The staging, which attracted history buffs from across Europe and beyond, commemorated the historic battle in which Duke Henry II the Pious was killed, an event that had lasting consequences for the fragmentation of medieval Poland.
The reenactment, held in the village of Legnickie Pole in southwestern Poland, also featured medieval-style foot and mounted combat tournaments, horseback acrobatics and archery displays, local media reported.
Concerts were held throughout the weekend, including performances of traditional Mongolian music.
Festivities began on Friday afternoon with a costumed knights’ parade departing from the Minor Basilica in Legnickie Pole.
“We try to stay historically accurate, but there are few contemporary sources about the 13th-century battle," said Adam Kubik, coordinator of the Legnickie Pole 1241 project.
"Much of what we know comes from later accounts," he added.
The original Battle of Legnica was fought on April 9, 1241, at a time when Poland was divided into regional duchies. It marked the peak of the Mongol invasion of Europe, according to the dzieje.pl news website.
Duke Henry II, who ruled over Silesia, Lesser Poland and Greater Poland, commanded a Polish force estimated at 6,000 to 7,000 troops.
Despite support from crusaders, the Polish forces were decisively defeated, dzieje.pl said.
The duke’s death further deepened the political fragmentation of the Polish state centuries ago, according to historical accounts.
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Source: dzieje.pl, legnica.naszemiasto.pl