Juraj Jánošík

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Janosik, wood engraving by Władysław Skoczylas

Juraj Jánošík or Juro Jánošík (1688-1713), (modern pronunciation: /'juraj 'jaːnɔʃiːk/), Polish: Jerzy Janosik (modern pronunciation: /'jɛʒɨ ja'nɔɕik/), Hungarian: Jánosik György was a famous Slovak outlaw, often described as the "Slovak Robin Hood." His probable date of birth is January 25, 1688. His act of baptism was preserved and is dated May 16, 1688. His parents were Michal Jánošík and Barbara Cingelova (or Martin Jánošík and Anna Čišníkova). He had two younger brothers and one sister who was oldest of all - Barbara.

This Slovak equivalent of Robin Hood or William Tell has been topic of many Slovak and Polish legends, books and films. According to the legends he was stealing from nobles and gave the stolen things to the poor people. The Janosik myth was also known in Poland and the Czech lands.

Jánošík was born at the village Terchová in the Austrian Monarchy, now in northern Slovakia, was fighting with the Kurucs in 1706-1708, then with the imperial army, and in 1711 he became the leader of a forest robber group in northwestern Slovakia. He was captured in 1712 in Hrachov, but managed to escape. Finally, he was captured again and imprisoned in spring of 1713 in Liptovský Mikuláš. His trial took place on March 16 and March 17, 1713 and he was sentenced to death by hanging on a hook. His execution took place on March 18, 1713.

[edit] Jánošík in fiction

Jánošík is also the name of several films and one TV series:

Jánošík (1921) – Slovak film (black-and-white, silent); directed by: Jaroslav Siakeľ, Jánošík is played by: Theodor Pištěk. This is the first Slovak full-length feature movie and one of the first full-length feature movies in the world. See Jánošík (1921 movie)
Jánošík (1935) – Slovak film (black-and-white); the most popular Slovak movie at that time; directed by: Martin Frič, Jánošík played by: Paľo Bielik
Jánošík I (1962) and Jánošík II (1963) - Slovak action film in two parts; directed by Paľo Bielik (- see also 1935)
Janosik (1974) – Polish film by Jerzy Passendorfer starring Marek Perepeczko as Janosik.
Janosik (1975) – Polish TV series, which made him popular in modern Poland by Jerzy Passendorfer and starring Marek Perepeczko as Janosik.
Jánošík (1976) – Slovak cartoon by Viktor Kubal
The True Story of Janosik and Uhorcik (2006?) (Slovak title: Jánošík – Pravdivá história, Polish title: Prawdziwa historia Janosika i Uhorcika) by Kasia Adamik and Agnieszka Holland – Polish-Slovak-Czech film, still in production [1]