son of Wlast, Polish: Piotr Wlostowic, 1080-1153, also known as Wlost, Wlostowic), the owner of Mt Sleza, and of the Wroclaw islets in the Odra River, including the one called Olbin after his clan's name - Swan (Olbadz in medieval Slavic languages). Peter Wlastowic belongs to the Hall of Fame of the Polish State as a victorious commander defeating enemies of Poland, genial politician, talented governor, the steadfast Pole, always driven by the interests of Poland, ally of Polabian Slavs, incomparable builder of Poland in Silesia, sinful but capable to accept a severe penance, thanks to which Silesia blossomed with magnificent buildings, Christian religion and culture. The most magnificent sacral complex founded by Peter Wlastowic on his Slezan heritage land Olbin, was St Vincent Abbey of 1139. Under false pretences of a fight against Turks, who never entered Silesia, the monastery complex was demolished by Lutherans within one month starting on 14 October 1529. Peter Wlastowic was married to Maria, daughter of the Great Prince of Kiev, great-granddaughter of st Vladimir the Great, the Baptiser of Rus, and great-great-granddaughter of the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire, Roman II Porphyrogeneta. The most impressive although rather tiny remaining out of numerous sacral buildings founded by Peter Wlast and his wife, one can admire in the Church of the Most Holy Virgin Mary on the Sand Island in Wroclaw. This is a foundation relief tympanum (1150-1160), modelled on Hagia Sofia in Constantinople, depicting Peter's widow Maria and and their son Swetoslaw offering a model church to Enthroned Madonna with the Infant Jesus. Sedes Sapientiae Wratislaviensis (the Wroclaw Throne of Wisdom) is an everlasting source of Roman Catholic faith in Wroclaw, capital of Polish Silesia. The Roman Catholic patron of Wroclaw is blessed Ceslaus OP, born in Polish Silesian town Kamien Slaski, who was a Dominican monk of such a strong faith that during a Mongol invasion of Europe, which was stopped in Battle of Legnica on 9 April 1241, reportedly attempted to convert the invaders to Christian faith, with fervent prayers saved a substantial part of Wroclaw, and in spite of the defeat of Silesians under the command of the Polish prince Henry II the Pious of Silesia, who was killed under Legnica, the Mongols stopped their conquest in Europe. As a result of disastrous fragmentation of Poland and hostile acts against Polish rule in Silesia, the German king of Bohemia, Johann der Blinde von Luxemburg, an ally of Teutonic Order, invaded Silesia in 1327. That time the last independent prince from Polish Piast dynasty was Bolko II- a grandson of King Ladislaus I the Short of Poland and a cousin of Ladislaus's successor, King Casimir III the Great of Poland. Bolko was famous of his pride of being Polish prince who despised the sinful traitors of Poland. Polish Piast Bolko II, the last independent prince of Silesia died on 28 Jul 1368. The Holy Mass to commemorate the death anniversary of prince Bolko II is celebrated at the Our Lady of Good Counsel and Wisdom of the Heart Slezan Sanctuary in Sulistrowiczki, 42 kms south of Wroclaw, Poland, every year, the first Sunday after 28 July, at high noon. |
Equestrian statue of Boleslaw Chrobry, Wroclaw, Poland
Wroclaw, Polish Silesia, city core 1588 - 1597
detailed, full size of the poster shown below
bmp file, 23 MB
pdf file, 2 MB
