Historical story

Rulers of Poland. History re-told

The English and French turned their kings into export goods, books about the virgin queen Elizabeth or the bloody Margot read millions. Our monarchs, dried up in Matejko's paintings, seem boring and provincial, they vegetate in the reserve of school textbooks. Yet the history of Poland is as fascinating and dramatic as that of England or France.

In the history of the Republic of Poland there is no lack of ruthless competition for power, there are betrayals and alliances, great figures and villains, diplomatic games and court intrigues, a fight for life and death. There is a rich social layer in which Western influences collide with Sarmatian splendor and Eastern debauchery. There are family secrets, betrayals and romances.

"Rulers" is an opportunity to take a closer look at people raised to the top of power; see how they made decisions; when our history was ruled by chance, and when we managed to saddle the horse of history.

Coming November 28

Outstanding historians tell about people who sat on the Polish throne in 50 interviews. It is the history of our country told in a way that no one has ever told it.

You will learn about how researchers from different generations and universities talk about the history of Poland thanks to the book by Mirosław Maciorowski and Beata Maciejowska, “Rulers of Poland. A story told anew ”(Agora 2018).

But what is the most attractive way to talk about them? There is no golden mean, but you have to try. This book is just such an attempt. It met the knowledge of professional researchers with the inquisitiveness of experienced journalists. It had a sensational effect:the story went beyond the confines of a textbook story, and at the same time stepped down from the pedestal of a scientific study. She became accessible.

50 conversations like 50 puzzles make up the picture of the thousand-year history of Poland. Fascinating.

We invited researchers from different generations and universities to cooperate. Among them there were luminaries of Polish science as well as younger historians with unquestionable achievements.

In "The Lords" they told about the rulers:

prof. Maria Bogucka (University of Warsaw), prof. Maria Koczerska (University of Warsaw), dr hab. Aleksandra Skrzypietz (University of Silesia), prof. Henryk Samsonowicz (University of Warsaw), prof. Jerzy Strzelczyk (Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań), prof. Jerzy Wyrozumski (Jagiellonian University), prof. Stanisław Rosik (University of Wrocław), prof. Przemysław Wiszewski (University of Wrocław), prof. Tomasz Jurek (Polish Academy of Sciences), prof. Jacek Maciejewski (Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz), prof. Jerzy Sperka (University of Silesia), dr hab. Piotr Węcowski (University of Warsaw), dr hab. Marek Ferenc (Jagiellonian University), prof. Maciej Serwański (AMU), prof. Henryk Wisner (PAN), prof. Mirosław Nagielski (University of Warsaw), dr hab. Adam Perłakowski (Jagiellonian University), dr hab. Piotr Ugniewski (University of Warsaw), Dr. Andrzej K. Link-Lenczowski (Jagiellonian University.

The history of Poland is as fascinating and dramatic as that of England or France. The painting shows the election of 1573.

Interviews were conducted by:

Beata Maciejewska - historian, journalist of Gazeta Wyborcza since 1992. Author of historical books, incl. "Elżbietańska parish", "Wrocław. The history of the city "," Wrocław fights for freedom "," Wroclaw Walker ", author of the weekly" Ale Historia ". Winner of many awards, incl. Polish-German Journalism Award, Silesian Cultural Award granted by the government of Lower Saxony and the Lower Silesian Marshal's Office.

Mirosław Maciorowski - an engineer by profession, a passionate historical journalist. He has been working in Gazeta Wyborcza since 1992 as the editor-in-chief of the Ale Historia supplement. Winner of the award of the Association of Polish Journalists in 2002, finalist of the Dariusz Fikus in 2011 for the book "Sami swoi i aliens" about post-war resettlement from the eastern borderlands.

Polish rulers in a new version: