Vršovci

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The Vršovci (Vrshovici) were a noble Czech (Bohemian) family and clan, particularly noted in the power struggles of the 10th-12th centuries. The Vršovci were the third most powerful political force in newly Christianized Czechia (Bohemia), after the reigning Přemyslidi and the contending Slavníki. They were active in Bohemian conflicts with Poland, Hungary and the Kings and Electors of the Holy Roman Empire, and also in the intermittent internal conflicts common for feudally fragmented regimes of that time. The Vršovci possessed such towns as Zatec and Litomerice. They had consanguinity with the Přemyslidi and provided political services to them, when it suited Vršovci goals. Some historians supposed that, unlike their opponents, the other two leading families of Czechia, the Vršovci could have retained some pagan beliefs in the 10th century.

The etymology of the clan name is still a subject of dispute. One version claims its origin to be Czech "fishnet" i.e. "Vrša", while another opinion would have it derived from Ursus, Latin for "bear". Heraldic sources and the Polish chronicler Jan Długosz indicate that the Oksza and the Rawicz families of Poland were related and directly descended from, possibly two branches or generations of, the Czech Vršovci. The Rawicz family coat of arms includes a bear and the first name 'Warsz' recurred in the Rawicz family throughout the Middle Ages.

The Vršovci took part in cruel power struggles that occurred in Bohemia on the turn of the first millennium. Being constant confederates of Boleslav II the Pious, the Vršovci helped him deal with the rival princely clan of Slavniki. On September 28, 995 they stormed Libice nad Cidlinou in Central Bohemia and massacred the Slavníki. Among the victims were four or five brothers of Adalbert of Prague, then bishop of Prague. Adalbert damned the Vršovci and predicted that they would be terribly persecuted three times.

The first part of this prophecy came true in 1003, when the Vršovci tried to dethrone Boleslav III the Red. When the expatriated duke returned to Bohemia possibly with the support of Duke Bolesław I the Brave of Poland, he ordered a massacre of the Vršovci at Vyšehrad. According to Thietmar of Merseburg, Boleslav slashed to death his son-in-law (Vršoviec) with his own sword during Lent.

In 1108 the Vršovci came into disfavour again, and were massacred by hostile Přemyslids - namely Svatopluk. Many nobles were executed on Petřin Hill. Those who survived escaped to the Kingdom of Poland, where they were amiably received by the King Bolesław III Wrymouth, who granted them lands in the Rawicz region.

In 1410 the Vršovci, under the names of both Okszycy and Rawiczy, participated in the Battle of Grunwald. Among 50 Polish "banners" (regiments) the 26th took the field under the Rawa coat of arms and was led by Christian of Ostrów, castellan of Kraków. He was also a war councillor, one of the seven chief members of King Władysław II Jagiełło of Poland's general headquarters. Derslaw of Wlostow, of the arms Oksza, served as a scout and on the field of battle, and Peter of Wlostow, also of the arms Oksza, was one of the knights selected by the Poles to initiate the battle. In addition, one of the Rawicz bearers, Christian of Goworzici, is marked for his military valour in the Battle of Koronowo, shortly after that of Grunwald. The participation of Oksza knights at Koronowo was also mentioned, specifically that of Dobko Oksza and Jan Rey of Naglowic.

[edit] References

• Thietmar of Merseburg. Chronicon;
• Cosmas of Prague. Chronica Boëmorum ("Chronicle of Bohemians");
• Jan Długosz. Annales seu cronici incliti regni Poloniae;
• Simon Okolski. Orbis Polonus. Krakow, 1641. V.2. 70-72 and 335-342;
• Simon Okolski. Orbis Polonus. Krakow, 1642. V.2. 581-602;
• Kasper Niesiecki. Herbarz, VIII, 97-99;
• Bartosz Paprocki. Biblioteka Polska. Herby rycerstwa polskiego; Kraków, 1584 (II ed. Kraków, 1858)562-565;
• Josef Teige. Blätter aus der altböhmischen Genealogie. Slavnikiden /Die Vrsovcen /Die Herren von Lichtenburg. Damböck, 2005. ISBN 3900589453.
• Emilian von Zernicki-Szeliga. Die Polnischen-Stammwappen, Hamburg1900, 58-59.
• Kopal, Petr. Neznámý známý rod. Pokus o genealogii Vršovců. Sborník archivních prací 2001/1, 3–84.