Comenius 2013 2015 This project has been funded

Comenius 2013 -2015 This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This presentation reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

THE 5 MOST IMPORTANT RULERS: KINGS, LEADERS, PRESIDENTS IN THE HISTORY OF POLAND Based on detailed PPPs by Comenius team of ZSO nr 10 Kielce, Poland: Weronika Matachowska, Katarzyna Sokołowska, Karol Galera, Adrian Uniat, Piotr Niestój, Jakub Maniara, Dawid Kwiatek, Izydor Bielecki Supervised by Beata Ciaś-Smutek

According to the survey conducted in January 2014 in our school the 5 most significant Polish rulers are v. Lech Wałęsa – the president v. Józef Piłsudski – the army leader, marshal v. Jan III Sobieski – the king v. Bolesław I the Brave (Chrobry) – the king v. Mieszko I – the duke

The statistics of the votes among 13 -15 year-old gimnazjum students

1

LECH WAŁĘSA (born 1943) President of Poland – the first independent from Soviet Russia

LECH WAŁĘSA Ø An electrician who became the president of Poland between 1990 -1995 Ø A charismatic politician with direct simple language Ø A co-founder of „Solidarity” first independent trade union in the Soviet block countries Ø An effective union leader who wasn’t afraid to speak aloud what the workers felt Ø A human-rights activist who spoke in the White House Ø Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1983 Ø A father of 8 children Ø As a retired politician - a commentator of the political and economic reality

WAŁĘSA’S ACHIEVEMENTS Ø He was an organizer of the illegal 1970 strikes at the Gdańsk Shipyard when workers protested about the government raising food prices; he was considered the chairman of the strike committee. Ø He and his family were under constant surveillance by the Polish secret police; his home and workplace were always bugged. Over the next few years, he was arrested several times for participating in dissident activities.

WAŁĘSA’S ACHIEVEMENTS Ø He started the changes in Poland which later inspired people abroad which resulted in changes in Germany, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Hungary.

WAŁĘSA’S ACHIEVEMENTS Ø Wałęsa was an informal leader of the "nongovernmental" side in the negotiations in Round Table Negotiations from February to April 1989. During the talks, he travelled all over Poland, giving speeches in support of the negotiations. At the end of the talks, the government signed an agreement to re-establish the Solidarity Trade Union and to organize "semi-free" elections to the Polish parliament. Ø On 9 December 1990, Wałęsa won the presidential election, defeating Prime Minister Mazowiecki and other candidates to become the first democratically elected president of Poland.

WAŁĘSA’S ACHIEVEMENTS Ø In 1993 he founded his political party BBWR the Nonpartisan Bloc for Support of Reforms Ø Wałęsa saw Poland through privatization and transition to a free-market economy (Balcerowicz Plan), Poland's 1991 first totally free parliamentary elections, and a period of redefinition of Poland's foreign relations. Ø He successfully negotiated the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Polish soil. Ø He got a substantial reduction in Poland's foreign debts.

2

JÓZEF PIŁSUDSKI (1867 – 1935)

JÓZEF PIŁSUDSKI Ø A great soldier, strategist, focused on army Ø The head of Polish army since 1918 Ø An independence activist Ø The first Marshal of Poland since 1920 Ø The creator of government after the revolt of May 1926 Ø Polish Prime Minister 1926– 1928 and 1930 Ø A man of famous sayings

JÓZEF PIŁSUDSKI’S ACHIEVEMENTS Ø To cut a long story short : Ø He helped Poland gain independence after 123 years of partitions, occupation and NONEXISTENCE on European maps. Ø 11 November 1918 was a new start … again. Ø The enemy armies staying for 123 years in our motherland started to go back to Russia, Germany and Austria where they belonged. Ø Poland did not allow foreign invadors to change us into Russians or Germans, we didn’t forget our native language, culture and traditions. But, if not for Piłsudski. . ?

JÓZEF PIŁSUDSKI’S ACHIEVEMENTS Ø The war against Russians in 1920 was very important for the world and Europe. Small Polish army ‘demolished’ the enormous Bolshevic -Russian army. Ø He stopped the Soviet plans to change the Southern & Western Europe into Soviet republics. Ø The famous battle of Warsaw is 18 th on the list of the most important battles in the world history.

JÓZEF PIŁSUDSKI’S ACHIEVEMENTS Ø Piłsudski was mostly concerned with the Polish army and foreign affairs. From among all European countries Poland had the most difficult situation being squeezed between 2 aggressive and expansive powers: Germany and Soviet Union (Russia). Ø His actions led to recognition of Poland on the world map and the map of Europe by them! Ø He reached agreements : „pacts about nonaggression” signed with USSR in 1932 and Nazi III Reich in 1934.

POLAND IN PIŁSUDSKI’S TIMES

THE TERRITORIAL CHANGES AFTER THE 2 nd WORLD WAR (FROM RED TO PINK!)

3

KING JAN III SOBIESKI (1629 – 1696)

KING SOBIESKI Ø A successful soldier and army leader Ø The Lion of Lechistan -Poland (called by the Turks) Ø Christians Defender of the Faith (the title awarded by Pope Innocent XI in 1684) Ø An educated man who spoke several foreign languages Ø A king of Poland 1674 -1696 Ø A loving husband famous for his love letters to his wife Marysieńka

SOBIESKI’S ACHIEVEMENTS Ø Jan Sobieski got the throne thanks to successful victorious wars with Turks and Tatars Ø In 1683 he won the famous battle of Vienna stopping the Turkish invasion of Europe, protecting European Christian traditions from domination of Islam Ø During his reign final peace treaty with Russia was signed in 1686 Ø Sobieski’s reign was the best time of the development of Sarmatian culture – which was characterized by love of freedom and traditions.

SOBIESKI’S VICTORIES • • • • • Battle of Podhajce (1667) Battle of Bracław (1671) Battle of Mohylów (1671) Battle of Kalnik (1671) Battle of Krasnobród (1672) Battle of Niemirów (1672) Battle of Komarno (1672) Battle of Kałusz (1672) Battle of Chocim (1673) Battle of Bar (1674) Battle of Lwów (1675) Battle of Trembowla (1675) Battle of Wojniłów (1675) Battle of Żurawno (1676) Battle of Vienna (1683) Battle of Parkany (1683) Battle of Jazłowiec (1684) Battle of Żwaniec (1684) Battle of Iaşi (1686) Battle of Suceava (1691)

POLAND IN SOBIESKI’S TIMES

4

KING BOLESŁAW I BRAVE (967 – 1025)

BOLESŁAW THE BRAVE’S ACHIEVEMENTS Ø He continued and strengthened the existence of the newly formed Poland. Ø He met the Roman-German emperor in 1000 who recognised him as an independent king. Ø He established the first archbishopric in Gniezno Ø In 1003 he expanded his kingdom over Czech and Moravia. Ø In 1018 he conquered Kiev & Czerwieńskie Grody. Ø In 1025 he became the first crowned Polish king

POLAND OF BOLESŁAW THE BRAVE

5

MIESZKO I (935 – 992)

MIESZKO I ’ S ACHIEVEMENTS Ø He conquered many Slavic tribes and united them as one country. Ø He was the first official ruler of newly formed Poland. Ø He accepted christianity as Polish religion and joined western civilization cleverly avoiding German christianization by force. Ø He defeated German army at Cedynia in 972 signalling the strength of Poland.

POLAND IN MIESZKO’S TIMES POLSKA

‘RESPECT’ TO ALL OF THEM