The Historical Role of the Odrowaz Family
THE MIDDLE AGES:
During the Middle Ages, the Odrovans (Odrowaz family) played an important part in Poland's political history. Many members of this family aspired to the ideals, of their noble status, which resulted in their producing good citizens, great leaders, and people of faith. This chapter will explore their many achievements.
The first historical account of this family was written in the 12th century. It seems that the family had good relations with Sieciech, who was thought to be a friend of the Odrovans, since the Siecieslaw appear to have married into the Odrowaz family in this century, and many members took his name in later generations. The Odrovans have also been associated with Prandota Stary (the old) , who early historians considered to be an early member of the Odrovans.
According to a document written in 1221, the Prandocin were described as: ius aquae et baculi or having the right of water and staff.
The right of water is the right to perform ritual ablutions. The right of staff denotes the habit of an ancient Roman magistrate's attendant (lictor), who preceded them carrying a bundle of rods (fasces) containing an ax with the blade projecting, borne as an emblem of his official power. Thus ius aquae et baculi granted them the right of kings and princes to hold court and judge their tenants, and to lic (punish) them as they saw fit.
The Odrovans had both these powers on their vast estates in Malopolska (little Poland ).
Prandota Stary had played an important role in Poland's history, however, he was not a member of the court of the duke of Malopolska. Members of the court were Skarbimir Awdaniec, and later, Piotr Wlostowic, of the Labedz coat of arms.
Much of what we know comes from a Benedictine monk, known as Gallus Anonimus, who wrote the first history of Poland. He was said to have gathered early Piast history by working with Boleslaw Krzywousty's chancellor from 1112 to 1118. Boleslaw was the father of Wladyslaw II.
On his deathbed, in 1138, King Boleslaw "Wrymouth" divided Poland among his sons:
Poland was divided for two centuries into rival dukedoms. This was a chaotic time of destruction and misery.
The Odrovans were associated with the family of Dobiesz or Dobek. He was reputed to have imprisoned Piotr Wlastocic by the order given to him by King Wladyslaw II. The only information we have to back up this opinion is their given/first names. Apparently, Piotr was later forgiven, as he continued to hold influential positions within the court and judicial order. The Odrovans were not staunch supporters of the descendents of King Wladyslaw II, or the later dukes of Silesia. In fact, the dukes had very little support in Malopolska, until the death of Kazimierz Sprawiedliwy in 1159. After his death, the advocates of Wladyslaw II seemingly disappeared. After blinding Piotr Wlostowic, the Odrovans were outraged, and his former supporters made their alliances with the younger dukes, perished in wars, or went into exile. This most likely was the fate of the Dobiesz.
The Odrovans expressed loyalty Kasimierz Sprawiedliwy, duke of Sandomierz, in 1189. In these dark times, the Odrovans also seemed to have been befriended by the Rawicz family, since they were their neighbors in Malopolska. Both families were of Czech origin. Iwon Odrowaz and Ostacz Rawicz were united in a dispute over the killing of an Odrovan near Peszczyska near the Prussian borderlands. This feud continued throughout the 13th century.
Warz, father of Prandota, was also considered a member of the Odrovans. Prandota was witness to a miracle performed by St. Hyacinth (Jacek)while he was a church leader. The Rawicz and the Odrowans were political allies, during the servitude of Bishop Iwo (Iwan Odrowaz).
The story of The Griffin, the Caterpillar, and the Serpent by "Master Wincenty" comes to mind:
In the 13th century, in Cracow, an allegorical chronicle was written by Blessed Vincent Kadlubek, then Bishop of Cracow. This allegory was called The Chronica Polonorum, and was written in clerical Latin. Bishop Kadlubek worked with Blessed Ceslas Odrowaz, St. Hyacinth (Jacek Odrowaz), and Iwo Odrowaz, so from this we can gather that he was well acquainted with the Odrowaz family.
This legend/allegory was said to have been told to the young sons of Kazimierz Sprawiedliwy [Leszek (1186-1237) and Konrad (1187-1247] as a parable. The subject of this story was to advice them against the powerful Mikolaj, the Palatine of Cracow. The "Griffin" was thought to represent the Gryf family; the Lis family was thought to be the "Caterpillar" (Liszka); and the "Serpent" represented the Odrowaz family. As in many fairy tales, this was a story written about the political climate of the times. The legend does not seem quite right, since the griffin was not a part of the Awiebodzic (Gryf) family coat of arms until the mid-thirteenth century. However, Sad Odrowaz-Dobieslawic had a Gryf on his seal. But can we trust a fable as fact? In this story, we have a description of the battles between these powerful families, or groups of families, with the duke (Planetree). Planetree defends the minor knights (the birds that took refuge in the branches of the trees). The battle ends with the Gryf breaking his wing against the wood. He then turns to the passing caterpillar and asks if she can help him. Her reward, for helping, would be the second place in the kingdom. The caterpillar agrees and tells him that if he breaks his second wing that this will help him to regain his flight. The Griffin follows her advice and is immobilized. Without the ability to fly, the Griffin can no longer hunt for food and is killed by the serpent.
