Madeira folk Tales
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The legend of Władysław or the Knight of Santa Catarina -Ponta
do Sol
This is the story of the mysterious Knight of St. Catherine, who one day docked the tip of the sun. What mysterious past would hide the noble? It was around the year 1454 that was welcomed on Madeira Island, arrived between sailors and traders, a mysterious figure. Still young man, Tristão, blond and blue-eyed, presented himself to the then grantee of Funchal, João Gonçalves Zarco, with a missive from the king of Portugal D. Afonso V. Noble no doubt, dined at the table of Zarco with special honors and soon after his arrival, was granted a Sesmaria of land on the south coast of the island, by letter passed by Infante D. Henrique. This mysterious unknown was then known as Henry German (more due to his physical characteristics) or simply by Knight of St. Catherine. Marrying a noble lady of Algarve origin (and having as godfather the king of Portugal himself), named her Sesmaria, calling him Magdalene or Magdalene of the sea. This fact will have given rise to another legend, which refers to the jealousy of the wife.
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Rich and discreet, he was worshipped by his people, always continuing his Origin cloaked in mystery. What was known was to be a Knight of the Order of St. Catherine of Mount Sinai, founded in the year Mil and very selected. It was already the island of Madeira port of passage of many ships and in them came many friars to be worth the great growth of the population of the island. Once, 6 newly arrived Polish Franciscans were received at the Court of Zarco and they will have recognized the Knight of Santa Catarina as his former king (Władysław or Władysław III of Poland and I of Hungary), disappeared and given as dead in the war against the Turks in Battle of Varna. In this battle he would have also fought Vlad II, Prince of Wallachia, but known for his crimes by Vlad the Impaler or Count Dracul. He vehemently denied the rider to the rumours, but these came to the king who called him to the Algarve to clarify the matter. Returning to Madeira after this colloquium, he died in the fall of a broken by Cape Girão. But even today, people and sages are convinced to be the German Henry the former Polish king. Even more so, some suggest that being Colombo's nickname of Henry's wife, this would have been the father of Christopher Columbus. And another legend arises. It was the German Henry/a Madeiran gem/of his history if he/she knows very little, it is a pity...
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Done by Students and teachers from the school February 2018
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