Those were the old days when the Polish lands suffered a lot under the invasions of the Tatars. Over time, the invasions grew stronger, making the lives of the inhabitants of Poland much more difficult.
This state of affairs lasted until the day when the Tatar armies, insatiable by looting, invaded the vicinity of Krakow. The day was hot, the sun did not spare even the people who were hiding in the shadows. It was also a day of Corpus Christi celebrations attended by all the inhabitants of Krakow. The procession was already underway when the inhabitants were notified of the Tatar invasion on the outskirts of Zwierzyniec. Desperate Cracovians turned to God in prayers. Looking for strength and advice as well as his help.
Each inhabitant is a different idea, some said to run away and hide, others to bribe the Tatars, not many were willing to fight. This is how the Cracovians argued for several hours while the invaders plundered Polish lands. In the end he found a brave one, a young man from the Zwierzyniec raftsmen – a profession dealing with river rafting – grasped a banner with the Royal Eagle, which was used in the procession, and spoke.
– Countrymen under arms! You wonder about your own fate, and Poles are dying right next to us! Even if I had to die, I would not allow the plunder of Polish land, even for one more breath!
After these words, the young man set off alone towards Zwierzyniec, just before the other raftsmen jumped out, grabbing their weapons, they set off on the Tatars. Moments later they joined then, and then others and more. The closer to the Tatar hordes, the greater was the size of the popular movement.
After some time, the defenders reached the place where the enemy was preying. The battles were long and fierce, the Poles were less armed and fought fiercely until the last Tartar fled in panic. The victory was great and the joy was even greater. The young man who led the Cracovians to victory, dressed in the outfit of the Tatar Chan, returned to Krakow. The winners were greeted with general cheers. In memory of that day, every year on the octave of Corpus Christi, the Krakow Lajkonik marches along the marked route, remaining not only a showcase of Krakow, but also a symbol of brave raftsmen.
Good post