Piast Dynasty Possibly Did Not Originate From Poland, Researchers Claim
Royalties, for the sake of their legacy, typically claim their lineage to be rooted in their empire. However, in some cases, the assertion might not be true, like for the Piasts, according to Phys.Org. Piasts are known as Poland's first documented royal house, which ruled the country from the 10th to the 14th centuries. However, recent examinations showcase that these Polish rulers could possibly have links to Scotland. Such an assertion was made based on insights garnered from remains in several crypts dating back to the Piast era.
Researchers gathered most of the evidence from Płock Cathedral in Poland by opening over a dozen crypts from the Piast era. These exhumed bones were dated to somewhere between 1100 and 1495. Examinations revealed that several individuals whose remains were unearthed in the process could have been close relatives. Considering the location and other aspects revealed about the exhumed bones, molecular biologist Marek Figlerowicz at the Poznań University of Technology was sure that the remains unearthed in the process were related to the Piast dynasty.
Experts from the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences primarily focused on the Y chromosome detected from the genetic material of exhumed bones, according to TVP World. This chromosome is present in males and is transferred from fathers to sons. The analysis showcased that the Piasts and haplogroup shared some genetic material. The finding was valuable as the haplogroups were known to have ancestors primarily in Britain. Further examinations revealed that samples dated back to the period before the establishment of the Piast empire shared close lineage with a man who lived between the 5th and 6th centuries in present-day Scotland.
The team believes the finding implies the Piasts could have come from Scotland. This theory is also supported by history. Poland's first king, Bolesław the Brave, had a sister named Sigryda. Sigyrda was married to the ruler of Denmark and Norway and gave birth to the eventual kings of Norway, Sweden, England, and Denmark. It means the first branch of the Piast dynasty had deep relations with England and other European countries. This may indicate that Boleslaw had connections with Britain and, by extension, Scotland. For a long time, there have been speculations regarding the background of the Piasts. Some believe they were locals, while others think they could be of Viking descent.
“We have no historical or archaeological data,” Professor Figlerowicz stated. “The only way we could investigate this matter was to test DNA and determine who the Piasts were related to.” Moreover, researchers have not asserted that their Scotland theory is fully correct and believe more examination is needed to verify the claim. The finding does firmly challenge the claim of an unbroken local male lineage, as stated by Phys.org. This means that Piast's ancestors did come from a foreign land. A survey has clarified that the locals who lived in the country 2,000 years ago shared a lot of the genetic makeup detected in early Piast subjects. It implies that Piast ancestors were possibly present in Poland for a long time before the first king started the dynasty.