We can see that the family, who went against the duke, fell and disappeared from the political scene. Can we also find an event in the second half of the 12th century, which could relate to this tale? There is the fall of the Awiebodzic and Labde families, after the ascension of Kazimierz Sprawiedliwy. Throughout Kazimierz's reign and beyond, the Awiebodzie and Labde families did not hold any offices in Malopolska, Poland. From this, we can conclude that they were in opposition to, and not favored, during this dynasty. Could this have been a result of the battle in Master Wincenty's tale of the Griffin, Caterpillar, and Serpent? They were not advanced like the Powalow family (Giedko, Bishop of Cracow) or the Lis family (Mikolaj, Palatine of Cracow). However, both families are clients of the Awiebodzic family in 1166-1167. They took part in the endowment of the Monastery in J'dzejow. Is it possible to identify the caterpillar, which subdued the griffin as the two people above? Giedko did play an important role in the expelling of Mieszko. He was thought to be cunning enough to avoid the ambush orchestrated by the duke and taught others to do the same, as Wincenty reveals. Mikolaj was involved in Hungarian politics and he openly fought with Goworek. Mikolaj was successful regardless of his political stand against Hungary. Liszka, the caterpillar, was identified with Gledko and Powal since they were responsible for the discharge of Awiebodzic and the Labde families, who lost dominance in Cracow, after Kazimierz Sprawiedliwy took the throne. Serpent eventually crushed the Griffin (or the weaker families).
By 1189, the followers of Kazimierz Sprawiedliwy were the Adwaniec, the Starla, the Lis, and the Rawicz. Could it be that these families were those that Wincenty referred to as the Serpent?
The Odrovans did not play as prominent a role at this time, so it seems unlikely that they could be identified as the Dragon.
What then did Blessed Vincent Kadlubek, the Bishop of Krakow (Master Vincenty) mean?
After the reign of Kazimierz Sprawiedliwy, in Malopolska, there was expansion into Ruthenia.
After the reign of Lezek Bialy, the leader and supporter of conquests for more land was Mikolaj and Vincent Kadlubek (Master Wincenty). He happily wrote : "Their unit bore the wooden lances, setting out into a strange foreign territory, and they followed their leader Kazimierz to the border bringing themselves to the threshold of debt."
He was fascinated with Leszek:"It was enough, for now, that a Ruthenian prince, still a young man, was allowed to be the kind of person that could shine in the heightened glory of the sun."
In 1197, when Roman asked Leszek if he would give over a fifedom of the province of Halicz, Roman was warned it was not afe to make oneself the equal of servants. Leszek thought it better to take these matters into his own hands, rather than give his dominion over to others. "Rather do strangers connect to one's self, unless there is a need for an alliance. One/s alliances will only stand for as long as there is a need." Wincenty admits this statement is very true.
After, Kazimierz's rule, in Malopolska, he expanded into Ruthenia. Master Wincenty chronicles that there were two separate political fractions:
These two factions came into conflict after the rule of Lezsek Bialy. Mikolaj and Kudlubek (Master Wincenty) were the conquerors. Wincenty writes with joy:
Casimir's sluggish power quickly showed itself, freeing the enemy world, while the fatherland was consigned to be bound in prison.
Writing this fantasy, Wincenty gave Leszek (the son of Kazimierz Sprawiedliwy) only one attribute:
It was permitted besides that this young man, like the sun quickly bursting forth, arose in a cloud of glory over all the princes of Ruthenia.
In 1197, when Roman, the nephew of Kazimierz Sprawiedliwy, asked Leszek, his cousin, if he would give him a fiefdom, in the province of Halicz, his advisors told Lezsek it was unsafe to make oneself the equal of "servants." Roman was told that he should make his own way, rather than ask someone else for his dominion. "Rarely do strangers connect to one, unless there is need for an alliance. This alliance will last only as long as you are useful," Roman was advised. In this observation Wincenty was right.
