Warka on the Pilica River 1656-2026

Salvete Omnes, 

On April 7, 1656 near town of Warka on the Pilica River Polish Crown forces consisting of cavalry and dragoons defeated the invading Swedish forces during the so called Deluge or Polish-Swedish war 1655-60 AD.

Polish Crown forces that crossed the flooded Pilica River consisted of some 6,500 men and horses (Crown cavalry banners) whereas  some 5 to 6,000 men and horses stayed on the other side of the river,

The Crown army divided into several pulk commands, the main ones being two:

 1. The Crown marshal Sebastian Lubomirski - crica 1,500 horses and men including 1 banner of his own winged hussars and 2 other winged hussar banners, pulk of  kozak pancerni banners, pulk of   light cavalry, and 2 companies of dragoons . His forces attacked the Swedish main army

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2. voivode of Kijow Stefan Czarniecki - perhaps 3,000 plus division -  who had under his command 1 winged hussar banner and many companies of dragoons, light cavalry, kozak pancerni etc.
Also, about 1000 strong voivodeship of Sandomierz noble militia.

Swedish forces were commanded by Frederic VI, Margrave of Baden-Durlach with 'colonel' (Oberstleutnant)  Ritter consisted of cavalry and dragoons - circa 2,500-3,000 men and  horses, plus huge wagon train - some sources say 2,000 wagons and carriages. 

Magrave's forces were also cavalry and dragoons - the  Reiter Cavalry Regiments of Ahlefeld, Waldeck, Siegel, 3 companies from Adolf Johann reiter regiment, and companies  & freicompanies of dragoons. Ritter (who died in action), commander of Radom, led circa 1000 strong dragoon force protecting the huge wagon train, and in the battle he commanded the rearguard. Poles attacked this rearguard as the prelude to the main engagement of two main armies.

Upon destroying of the Ritter's rearguard, Crown Marshal Lubomirski personally led 3 winged hussars banners (500 strong?)  assault on the Swedish cavalry and dragoons. The charge did not break the Swedish companies, but gave time for the other Polish cavalry banners to provide support to the winged hussars and then Czarniecki  sent the Zamoyski winged hussar banner aided by the Wasowicz dragoon regiment to charge the Swedes. Next the winged hussar banners withdrew and upon reforming their ranks and file charged as one lance hedgehog-like 4 banner strong unit. They broke Swedish regiment and companies.. 

Within two hours from the beginning of the battle it was over, our Polish Crown cavalry secured a tactical victory of the Swedish army.  Margrave with many high ranking officers and under the escort of a Finnish company escaped to the Czersk Castle (well, the ruins of it), where they were able to have survived 'till the following morning and only after the Polish Crown cavalry withdrew to the main body of the Crown army, the Swedish commander adnd his stragglers made it to Swedes-held Warsaw. 

enjoy

Valete 

Happy Easter- Wesolego Alleluja

 Salvete Omnes,

happy Easter - wesolego Aleluja Χριστὸς ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη!  Хрїсто́съ воскре́се! - Вои́стинꙋ воскре́се!, 

 Easter -Па́сха - has come, and tomorrow  the wet Smigus Dyngus (Easter Monday/Dyngus Day обливаний понеділок ), our  old Slavic pagan ritual.

Happy Easter, happy Passover, Joyful Smigus Dyngus - health, good fortune and prosperity to all; do bless and exchange your pisanki with family and friends -:) .

Shroud of Turin Christ

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May peace return to this Earth. 

Valete

Master of the Benediktbeurer Kreuzigung

 Salvete Omnes,

Good Friday - Day of Crucifixion of Our Lord circa 30 A,D., a little less than 2000 years ago.

So we will travel to circa 1455AD when unknown master painted this Crucifixion for the Benediktbeuern Abbey, in Bavaria.  The painter was contemporary to:

Konrad Witz  

and

Master of der Darmstädter Passion.

Horses and riders from the Benedictine Crucifixion - 

paint horse 

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2nd paint horse

mounted crossbowman 

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let us pray that Ukraine and Western Asia will see peace not war this Easter

Valete

Panthera pardus tulliana - Caucasian Leopard

 Salvete Omnes,

detail from Shahnama Ad 1525

Shota Rustavelli's Knight in the Panther Skin 

We are in la Semana Santa (Holly Week) leading to Jesus Christ Great Friday Crucifixion, and then the pinnacle of Christianity - the  Resurrection on  Easter  Sunday.

There is also the illegal war in western Asia, US & Israel bombing Iran and Iran sending missiles and drones against the American and Israeli assets...  Awfully dangerous conflict, that could lead to the nuclear world war III. There is also war against Christians, war in Ukraine (Russian aggression against the Ukrainian state).

Ad rem, the title of this post is the Latin name for a Caucasian leopard, the Western Asia- Southern Europe subspecies of the great cat. Here about the cat in present day Armenia. eg Pakistan here, 

while looking at the Ilkhanid, Timurid, Safavid and Ottoman miniature illuminations we often see light spotted skins worn by heroes and warriors or soldiers. 

I think the many of these leopard skins in these paintings were made from the hides of the Panthera Tulliana leopard. 

. the hero of Shahnameh

Rustam astride Rakhsh in his leopard hat and tiger fur kaftan 

Rustam in his leopard hat, tiger coat/kaftan and his brave horse Rahksh

even horses were covered in these pelts

Turkish Deli

from Raalamb Costume book - Ottoman Turkish soldiers Janissary Corps

Georgian warrior in Rusatvelli's Knight in a Panther Skin

finally our Polish and Hungarian hussars who adopted the leopard hides as part of their panoply 

enjoy

Valete

Heinrich Aldegrever - engravings and drawings

 Salvete Omnes,

A short entry with lots of drawings and prints by Heinrich Aldegrever or Aldegraf (1502-1555, 1558/61) - German printmaker from Duchy of Westphalia (born Padeborn, lived in Soest) - influenced by Albrecht Durer.

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Mars

Marcus Curtius 

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it reminds me of Rawicz coat of arms 

      beautifully rendered Fortuna - 

Audaces Fortuna juvat

and a period curb-bit from the Fortuna print 

enjoy

Valete