Princess Wanda (reputedly lived in 8th century Poland)[1] was the daughter of Krakus, legendary founder of Kraków. Upon her father's death, she became queen of the Poles, but committed suicide to avoid an unwanted marriage to a German.
The first written record of the legend of Wanda was by the Polish chronicler Wincenty Kadłubek. In this version of the story Wanda ruled Poland after the legendary Polish king Krakus. When her lands were invaded by an "Alamann tyrant", who sought to take advantage of the previous ruler's death, Wanda led her troops out to meet him. Seeing her beauty, the German troops refused to fight and their leader committed suicide. Towards the end of the story Kadłubek states that "the river Vandalus is named after" her and hence the people she ruled over were known as "Vandals".[2] In this version Wanda remained unmarried and had a long life.
Later versions of the legend
Subsequent versions of the story differ significantly. In the version from the Wielkopolska Chronicle, the German leader, Rytygier (Rüdiger), first wanted to marry Wanda and invaded her lands only when she refused. Here, he died during the ensuing battle, while it was Wanda who afterward committed suicide, as a thanks and a sacrifice to the pagan gods who gave her victory. In yet other versions of the story, Wanda commits suicide, by throwing herself into the Vistula river, because she knows that as long as she is alive, there will be future potential suitors who will use her refusal to marry as a pretext for an invasion.
Historiography
The story of princess Wanda was first described by medieval (12th and 13th centuries) Polish bishop and historian, Wincenty Kadłubek, and it is assumed by most historians that it was invented by him, possibly based on Slavic myths and legends,[3][4] although some historians see the legend rooted in Scandinavian or Ancient Roman (or Greek) traditions.[5]
Queen Wanda's bust in the Krasiński's Palace, Ursynów
The Kadłubek version has the German prince, not princess Wanda, committing suicide: according to Kadłubek, the princess lived a long and happy life, forever remaining a virgin.[3] It was only in the 13–14th century Wielkopolska Chronicle that the variant with Wanda committing suicide was popularized by the 15th-century historian, Jan Długosz.[6]
Cultural influences
Tradition has it that she is buried in the large Wanda Mound (Polish: Kopiec Wandy). A custom observed up to the 19th century was that at Pentecost bonfires were lit on this mound, located on the outskirts of Kraków in Nowa Huta, the industrial district established in 1949. Nowa Huta construction begun on the name day of Wanda (23 June), and she is a semi-official patron of that district, which has a trade center, street, bridge and stadium bearing her name.
The German poet Zacharias Werner wrote a drama named Wanda, which under Werner's friend Goethe was performed on stage in 1809.
In Polish literature, the story of Wanda has served as inspiration of several works, often stressing the themes of Polish independence and victorious conflict with Germany.
The Polish poet C.K. Norwid visited the Mound in 1840. He subsequently composed the narrative poem Wanda in honor of the ancient princess.
Wanda Mound on the Ujastek Mogilski street in Kraków
The Serbian dramatist Matija Ban made Wanda the symbol of Poland in his 1868 play, Wanda, the Polish Queen.
Antonín Dvořák composed the fifth of his 11 operas, the tragedy Vanda around this episode in Polish history legends. Writing in 1875, he cast the story as a struggle between the pagan Slavs and the Christian Germans.[7]
In 1890, a statue designed by the Polish artist Jan Matejko depicting an eagle turning to the west was mounted on top of the mound. On the base of the statue the inscription WANDA was carved, together with two swords and a distaff.
Scholars Albina Kruszewska and Marion Coleman described Queen Wanda as having "the pure white chastity of Elaine, the filial devotion of Cordelia, and the iron will of Boadicea".[8]
^Vincent Kadlubek legend of Wanda, who lived in the land of the Wandalen, Vandals, page 56,57
^ abK. Kumaniecki, "Podanie o Wandzie w świetle źródeł starożytnych", Pamiętnik Literacki [pl] 22–23 (1925–26).
^K. Römer, Podanie o Kraku i Wandzie, Biblioteka Warszawska 1876.
^G. Labuda, Studia nad początkami państwa polskiego, t. II, Poznań 1988.
^Jacek Banaszkiewicz, "Rüdiger von Bechelaren, którego nie chciała Wanda. Przyczynek do kontaktu niemieckiej Heldenepik z polskimi dziejami bajecznymi", Przegląd Historyczny [pl], 75, 1984.
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Princess Wanda reputedly lived in 8th century Poland 1 was the daughter of Krakus legendary founder of Krakow Upon her father s death she became queen of the Poles but committed suicide to avoid an unwanted marriage to a German Princess WandaDeath of Princess Wanda by Maximilian Piotrowski 1859 Contents 1 Wanda legend first told by Kadlubek 2 Later versions of the legend 3 Historiography 4 Cultural influences 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksWanda legend first told by Kadlubek EditThe first written record of the legend of Wanda was by the Polish chronicler Wincenty Kadlubek In this version of the story Wanda ruled Poland after the legendary Polish king Krakus When her lands were invaded by an Alamann tyrant who sought to take advantage of the previous ruler s death Wanda led her troops out to meet him Seeing her beauty the German troops refused to fight and their leader committed suicide Towards the end of the story Kadlubek states that the river Vandalus is named after her and hence the people she ruled over were known as Vandals 2 In this version Wanda remained unmarried and had a long life Later versions of the legend EditSubsequent versions of the story differ significantly In the version from the Wielkopolska Chronicle the German leader Rytygier Rudiger first wanted to marry Wanda and invaded her lands only when she refused Here he died during the ensuing battle while it was Wanda who afterward committed suicide as a thanks and a sacrifice to the pagan gods who gave her victory In yet other versions of the story Wanda commits suicide by throwing herself into the Vistula river because she knows that as long as she is alive there will be future potential suitors who will use her refusal to marry as a pretext for an invasion Historiography EditThe story of princess Wanda was first described by medieval 12th and 13th centuries Polish bishop and historian Wincenty Kadlubek and it is assumed by most historians that it was invented by him possibly based on Slavic myths and legends 3 4 although some historians see the legend rooted in Scandinavian or Ancient Roman or Greek traditions 5 Queen Wanda s bust in the Krasinski s Palace Ursynow The Kadlubek version has the German prince not princess Wanda committing suicide according to Kadlubek the princess lived a long and happy life forever remaining a virgin 3 It was only in the 13 14th century Wielkopolska Chronicle that the variant with Wanda committing suicide was popularized by the 15th century historian Jan Dlugosz 6 Cultural influences EditTradition has it that she is buried in the large Wanda Mound Polish Kopiec Wandy A custom observed up to the 19th century was that at Pentecost bonfires were lit on this mound located on the outskirts of Krakow in Nowa Huta the industrial district established in 1949 Nowa Huta construction begun on the name day of Wanda 23 June and she is a semi official patron of that district which has a trade center street bridge and stadium bearing her name The German poet Zacharias Werner wrote a drama named Wanda which under Werner s friend Goethe was performed on stage in 1809 In Polish literature the story of Wanda has served as inspiration of several works often stressing the themes of Polish independence and victorious conflict with Germany The Polish poet C K Norwid visited the Mound in 1840 He subsequently composed the narrative poem Wanda in honor of the ancient princess Wanda Mound on the Ujastek Mogilski street in Krakow The Serbian dramatist Matija Ban made Wanda the symbol of Poland in his 1868 play Wanda the Polish Queen Antonin Dvorak composed the fifth of his 11 operas the tragedy Vanda around this episode in Polish history legends Writing in 1875 he cast the story as a struggle between the pagan Slavs and the Christian Germans 7 In 1890 a statue designed by the Polish artist Jan Matejko depicting an eagle turning to the west was mounted on top of the mound On the base of the statue the inscription WANDA was carved together with two swords and a distaff Scholars Albina Kruszewska and Marion Coleman described Queen Wanda as having the pure white chastity of Elaine the filial devotion of Cordelia and the iron will of Boadicea 8 References Edit Wanda The Dinner Party Elizabeth A Sackler Center for Feminist Art Brooklyn Museum Vincent Kadlubek legend of Wanda who lived in the land of the Wandalen Vandals page 56 57 a b K Kumaniecki Podanie o Wandzie w swietle zrodel starozytnych Pamietnik Literacki pl 22 23 1925 26 K Romer Podanie o Kraku i Wandzie Biblioteka Warszawska 1876 G Labuda Studia nad poczatkami panstwa polskiego t II Poznan 1988 Jacek Banaszkiewicz Rudiger von Bechelaren ktorego nie chciala Wanda Przyczynek do kontaktu niemieckiej Heldenepik z polskimi dziejami bajecznymi Przeglad Historyczny pl 75 1984 Wanda Archived 2007 10 22 at the Wayback Machine Alkor Albina I Kruszewska Marion M Coleman May 1947 The Wanda Theme in Polish Literature and Life The American Slavic and East European Review 6 1 2 19 35 doi 10 2307 2491931 JSTOR 2491931 Further reading EditAnstruther amp Sekalski Old Polish Legends Hippocrene Books 2nd edition May 1997 Krakow District Guide OAG Cities Guides 2007 Cabras Francesco 2016 The Legend of Wanda in Jan Kochanowski s Elegy I 15 In Studi Slavistici 12 February 59 77 https doi org 10 13128 Studi Slavis 17969 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wanda Wanda A Tragic Opera in Five Acts The Legend of Wanda Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Princess Wanda amp oldid 1122758193, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
