An English King for Poland?

[Steve]

This suggestion is not so funny or strange as at first it appears. In 1939 General Sikorsky visited the UK and had talks with Benes of Czechoslovakia. It seems that the possibility of a Polish Czechoslovakian federation was talked about. To quote from a British Foreign Office note:-

“Sikorsky discussed this in general terms with Benes, though they could not take matters very far. Both sides made it a condition that their countries should maintain their complete independence, but Sikorsky at present seems to favour some kind of visible and symbolic bond between them in the shape of a monarchy”

A British official noted “The Poles are incurably romantic”

Sikorsky travelled to Scotland and met the Kings brother the Duke of Kent and seems to have thought that the Duke was a possible candidate for king of a new federation. This was confirmed years after the war when the Duke’s wife mentioned it to his son.

The Duke of Kent would die before Sikorsky in a plane accident more mysterious than the one Sikorsky died in.

Taken from The War Hitler Won by Nicholas Bethell

[michael mills]

When in 1939?

Before the German invasion, Sikoski had no official position in Poland whatsoever.

After the collapse of Poland, he fled to France where he became part of the Polish Government-in-Exile. In June 1940, when France capitulated, he fled to Britain with the other members of the Government-in-Exile. It was only then that he became head of the Government-in-Exile, and was in a position to negotiate with Benes, the nead of the Czechoslovak Government-in-Exile.

[crolick]

As for federation of Poland and Czechoslovakia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish-Cze ... federation

I seriously doubt there were any plans to restore the monarchy either in Poland or in the federation. In my opinion it is just gossips which is confirmed by dr Suchcitz - http://www.cogo-news.eu/news_Polands-En ... g_397.html

[wm]

When in 1939?

Before the German invasion, Sikoski had no official position in Poland whatsoever.

He was the most important opposition figure and there were talks between the Polish opposition and Czechoslovak leaders in which all the possible help to Czechoslovakia was discussed.

[Steve]

Sikorsky visited in November 1939. It seems that during his visit the possibility of obtaining compensation from Germany for lost eastern territory may have first been raised. The British were not very sympthetic to this idea.

While the idea of an English king of Poland may be odd there has almost certainly been a half Polish king of England.

[James A Pratt III]

There is nothing really myterious about the plane crash in which the Duke of kent was killed in during WW II. According to After the battle Magazine crew made a navigational error and flew into a mountain covered in fog.

[michael mills]

While the idea of an English king of Poland may be odd there has almost certainly been a half Polish king of England.

Really? Who?

Charles Edward Stuart, the "Young Pretender", had a Polish mother, but he never became a real King of Great Britain and Ireland, although he claimed that title.

[Steve]

If I remember correctly and I am trying to remember an old TV program the plane crash in which the Duke of Kent was killed was suspicious because of the number of people on board. The number of bodies at the crash site matched the number of people on the plane but one person survived. The documents from the inquiry into the crash disappeared. I know very little about it but there is quite a lot on the net about it and why people think it was suspicious.

As to which King of England was half Polish I am surprised Mr Mills did not get the answer. The Encomium Emmae Regina says this about Cnut who obtained the English throne in 1016 and his brother Haraldr after the death of their father Swein Forkbeard “They also, in fact, went to the land of the Slavs and brought back their mother, who resided there”. The Chronicle of Thietmar of Merseburg apparently backs this up but that is not so easy to get hold of. His mother was very likely a daughter of King Mieszko the 1. There is a bit on Wikipedia about it.

[Peter K]

As to which King of England was half Polish I am surprised Mr Mills did not get the answer. The Encomium Emmae Regina says this about Cnut who obtained the English throne in 1016 and his brother Haraldr after the death of their father Swein Forkbeard “They also, in fact, went to the land of the Slavs and brought back their mother, who resided there”. The Chronicle of Thietmar of Merseburg apparently backs this up but that is not so easy to get hold of. His mother was very likely a daughter of King Mieszko the 1. There is a bit on Wikipedia about it.

Yes, Cnut the Great's mother was Swietoslawa - sister of Boleslaw I Chrobry, daughter of Mieszko I.

The Chronicle of Thietmar of Merseburg apparently backs this up but that is not so easy to get hold of.

Also some other sources give info which seems to back this up (including chronicler Adam of Bremen).

BTW what I found interesting is that Scandinavians apparently called king of Poland Boleslaw: "Burisleif / Burislafr, konung of Windland". What is particularly interesting here is this term "Windland" used to describe Poland.

Didn't Leif Erikson call the island of Newfoundland "Winland" when he discovered it - "for the reason that grapevines grew there by themselves, producing the best wine"?:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinland

"Winland" and "Windland" seem to have the same meaning to me. But maybe I'm wrong?

This indicates that there were vineyards in Poland at that time (unless "Windland" means something different).

Indeed I've heard that at that time (before the Little Ice Age of 1300 - 1850) climate in Poland was milder than later in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Era - so mild that grapevines could easily be cropped here.

Archaeology and other sources confirm that grapevine was commonly cropped in early Medieval Poland.