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Post by Bonobo on Feb 10, 2019 11:00:14 GMT 1
The popular opinion is that Krakow is the capital of Polish cultural national heritage and as such should be left in peace when Polish fight for freedom is at stake. However, there were moments in history when Krakow did nobly stand up to various enemies and occupants. Warsaw is considered the be the greatest heroic city in Poland because it was a major participant in numerous wars, risings and occupations which caused horrible losses, both human and material. However, Krakow also had a few heroic moments in history! The first act of heroic struggle for freedom was the Tartar siege and legendary trumpeter who saved the city. Read this story www.anglik.net/polish_legends_trumpeter.htm Polish Legends, Folklore, Myths and Stories Polish Legend : The Trumpeter of Krakow ( Cracow ) In Cracow (Krakow), the ancient capital of Poland, there is a Church in the Market Square. It is a tall, graceful building built of brick, in the Gothic style, with a richly adorned interior. It had two towers, one of which is a little higher than the other and more ornate. From the taller tower a fanfare is played by a trumpeter, every hour. It is repeated four times, but always ends abruptly, on a broken note. Here is the legend behind this tradition: One day in the 13th century, an old watchman, keeping watch over the city of Cracow saw in the distance a cloud of dust which grew bigger with every passing moment. It was a large army of Tatars galloping towards the city. These invaders from the east had more than once advanced to Krakow and even farther, and they had pillaged and burned, looted and murdered and carried off the people to be slaves. There was only one thing the trumpeter watchman could do. He must play the Hejnal, over and over. That would surely arouse the citizens, they would certainly be aware of approaching danger. So he played, again and again. At first the people of Krakow were puzzled. But eventually they realised that an attack was imminent.
Away on the far meadows the Tartar warriors were mounting their horses and drawing their swords. But already the old watchman could see the Polish archers arriving.
The archers took up their positions along the battlements as the tartars galloped towards the city. But by now the Polish arrows were flying. They rained down on the tartar invaders, wave after wave. Eventually the Tartars were forced to retreat, and Cracow was saved from the Mongols!
When the joy over the victory died down they realised that the trumpeter who had warned them was nowhere top be seen. So one of his friends went to look for him. Howevr, when he reached the tower he found that disaster had struck. A single Tartar arrow had pierced the old watchman' s throat and he had died. The trumpet was still clasped in his hands ready to blast out a final note.
The Cracovians would never forget the act of the old trumpeter watchman, and it was decreed that a bugle call should be played each day in memory of the hero. And so for hundreds of years the 'hejnal' has rung out over Cracow's rooftops for the noble watchman who saved the city. pbs.twimg.com/media/DoDSmbjXoAIi0Aj.jpg [/img]
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 10, 2019 11:01:49 GMT 1
Now, seriously. The next severe siege took place in 1587 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Krak%C3%B3w_(1587) Siege of Kraków (1587)
Grand Hetman of the Crown, Jan Zamoyski, led the defence of Kraków in 1587 The 1587 Siege of Kraków took place between 14 October and 29 November 1587, after the contested Polish–Lithuanian royal election, 1587, which resulted in a double selection of opposing candidates - Zygmunt Waza was elected by the nobility on the 19th of August, while another faction of the gentry chose Maximilian III, Archduke of Austria on the 22nd of August. Maximillian attempted to enforce his election by force, leading to the War of the Polish Succession (1587-1588), and in the course of the campaign besieged the city of Kraków. Kraków was defended by the hetman Jan Zamoyski, and a general attack by the pro-Austrian forces was repelled on November 22. Many affluent burghers of German background participated directly in the defense against "the German enemies", while others donated funds for the city's defense. Several of them were ennobled as a result and admitted into the ranks of the szlachta.[1] [/img] [/img] [/img] [/img]
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 10, 2019 11:38:18 GMT 1
