The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE LEGEND OF WANDA

WANDA WAS THE DAUGHTER OF KRAKUS, A LEGENDARY HERO
AND POLISH RULER IN PAGAN TIMES. A YOUNG GERMAN PRINCE,
NAMED RYDYGIER, WANTED TO MARRY WANDA WHEN SHE WAS
REIGNING. SHE DID NOT WANT TO MARRY HIM, AS HE WAS
A GERMAN. IN ORDER TO FORCE THIS MARRIAGE, RYDYGIER
BROUGHT HIS WHOLE ARMY TO THE CITY OF CRACOW, WHERE
WANDA RULED. WANDA'S ARMY CONQUERED HIS AND SO THAT
HER PEOPLE WOULD NOT HAVE TO SUFFER FOR HER CAUSE, SHE
THREW HERSELF INTO THE VISTULA RIVER. IT IS ALSO SAID
THAT WANDA HAD VOWED HER DEATH TO THE GODS IF HER ARMY
CONQUERED RYDYGIER'S. IN HER HONOR A MOUND WAS BUILT,
BY HAND, BY HER PEOPLE, WHICH EXISTS TODAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ; POLAND

Date learned: NOT GIVEN