Piast the Wheelwright

Piast the Wheelwright
Piast plate by Walery Eljasz-Radzikowski (1841–1905)
Duke of the Polans
Predecessor	Chościsko
Successor	Bolesław the Forgotten

Born	740/1^[1]
Died	861 (aged 120)^[1]
Consort	Rzepicha
Issue	Siemowit
House	House of Piast (founder)
Father	Chościsko
Religion	Slavic Pagan

Piast Kołodziej (Polish pronunciation: [ˈpʲiast kɔˈwɔd͡ʑɛj], Piast the Wheelwright; 740/1 – 861) was a semi-legendary figure in medieval Poland (9th century AD), the founder of the Piast dynasty that would rule the future Kingdom of Poland.^[2]

Legend and aftermath

Piast makes an appearance in the Polish Chronicle of Gallus Anonymus,^[3] along with his father, Chościsko, and Piast's wife, Rzepka.

The chronicle tells the story of an unexpected visit paid to Piast by two strangers. They ask to join Piast's family in celebration of the 7th birthday of Piast’s son, Siemowit (a pagan rite of passage for young boys). In return for the hospitality, the guests cast a spell making Piast's cellar ever full of plenty. Seeing this, Piast's compatriots declare him their new prince, to replace the late Prince Popiel.

Monument to Piast Kołodziej in Złotów

If Piast really existed, he would have been the great-great-grandfather of Prince Mieszko I (c. 930–92), the first historic ruler of Poland, and the great-great-great-grandfather of Bolesław Chrobry (967–1025), the first Polish king.

The Piasts were native of Gniezno, a well fortified castle town founded between the eighth and ninth century, within the tribal territory of the Polanie . ^[4]

According to legend, he died in 861 aged 120 years.^[1]

Two theories explain the etymology of the word Piast. The first gives the root as piasta ("hub" in Polish), a reference to his profession. The second relates Piast to piastun ("custodian" or "keeper"). This could hint at Piast's initial position as a majordomo, or a "steward of the house", in the court of another ruler, and the subsequent takeover of power by Piast. This would parallel the development of the early medieval Frankish dynasties, when the Mayors of the Palace of the Merovingian kings gradually usurped political control.

References

1 2 3 Prichard, James C. (1836). Researches into the Physical History of Mankind 1. London: Houlston and Stoneman. pp. 11–5 ff.
↑ Norman Davies (23 August 2001). Heart of Europe: The Past in Poland's Present. Oxford University Press. p. 249. ISBN 978-0-19-280126-5. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
↑ Excerpts from the Gallus Anonymus' chronicle, PL: Gimnazjum .
↑ Dzięcioł, W. (1966). The origins of Poland. London: Veritas.

^[1]

Monarchs of Poland

Piast dynasty	Piast the Wheelwright Siemowit Lestek Siemomysł Mieszko I Bolesław I the Brave Bezprym Mieszko II Lambert Bolesław the Forgotten Casimir I the Restorer Bolesław II the Generous Władysław I Herman Zbigniew Bolesław III Wrymouth

Fragmentation period	Supreme Princes Władysław II the Exile Bolesław IV the Curly Mieszko III the Old Casimir II the Just Leszek the White Władysław III Spindleshanks Władysław Odonic Mieszko IV Tanglefoot Konrad I Henry I the Bearded Henry II the Pious Bolesław V the Chaste Leszek II the Black Henryk IV Probus Przemysł II see also Dukes of Silesia Dukes of Greater Poland Dukes of Little Poland Dukes of Masovia Dukes of Cuyavia Dukes of Sieradz-Łęczyca Dukes of Gdańsk Pomerania Dukes of Pomerania

Přemyslid dynasty	Wenceslaus II Wenceslaus III

restored Piast dynasty	Władysław I the Elbow-high Casimir III the Great

Capet-Anjou dynasty	Louis I the Hungarian Jadwiga

Jagiellonian dynasty	Władysław II Jagiełło Władysław III of Varna Casimir IV John I Albert Alexander Sigismund I the Old Sigismund II Augustus

Elective monarchy	Henry of Valois Anna Jagiellon Stephen Báthory Sigismund III Vasa Władysław IV Vasa John II Casimir Vasa Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki John III Sobieski August II the Strong Stanisław I August III the Saxon Stanisław August Poniatowski

Italics indicates monarchs of questioned historicity or entirely legendary.

Authority control	WorldCat Identities VIAF: 61527841

↑ Dzięcioł, W. (1966). The origins of Poland. London: Veritas.

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