Македонски генеалогии и герои като източник на средновековни идентичности: случаят на франките и саксите и легендата за Александър Велики в полската традиция
Macedonian genealogies and heroes as a source of medieval identities: the case of the Franks and the Saxons and the Legend of Alexander the Great in the Polish tradition

Summary/Abstract: The article is dedicated to the existence of an influential medieval myth about ancient Macedonia and its heritage among peoples, not related to the original ancient Kingdom of Macedon. Among them most popular is the “Macedonian” genealogy of the Franks in the Chronicle of (Pseudo-) Fredegar linking the Trojan and Roman myths with the Macedonian heritage. According to Fredegar`s version part of the Trojans settled in Macedonia and formed the nucleus of the army of Alexander the Great. Another part, however, migrated further west, led by Francio, and formed the Frankish community. The third group, known as the “Torks” i.e. the Turks, conquered Sarmatia. All these three branches of the Trojans were and still are invincible warriors and no one is able to defeat them. Similar genealogical legend about the Saxons could be discovered in the narrative of Widukind. The Saxons, in his version, were the best part of Alexander`s army, that conquered part of Germania and created a mighty kingdom. In Slavic medieval tradition Alexander the Great appears as an invader of the Polish lands. His army reaches Cracow – the cradle of the Polish nation and state, that has deep roots in the Antiquity. Later the Dalmatian friar Vinko Pribojevic will continue the narrative proclaiming Alexander, Philip and Aristotle for Slavs and linking ancient Macedonia with his contemporary Slavic-speaking Bulgaria. The popularity of the Macedonian genealogies and myths in the Middle Ages succeeded to endure the Renaissance and the Modern Time and the strength of these ideas continues to be attractive even in the post-modern global world.

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