| Princess Wanda | |
|---|---|
 Illustration from theChronica Polonorum (1519) | |
| First appearance | 13th century AD |
| Created by | Wincenty Kadłubek |
| In-universe information | |
| Alias | Vanda |
| Family | Krakus (father) |
| Religion | Slavic paganism |
| Nationality | Lechitic |
Princess Wanda (pronounced[ˈvan.da]; reputedly lived in 8th centuryPoland)[1] was the daughter of theLechitic KingKrakus, legendary founder ofKraków. Upon her father's death she became a ruler of the Poles, but committed suicide to avoid an unwanted marriage.
The first written record of the legend of Wanda was made by the Polish chroniclerWincenty Kadłubek, which historians believe to be an invented legend.[2][3] In this version of the story Wanda ruled Poland after her father, when her lands were invaded by an "Alamann tyrant". Wanda led her troops out to meet him. Seeing her beauty, the German troops refused to fight and their leader committed suicide. Towards the end of the story Kadłubek states that "the river Vandalus [a name he used for theVistula] is named after" her and hence the people she ruled over were known as "Vandals".[4] In this version Wanda remained unmarried and had a long life.[2]
Subsequent versions of the story differ significantly. In the version from theWielkopolska Chronicle, the Alemannic leader, Rytygier (Rüdiger), first wanted to marry Wanda and invaded her lands when she refused. Here, he died during the ensuing battle, while it was Wanda who committed suicide afterwards, as thanks and a sacrifice to thepagan gods who gave her victory. In yet other versions of the story, Wanda commits suicide by throwing herself into theVistula river, because she knows there will be future suitors who will use her refusal to marry as a pretext for an invasion. This variation was popularised by the 15th-century historianJan Długosz.[5]
Wanda Mound (Polish:Kopiec Wandy) is assumed to be the burial place of the princess. Up until the 19th century, bonfires were lit at the mound onPentecost. The nearby industrial district ofNowa Huta, established on 1949, began construction on thename day of Wanda (23 June). As such, Princess Wanda is a semi-official patron of the district, which contains a trade center, street, bridge, and stadium named after her.
The German poetZacharias Werner wrote a drama namedWanda, which under Werner's friendGoethe was performed on stage in 1809.
The story of Wanda is very popular in Polish art, culture and literature. For example, the Polish poetC.K. Norwid visited the Mound in 1840 and subsequently composed the epic narrative poemWanda in honor of the ancient Polish princess and queen.
Wanda (also spelled as Vanda) outside of Poland - Vanda the title and protagonist of the 1876Antonín Dvořák grand opera,Wanda; the protagonist of the 1809 stage playWanda written by German poet Zacharias Werner and directed by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe; Wanda, heroine of the 1840 narrative poem "Wanda" by the Polish poet C. K. Norwid; Wanda, subject of the 1868 playWanda, the Polish Queen by the Croatian dramatist Matija Ban; Wanda von Dunajew, protagonist ofLeopold von Sacher-Masoch's 1870 novelVenus in Furs; Wanda von Chabert, the protagonist of the 1881Guy de Maupassant story "In Various Roles"; "Kinda Fonda Wanda" a song byNeil Young on his 1983 album Everybody's Rockin'.
Antonín Dvořák composed the fifth of his 11 operas, the tragedyVanda around this episode in Polish history legends. Writing in 1875, he cast the story as a struggle between the paganWest Slavs and the Christian Teutons.[6]
In 1890, a statue designed by the Polish artistJan Matejko depicting an eagle turning to the west was mounted on top of the mound. On the base of the statue the inscriptionWANDA was carved, together with two swords and a distaff.
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