The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE LEGEND OF PIAST AND RZEPICHA

IT IS SAID THAT IN PAGAN TIMES IN POLAND UNDER THE RULE OF
POPIEL II, ABOUT 840, THERE LIVED A WHEELWRIGHT AND HIS WIFE
RZEPICHA. THEY HAD A SON. AT THE AGE OF SEVEN, AS THE CUSTOM
WAS, HE WAS TO HAVE HIS HAIR CUT FOR THE FIRST TIME. A FEAST
USUALLY FOLLOWED THIS CEREMONY. SINCE THE COUPLE WAS POOR, THEY
ONLY HAD ONE PIG AND A PITCHER OF BEER TO SERVE. TO THEIR DOOR
CAME TWO PILGRIMS SEEKING REFUGE. THESE PILGRIMS HAD JUST
BEEN REFUSED AT THE CASTLE OF THE WICKED RULER, POPIEL. THE POOR
COUPLE INVITED THEM GRACIOUSLY. THE WIFE FEARED THAT THERE WASN'T
ENOUGH FOOD, BUT, IT IS SAID, THAT THE TWO MEN BLESSED THE FOOD
AND MULTIPLIED IT TO AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT. THE NEWS OF THIS
HAPPENING IMMEDIATELY SPREAD IN THE VILLAGE. EVERYONE CAME TO SEE
THE TWO MEN IN AWE. PIAST GAVE THEM THE HONOR OF CUTTING HIS
SON'S HAIR. THEY NAMED THE BOY ZIEMOWIT, MEANING "ONE WHO
WILL RULE ON EARTH." THE NAME WAS QUITE APPROPRIATE BECAUSE IN
TIME THE RULER, POPIEL, DIED AND PIAST WAS UNANIMOUSLY ELECTED
RULER. HE LIVED NEARLY 120 YEARS, IT IS SAID, AND DURING THIS
TIME HE LET HIS SON TAKE OVER. ZIEMOWIT SUCCEEDED TO UNITE
MANY SLOVIC TRIBES TO FORM A LARGE POLAND. HE HELD A FRIENDLY
CONTACT WITH THE CZECHS AND THUS PERMITTED THE SPREAD OF
CHRISTIANITY INTO HIS KINGDOM. SAINTS CYRIL AND METHADIAIS
ARE SAID TO HAVE TAUGHT AND CONVERTED AT THIS TIME. ZIEMOWIT'S
SON DID MORE TO FURTHER UNITE AND ENLARGE POLAND UP TO THE BALTIC
SEA. HIS GRANDSON, MIESZKO, WAS BORN BLIND. IT IS SAID THAT
AT MIESZKO'S SEVENTH BIRTHDAY, WHEN HIS HAIR WAS CUT, HE SAW
FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE PAGAN PRIESTS INTERPRETED THIS HAPPENING
AS AN OMEN THAT POLAND WOULD SOON SEE A NEW RAY OF LIGHT. UNDER
THE REIGN OF MIESZKO, POLAND THUS DID SEE A NEW RAY OF LIGHT,
AS THE NATION ACCEPTED CHRISTIANITY OFFICIALLY AND ENTERED THE
HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION.

Submitter comment: THIS INFORMANTION AND LEGEND I'VE KNOWN SINCE CHILDHOOD FROM
MY PARENTS AND MY POLISH HISTORY INSTRUCTOR, MRS HELEN
CHOMIELEWSKI OF DETROIT.

Data entry tech comment: JESUS' BREAD AND FISH MIRACLE

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR