President hails 1,000 years of Polish sovereignty on coronation anniversary

Poland on Friday marked the 1,000th anniversary of its first royal coronation, an event President Andrzej Duda described as a symbolic moment affirming the country’s emergence as a sovereign state.

Polish President Andrzej Duda speaks at the ceremony.

PAP/Jakub Kaczmarczyk

Speaking at a joint gathering of lawmakers in the western city of Gniezno, Poland’s historic first capital, Duda praised the legacy of King Bolesław I the Brave, calling his 33-year rule "a period of strength and glory" for the nation.

He highlighted the 1025 coronation as a milestone that confirmed Poland’s sovereignty, recognized by imperial and papal powers as well as European courts.

"Today we demonstrate our attachment to the great traditions of Polish statehood and our respect for the achievements of past generations," Duda said.

Z wielką radością i dumą, ale też z pokorą wobec dziesięciu wieków naszej historii; świadom odpowiedzialności przed pokoleniami, które budowały naszą Ojczyznę i broniły jej, staję dzisiaj tu, w Gnieźnie, w kolebce polskiej państwowości, jako Prezydent niepodległej… pic.twitter.com/WZiN8eKbo5

— Kancelaria Prezydenta (@prezydentpl) April 25, 2025

A major state ceremony was held on Friday in Gniezno, attended by top government and parliamentary leaders, including Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

💬Prime Minister @DonaldTusk in #Gniezno: It’s time for a new national doctrine for Poland — the Piast doctrine. One not built on illusions, not only on dreams or aspirations, but on strength. pic.twitter.com/bWWqGwkuph

— Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland (@PremierRP_en) April 25, 2025

The event commemorated the coronation of Bolesław I the Brave, who became the first king of Poland in 1025.

The coronation, believed to have taken place at Gniezno Cathedral on either Easter Sunday, April 18, or the feast of Saint Adalbert, on April 23, marked Poland's recognition as a sovereign state across Europe.

(jh/gs)

Source: IAR