Siemowit

Duke of the Polans

Siemowit

Duke of the Polans
Predecessor	Piast the Wheelwright
Successor	Lestek

Issue	Lestek
House	Piast
Father	Piast the Wheelwright
Mother	Rzepicha
Religion	Slavic paganism

Siemowit (Polish pronunciation: [ɕɛˈmɔvit], also Ziemowit [ʑɛˈmɔvit]) was, according to the chronicles of Gallus Anonymus, the son of Piast the Wheelwright and Rzepicha. He is considered to be the first ruler of the Piast dynasty.^[1]

He became the Duke of the Polans in the 9th century after his father, Piast the Wheelwright, son of Chościsko, refused to take the place of legendary Duke Popiel. Siemowit was elected as new duke by the wiec.^[2] According to a popular legend, Popiel was then eaten by mice in his tower on Gopło lake.^[3]

The only mention of Siemowit, along with his son, Lestek, and grandson, Siemomysł, comes in the medieval chronicle of Gallus Anonymus.^[4]

Siemowit's great-grandson, Mieszko I, was the first Christian ruler of Poland.

References

^ K. Jasiński, Rodowód pierwszych Piastów, p. 47.
^ Janusz Roszko (1980). Kolebka Siemowita. Iskry. p. 170. ISBN 978-83-207-0090-9. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
^ Jan Bondeson (2000). Two-Headed Boy, and Other Medical Marvels. Cornell University Press. pp. 91–2. ISBN 978-0-8014-8958-7.
^ (in English and Latin) Gallus Anonymus; Knoll, Schoer; Bisson, Schaen (10 May 2003). The Chronicles and Deeds of the Dukes or Princes of the Poles. Central European University Press. pp. 17–22. ISBN 978-963-9241-40-4.