Anniversary of the birth of the Galician Robbery Leader – Jakub Shela.
Today in our Calendar we will look at the life and activities of Jakub Shela, leader of the alleged Galician Robbery.
Shela was born in a multi-child peasant household from Smarzowa, Galicia. His parents were Jan and Anna from the Łukasik house. Although he was illiterate, he lacked intelligence. He was besides characterized by strong leadership abilities, a nonconformist approach to the world, a attraction to evil and ruthless behavior.
He did not respect himself or his loved ones. erstwhile he heard of a forced conscription to the Austrian army, he cut off 2 fingers at his hand. On the another hand, erstwhile his parents handed over the farm to his older brother Kazimierz, he burned down the home and farm buildings and then fled the village. He took up a occupation as a carpenter at the Court of the Gentry of the Bogushs in Siedlicki. In 1809 he married Rozalia Chodorzanka and settled on a farm she brought to him in a dowry. Later, he was married at least twice. According to any applications, he strangled another wives to enter fresh relationships and thus accumulate more and more wealth.
Because of his firmness and individual courage, Shela was elected by the surrounding peasants as a proxy for the village. He represented them in lawsuits against his erstwhile employers – Bogusz. This position gained prestige among peasants. He besides accepted highly anti - noble views. As a proxy, he frequently traveled to Tarnów and Lviv. He drew attention to a advanced Austrian authoritative Joseph Breinl von Wallenstern. He most likely became his agent by the late 1920s.
During the November Uprising, he collected information about moods among the patriotic nobility and passed them on to the Austrian police. The Boguszów learned about his anti-Polish activity and decided to counter it. He was arrested by them and thrown into court jail. Shortly thereafter, he was accused of leaving the village voluntarily, rebelling peasants, and armed robbery. For years, the court case caused Shela to become even more celebrated and respected among the minions. The possessive authorities utilized specified frictions between the nobility and the peasantry.
The efficient propaganda caused the ranks of peasants to consider the nobility to be tyrants, the imperial offices to be a stand of justice, and the possible return of independent Poland as a historical disaster resulting in a deterioration of their material situation. Thanks to the inflamed and prolonged conflict between Shela and the Bogus, the old rule of divide et impera was implemented. In this way the Austrians managed to neutralize Polish independency efforts and control order in an incorruptible province. In the mid-1940s, the authorities realized the anticipation of an armed uprising of Polish patriots. Since the thought of independency was mainly based on noble courts, it was decided to blunt the force of the rabble by means of the entrenched nobles. On 16 February 1846 Wallenstern organized a peculiar gathering with peasant leaders.
Jacob Shela besides took part. The Austrian politician urged the assembled to force their action against the nobility. He promised impunity and in the future a regulation or even a complete abolition of the serfdom. Shela rapidly organized a group of tens at which he began to plunder and burn the surrounding manors. With peculiar passion, he attacked noble houses, which he was certain he supported the uprising against the Austrians. He set a individual example of cruelty and was usually the first to strike the captured heirs. Many Polish patriots died. Shela even assaulted the town of Birches, which he robbed along with his companions.
Interestingly, belonging to his gang was compulsory, and the Herst's opposing orders were put with sticks on the charge of being a ‘dwort spy’. The work of Shela was no exception. akin groups besides began to ravage another areas of the Austrian partition. They frequently clashed with the anti-Austrian insurgent troops created by the nobility. The so - called Galician robbery consumed nearly 2,000 deaths and tremendous material losses.
Above all, however, she fulfilled the authority’s hopes. To a large extent, she blinded the power of independence, as she had not had time to think about Poland, committed to defending her noble houses. On March 18, 1846, Shela met Wallenstern again to whom he promised to persuade his subordinates to return to work on the field. However, the peasant movement mostly got out of control. People who erstwhile tasted robbery and easy money didn't get easy calmed down.
The robbery active hundreds of victims among the patriotic Polish nobility.The imperial army must have taken action against the peasantry. This was besides essential in order to fake the spontaneousness of robbery towards the Polish nobility. Shela was arrested and imprisoned in barracks in Tarnów. He was treated well, and he was paid 10 countrycars for all day of his stay. Saved from slaughter, the nobles charged him with execution and plunder, however, the authorities swept the case under the carpet. The return of Shela into old estates was impossible after all, for at any minute he was threatened with revenge by relatives of the murdered.
The boy took over the farm and he himself was resettled along with the another household members to a large farm located in a distant Bukovina. In 1859, he was released from serf's benefits. Until his death, he remained under discreet police cover, which defended him from the vengeance of Polish patriots. In his lifetime, he became a peasant legend and symbol that hindered the connection with the nobility within 1 Polish Nation. After planet War II, Shela's myths were eager to blow the communists away, giving his name to respective streets.
Previous entry from our calendar is available Here.
