Lestek

Who is Lestek?

Lestek is the second legendary duke of Poland, and son of Siemowit, born c. 870–880. Although proof of his actual existence is unclear, if he did exist, he must have been an influential person, because the tribes that lived in present-day Poland were known as Lestkowici.

The origin of his name is not known, it can be derived from the old Polish word lście which means "crafty". It is believed this is a diminutive of the Slavic name Lścimir or Lścisław. Lestek's wife is unknown. A theory by Stanisław Zakrzewski claims Lestek could have been married to a Moravian princess. Another theory is that a Saxon princess could have been Lestek's wife and that they had a son, Ewraker, later the Bishop of Leodium. Lestko's son, Siemomysł, was the next ruler of the early pagan Polish state.