Polska Roma are the largest and one of the oldest ethnolinguistic groups of Romani people living in Poland. Many Polska Roma also reside in Germany, North America, Switzerland, Great Britain and Sweden. Some can also be found in Lithuania, Belarus, and Russia. The term “Polska Roma” is both an ethnonym of the group and a term used in the scholarly literature. of the group and a term used in scholarly literature. As such, it differs from the term “Polish Roma,” which in a broader sense refers to the entire Roma population in Poland. Therefore, the term “Polska Roma” or “Sasytka Roma” (Gypsie) is used exclusively for this specific group, while the term “Polish Roma” is applied to all Roma groups living in Poland — the broader Roma population in Poland. The Polska and Sasytka Roma are often referred to as Sinti, or it is claimed that they are a branch that split off from the German Sinti.
Culture
The Polska Roma remained semi-nomadic until the 20th century, traveling only seasonally. There were also settled Polska Roma. They did not assimilate into the broader Polish society or the non-Romani cultures of other countries where they live. In fact, they are one of the most traditional Romani groups. An exception to this is that the most common surnames among the Polska Roma are typically Polish (e.g., Kwiatkowski or Majewski), or occasionally Polonized German names (e.g., Wajs or Szwarc) and Polonized Lithuanian names (e.g., Markiewicz or Karolowicz). The Polska Roma have maintained a very strict interpretation of the Romanipen cultural laws and practices. They are, in fact, considered the "Orthodox Roma", as they have numerous and diverse practices that they call the Romano Kodex. However, some cultural differences arose within the community during and after World War II. Those Polska Roma who spent the war in Soviet-controlled territories were able to maintain their orthodox practices, while those under German occupation, threatened by genocide, had to compromise the strictness of their traditions to survive.
In the 16th century, when the mass migration of the Roma fled persecution in the Holy Roman Empire, they called themselves Sasytka Roma (which means "Old German Roma"; the name Sasytka itself is derived from Saxony, Saso, Secanos). In western Poland, around the 17th century, they adopted the name Polska Roma, as they no longer identified as German Roma but accepted the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth as their homeland. Nevertheless, many still call themselves Sasytka Roma today. Another name for the Sasytka Roma is "Pluniaki", as they still speak the old accent and loved the color red. They were mainly active throughout Prussia and the Baltic regions. Today, the Sasytka Roma are a subgroup of the Polska Roma and have remained the tribal leaders of the Polska Roma for generations.
There are other subgroups of the Polska Roma:
The Rapaci originate from the region of Bohemian Silesia, also called "Opole", which is now part of Poland. The name Rapaci comes from “Karpaci - Carpathians”. They were first mentioned in 1357 in southwestern Poland and again in 1401 and further mentions. In Bohemian Silesia, they were first mentioned in 1350. Their surnames were "Cygan". A mass migration from Bohemia began when the persecution in the Holy Roman Empire and in Bohemia spread in the 16th century, leading them to emigrate to Poland. Some remained in Bohemia and built a synagogue in 1611 under Salomon Salkid-Cygan. This is the only Roma synagogue that is still documented, although it was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. In 1906, the synagogue was closed, and a new one, the Jerusalem Synagogue in Prague, was built.
The Leśaki lived in forests and traveled only in forests.
The Berniki, also called Bare Forytka, were later partly referred to as Śleciaki, as they are Warsaw Roma.
The Omśniaki come from Łomża, near Warsaw.
The Marcinki came from all over Prussia.
The Bosaki were known for always going barefoot (boso - barefoot in Polish).
The Ćejaki were a priestly caste and harp makers from Lithuania and East Prussia, but became extinct during World War II.
The Kaliszaki come from Kalisz.
The Jaglany were so named because they always ate millet porridge (kasza jaglana in Polish).
The Wengerki came from Austria.
The Warmiaki came from Kaliningrad and Warmia.
The Heladytka originate from the Baltic countries, as well as Belarus and Russia, and are also called Ruska Roma.
The western Polska Roma came from Pomerania and West Prussia.
However, there are additional new subgroups that have emerged from intermarriages with other Roma tribes in the 20th and 21st centuries. Due to the displacement of the Polska Roma, new subgroups have formed that are now at the lower end of the hierarchy. They do not belong to the original Sasytka Roma who came from the Holy Roman Empire. Through intermarriages with Bergitka Roma, Lovara, Kalderash, and Sinti, the following new subgroups of the Polska Roma have emerged: Galicjaki, Siwaki, Pachowiaki, Puhary, Toniki, and Serwy. These subgroups hold a lower status within the Polska Roma society, but some groups tolerate them more, such as the Ruska Roma living in Poland.
The Polska Roma are closely related to Ruska Roma, as well as to the Baltic Roma, who all speak the Baltic Romani dialects. This is the northeastern branch; they are descendants of the Polska Roma who have split over time, forming new tribes and groups. All the living Ruska Roma, Lotvitka Roma, Estonska Roma, Litovska Roma, and Bjaleruska Roma in Poland belong to the Polska Roma tribe. After these divisions, various tribes emerged, each with its own groups and subgroups: in Russia, the Ruska Roma; in the Baltic regions, the Litovska Roma, Lotvitka Roma, and Estonska Roma. In these areas, they were all influenced by Ruthenian culture. As the Heladytka settled in Western Russia in the 17th century, they were more influenced by Ruthenian culture than by Polish culture. However, the Roma who remained in Poland were not strongly influenced, despite their contact to the countries countries.
