Lestek

Lestek (also Lestko, Lestik, Leszek; † 930 ) was a prince of the Polans at the turn of the 9th century to the 10th century. As a son of Prince Siemowit he came from the dynasty of Piast.

Life

Since Lestek is only mentioned in the chronicle of Gallus Anonymus, its existence and reign are disputed since the end of the 19th century. After a minority opinion in Polish historiography Lestek was devised by Gallus Anonymus or one of his oral sources. However, this hypothesis is just as undetectable as the existence Lesteks. According to another view, it is at Lestek indeed the grandfather of Mieszko I. Probably the prevailing opinion in the Polish historiography of the 20th century (including Henryk Łowmiański, Gerard Labuda, Kazimierz Jasinski ) holds Lestek from a historical ruler of Polans the early 10th century. Several sources from the 10th century indicate the Polans as Litzke ( Emperor Constantine VII of Byzantium ) or Licikaviki ( Widukind ), which would mean about the people of the Lesteks or trunk of the Lesteks. After a hypothesis these used only in the putative reign of Lestek names go back to him. In contrast, the names of his wives - it must have been well after the pagan Slavic custom of several - not known. After Stanisław Zakrzewski he might have been married to a Moravian Princess ( and others). In contrast, indicates a Belgian chronicle of the 14th century that he had with the son of a Saxon princess Ewraker, who later became Bishop of Leodium. Presumptive successor Lesteks is his son Siemomysław. It is not excluded that already Lestek united the tribes of Polans, Goplanen and Masovians to 920.