Czcibor

Czcibor (also Cidebur, Czcibór, Ścibor, Zdziebor) -(d.o.b. unknown - died after 972), Polans' prince of Piast dynasty, son of duke Siemomysł, and a younger brother of the first Christian ruler of Poland duke Mieszko I of Poland. According to current research by Edward Rymar in his Rodowód książąt pomorskich (page 40 et al) he might have been a governor of Pomerania after Mieszko I conquest of that Slavic tribes territory from around 967 AD. In the Medieval sources he is mentioned but once in the Chronicon by Thietmar of Merseburg in relationship with the Poland's victorious battle of Cedynia. His date of birth and death are unknown, his family: mother, wife or wives (he was most likely a pagan until 966 AD), and children are also unknown. His name suggests some connection to the Sorbs, and thus perhaps his hitherto unknown mother was a Sorbian princes.

Battle of Cedynia

He is thought to have been either the commander or one of the principal Polish leaders, along with his older brother Mieszko, in the battle of Cedynia in 972 AD, and Thietmar is the source of his presence at the battle. According to Edward Rymar his presence at Cedynia might have been based not only on his status as war leader and brother of the Polish ruler, but also by his position as 'governor' of conquered/annexed Pomerania.

Popular Culture

Czcibor is well known in the Polish popular culture, through books of Józef Ignacy Kraszewski, Karol Bunsch, Zbigniew Nienacki, Jadwiga Żylińska, and Paweł Jasienica, and was one of the principal characters in a Polish feature film Gniazdo. In 1977 famous Polish comics book artist Grzegorz Rosiński drew a story, based on Moczulski's storyline, where Czcibor appeared along with his brother Mieszko, this 8 full-panel long story appeared in a Polish comics monthly magazine Relax, volume 4. There are also streets named after him in some Polish cities and towns, eg Łobez, Łódź, Szczecin. The most likely pace where battle of Cedynia was fought is named Gora Czcibora (the Czcibor's Mountain), Pojezierze Myśliborskie (Myslibórz Lake District), and there is a monument commemorating this victory there, with a dedication in two languages: Polish and Russian, mentioning prince Czcibor.

Sources

• Kronika Thietmara, translation M. Z. Jedlicki, Towarzystwo Autorów i Wydawców Prac Naukowych UNIVERSITAS, Kraków 2005, ISBN 83-242-0499-7, p. 32–33
• Jasiński K., Rodowód pierwszych Piastów, Wydawnictwo Poznańskiego Towarzystwa Przyjaciół Nauk, Poznań 2004, ISBN 83-7063-409-5, p. 71
• Paweł Jasienica, Polska Piastów, Panstwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, Warszawa 1985, ISBN 83-06-01092-02 , p.44
• Edward Rymar, Rodowód książąt pomorskich (The Genealogy of the Pomeranian Dukes), Książnica Pomorska, Szczecin 2005, ISBN 83-87879-50-9, p.40–41, 52, 58, 65, 67