History of Poland

Ancient history of Poland

As each country Poland has a long history and rich of events. Poland's history begins with a legend that talks about three brothers Lech, Czech and Rus. These three brothers came with their tribes to the lands between the Vistula and Oder rivers, where in one of the hills they saw an eagle's nest. Lech decided to stay there and form their own country with a white eagle on his shield. His brothers decided to leave and like Lech form their own countries. Czech went south where he established the Czech Republic and Rus went to the east where he was Russian.

The first Polish ruler Mieszko I was (from the Piast dynasty) who was baptized in 966 and married Princess Czech Dobrawa. He introduced Christianity in the country, initially pagan.

In 1025 he was crowned the first king of Poland, Bolesław Chrobry.
The Battle of Grunwald
The Battle of Grunwal
Jan Matejko

To combat the pagan tribes, the Prince of Mazowia-Konrad, in 1226 Poland summoned the Teutonic Knights to help him. Over time the power of Teutonic Order grew and threatened the security of Poland. The consequence of this was one of the greatest battles in the history of medieval Europe. In 1410 in the fields of Grunwald, fought the Polish-Lithuanian union against The Order of Teutonic Knights.
Wawel Castle in Krakow
Wawel Castle in Krakow

Under the reign of Casimir the Great (1333-1370) in Poland started the golden age of Polish history. Wawel castle was restored in Krakow and in 1364 founded the first Polish high school: the University of Krakow where he studied many Poles, such as Nicholas Copernicus, who in 1543 presented his heliocentric theory according to which the Earth orbits the Sun and not vice versa.

In 1587 the Swedish king, Zygmunt III Waza elected king of Poland. In 1596 moved the capital from Krakow to Warsaw (the first capital of Poland was Gniezno).

King Stanisław August Poniatowski in 1791 adopted the Constitution of May 3rd. This constitution is the first event of its kind in Europe and second in the world (after the United States).

In 1807 came the first Napoleonic campaign in Poland. Napoleon Bonaparte had support