Stach Konwa
Encyclopedia
Stach Konwa is a legendary Polish hero, especially important to the inhabitants of the Polish Kurpie
region. According to legend, he was born in Novgorod and died about 1733.
Stach Konwa probably existed, but there are no historical sources to back this up. The name “Konwa” is not a name usually found in the Kurpie region, and it may be that it could be a pseudonym used to protect his family and friends from reprisal. On the other hand, researchers, such as Wieslaw Majewski, suggest that he was created by writers attempting to stimulate public consciousness. Stach Konwa was the epitome of the myth of free and courageous Kurpie leaders, derived from the people, who fought against invaders and serfdom.
in a battle with the Swedes
on the 22nd and 23rd of January 1708 under the bridge near Myszyniec
. During the War of Polish Succession he is reported to have fought on the side of Stanisław Leszczyński. And, during the time of the Konfederacja Dzikowska he commanded a division of Kurpie volunteers which fought against Russian and Saxon troops at the battle of Jednaczewo
. He lost the battle and was captured by the Saxons, who hanged him. .
. The first monument was erected through the efforts of Adam Chętnika on Konwa’s grave in the Kurpie forest near Jednaczewo (unveiled June 25, 1922). The monument was destroyed during World War II
.
A replica made in 1965 can be viewed in the Kurpie museum in Novgorod. The Stach Konwa monument, by Gervase Lórinczego, was erected in 1958 in Łomża on the occasion of the city’s 1000th anniversary. On the monument, the statue of Konwa faces east with his fist raised in that direction, perceived as an expression of opposition to Soviet domination.
Kurpie
Kurpie is one of a number of ethnic regions in Poland, noted for its unique traditional customs, such as its own types of traditional costume, traditional dance, and distinctive type of architecture and livelihoods...
region. According to legend, he was born in Novgorod and died about 1733.
Stach Konwa probably existed, but there are no historical sources to back this up. The name “Konwa” is not a name usually found in the Kurpie region, and it may be that it could be a pseudonym used to protect his family and friends from reprisal. On the other hand, researchers, such as Wieslaw Majewski, suggest that he was created by writers attempting to stimulate public consciousness. Stach Konwa was the epitome of the myth of free and courageous Kurpie leaders, derived from the people, who fought against invaders and serfdom.
Legend
According to legend, Konwa demonstrated great courage during the Great Northern WarGreat Northern War
The Great Northern War was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in northern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swedish alliance were Peter I the Great of Russia, Frederick IV of...
in a battle with the Swedes
Swedes
Swedes are a Scandinavian nation and ethnic group native to Sweden, mostly inhabiting Sweden and the other Nordic countries, with descendants living in a number of countries.-Etymology:...
on the 22nd and 23rd of January 1708 under the bridge near Myszyniec
Myszyniec
Myszyniec is a town in Ostrołęka County, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,032 inhabitants ....
. During the War of Polish Succession he is reported to have fought on the side of Stanisław Leszczyński. And, during the time of the Konfederacja Dzikowska he commanded a division of Kurpie volunteers which fought against Russian and Saxon troops at the battle of Jednaczewo
Jednaczewo
Jednaczewo is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Łomża, within Łomża County, Podlaskie Voivodeship, in north-eastern Poland. It lies approximately north-west of Łomża and west of the regional capital Białystok.-References:...
. He lost the battle and was captured by the Saxons, who hanged him. .
Commemoration
Stach Konwa remains in the memory of the people of Kurpie as a symbol of their fierce independence and resistance to RussificationRussification
Russification is an adoption of the Russian language or some other Russian attributes by non-Russian communities...
. The first monument was erected through the efforts of Adam Chętnika on Konwa’s grave in the Kurpie forest near Jednaczewo (unveiled June 25, 1922). The monument was destroyed during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
A replica made in 1965 can be viewed in the Kurpie museum in Novgorod. The Stach Konwa monument, by Gervase Lórinczego, was erected in 1958 in Łomża on the occasion of the city’s 1000th anniversary. On the monument, the statue of Konwa faces east with his fist raised in that direction, perceived as an expression of opposition to Soviet domination.
External links
- Skansen Kurpiowski im. Adama Chętnika w Nowogrodzie Polish - Kurpie Museum