Lestek
| Lestek | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Duke of the Polans | |
| Predecessor | Siemowit |
| Successor | Siemomysł |
| Born | c. 870–80 |
| Died | 930–40 |
| Issue | Siemomysł |
| House | House of Piast |
| Father | Siemowit |
| Religion | Pagan |
Lestek (also Leszek, Lestko) was the second duke of Poland, and son of Siemowit, born c. 870–880. Although proof of his actual existence is unclear, if he did exist, he must have been an influential person, because the tribes that lived in present-day Poland were known as Lestkowici.
The origin of his name is not known, it can be derived from the old Polish word lście which means "crafty". It is believed this is a diminutive of the Slavic name Lścimir or Lścisław. Lestek's wife (or wives or consorts) is unknown. A theory by Stanisław Zakrzewski claims Lestek (or Lestko) could have been married to a Moravian princess. Another theory (inferred from the descriptions of a Belgian chronicler from the 14th century) is that a Saxon princess could have been Lestek's wife and that they had a son, Ewraker, later the Bishop of Leodium. Lestko's son, Siemomysł, was the next ruler of the early pagan Polish state.
Bibliography
- Kazimierz Jasiński, Rodowód pierwszych Piastów, Warszawa-Wrocław (1992).
- Feliks Koneczny, Dzieje Polski za Piastów, Kraków 1902, p. 28.
- Henryk Łowmiański, Dynastia Piastów we wczesnym średniowieczu, Początki Państwa Polskiego, Poznań 1962.
- Henryk Łowmiański, Początki Polski, b. 5, Warszawa 1973.
- Jerzy Wyrozumski, Dzieje Polski piastowskiej (VIII w. - 1370) (History of Polish Piast (8th Century - 1370)), Kraków 1999, p. 70.