Post by Bonobo on May 31, 2018 22:09:26 GMT 1
It is also called Brotherhood of the Rooster and means a marksmen fraternity or simply shooting society. Each big city or even towns have such an organisation, the most famous one is in Krakow.
Again, the most extensive article is in Polish wiki
pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towarzystwo_Strzeleckie_%E2%80%9EBractwo_Kurkowe%E2%80%9D_w_Krakowie
Other sites
culture.polishsite.us/articles/art415fr.htm
muzea.malopolska.pl/en/obiekty/-/a/content/1134165/26855/pop_up?_101static_viewMode=print
“Train your eyes and hands for the defence of your Homeland” – About the Brotherhood of the Rooster of Kraków
The traditions of the Brotherhood of the Rooster in Europe date back to the 14th/15th centuries. They were the first formation tasked with preparing city residents to defend themselves in the event of danger.
Along with the towns founded under the Magdeburg law, fortifications were also built (over time, both the construction and defence of individual fragments of the walls and towers were assigned to different craft guilds). This meant that in the event of a hostile invasion, weapons were taken up by people who used needles and twine on a daily basis (tailors, shoemakers, bakers and goldsmiths).
This potential threat was quickly recognised and the Brotherhood of the Rooster (a shooting society) was established. The task of the Brotherhood was to train people in military arts under the slogan: ”Train your eyes and hands for the defence of your Homeland.” At first, bow shootings were organised, to be later followed by crossbow shootings, and finally firearm shootings from the 16th century.
In 1562, the city authorities of Kraków issued a decree including a set of rules governing the works of the brotherhood. According to these rules, shootings were to be held several dozen times a year; but the most important shooting was the one organised a week after the octave of the Feast of Corpus Christi during which a rooster shooting competition was held to determine the king of rooster shooters. Aside from the honourable title, the prize was an exemption from all municipal taxes.
A rooster or a parrot?
Where did the tradition of rooster shooting come from and why did this bird become so important to the brotherhood that they named their organisation after it?
For centuries, the rooster had been a symbol of vigilance, and probably that is why it was recognised as a symbol that best reflected the daily attitude of the members of these shooting societies. Initially, during exercises in the art of defence, a living animal was shot at, although later those were replaced by wooden models. In appreciation of the brotherhood, the Kraków authorities donated 100 florins to the society on the 21st of October 1564, founding the so-called lordly jewel as a prize in the competition for the title of the king.
A unique and extremely valuable insignia of a silver rooster (covered with elaborate gilding, incrusted with precious stones and with an enamelled Kraków coat of arms) was created thanks to the councillors' donation. It can still be seen in the collection of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków and is considered one of the most important examples of the Renaissance goldsmithery of Kraków.
Interestingly, it is worth emphasising that not all European brotherhoods identified themselves with the rooster.
For example, in Cologne this honour was granted to ... a parrot, which was considered to be a royal bird. And numerous brotherhoods, mainly from German-speaking areas, were called brotherhoods of the parrot (it happened, for example, in Hanover, Wismar, Bern in Switzerland, and Aalborg in Denmark).
One training place of the brotherhood was Celestat, initially located outside the walls of Kraków, later moved to the Zwinger next to St. Nicholas’ Gate in the 16th century, where it was located until it was destroyed by fire in 1794. At present, the name Celestat belongs to a Neo-Gothic palace located on Lubicz Street (near the Central Railway Station), owned by the brotherhood. A collection of mementoes of its rich history resides there (the permanent exhibition of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków: The History of the Brotherhood of the Rooster of Kraków).
The operations of all Polish brotherhoods of the rooster were suspended on the 1st of September 1939. Subsequently, brotherhood shooting ranges became places for the execution of Poles (for example, in Inowrocław).
