On this day in 1791

On this day in 1791 Poland established Europe's first national constitution - only the second such document in the world (after our own). Konstytucja Trzeciego Maja

 

An Update from Poland

The past few days have been fun. Saw the Black Madonna, ate a lot of good food..... that’s about it! The temperature is a lot like Milwaukee, got some days and cold others - YaYa

Auschwitz

Today I was able to experience visiting Auschwitz and Birkenau. 

 It was a memorable and moving experience- although I’ve seen numerous movies, seen photos, and read books about the Holocaust, seeing the camps really was completely different. There is nothing like seeing Auschwitz. There is nothing like seeing Birkenau. Nothing taught in World History class could have moved me like this. 

The massive size of Birkenau alone shows the complete disregard that the Nazis had for human lives. The “bathrooms”, the bunks, the washrooms- they all made sure that the people in the camps were stripped of all of their dignity. They were not treated like human beings, rather like cattle. Visiting Auschwitz, I could horrifically see how downright effective the camps were made to be. It’s terrible how they were made to be that way.

The lack of respect shown by other visitors shows me that we still need to be educated on the events that happened there. There was scratched graffiti on the walls, people bringing young and loud children, and people eating sandwiches on the tour. Straight up blatant disrespect. We need to be educated and respectful on the events of the Holocaust, it is our history. 

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

- YaYa 

YaYa Leaves for Poland

A little matchy matchy in gray, I know. What a faux pas. But Smiley and I just wished YaYa a safe and healthy trip to Poland. We love you GC!

A Fact to Recite with Pride

In 1430, King Władysław II Jagiełło of Poland granted the Privilege of Jedlnia, which proclaimed, Neminem captivabimus nisi iure victum ("We will not imprison anyone except if convicted by law"). This revolutionary innovation in civil libertarianism gave Polish citizens due process-style rights that did not exist in any other European country for another 250 years. - Wikipedia

A Neat Find

According to Archaelology Magazine, a medevial sword was recently found in a peat bog in Southeastern Poland. div class="separator" style="clear: both;">

Jeżeli lubisz kawę, dziękuj Polaka. (If you like coffee, thank a Pole.)

Today, September 12th, is the anniversary of The Battle of Vienna, one of the most decisive battles in Western history.

In 1683 an invading Turkish army of 150,000 men was on the verge of conquering Central Europe. Their siege was Vienna was nearly complete, and only a last ditch, frantic defense had repelled the latest assault. Within days, if not hours, a large chunk of Europe would fall under Islamic rule.

That'd be about the time these guys showed up.



King Jan III Sobieski of Poland, honoring a mutual defense treaty, organized a relief expedition to Vienna. Upon arriving at the battlefied the Polish army launched an infantry attack that tied up the Turkish troops; after twelve hours of fierce fighting Poles held the high ground on the right.

Then, at 5 pm, Sobieski ordered the single largest calvary attack in history, with over 20,000 horsemen crashing down on the enemy.

Sobieski was in the lead, along with 3000 of his heavy lancers - the feared Winged Hussars.

These famous cavalrymen would ride into battle with wings of eagle or ostrich feathers attached to their back. It is rumoured the sound of the wings frightened and confused enemy horses, disrupting any defense. Certainly the sight of the signature wings struck fear into their riders as well.

What, at the start of the day, seemed a certain victory for the Turks quickly turned into a murderous rout. The winged horsemen bowled over the first line of defense, sliced and hacked through the rest, and burst through into the heart of the Ottoman camp, narrowly missing capturing the Turkish leader.

Said Sobieski, paraphrasing Casesar: “Veni, vidi, Deus vicit:” “I came, I saw, God conquered.”. For his victory against them, the Turks would label Sobieski the "Lion of Lechistan [a contemporary name for Poland]"

The implications of the battle were clear: Islamic forces never again threatened European soil in any meaningful way, and centuries of conflict were at an end - at least until modern times.

One result of the battle is less obvious. The Turks fled the battlefield so abruptly they left a kings ransom of items behind in their camp. Among them were stores of hard, bitter beans. While the drink made from the beans had been introduced to the wealthy and royal elsewhere in Europe, an enterprising Pole opened a shop in Vienna and sold the liquid to the masses.

Ladies and gentlmen: the introduction of coffee into everyday European life.

h/t