The Chronicon Monte Sereni was written at the Lauterberg Abbey near Halle. It contains a number of interesting pieces of information about surrounding Wendic/Slavic lands. Among them there is the recollection of the tale of the witch of Wladyslaw Laskonogi (or “Spindleshanks”).
For context, Wladyslaw was one of the grandsons of Boleslaw III, Krzywousty (and a son of Mieszko III the Old). He was born in the 1160s and died in 1231 (apparently killed by a German Maedel he tried to, ahem, “bed”). He was, as per Jan Dlugosz, not very loved by his people given his propensity for lecherous activities (see above). The period between 1138 and 1320 was a period of the (self-inflicted) partitions of Poland where every little prince
and duke was at war with one another – a very interesting time which we hope to discuss in detail.
courtesy, MGH
For now, however, the incident of interest is his conflict with Konrad II the margrave of Nieder Lausitz (Lower Lusatia). Konrad (who was also Wladyslaw’s brother-in-law) decided to invade so-called Lubusz (Lebus) Land – an area then part of Greater Poland (now the city itself is in Brandenburg) and besieged Lubusz. Wladyslaw, then in charge of GP marched against him. It was March, 1209.
The witch sans sieve – she was a jolly one
To make a long story short, the Chronicle reports that the Polish prince first set the time and place of battle but thereafter broke his word and tried to attack by surprise. This failed. However, as the Polish forces, crossed the Oder, the Germans noted that the Poles were being led by a witch who carried with her a magical sieve containing water from the river, and reports were coming in that the sieve retained the water (they say), this being a certain omen of upcoming victory. The chronicler then notes that the Germans first killed the witch – apparently, so as not take chances.
This seems to be the first Polish (confirmed) sighting of an actual witch.
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