There was also another opinion. Most people did not see Roman and his family as "strangers." Two virtuous investigators, not of the house of the prince, nor of the challengers of the blood ties of Roman, "the stranger;" were to act as judges and hear the facts. As might be expected, this led to a disturbance between BreEc and Mikolaj, with a accusation that Poland was supporting a bastard. Mikolaj's anger erupted against Roman and his brother. Breec tried to soften opposition towards Roman and save him from the inhumanities noting that he was nephew of Kazimierz Sprawiedliwy and his appointed heir. In 1197, this tilted the scales to Roman's side. They decided that Mikolaj, Palatine of Cracow, could not take the title away from the protected child (Mozgawa) and demanded a reward for Mikolaj's capture. This was a result of the decision made by the investigators. Goworek and Mikolaj were now at odds. Master Wincenty calls Goworek: "a noble family man of a dying distinction, a vigorous counselor, all man, and remarkably charming." While another writes, afer the heroic battle of the Palatine with Morgawa: "not without succumbing to fame." The feud between Mikolaj Goworek was definitely because of political opposition. It is possible that Goworek was supporting Roman because of a covenant he made. Before this junction, we assume that both the Rawicz and Odrovans were against Mikolaj, as Palatine of Cracow.
The next generation of Odrovans: Iwo and Saint Jacek/Hyacinth were in alliance with the Ruthenians. Iwo was still active when Goworek died in 1212. Instead of passing titles from father to son, in the strong family tradition, Szawel and his contemporaries, they followed Roman of Halicz. The Odrovans still adhered to this practice, and Iwo was elected Bishop in 1218, after he returned from Rome, Italy. In 1220, Pakoslaw (Adwaniec) and Derslaw Arahamowic (an Odrovan) signed a peace alliance with Danila, son of Roman. From here, the alliance with Ruthenia lasted until the end of the rule of Leszek. With the exception of a short break in 1224. St Jacek Odrowaz conducted his missionary work in Ruthenia from the years 1222-1228. Immediately after returning to Poland, Saint Jacek moves to the east and reaches as far away as Kijow. This was certainly part of the politics of the Odrovans, and soon Iwo Odrowaz moved into the forefront. We can find in the writings of Dlugosz, that Iwo takes part in a coronation of Kolomon and Salome in the kingdom of Halicz. The records are not there to prove this event. Prandota, Iwo's nephew brought the unity of the Roman church to Ruthenia and he was in favor of the alliance with Danila. However, this wa not where his political aspirations stopped.
In 1223-1224, we have records proving that Odrovans held the following offices: Derslaw Abramamowicz was Castellan of Wielica and Dobieslaw Wislawowic was Castellan of Malogoszcz making them more influencial than before. In the church, besides Iwo, there was Prandota who, in 1228, was Prepozyt in Tarczek. Later, Prandota was made
Archdeacon of Cracow and Mikul was made Archdeacon of Cracow in 1224.
Another feud developed between Iwo Odrowaz and Duke Putyslawicz, of the Lis coat of arms, about Pelczyska. The Adwaniec family played the arbitrator. While Ostasz, of the Rawicz coat of arms, sided with the Baron. The Odrowans stood with the reformers of the Catholic church and Iwo Odrowaz. At this time, the knights knew very little about the internal affairs of the Catholic church. They were more interested in their own material benefits. They simply followed their respected and related priests. For instance, Odrovan Budzislaw Budzislawowic took back his hereditary estate from one of the monasteries, in order to give it to another. Sad Dobieslawowic tried to retract the estate from the Monastery of Mogila, and later that of Imbramovice. The western opinions slowly permeate the secular sphere of the powerful owners. Within a background of a developing church, were the political activities of Iwon Odrowaz. Iwo was prominent in politics: in 1218-1229, he directed the politics of Malopolska. From 1206, he was the Chancellor and trusted advisor of Leszek. Two was one of the most prominent people of his time.
In internal politics, the problems associated with the Awiebodzic family were in the forefront. They remained in opposition to the duke, and were members of the coalition of families that ruled during the reign of both Kazimierz Sprawiedliwy and his son, Leszek.
Around 1220, it seemed that the Odrovans of Malopolska moved closer to Laskonogi. They gave endowments to Akna and Trzemeszna. One of their clan lived in Wielkopolska (Greater Poland) and stood on the side of the Odonic. He was Iwan Sieciesl~awic, Castellan of Kalisz. There were certainly ties between the Awiebodzies and the Laskonogs: they supported Mieszko of Opole, who was nominated Wladyslaw Laskongi. The Awiebodzices were in power in 1217 in Malopolska.
.....to be continued....
Translated from Polish to English by Andrzej Janusz Odrowaz-Straszewicz
From Dr. Karol Gorski's The Odrowaz Family in the Middle Ages
Edited to English grammatical form by Margaret Odrowaz-Sypniewska
From Vincent Kadlubek's Chronica Polorum we know that there were two political forces:
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