After several gaps in its operation, the brotherhood continues to function to this day (it is one of the oldest active organisations in Poland). Members of the Brotherhood of the Rooster wear elaborate costumes and żupans (the traditional dress of Polish noblemen) as they accompany local authorities during important municipal and state ceremonies.
culture.pl/en/article/12-little-known-gems-of-krakow
1. A competition of elite marksmen in traditional dress
To this day, there exists a little-known society in Kraków called The Marksmen (in Polish Bractwo Kurkowe). According to historians, it's as old as Kraków itself -- over 700 years old, dating back to 1257. Its main role was to protect the city. Thick walls, towers and gates by themselves weren't enough, so a special elite unit was trained.
Every year, seven days after Corpus Christi, a shooting competition would be organised to determine the Champion Marksman. Early on, live chickens and roosters were used as targets and this practice eventually evolved into shooting a wooden rooster figure, hence the choice of a rooster as their symbol. The competition is still organised to this day, and offers a real treat to onlookers since participants are dressed in the traditional feathered fur hats and velvet jackets of the Polish nobility of old. For more information, visit their website (in Polish, albeit with splendid images).
This shooting contest was once an important event for all of Kraków's artisans. Representatives of the different professions carrying flags of their respective trades took part in a parade that departed after a mass from St Mary's Basilica on the Main Square and reached the shooting-range. Those at the front of the parade were dressed in traditional Turkish, Persian and Tatars costumes and carried light rifles, singing as they walked. Next came the shooters and finally the Marksmen King with the Silver Rooster medalion hung around his neck. A gift from Sigismund Augustus, a 16th century king of Poland, today the Silver Rooster is part of the collection of the Historical Museum of Kraków. On some rare and special occasions, it is still presented outside of the museum.
[source: Jan Adamczewski, "Osobliwości Krakowa",
The Srebrny Kur (Silver Fowl) of Celestat is a masterpiece. This noble bird was made of silver at the turn of 1564 and 1565 by an unknown goldsmith, probably from Krakow. Srebrny Kur is the most valued treasure of the Fowler Brotherhood, given to them by the city of Krakow in 1565. It is not only the symbol of the Brotherhood, but also an insignia of power of the sharpshooter king.
Other cities
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Again, the most extensive article is in Polish wiki
pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towarzystwo_Strzeleckie_%E2%80%9EBractwo_Kurkowe%E2%80%9D_w_Krakowie
Other sites
culture.polishsite.us/articles/art415fr.htm
muzea.malopolska.pl/en/obiekty/-/a/content/1134165/26855/pop_up?_101static_viewMode=print
“Train your eyes and hands for the defence of your Homeland” – About the Brotherhood of the Rooster of Kraków
The traditions of the Brotherhood of the Rooster in Europe date back to the 14th/15th centuries. They were the first formation tasked with preparing city residents to defend themselves in the event of danger.
Along with the towns founded under the Magdeburg law, fortifications were also built (over time, both the construction and defence of individual fragments of the walls and towers were assigned to different craft guilds). This meant that in the event of a hostile invasion, weapons were taken up by people who used needles and twine on a daily basis (tailors, shoemakers, bakers and goldsmiths).
This potential threat was quickly recognised and the Brotherhood of the Rooster (a shooting society) was established. The task of the Brotherhood was to train people in military arts under the slogan: ”Train your eyes and hands for the defence of your Homeland.” At first, bow shootings were organised, to be later followed by crossbow shootings, and finally firearm shootings from the 16th century.
In 1562, the city authorities of Kraków issued a decree including a set of rules governing the works of the brotherhood. According to these rules, shootings were to be held several dozen times a year; but the most important shooting was the one organised a week after the octave of the Feast of Corpus Christi during which a rooster shooting competition was held to determine the king of rooster shooters. Aside from the honourable title, the prize was an exemption from all municipal taxes.
A rooster or a parrot?
Where did the tradition of rooster shooting come from and why did this bird become so important to the brotherhood that they named their organisation after it?
