The stereotype of an old intriguer from gloomy nineteenth-century Matejko canvases obscured the true image of…
Maria Konopnicka. The Private Life of the Poet Unmasked
A poet known for social sensitivity and love for children ran a household full of dramas,…
Hedy Lamarr. The Most Beautiful Woman in Science
A Hollywood star whose beauty captivated millions of viewers simultaneously worked on wireless communication technology used…
Laura Bassi. The Woman Who Changed Science
Laura Maria Caterina Bassi Veratti came into the world in Bologna in 1711 and spent her…
Agnes of Austria. The Tigress of Kraków
Leopold III the Saint and his daughter Agnes connected Austria with one of Europe’s most important…
Assassination, Betrayal, and Flogging. The Woman Who Refused to Yield
Grzymisława was not merely the wife of Leszek the White. After his tragic death, she had…
A Woman of Character. The Early Years of Gryfina’s Marriage
The early years of the marriage between Leszek the Black and Gryfina were far from easy.…
Why Did a Přemyslid Princess Marry a Pagan from Poland?
The marriage of Mieszko I and Dobrawa was neither a romantic impulse nor a haphazard decision.…
The Woman Who Killed Władysław Spindleshanks
History has known many princes who perished in battle or were betrayed by the powerful. But…
Marriage of Necessity? Leszek the White and the Ruthenian Princess
He didn’t want to get married, but he had to. The nobles of Cracow ordered him…