The Legend of Romuald Traugutt
(16 January 1826 – 5 August 1864)

For months, he fought fiercely to restore his homeland to the European map, but his heroic death cut short his efforts. His bravery and death became symbols of the January Uprising. by Piotr Bejrowski   On the night of April 10-11, 1864,  Romuald Traugutt, the leader of the January Uprising, was arrested by the Russian...

Adam Jerzy Czartoryski: in the service of the Polish cause
(14 January 1770 – 15 July 1861)

In his actions and writings, Adam Jerzy Czartoryski combined the ethics of the Enlightenment with a romantic vision of the world. From St. Petersburg and Paris he pursued a European policy, and in his book Rozważania o dyplomacji (Reflections on Diplomacy, 1830) he presented and developed the idea of ​​a united continent ‘A Europe of...

Witold Lutosławski: likely the most outstanding Polish composer after Chopin and Szymanowski
(25 January 1913 – 7 February 1994)

There are actually few composers active in the 20th century who can be referred to as ‘contemporary classics’. Witold Lutosławski certainly belongs to this narrow group. An artist who, confronting the key issues of the 20th-century art of composition, created pieces that impress with their balance of intellect and emotion, and are simultaneously extremely open...

How the Chopin Competition Began
The beginnings of the oldest and most prestigious piano competition in the world

Major international classical music competitions evoke strong emotions in both participants and observers. They offer winners cash prizes, concert commissions, and recording contracts; provide commentators ample material for reflection and discussion; and deliver unforgettable aesthetic experiences to audiences. One of the oldest public events of this kind is the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, which...

The January Uprising from a revolutionary perspective, in 1863 and 1905
163rd anniversary of the January Uprising

Of all the Polish insurrections in the 19th century, the January Uprising is still an emotional topic. There are many reasons for this – not only was it the largest of the Polish uprisings, but also the most significant in terms of its long-term results. On the one hand, the January Uprising is very symbolic...

Old Polish New Year's Eve and Carnival

In the old times in Poland, the period from New Year’s Eve until the end of the Carnival season was filled with carefree and imaginative fun based on folk beliefs, customs, and rituals. People played, sang, danced, and ate with abandon in the manors, houses, and taverns. A sense of rejoicing was everywhere. In addition,...

Wojciech Kilar: not just film music
(17 July 1932 – 29 December 2013)

If one were to search for the distinguishing feature in Wojciech Kilar’s music among the achievements of other eminent 20th-century Polish musicians, one could point to its diversity. For Kilar was not only the author of numerous, well-known and appreciated musical film illustrations – through the prism of which he is mostly remembered today –...

Poland cracked the secrets of the Reich
An interview with Professor Jacek Tebinka

During the Second World War, Poland and Britain cooperated closely and shared some joint victories in the air battle for England, Narvik and Monte Cassino. But that’s not all. The contacts among the secret services of both countries were also of significant importance. Lesser known pages from the history of Polish-British cooperation in this period...

Stanisław Małachowski: the last man standing of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
A Man for All Seasons

He witnessed the country’s turbulent history in the second half of the 18th century. This active politician, great patriot, and distinguished reformer is considered one of the fathers of the Constitution of 3 May 1791. by Piotr Abryszeński   Stanisław Małachowski was born in Końskie, an estate that had belonged to the family for generations,...

Christmas in Old Polish Times
Christmas customs in old Poland

Christmas ended the period of fasting, silence, and reflection, and began the time of joy that followed the birth of Christ. The atmosphere of Christmas, its traditions and customs, family meetings, and common carol-singing filled almost every old Polish manor house. Many Christian homes also celebrated All Souls’ Day and observed New Year’s ceremonies, which...

"God is Born": the beloved Polish Christmas carol
On God's Nativity by Franciszek Karpiński

This beautiful carol was composed in the 18th century, a few years before the partition of Poland, and its lyrics are based on an unusual combination of oxymorons. It is set to the melody of the coronation polonaise of Polish kings. Can you imagine a more potent combination? by Piotr Bejrowski   Polish carols stand...

Maurycy Mochnacki: an entangled revolutionary
(13 September 1803 – 20 December 1834)

Passionate, volatile, demagogic and captivating: Maurycy Mochnacki both co-creates and embodies the model Polish Romantic hero. It seems as if he descended from the pages of the poems and novels that he praised and promoted. And yet he lived, burned and suffered a defeat in the most real of stories. by Wojciech Stanisławski   He...

Rubinstein: a poet of the grand piano
(28 January 1887 – 20 December 1982)

Artur Rubinstein is counted among the most outstanding pianists of the 20th century. Apart from the sheer scale of his talent, there were many reasons behind this artist’s exceptional position in past century world culture. First and foremost is his exceptionally long – almost eight-decade – intensive career as a pianist, measured by thousands of...

Order to dissolve the Home Army given by Home Army Commander-in-Chief General Leopold Okulicki
81st anniversary of the dissolution of the Home Army

The first underground groups in German-occupied Poland began to be established as early as in the autumn of 1939. The Home Army (Armia Krajowa, AK), an underground army subordinate to the Polish government in exile and the Commander-in-Chief, took its final shape in February 1942. Its Commanders-in-Chief in chronological order were: Stefan Rowecki ‘Grot’ (arrested...
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How the Chopin Competition Began

The beginnings of the oldest and most prestigious piano competition in the world

Major international classical music competitions evoke strong emotions in both participants and observers. They offer winners cash prizes, concert commissions, and recording contracts; provide commentators ample material for reflection and discussion; and deliver unforgettable aesthetic experiences to audiences. One of the oldest public events of this kind is the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, which...
interviews_ > > SEE ALL

Poland cracked the secrets of the Reich

An interview with Professor Jacek Tebinka

During the Second World War, Poland and Britain cooperated closely and shared some joint victories in the air battle for England, Narvik and Monte Cassino. But that’s not all. The contacts among the secret services of both countries were also of significant importance. Lesser known pages from the history of Polish-British cooperation in this period...
essays_ > > SEE ALL

Witold Lutosławski: likely the most outstanding Polish composer after Chopin and Szymanowski

(25 January 1913 – 7 February 1994)

There are actually few composers active in the 20th century who can be referred to as ‘contemporary classics’. Witold Lutosławski certainly belongs to this narrow group. An artist who, confronting the key issues of the 20th-century art of composition, created pieces that impress with their balance of intellect and emotion, and are simultaneously extremely open...
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The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, 1733–1795: Light and Flame

Review of the book by Richard Butterwick

The 18th century was a time of enormous cultural, political and societal upheaval for the West. In the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, it was a period of decline that was completed by the partitions. However, reducing the 18th-century history of the Polish-Lithuanian state to a mere falling into political non-existence would be a simplified and thus false...

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The Battle of Warsaw 1920-2020

17 August 2020
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The Battle of Warsaw 1920-2020
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Polishhistory is an online project of the Polish History Museum in Warsaw. It is primarily addressed to all those interested in Polish and Central European history. Our aim is to build a community consisting of those professionally involved in research and of those interested in the outcomes of research, essentially, all lovers of history. The...
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