Legend of the Polish White Eagle Story of Lech and Gniezno

Polish Banner of 1517

It was so long ago that some say it was even before the time of Alexander the Great. The land was wild, with few inhabitants; men lived together in small communities, greatly fearing the savage Goths who invaded them from the West and the wild Huns who attacked them from the East. Death and desolation came in the wake of these invaders and the peaceful, agricultural folk had to fight and become warriors so that they could defend their homes from destruction.

Lech was the first Duke of Poland who became a leader, having united the tribes. Poland grew prosperous. Better strongholds were built to stop raids of savage neighbors, fields were tilled and hides were cured. To ensure proper defence of his country against invasion Lech kept a strong army. It was numerous, well-equipped and well-trained. It won many wars. Indeed the name of Lech, its leader, became so famous throughout the world that his chiefs were called Lechici, Muscovites often called Poles Lachi and Turks gave Poland a name 'Lechistan' or a country of Lech.

The Duke was in every way an outstanding man. He was very tall and broad shouldered. Such was his strength that he could wield a battle-axe which ordinarily took two men to lift. He was handsome, fair-haired, blue-eyed and had well-defined, noble features. Not only was he a fearless warrior, he was also a wise ruler. He loved hunting. As in battle, he led the field. He had a true, brave heart and valued courage in another, be it man or beast.

Lech also loved falconry and kept many goshawks and peregrine falcons, some of which he had trained himself. He tried to train a young buzzard but the bird died. The Duke therefore expressed a wish to train an eagle and though his falconers advised against it, he still persisted, hoping that he might capture and train a young gold eagle for he thought that it would be swifter and stronger than any goshawk.

One fine spring day the Duke and his court went hawking. A goodly company set forth from the castle, each one mounted and each dressed in the green hunting attire which Lech had commanded should be worn by all those who joined the chase with him. The Duke rode at the head with his favourite hawk hooded on his wrist, closely followed by his Master of the Hunt.

The Duke seemed lost in thought. He suddenly gave his bird to the Master of the Hunt, saying, "I wish to be alone" and galloped off. Lech urged his steed forward, he knew not why, feeling an irresistible desire to reach a hill which lay ahead. He reached the top and looked around. Soon he noticed a nest up on a rocky crag. It was a nest of a white eagle who sat with her young around her. She was a noble bird, with curved beak, powerful talons and wings to bear her aloft in graceful flight.

Here was an eagle that Lech dreamed of; here was a bird which would make falconry a delight, which would arouse the envy of every prince in Europe and beyond. He decided to capture one
of the young, take it home to his castle and train it. What a rare prize this would be! What pleasure lay in store for him if he could but capture one of these eaglets!

The white eagle watched him intently as he climbed up to the nest while her little ones, surprised
by the approach of a stranger, crept hiding under her wings. Lech shouted and waved his arms, hoping to frighten the bird away from her nest but she stirred not. The Duke came nearer and stretched out his hand but mother eagle pecked him as though in warning.

Yet again he tried to grasp one of the eaglets but the mother-bird was ready to fight again. This time neither Duke nor the bird escaped unscathed. Lech persisted; their struggle continued. He was being stopped by the sharp beak and powerful wings of the mother. The eagle, wounded several times was bleeding and her blood was staining the white feathers with dark crimson color.

Duke's brave and generous heart was touched by this unyielding defence and noble courage; the sight of blood which trickled down the bird's white breast made him feel ashamed of his desire to take away this noble and valiant bird's off-spring. He turned away abruptly and rode down the hill deep in thought. What a brave bird who shed her blood for her freedom and for that of her eaglets!

Lech sat down at the foot of the hill and surveyed the scene before him. As far as his eye could reach lay the fair lands of Poland, his country that he loved with all his heart. Would he not defend her, just as the eagle had defended her nest? Thus a thought came to him: let this brave, valiant white eagle become the emblem of Poland, indeed a sign of freedom for which all those worthy
of the name of a Pole whould willingly shed their blood and let the crimson eagle's blood be the symbol of bravery.

Lech got to love the hill where he found the eagle's nest. He took his counsellors to the spot and showed it to them saying, "Let us build our nests here, as do the eagles!" So a castle was built and then a city. It was called "Gniezno" which in archaic Polish means"a nest." And in those far-off times Gniezno became a fair city and was a capital of Lech's Dukedom, situated on a hillside which bears his name.

Poland will always be immortal; so shall the white eagle be immortal. The White Eagle on crimson background has always remained the national emblem of Poland. When, repeatedly throughout her history, Poland was being attacked, her valiant sons ever defended her with no less bravery than the white eagle which long ago shed her blood in relentess defence of her freedom.

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Based on 'Old Polish Legends' by F.C. Anstruther
Hippocrene Books, 171 Madison Avenue,
New York, USA