Destruction of Leszno (1656) – Leszno
Fact of the Polish figure „Warsaw Confederation – 1573 – Warsaw”
Part of the „Religious tolerance and intolerance” topic
In 16th century, the magnate house of Leszczyński from Western Poland became a zealous supporter of the Unity of Brethren, a Protestant movement of Czech origin. Followers of that faith found new home in the town of Leszno. The Thirty Years’ War in the following century brought yet another massive tide of persecuted refugees from Bohemia to Leszczyński’s estate. Among them – Jan Amos Komenský (Comenius), famous philosopher and reformer of pedagogics. Alas, the Second Northern War brought a violent end to their example. In face of the Swedish Deluge of 1655, the Unity supported the evangelic invaders and turned Leszno into a bulwark against Catholicism. They faced severe punishment as soon as Polish forces reclaimed the town next year. The place was burned and Protestants – labeled traitors, persecuted and forced to flee. For the rest of his life, Komensky slandered Poland, where he had found asylum decades ago, as bastion of brutal Catholic fanatism.