In Poland, under the partitions, the Roma in the Russian-occupied areas were treated relatively well, and the majority of the community emigrated there. By the mid-19th century, there was a significant decline in the Roma population in Poland: most gradually moved to Russia. Many Roma also left Lithuania; in 1840, only 70 Roma families were registered in Lithuania. The Roma who came to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from Germany mostly continued to migrate to Russia, and those who remained eventually migrated to Russia as well. In the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Roma primarily moved to the Duchy of Lithuania rather than under the Crown, as they were better received in the northeast and enjoyed more privileges there. Initially, small individual families from Germany (1501) and Bohemia (1357) had no issues in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, but this changed when persecution in Germany began. In the 16th century, Roma mass-migrated from Germany. Today, the remaining Polska Roma in Poland are very few compared to the many Ruska Roma who have settled in Russia. Even fewer are those in the Baltic regions.Polish-Lithuanian State, 1386-1795
Daniel Stone
Creation Date 2001
National Library system number: 997010718261905171
The Polska Roma Kings (Siero Rom Formerly called "Hetman"), belong to the subgroup Sasytka Roma ("Pluniaki").
Henryk Nudziu Kozłowski (died April 2, 2021)– activist of the Roma community in Poland. He served as Siero Roma of the Polish Lowland Gypsies. He was the founder of the Royal Roma Foundation His successor was his son, C. Kozłowski.
History Origin
The first appearance of the Roma in the Holy Roman Empire was probably in 1407 or 1417. In 1407, it is not entirely clear as they were referred to as Tatars but did not introduce themselves. In 1417, a small group arrived as pilgrims to do penance for seven years; they called themselves Secanos. After the seven years, they disappeared again, presumably heading northeast, likely towards Pomerania. In 1426, a large group appeared, comprising thousands of people. They carried letters of protection and were led by a king, three dukes, a count, as well as slaves and knights. They all came from Hungary. Later, the group led by Duke Panuel and Count Jon reached the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth via Bohemia and what was then Germany. King Zyndlon traveled to Austria, then to Bohemia, and finally to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Dukes Andrash and Mihali traveled to Zurich in Switzerland. Duke Andrash continued the journey towards Italy.
The German Reichstag ordered a general expulsion of the Roma from the country, which took place in 1577. The police reports on this matter disappeared, and silence followed. A large number of Roma moved to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, where the news of their persecution spread.
In Germany, at that time characterized by fanatical opinions, order, and a spirit of strictness, the Roma quickly adapted to a free life and soon provoked the anger of the Germans. Some private lords and certain princes strongly protected this people, following the example of Emperor Sigismund. However, after his death, some began to persecute them harshly, while others ceased to protect them. This led to an open project against the Roma, introduced at the Reichstag of the Holy Roman Empire in 1496 and 1497, which had serious consequences. It was only under the rule of Emperor Maximilian I. Harsh laws were renewed and implemented, starting in the year 1500. The injustice of these measures lay in the fact that the government empowered any citizen (German) to arbitrarily harm, punish, and torture the Roma if they were captured in the country.
However, there are no historical records indicating that the Roma were ever oppressed in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The privileges granted by King Alexander confirm that they had long held leaders and kings, called Voivodes and Hetmans, who were elected by them and confirmed by the Lithuanian and Polish monarchs. They enjoyed freedom and government protection. Such privileges were regularly recorded in the documents of the counties where they primarily lived. Similarly, in the Crown, such leaders were elected, called tribal chiefs, who governed all the Roma of the entire Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and had other leaders under them who led individual groups or families.
Each Tabor had its own Voivode (Duke - Polish "Hrabia"), but the Hetman (King - proverb "Syndlostro Dziacipen" goes back to King Syndlon), was the tribal chief over all the Tabors. These tribal chiefs were always from the same family, inheriting their position from father to son or from father to nephew. However, a grandson could also take the position if neither a son nor a nephew met the requirements to assume the role. Throughout the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, such Voivodes of the Tabors lived, including in villages, where they did not travel with the Tabors but led a settled life. Likewise, the family of the tribal chief was not limited to the Crown alone but was active across the entire Commonwealth, both as travelers and as settlers. The Polish nobility had no interest in tormenting the weak, defenseless, and humble people. Wealthy landowners, who possessed vast tracts of land, were wary of reducing the population and even supported the settlement of the destitute. However, Romani settlements did not exist in Poland. German bands, scattered throughout the country, posed a threat of unrest, and the established residents began to perceive their presence as a deception. For this reason, in 1678, a decree was issued that, following the final confirmation of the expulsion in Germany, effectively declared the Roma as outcasts. Furthermore, it was determined that anyone who supported them would be considered an accomplice to their crimes and would also be banished.