History

The hetman Sarovec legend

Hetman Jan Sarovec is the legend person from history of Moravian Slovakia. His life was vitalised by reputable writer Fratisek Kozik in 1971, who depictured him in dramatic story honoured by readers price in European literary club as an extraordinary hero, who in spite of his burglarious past understood his knight´s obligations and with handful of his people stood up to defend provinces of Moravian Slovakia, which were harassed by raids of Hungarian baron Stepan Bockaj´s bloodthirsty army. Thanks to his warmth, self-will but also his devotion hetman Sarovec engraved in consciousness of Moravian Slovakia´s inhabitants. So the myth about his heroism and love for his native country, created by Frantisek Kozik, persists up to the present days.

 There will be war...
At the beginning of 17^th century the fear of another war suffering weighted heavily on inhabitants of Moravian Slovakia, because the area was attacked by risen army of Hungarian baron Stepan Bockaj in 1605. His revolt was the response to the cruel oppression, which councillors of Caesar Rudolf II unleashed in Hungary after the victory over Turks and gaining of Sedmihradska. People were rightly afraid of cruelty of Bockaj´s soldiers, who saw just vengeance, nothing else; particularly at the moment when Moravia didn´t join their revolt. Invitation appeal from Hungarian baron, which also arrived to meeting of Moravian aristocracy in 1605 staid unanswered.

Hradistu, Hradistu, you don´t deserve to be standing....

The sound of clashing Hungarian army bear on Moravian Slovakia louder and louder. That is why Moravian aristocracy permitted recruitment of soldiers against baron Bockaj in spring of 1605. All of the sudden Uherske Hradiste has become the centre of defence for whole South Moravia. State soldiery of all Czech countries gathered here and also Caesar´s army and was called in, which altogether was estimated to seven foot troops (approximately 2 500 men) and five hundreds of riding arquebusiers; in addition all vassals of Olomouc bishop and 4 thousand of men of Silesian help came as well. Armies were placed in Uherske Hradiste and its surroundings on the right bank of Morava river.

Sarovec draws the sword   
But aggregating army didn’t discourage Hungarian soldiers at all. On 1^st of May they attacked Uhersky Brod and destroyed Strani; in following days they plundered area from Straznice up to Zlin. But the army centred in Uherske Hradiste took up the waiting position and didn´t attack Bockaj´s troops.

In the middle of May, state hetman called a meeting of Moravian aristocracy in Uherske Hradiste, so they could appoint further movement against Hungarian baron.  The hetman of Uherske Hradiste and its neighbourhood, Karel from Lichtenstejn was elected the highest General for the defence of the country.

According to Kozik´s novel, hetman Sarovec from Hluk was also present at this meeting. He came to call attention of Karel from Lichtenstejn to the attempt of sly Hungarians to find Bockaj´s allies among Moravian aristocrats. But his honest intentions weren´t heard neither was his request for military protection of Hluk and all Moravian frontier. The aristocracy as though disregarded the misery of villagers even though slaughtering of innocent men, women and kids didn´t come to the end.

But Jan Sarovec didn´t want to resign to this. He sank under the insistency of his fellowmen and decided to protect, with the sword in hand, his town and also all Moravian Slovakia. The message about brave hetman, which is not indolent to the fate of commons, has travelled through the region faster than bullet and volunteers from all corners of Moravian Slovakia started to come to Hluk. Before long Jan Sarovec with handful of villagers stood face to face to bloodthirsty soldiers of baron Bockaj.

To gentleman Bockaj,
Duke of Sedmihradske!

I, Jan Sarovec, the hetman of Moravian Slovakia flag, send a message to you, as the Lord of Hungary and Sedmihrady, who send his generals with Hajduks and Turks to Moravia.. Because your soldiers didn´t respect Christian love and pitilessly thrust at honest commoners, took their lives and living, didn´t save womankind and so they broke the honour, God´s doom and neighbourly decency. I, Jan Sarovec, promise to take a revenge on them and everywhere I catch your reprobate soldiers I will chase them and I will dispose of the as they do to people. Warn your generals from invading our country or God´s revenge represented by my sword will catch them.

Given on Hluk fortress L. P. 1605.
Jan Sarovec

In Hradiste at the tap-room
At these bitter times Uherske Hradiste, which literally brim over with troops, was the only place, where fellow countryman could forget about everyday trouble full of worries of his life and livelihood. The scene for touching stories full of pain but also determination, bravery and patriotic indomitability were mainly tap-rooms of Hradiste.

The pub sounded by happy full-throated singing. It was happy, even though it was sad; also the songs, which were borne by horror of the war, got drank by impassioned suing. Fiddler dominated to heads drooping over the jug or backswept. Evening chill came inside through slightly opened windows. Everything was excited by pipes whistling, which tones braided fiddler´s melody and together with bass violin created boiling kettle of music sound from musical interpretation. When he walked in, for a while he was deafened by the yawl of singers. From the floor and everywhere else smelled the scent of young wine.

He took a seat close to singing group. As the familiar singing started next to him, his blood slightly frothed. He was delighted to see moving sturdy fellas; thews straining military trousers and also simple hempen pants, strong arms in wide sleeves, wildness intensified by deflection of whole body. Each of singers plunged into his voice, lost to remaining senses. It reminded him of moments in Hungary, when he met his friends at lost wardens and when they laced song to a song. The music where was richer of cimbalom strings which tones came up by tick as moaning, laughter or cry.  The songs his sweetheart sings are quite and confess sweetly, but these here are his wild, confused youth. And the blood recognised it and called that it didn´t grow old yet, it didn´t get stale.  

 We have slept together....”

And the varlet claps his palms, right had flies aloft, if he had a dancer here, he would hold her and through her upward.. And caresses strings wildly....

Frantisek Kozik created literally hero figure, which engraved in conciseness of inhabitants of our region so much, that many people consider it as real historical person