THE LEGEND OF WANDA WHO DIDN’T WANT TO MARRY A GERMAN
Krakow’s name derives from its legendary ruler Krak who was a very good and wise King and took care of his people. After his death , his daughter Wanda was the one who was meant to rule the country.
She was a very fair, wise and and beautiful woman therefore it was not a surprise that men were very interested in marrying her. The first one who proposed to her, was a German Duke Rydygier.
Wanda didn’t want to marry him and leave her country but she knew that if she she refused the Duke would surely invade Krakow and would take it by force.
She didn’t want the people to suffer because of her and therefore she decided to throw herself into the Vistula river, as only than the German Duke would have no reason to invade Kraków .
It was unbelievable example of sacrifice, she made for own country and its people and was quite often motives in art during times of Poland’s partition.
There is also a mound named WANDA MOUND to commemorate the legendary Queen of Krakow.