Ruthenian raid on Poland (1135)
The Ruthenian raid on Poland (1135)[lower-alpha 1] was a military expedition of Volodymyrko Volodarovych, the son of Volodar of Peremyshl, seeking revenge for his father's defeat and capture by the Polish palatine Piotr Włostowic.
Background[edit]
In 1121, a Ruthenian invasion fell on Poland under the command of Prince Volodar of Peremyshl, but the invaders were defeated by the palatine Piotr Włostowic, who took Volodar captive.[1](p387)
In an attempt to redeem his father's honor and secure his freedom, Volodymyrko, the son of the Ruthenian prince, gathered all his wealth to pay the hefty ransom demanded by the Polish king Bolesław III Wrymouth.[1](p387)[2](p143) Realizing that direct retaliation wouldn't suffice, Volodymyrko resorted to cunning and betrayal reminiscent of his father's downfall.[1](p388)[2](p144) He enlisted the help of a notable, unknown by name, Pannonian figure, known for his dignity and status, to avoid arousing suspicion.[1](p388)[2](p144) This Pannonian, seeking refuge in Poland, fabricated stories about persecution by King Béla II of Hungary, who demanded unjustified punishment for those who supported the descendants of Stephen I of Hungary.[1](p388)[3] Out of fear of his father, he presented Bolesław as his only refuge, emphasizing the closed borders of other countries that did not want to give him shelter.[1](p388)[2](p144)
Bolesław III Wrymouth, trusting the Pannonian's seemingly authentic narrative, supported him and gave him shelter, unaware of the betrayal brewing in his ranks.[1](p388) The Pannonian gained Bolesław's trust incrementally, gradually deceiving him in matters of increasing importance.[1](p388) Bolesław not only granted him favors and privileges but also entrusted him with intimate secrets. Additionally, Bolesław bestowed upon him the town of Wiślica, renowned for its strategic location and impregnable defenses.[1](p388)[2](p144)
Sack of Wiślica[edit]
The Pannonian's betrayal reached its climax when he exploited Bolesław's absence to fabricate an urgent decree, claiming a Ruthenian raid and ordering the populace to gather in Wiślica for safety.[1](p389)[2](p145) Terrified by the prospect of invasion and punishment, the people complied without hesitation, bringing their valuables with them. This decree was nothing more than a ruse to lure them into a trap. When the traitor Pannonian realized that his plan was in motion, he summoned Prince Yaropolk II of Kiev his sons and their forces to Wiślica under false pretenses.[1](p389)[4][5][3]
As Prince Yaropolk II of Kiev, Volodymyrko Volodarovych and their forces, supported by Cumans, descended upon Wiślica, the Pannonian quietly opened the gates under the cover of night, allowing Yaropolk's army to launch a brutal assault on the unsuspecting populace.[1](p390) A massacre ensued, sparing no one, regardless of age, gender, or social status.[1](p390) The once-prosperous town of Wiślica was reduced to ashes, its streets stained with the blood of innocent victims.[1](p390)[2](p145)[5][4][6][7]
In the wake of this tragedy, when the extent of the Pannonian's betrayal became clear, Prince Yaropolk II tried to impose an appropriate punishment on the treacherous instigator, ordering to first cut out his tongue, then tear out both eyes, and finally completely castrate him so that the family of traitors would not multiply.[2](p145) Subjecting the Pannonian to mutilation was a stark reminder of the consequences of deceit and betrayal.[1](p390)
Aftermath[edit]
For Bolesław III Wrymouth, the revelation of the Pannonian's duplicity served as a harsh lesson in the dangers of misplaced trust. The betrayal perpetrated by the Pannonian shattered the illusion of security and stability, leaving Bolesław to grapple with the sobering reality that even those who seemed most trustworthy could harbor ulterior motives.[1](p390)
As the dust settled and the echoes of betrayal faded away, Bolesław was left to mourn the loss of many innocent lives and to realize that the bonds of friendship and alliance could easily be broken by the insidious forces of betrayal and deceit.
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ↑ Najazd Rusinów na Polskę (1135)
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 Długosz, Jan. Roczniki czyli kroniki sławnego królestwa Polskiego, vol IV (PDF). ISBN 978-83-01-16069-2. Search this book on
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Kadłubek, Wincenty. Chronica seu originale regum et principum Poloniae (PDF) (in Polish). ISBN 978-83-04-04969-7.CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link) Search this book on
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "KWORUM - Polsko-Polonijna Gazeta Internetowa - www.kworum.com.pl". www.kworum.com.pl. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Rys historyczny - Urząd Miasta i Gminy Wiślica". www.ug.wislica.pl. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Muzeum Narodowe w Kielcach - Muzeum w Wiślicy". mnki.pl. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
- ↑ "Wyborcza.pl". kielce.wyborcza.pl. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
- ↑ "WIŚLICA Kolegiata. Gmina Wiślica, powiat buski". Dawne Kieleckie. 2011-09-09. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
Sources[edit]
- Długosz Jan, Roczniki czyli kroniki sławnego królestwa Polskiego, vol IV ISBN 978-83-01-16069-2 Search this book on .
- Kadłubek Wincenty, Chronica seu originale regum et principum Poloniae ISBN 978-83-04-04969-7 Search this book on .
External links[edit]
- Zaczyna siê (wordpress.com)
- kadlubek_kronika (wordpress.com)
- Rys historyczny - Urząd Miasta i Gminy Wiślica (wislica.pl)
- Muzeum Narodowe w Kielcach - Muzeum w Wiślicy (mnki.pl)
- KWORUM - Polsko-Polonijna Gazeta Internetowa - www.kworum.com.pl
- Odkrywamy Świętokrzyskie. Gród na gipsowej wyspie pod Wiślicą (wyborcza.pl)
- WIŚLICA Kolegiata. Gmina Wiślica, powiat buski. | Dawne Kieleckie
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