Next siege of Krakow en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Krak%C3%B3wThe siege of Kraków was one of the battles during the Swedish invasion of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (Second Northern War / Deluge). It started on 25 September 1655 and ended on 13 October 1655. Capitulation treatment was signed 4 days later. Polish troops marched out the city on 19 October. The city's defense was led by Kiev's castellan Stefan Czarniecki, while Swedish forces were commanded by king Charles Gustav and Arvid Wittenberg.[1] Background On August 2, 1655, when news of Swedish victories reached the city, the mayor of Kraków, Andrzej Cieniowicz, urged residents to organize defence of the ancient Polish capital. He also collected taxes for employment of 1,000-strong infantry unit. The garrison of Kraków was ordered to watch the city walls and control foreigners, especially Germans, who resided in the city. Furthermore, works on the fortifications were initiated under city engineer Izydor Affaita, and Krzysztof Mieroszewski of the local nobility. To cover the cost of the works, queen Marie Louise Gonzaga handed over some of her jewelry.[1] On August 27, Bishop of Kraków Piotr Gembicki urged residents to pledge allegiance to the king and to defend the city. The bishop paid for 300 soldiers, who strengthened the garrison, while city council created armed militia, which consisted of students and other residents. On September 19, King Jan Kazimierz came to Kraków, after the lost Battle of Zarnow. The king brought a few thousand soldiers and levée en masse, but the morale of his army was low. Several members of the nobility abandoned the king, while the army, concentrated at Pradnik, organized itself into a confederation, demanding money and renouncing Hetman, Stanislaw Lanckoronski. On September 20, the Council of the Senate had a meeting, in which allegiance to the king was confirmed. Soon after the meeting, the queen, together with Primate Andrzej Leszczyński left the city. On September 24, Jan Kazimierz, who had initially planned to stay in Kraków, decided to leave the city as well. Together with Bishop Gembicki, the king at first headed eastwards, to Wojnicz. He then turned south, to Nowy Wiśnicz, Nowy Sącz, and the Polish border. The Siege Stefan Czarniecki defending Kraków in 1655 The garrison of Kraków, under Castellan Stefan Czarniecki and colonel of infantry Fromhold Wolff, consisted of some 5,000 men – soldier of the regular army, plus city militia. In order to prepare the defence, Czarniecki burned the suburbs of Kleparz, Biskupie and Garbary, and constructed a system of Earthworks.[1] On September 25, the Swedes attacked Kazimierz, pillaging it after capture. On the same day, they tried to enter Kraków itself, but Polish counterattack forced them to retreat. On the next day, Charles Gustav ordered an artillery barrage, leaving Arvid Wittenberg with 8,000 soldiers. The Swedish king himself headed with a smaller army towards Wojnicz, where he once again defeated the Poles in the Battle of Wojnicz (October 3). News of this battle quickly reached Kraków, together with Swedish demands for capitulation. Since Polish royal army units, scattered around the city, did not engage themselves in any skirmishes with the Swedes, the defenders of Kraków felt abandoned, without hope of any support. Nevertheless, they continued to fight. On October 6, Charles Gustav returned to Kraków, and while inspecting Swedish positions, his horse was killed by a Polish bullet, near St. Florian's Gate. As the siege progressed, morale among the defenders sank even lower. Czarniecki, well aware of this, on October 12 initiated negotiations. Further resistance meant destruction of Kraków and starvation of its residents, so on the next day, Czarniecki agreed to capitulate. Capitulation On October 17, a truce was signed with the Swedes. It guaranteed freedom of religion, safety of the Roman Catholic clergy, civil servants and residents, keeping all privileges of the city and its university, and exchange of prisoners of war. The Swedes allowed Polish units to leave Kraków, and march to winter quarters in western Lesser Poland, near Oświęcim, Zator, Sławków and Siewierz. These forces were to remain neutral until November 18. After that date, they were to decide whether to join the Swedish or the Polish king.[1] On October 19, Czarniecki's forces gathered at Kraków's Main Square. Some 1,800 men with 12 cannons left the city, while Czarniecki was invited by Charles Gustav to a feast. Soon afterwards, 2,500 Swedish infantry plus 500 reiters entered Kraków. The Swedish king came to the city on October 19 in the afternoon. After meeting the city council, Charles Gustav visited Wawel with its Cathedral church. The Swedes immediately broke the agreement, imposing high taxes and robbing churches. Altogether, the booty stolen by the Swedes was estimated at 5 million zlotys.[1]
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Post by Bonobo on Apr 7, 2019 8:40:40 GMT 1
Another freedom fight case en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ko%C5%9Bciuszko%27s_proclamation Kościuszko's proclamation refers to a speech given by Tadeusz Kościuszko in Kraków on March 24, 1794. The speech is considered the starting point of the Kościuszko's Uprising against the forces of Imperial Russia occupying Poland. Around 10 o'clock in the Old Town square in Kraków, the Act of Insurrection was read by Kraków's Sejm representative.[1]:182 The document gave Tadeusz Kościuszko command over the National Armed Force (Polish: Siła Zbrojna Narodowa) and he vowed to convene a Supreme National Council.[1]:180 Drafted by Hugo Kollontay, an advocate of physiocracy, it began with:[1]:180 "The wretched state in which Poland finds itself is known to the universe; the indiginities of two neighboring powers, and the crimes of traitors to their country have sunk this nation into an abyss of misery."
