Polish coat-of-arms throughout centuries

[Bonobo]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Poland

The White Eagle (Polish: Orze³ Bia³y) is the national coat of arms of Poland. It is a stylized white eagle with a golden beak and talons, and wearing a golden crown, in a red shield.

Legend
The White Eagle emblem originated when Poland's legendary founder Lech saw a white eagle's nest. When he looked at the bird, a ray of sunshine from the red setting sun fell on its wings, so they appeared tipped with gold, the rest of the eagle was pure white. He was delighted and decided to settle there and placed the eagle on his emblem. He also named the place Gniezdno (currently Gniezno) from the Polish word gniazdo (nest).

This tale could be considered as an allusion to the legend of the city of Rome which was founded by Romulus and Remus. Auspicium is the ancient rite of observing birds of prey flights in order to get support of gods for future arranged actions. A less romantic version assumes that Poland adopted the emblem from the Roman Empire (like many other European countries).

Evolution



The oldest image of a white eagle was put on Boleslaw Chrobry`s coin around 1000 AD. However, some historians have doubts as they see other birds on the coin - a peathingy, pigeon, rooster.


A faithful rendition of an eagle can be seen on a later coin, from 1177, under Kazimierz Sprawiedliwy.


In 1295 the white (or silver) eagle becomes an official coat-of-arms of Piast ruling royal family. As royals represented the state, their coat-of -arms was automatically the state`s too.




1400


1500


1795, last Polish coat of arms before partitions.


During partitions only Russian tsars kept the Polish eagle on their coat-of-arms. Germans and Austrians got ridof it completely.

Russian coats of arms in 19 century. Polish eagle on the left.




02varvara.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/coa_russian_empire1.jpg




See all Polish eagles
www.akromer.republika.pl/orzel.html

[Bonobo]

The full legend:
www.krykiet.com/polish_eagle.htm

A thousand years ago, or maybe even more, there lived three brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus. For many years they had been content in their villages, but the families grew larger and they needed more room to live.
The brothers decided to travel in different directions to search for new homes. Lech, Czech, and Rus traveled with their troops for many days. They rode their horses over mountains and rivers, through forests and wild country. There were no people to be found anywhere, not a town or tiny village. On the crest of a mountain top, they separated, each going in a different direction. Czech went to the left, Rus went to the right and Lech rode straight ahead, down the mountain and across vast plains.

One day Lech saw a spendid sight. He and his troops had come to a place where a meadow surrounded a small lake. They stopped at the edge of the meadow as a great eagle flew over their heads. It flew around in great swooping circles, then perched on its nest, high on a craggy rock. Lech stared in awe at the beautiful sight. As the eagle spread its wings and soared into the heavens again, a ray of sunshine from the red setting sun fell on the eagle's wings, so they appeared tipped with gold, the rest of the bird was pure white.

"Here is where we will stay!" declared Lech. "Here is our new home, and we will call this place GNIEZNO ... (the eagle's nest).

He and his people built many houses and it became the center of his territory. They called themselves Polonians, which means "People of the Field". They made a banner with a white eagle on a red field and flew it over the town of Gniezno, which became the first historical capital of Poland.

And, now you know how Poland began . . .

Which one is Lech in the picture?


You can buy this book
www.polandbymail.com/get_item_bk2304_legend-of-lech-czech-and-rus.htm

[gigi]

Jan 16, 2009 12:16:24 GMT 1 Bonobo said:

The full legend:
www.krykiet.com/polish_eagle.htm

And, now you know how Poland began . . .

A most enjoyable story, especially for those of us who romanticize Poland a bit.

Jan 16, 2009 12:16:24 GMT 1 Bonobo said:

Which one is Lech in the picture

According to what I found on powiat-gniezno.pl/strony/StronaPowiatu/english/eagle.htm:

At the head of the mounted worriers there rode three tribe chieftains: Lech, Czech and Rus. Although they were brothers born by one mother, each of them was different, both in character and in appearance. Lech was robust, fair-haired, sincere and cheerful; Czech of witty nature, all too lively; while Rus was so silent that you couldn't buy a word from him.

I would say the handsome blonde at the forefront.

Jan 16, 2009 12:16:24 GMT 1 Bonobo said:

You can buy this book
www.polandbymail.com/get_item_bk2304_legend-of-lech-czech-and-rus.htm

Neat! I like the fact that it is in three languages as well. My children would love it!

[gigi]

I also found it interesting to learn about the old oaks of Rogalin, three of which are named after Lech, Czech, and Rus.



photo: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lech,_Czech_and_Rus


Not many people know that the oaks in Rogalin are biggest agglomeration of old oaks on our continent. It is the pad of widespread forests which once existed here on fertile soils and flooded from time to time. The oaks in Rogalin are regarded as a "monument of nature". All trees with a trunk circumference over 2 meters (including dead specimens) are protected The best known are three, "thousand year old" oaks growing close each other and named after the legendary Slavic brothers: Lech (circumference of trunk - 6,70 meters), Czech (7,30 meters) and Rus (9 meters). In fact their age is to be of 480-590 years. Impressive are also: growing nearby linden "Grażyna" and oak "Edward" (6,20 meters of circumference) which is growing on the bans of the Warta.

www.zb.eco.pl/gb/19/oaks.htm



Lech



Czech


Rus