Krakus

For the Krakus brand, see Agros Nova.

"Krak", etching by Walery Eljasz-Radzikowski (1841–1905)

Krakus, Krak or Grakch was a legendary Polish prince and founder of Kraków, the ruler of the tribe of Lechitians (Poles). Krakus is also credited with building Wawel Castle and slaying the Wawel Dragon by feeding him a dead sheep full of sulfur. The latter is how Krak the cobbler became Krakus the prince, and later king.^[1] The first recorded mention of Krakus, then spelled Grakch, is in the Chronica seu originale regum et principum Poloniae from 1190. He is also said to have defeated armies of the Roman Empire, which were attacking from the south.^[2]

Historian J. Banaszkiewicz attributes Krak's name to a pre-Slavic word "krakula", meaning judge's staff. The same word-root is believed to have been used in Czech and Russian naming conventions. However, historians Cetwiński and Derwich suggest a different etymology, which seems more probable to some, with Krak, meaning simply an oak, a sacred tree, most often associated with the concept of genealogy.

Krakus Mound, which exists to this day, was previously believed to contain Krakus' remains. It has been the subject of thorough archeological research from 1934–38, however, no grave has ever been found in it. The mound has a diameter of over 50 meters. According to research, it was erected between the 8th and 10th centuries as a central element of an ancient grave site, which does not exist today.

The Krak and Princess Wanda legend appeared in the early Polish history written by Wincenty Kadlubek; a similar legend, that of Krok and Libussa, appeared in the early Czech history by Cosmas of Prague.

References

↑ Mental_Floss March-April 2012 article: A Dragon for the Digital Age; by Adam K. Raymond
↑ "KRAK, Krakus, Gracchus, Grakch" (in Polish). Encyklopedia Interia.pl. Retrieved August 22, 2012.

Krak or Krakus? at historycy.org (Polish)
'Krakus and the Dragon'. A puppet re-telling by the pupils of St. Mary's Primary, Gorleston

Monarchs of Poland

Tribal period	Lech Krak Krak II Wizymir Lech II Wanda Leszko I Leszko II Leszko III Popiel I Popiel II (Popielid dynasty) Wysz "Duke of Vistulans"

Piast dynasty	Chościsko Piast the Wheelwright Siemowit Lestko Siemomysł Mieszko I Bolesław I Chrobry Bezprym Mieszko II Lambert Bolesław the Forgotten Casimir I the Restorer Bolesław II the Generous Władysław I Herman Zbigniew Bolesław III Wrymouth

Fragmentation period	Supreme Princes Władysław II the Exile Bolesław IV the Curly Mieszko III the Old Casimir II the Just Leszek I the White Władysław III Spindleshanks Władysław Odonic Mieszko IV Tanglefoot Konrad I Henry I the Bearded Henry II the Pious Bolesław V the Chaste Leszek II the Black Henryk IV Probus Przemysł II see also Dukes of Silesia Dukes of Greater Poland Dukes of Little Poland Dukes of Mazovia Dukes of Cuyavia Dukes of Sieradz-Łęczyca Dukes of Gdańsk Pomerania Dukes of Pomerania

Přemyslid dynasty	Wenceslaus II Wenceslaus III

restored Piast dynasty	Władysław I the Elbow-high Casimir III the Great

Capet-Anjou dynasty	Louis I the Hungarian Jadwiga

Jagiellonian dynasty	Władysław II Jagiełło Władysław III of Varna Casimir IV John I Albert Alexander Sigismund I the Old Sigismund II Augustus

Elective monarchy	Henry of Valois Anna Jagiellon Stephen Báthory Sigismund III Vasa Władysław IV Vasa John II Casimir Vasa Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki John III Sobieski August II the Strong Stanisław Leszczyński August III the Saxon Stanisław August Poniatowski

House of Romanov (Congress Poland)	Alexander I Nicholas I

Italics indicates monarchs of questioned historicity or entirely legendary.

Krakus

See also

References