Czy rozważania dobiegły już końca? Rzecz o ostatnim hetmanie zbójnickim Żywiecczyzny – Jerzym Fiedorze zwanym Proćpakiem i jego legendzie
The last, great robber hetman of the region of Żywiec – Jerzy Fiedor, nicknamed “Proćpak”, (1767–1796) became a legend already during his lifetime. He was the one to whom an anonymous author dedicated a song entitled: “Song about standrecht court and Proćpak’s band in 1795”, in which he described the events that accompanied the hetman’s death. This story gave rise to the legend that has two aspects: literary and folk. Unfortunately, the fame of the bandit born in Kamesznica did not spread beyond a very narrow audience connected with the region of Żywiec. Even nowadays, in the oral tradition of Polish highlanders one may find songs, tales and legends about this folk hero, who made other people and the world ‘equal’ to himself. However, in the wider public perception, Jerzy Fiedor remains an unknown figure, though his actions greatly outweigh the record of offenses made by Jura Janosik from Terchova (1688–1713).
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