Marcin Szczepan

The Policy of the Prussian Mission in the Symbolism of the Gniezno Doors: On a Side Note of Gerard Labuda’s Concept

The images on the right leaf of the Gniezno Doors are clearly meant to express the character of the policy of the Prussian mission that was supposed to be carried out at the end of the 12th century. Among them, a negative depiction of Prussia regarding the mission of Adalbert of Prague was noticed, which was supposed to arouse in different viewers (e.g. the knighthood) not only a sense of terror, but also probably an anti‑Prussian attitude. Taking into consideration the reference to the 12th‑century projects to subject the Prussian lands to the Polish ecclesial and political influences (reorganization of the Kuyavian diocesan structure and the Prussian crusades of the Piast kings), this reminder of the martyrdom of St. Adalbert also had its significance. This was also pointed out by master Vincent, who suggested that the Prussians were dangerous not only for the body, but also for the soul itself. The evangelistic overtone (Prussians as apostates, not pagans) of the methodology of the Christianization of Prussia was probably the reason for creating the scenario visible on the right leaf of the Gniezno Doors. It was important to draw attention to the convergence between the sections of the door and the bordure framing the particular scenes from the Prussian mission of St. Adalbert. Mutual complements confirm that the sections of the right door, although not as well executed as the left, were located correctly. Contrary to the position assumed by Gerard Labuda, section XI of the door, which refers to the baptism of a Prussian, not a Polan, according to Tempore illo was supposed to show the religious perversity (apostasy) of the Prussians.