96. Leszek the White, High Duke of Poland, is Assassinated, Morcinkowo, Poland 1227

There are many affecting paintings of the death of Leszek Bialy, but this statue, erected in Morcinkowo at the place he was assassinated, is powerfully simple. The original was sculpted by  Jakub Juszczyk in 1927; the Nazis destroyed that version in WWII; it was reconstructed in 1973.

During the Fragmentation of Poland, which lasted from 1138 to 1320, Leszek Bialy — Leszek the White — managed to reign as the High Duke of Poland four times, the last reign going on for 16 years before it ended, on account of his having been assassinated. That’s a long reign, during the age of fragmentation, when the realm was, well, fragmented, and the position of High Duke got passed around pretty often.  Leszek was attending a conference of several dukes when he was attacked in his bath, escaping naked on his horse for a short distance before the attackers caught up with him.  So, he’s well known for that, because it’s dramatic, and a  great subject for painting, but he’s also famous for refusing to go on crusade because there was no beer in the Holy Land.  Which is a really true thing; there’s documentation.

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