Soon afterwards Kościuszko stepped forward and recited his oath:[1]:182 “ I, Tadeusz Kościuszko, hereby swear by the God to the entire Polish Nation, that I shall not use the powers vested in me for anyone's oppression, but for defence of the integrity of the borders, recuperation of Nation's sovereignty and strengthening the universal freedom. So help me God and the innocent passion of His Son! ”
Aftermath
On 10 May, the council was appointed by Kosciuszko, which was led by Kolontay as the minister of treasury, Potocki as minister of foreign affairs, and other ministers for justice, security, military needs, provisions, national affairs and administrative affairs.[1]:192 The council coined money with "Freedom, Unity, Independence-The Republic, 1794" on the new zloty.[1]:192 Kosciuszko stated the council was formed of "...virtuous citizens and friends of the people, and when I nominated them, I did not want to think about whether they are peasants, burghers or aristocrats.".[1]:193 www.krakow-info.com/dates.htm
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Post by Bonobo on Apr 7, 2019 8:43:06 GMT 1
1768 – Krakow became a center of the first Polish uprising, Bar Confederation, eventually suppressed by Russian troops after 4 years of fighting. The city was sieged several times and in turns taken by Russian troops or Polish confederates. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar_Confederation The king thereupon reverted to the Russian faction, and for this act targeting their king, the Confederation lost much of the support it had in Europe.[15] Nevertheless, its army, thoroughly reorganized by Dumouriez, maintained the fight. 1771 brought further defeats, with the defeat at Lanckorona on 21 May and Stałowicze at 23 October.[12] The final battle of this war was the siege of Jasna Góra, which fell on 13 August 1772.[12] The regiments of the Bar Confederation, whose executive board had been forced to leave Austria (which previously supported them) after that country joined the Prusso-Russian alliance, did not lay down their arms. Many fortresses in their command held out as long as possible; Wawel Castle in Kraków fell only on 28 April;[9][17] Tyniec fortress held until 13 July 1772;[ www.krakow.pl/english/instcbi/36882,inst,12401,1241,instcbi.html During the last of the sieges, during the Confederation of Bar (1768), one of the craftsmen defending it, the haberdasher Marcin Oracewicz, became famous for mortally wounding General Panin (commader of Russian troops) with a single shot from his rifle, loaded – through lack of ammunition – with a button from his overcoat. His deed is commemorated by a plaque on the wall. A lot of info from this Jewish report www.ics.uci.edu/~dan/genealogy/Krakow/other/bal.htm On June 20, 1768 the wojewodztwo of the Confederation of Cracow was organized and it selected as marshall the well-known play-boy and profilgate, Michal Czarnocki, the owner of Secymin. The very next day the Confederates took over the Cracow garrison. The town administration thereupon swore allegiance, without hesitation, to Czarnocki. Only the town-mayor, Piotr Szaster, laid down his post. These formalities were hardly completed when Russian troops appeared outside the city and shooting began at the Slawkowska gate. In order to protect the city from sudden attack Czarnocki ordered the city gates to be closed during the day and he introduced special passes for those who had business outside the city gates. Meanwhile the Russians, under Apraksin and Prozorovski, encircled the city with an increasingly tight cordon. They cut off the supply of food and captured the small groups of Confederates who had rushed to the aid of their comrades. Nevertheless the siege lasted for eight weeks. The orders of Repnin, intended to hasten the end of the war, were of no avail. dziennikpolski24.pl/konfederaci-bronia-krakowa/ar/4366671
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Post by Bonobo on Apr 14, 2019 10:47:24 GMT 1
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Post by Bonobo on Apr 19, 2019 18:07:25 GMT 1
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