Pojedynek Béli I z księciem „Pomorza” – prawda historyczna czy fikcja literacka? Analiza narratologiczno-komparatystyczna rozdziału 79 "Chronicon pictum" oraz relacji "Gesta Hungarorum"
The Duel between Béla I of Hungary and the Prince of Pomerania, the truth of history or literary fiction? Narratological and comparative analysis of the 79th chapter of Hungarian "Chronicon pictum" and the 52nd Chapter of "Gesta Hungarorum"

Summary/Abstract: The paper is a narratological analysis of the 79th chapter of the Hungarian Chronicon pictum and the 52nd Chapter of Gesta Hungarorum, which describe a duel between the Hungarian prince Béla and the Pomeranian prince. The author opts for a symbolic interpretation of both the aforementioned chapters. He casts doubt on the historicity of the duel. He suggests that the figure of Mieszko, mentioned in the chronicles, was not an actual, historical ruler of Poland. According to the author’s interpretation, Mieszko was only an embodiment of the Piast dynasty and all rulers of Poland. Next, the author compares the duel scene with the duel scenes in contemporary narrative sources. He concludes that this scene fits into the literary motif of an exiled prince who, being in exile in a foreign kingdom, saves it by defeating the army of a pagan invader. He stated that this scene fits into the literary motif of an exiled prince who, being in exile in a foreign kingdom, saves it by defeating the army of a pagan invader.

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