Drama in Rawa Mazowiecka castle – Polish legends by @papi.mati

That's the 12th post from that series which in total will include 16 publications. If you want to read the previous legend published by me, check those links:

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It's the legend, so obviously it's not the story I created, but it may vary a bit from the versions that other people know. I wrote it on my own, with my words, in a way it was said to me when I was a child and how I remembered it.

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The legend about drama in Rawa Mazowiecka castle

Among many Polish legends, this is probably the least known to its inhabitants, but it is very famous among Europeans. This story took place in the Castle of the Dukes of Mazovia in Rawa Mazowiecka. This event is said to have shocked the ruling families of Europe at the time, and I heard that Shakespeare himself was inspired by the legend when he wrote "Winter's Tale." How much truth there is in the story about the use of the legend by the English writer, only Shakespeare himself knows.

The story begins in 1356 when Euphemia, Princess of Opawa and beloved wife of Siemowit III, who ruled Rawa Castle, died. The death of his beloved had a great impact on the young prince. The prince began to drink excessively and hunt constantly, renouncing his duties to King Casimir the Great. The time has passed but it did not heal the prince's wounds after losing the wife he loved so much.

By a twist of fate, Siemowit III was the guest of the Duke of Ziębice, Mikołaj Mały, where he met and fell in love with his daughter Ludmila. A great future awaited the princes. Siemowit regained his zest for action, turning his principalities into a land of prosperity. Ludmiła gave birth to two children in Siemowit, unfortunately, both died in childhood. God gave Siemowit another descendant though. When Ludmiła was waiting for her son Siemowit to be born, Prince Euphemia's sister came to Rawa Castle, along with her son Przemysław.

At first, the woman pretended a great friendship with her sister-in-law. However, waiting for Przemysław to take the throne, she planned a vile betrayal. Slowly she planted various pieces of evidence to accuse Ludmila of treachery against her husband. Uncertainty sneaked into Siemowit's heart, he started to suspect that the child he has with Ludmila is not his and wife is cheating on him constantly.

Siemowit ordered to lock his wife in the tower which still stands in Rawa Mazowiecka. He started an investigation to confirm the accusations of his sister against Ludmila. However, no one said a bad word about the Lady. Even the court servants who suffered under torture did not lie about Ludmila. Despite such obvious evidence in favor of the princess, Siemowit III decided to kill his innocent wife. He ordered to deliver his newborn child to a peasant girl who should take care of it.

Henryk, that was the name of Siemowit's son, grew up in health and received the necessary education. When the prince turned 18 years old his stepmother decided to introduce him to his father.

When the meeting took place, Siemowit realized his unforgivable mistake, as Henryk was strikingly similar to him. Siemowit attempted to redeem his sins by transferring his son to the clergy. However, he could not find forgiveness in the eyes of the murdered wife. Every year on the day of the birth of her son, she appears in the tower of Rawa, awash in tears, looking for her little son and her beloved husband, who did not believe in her innocence.

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Thank you for reading,
@papi.mati

Rawa Mazowiecka location