Defeat at Rujan island, Arkona or story about western most boundaries of Poland

History of Ancient Poland
http://www.theancientweb.com/explore/content.aspx?content_id=24



destruction of ancient temples at ancient Slavic Arkona - Bishop Absalon topples the god Svantevit at Arkona


The island is now called Rugen by the German occupational state, but name was Rujan (meaning `red`, Red island)

RÜGEN / CAPE ARKONA - View from the Old Slavic Fortress
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andra_mb/5145165870/

Arkona - Vosstanie Roda (Polskie Tłumaczenie)

There is a book by Hermann Schreiber called Teuton and Slav: The Struggle For Central Europe that describes this event. The Svantevit idol was a gigantic and he had a giant sword in one hand and a giant goblet in the other. When ordered to destroy the idol the Danes haphazardly chopped its legs with axes and it fell back bracing itself against the temple wall. Their commander became worried that some of his men might become injured when extracting it from this precarious position, and thereby give the populace of the island cause to remain steadfast to their faith in Svantevit's power, and so he ordered the wall to be carefully demolished. The idol was chopped up into firewood. Schreiber however mistakenly believed that the god's name was "Swanwhite" and that he had been a German god that the Slavs began worshiping upon taking the island during their Westward expansion centuries before. Swanwhite is a rather poetic name for a god though.

he he good old Absalon, twelve against six thousand:) wiki:

In 1168 the chief Wendish fortress at Arkona in Rügen, containing the sanctuary of their god Svantevit, was conquered. The Wends agreed to accept Danish suzerainty and the Christian religion at the same time. From Arkona, Absalon proceeded by sea to Charenza, in the midst of Rügen, the political capital of the Wends and an all but impregnable stronghold. But the unexpected fall of Arkona had terrified the garrison, which surrendered unconditionally at the first appearance of the Danish ships. Absalon, with only Bishop Sweyn of Aarhus, and twelve "housecarls" thereupon disembarked, passed between a double row of Wendish warriors, 6000 strong, along the narrow path winding among the morasses, to the gates of the fortress, and, proceeding to the temple of the seven-headed god Rugievit, caused the idol to be hewn down, dragged forth and burnt. The whole population of Garz was then baptized, and Absalon laid the foundations of twelve churches in the isle of Rügen.[2] Rügen was then subjected to Absalon's Bishopric of Roskilde.

Probably the less pleasant thing for Crow is information that the early Polish state helped very much the Germans to conquer the western Slavs...
We were at the time Christians and fought against them in "cruciades" organised by emperor of the Holy Roman Empire...
There was nothing like "slavic unity" at that time...

Regards

Łukasz

there is no `less pleasant thing for Crow`. Crow is familiar with primary facts of Proto-Slavic/Slavic history. Crow understand

Ancient Balkan-Baltic Danubian line, from what is today`s Serbia to the Lusatia and Rujan island was primordial and crucial (but not only) Proto Slavic line in Europe from where Slavs expanded in all other direction (that`s why Polish legends speaks of Polish Sarmatian/read Serbian origin). that`s why name of Serbians (once universal name of all Slavs) even today live on that very same Balkan-Baltic line.

Anyway, those Slavs (Sarmatians) who lived there, on that line, were first line of defense against advancing Roman Empire (later Teutons who were result of Roman/Slavic mixing on occupied territories). So later, when Rome turned to Christianity, those Slavs/Sarmats continued to resist even to it, considering that all what came from Rome was evil to them and imposed by force.

if ancestors of today`s Poles didn`t accept Christianity, they would be just among many exterminated western Slavs. Polani tribes on Wisla river actually had enough time to learn on the example of western most Slavs/Sarmats. Polani sow their tragedy and they were willing to avoid total defeat and so were more cooperative to the Roman/Teuton invaders.

Also, have in mind that destruction of Proto Slavic Balkan-Baltic line by Romans/Teutons had enormous moral impact on other Slavs. If there, where was old core, Proto Slavic civilization was forced to retreat, what could for themselves expect other Slavs. So, Sarmatians moved to live in legends. i say, better in legend then into oblivion. It must be hope for our wounded civilization.