Ostrów Lednicki. At the source of Christianity in Poland

Initially, a smaller fortification is being built here (9th/Xth century), which in time – after the reconstruction of the oldest wooden and earthen fortifications, the construction of bridges and their abutments, as well as structures protecting the island’s shores – in the 60s of the 10th century, gains the rank of one of the centers of power at that time – the residence of the ruler intended for his temporary stays.
The initiator of the above-mentioned developments was Prince Mieszko I. He was also the founder of the monumental buildings that filled the interior of the castle. These stone-built structures are: a palatial and sacred building (palatium) and a free-standing church. The Lednice palatium is one of the oldest palatial structures of our lands. In its sacred part there were 2 baptismal pools indicating the rites of acceptance of the Christian faith that took place on the island. The second of the island’s architectural landmarks is a small single-nave church – the burial place of the presumed representatives of the 3rd generation of Piasts and the deposition of precious relics.

These are not only some of the oldest, but also the best preserved pre-Roman relics in Poland. Also, the 2 bridges that connected Ostrów Lednicki with the mainland in the past are the longest (610 m) of the surface engineering devices of the Piast domain. In the times in question (the 2nd half of the 10th-1st half of the 11th century), Ostrów Lednicki experienced the years of its greatest splendor, which was associated with the numerous functions performed by the castle. It was the place where power was most fully realized – the temporary seat of the ruler, one of the oldest sacred centers of the state, baptisms subordinate to the reigning prince perhaps even Mieszko I himself and the cult of holy relics, location of intra-church burials of members of the dynasty, special militarization of the state, extremely densely settled with a significant level of agrarianization.
The island seat of the ruler was destroyed as a result of the invasion of the Czech prince Bretislav (1038), after which, after reconstruction, it continued to function in the 12th and 13th centuries, but in an altered function, associated with the local castellan center.

From the period of the island’s greatest prosperity (and the separate castle district created to serve this seat of the rulers) come perhaps the richest assemblages of Christian cult objects discovered in the Piast lands, numerous luxury goods and militaria. Among them, a Byzantine reliquary (stauroteka), in which a fragment of the Holy Cross Tree was kept, a box intended for depositing relics, or a comb made in ivory associated with the clergy, is of special dimension. Numerous are a group of relics cast in gold, as well as armaments attested by the largest collection of weapons in Central Slavonia (more than 300 pieces), to mention swords (6 pieces), spearheads (about 60 pieces), axes (about 160 pieces), or extremely valuable protective knightly equipment such as helmets and chainmail. Some of the militaria point to the Scandinavian origin of the warriors guarding the Lednice residence, near which they also found their eternal resting place.

All the relics in question can be seen by visitors on the charts, while only one, but by all means special object – the aforementioned Byzantine staurotic – has been made available at the exhibition. This is the oldest reliquary of its kind in our lands. Such objects were often a souvenir given by the emperor (or pope) on the occasion of the baptism of a foreign ruler. It is assumed that the staurotic found on Lednice Island may be such a gift given to Mieszko I as a memento and on the occasion of his baptism. This is all the more likely because this Lednice island is the only place in Poland where the remains of baptismal pools, mentioned earlier, were discovered in the palace chapel of the reigning monarch. Both of these facts are therefore significant enough to consider Lednicki Island as the most likely place where Mieszko I and his court received official baptism in 966.
In telling the story of the baptism at Ostrow Lednicki, the author of the exposition clarifies the contentious issue of the place of baptism of the Polish ruler, the date of this act, the main participants of this ceremony, its course and further consequences.

The charts, cartographic and photographic materials presented at the exhibition at the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola illustrate some of the many issues connected with Lednickie Island and the beginnings of Christianity in Poland. They refer to one of the current research proposals aimed at reconstructing the history of this island, forgotten for many centuries. They show the material richness and ideological dimension of this place and its importance in the process of the formation of our state and Christianity. It is the author’s intention that the exhibition should stimulate thinking and pose questions about the ancient world, which we are trying to read and understand.
Dr. Janusz Górecki – curator of the exhibition at the Museum of the First Piasts in Lednica
scenario: dr Janusz Górecki, computer preparation: Wojciech Kujawa