For centuries, the rooster had been a symbol of vigilance, and probably that is why it was recognised as a symbol that best reflected the daily attitude of the members of these shooting societies. Initially, during exercises in the art of defence, a living animal was shot at, although later those were replaced by wooden models. In appreciation of the brotherhood, the Kraków authorities donated 100 florins to the society on the 21st of October 1564, founding the so-called lordly jewel as a prize in the competition for the title of the king.
A unique and extremely valuable insignia of a silver rooster (covered with elaborate gilding, incrusted with precious stones and with an enamelled Kraków coat of arms) was created thanks to the councillors' donation. It can still be seen in the collection of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków and is considered one of the most important examples of the Renaissance goldsmithery of Kraków.
Interestingly, it is worth emphasising that not all European brotherhoods identified themselves with the rooster.
For example, in Cologne this honour was granted to ... a parrot, which was considered to be a royal bird. And numerous brotherhoods, mainly from German-speaking areas, were called brotherhoods of the parrot (it happened, for example, in Hanover, Wismar, Bern in Switzerland, and Aalborg in Denmark).
One training place of the brotherhood was Celestat, initially located outside the walls of Kraków, later moved to the Zwinger next to St. Nicholas’ Gate in the 16th century, where it was located until it was destroyed by fire in 1794. At present, the name Celestat belongs to a Neo-Gothic palace located on Lubicz Street (near the Central Railway Station), owned by the brotherhood. A collection of mementoes of its rich history resides there (the permanent exhibition of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków: The History of the Brotherhood of the Rooster of Kraków).
The operations of all Polish brotherhoods of the rooster were suspended on the 1st of September 1939. Subsequently, brotherhood shooting ranges became places for the execution of Poles (for example, in Inowrocław).
After several gaps in its operation, the brotherhood continues to function to this day (it is one of the oldest active organisations in Poland). Members of the Brotherhood of the Rooster wear elaborate costumes and żupans (the traditional dress of Polish noblemen) as they accompany local authorities during important municipal and state ceremonies.
culture.pl/en/article/12-little-known-gems-of-krakow
1. A competition of elite marksmen in traditional dress
To this day, there exists a little-known society in Kraków called The Marksmen (in Polish Bractwo Kurkowe). According to historians, it's as old as Kraków itself -- over 700 years old, dating back to 1257. Its main role was to protect the city. Thick walls, towers and gates by themselves weren't enough, so a special elite unit was trained.
Every year, seven days after Corpus Christi, a shooting competition would be organised to determine the Champion Marksman. Early on, live chickens and roosters were used as targets and this practice eventually evolved into shooting a wooden rooster figure, hence the choice of a rooster as their symbol. The competition is still organised to this day, and offers a real treat to onlookers since participants are dressed in the traditional feathered fur hats and velvet jackets of the Polish nobility of old. For more information, visit their website (in Polish, albeit with splendid images).
This shooting contest was once an important event for all of Kraków's artisans. Representatives of the different professions carrying flags of their respective trades took part in a parade that departed after a mass from St Mary's Basilica on the Main Square and reached the shooting-range. Those at the front of the parade were dressed in traditional Turkish, Persian and Tatars costumes and carried light rifles, singing as they walked. Next came the shooters and finally the Marksmen King with the Silver Rooster medalion hung around his neck. A gift from Sigismund Augustus, a 16th century king of Poland, today the Silver Rooster is part of the collection of the Historical Museum of Kraków. On some rare and special occasions, it is still presented outside of the museum.
[source: Jan Adamczewski, "Osobliwości Krakowa",
The Srebrny Kur (Silver Fowl) of Celestat is a masterpiece. This noble bird was made of silver at the turn of 1564 and 1565 by an unknown goldsmith, probably from Krakow. Srebrny Kur is the most valued treasure of the Fowler Brotherhood, given to them by the city of Krakow in 1565. It is not only the symbol of the Brotherhood, but also an insignia of power of the sharpshooter king.
Other cities