Tradition: Polish Mythology
Alternative Names: Mice of Popiel, Myszy Popiela
Category: Rat
The Myth
Popiel’s Mice are monstrous rodents from a Polish legend associated with the town of Kruszwica and Lake Gopło. The story concerns Popiel II, a semi-legendary ruler and the last member of the Popielid dynasty, who ruled alongside his ambitious and cruel wife. Together, they oppressed their subjects, poisoned a gathering of tribal elders, and murdered Popiel’s sons from his first marriage. Instead of cremating the dead according to traditional Slavic customs, they cast their bodies into Lake Gopło.
The murders provoked the fury of the people, and the elders’ dying curses were believed to have brought divine punishment upon the royal family. Soon afterward, thousands of enormous mice emerged from the lake and advanced on Popiel’s castle. They were fearless, possessed sharp teeth, and multiplied when soldiers attempted to cut them apart.
Popiel and his family fled by boat to a fortified tower on an island in the lake, but the mice pursued them across the water. They climbed the tower walls, gnawed through its barred doors, and devoured the royal family. When people eventually dared to enter the tower, they found only bones. According to local tradition, Popiel lost his crown while fleeing across the lake, and whoever discovers it will receive good fortune.
The legend presents the mice as instruments of supernatural justice, punishing Popiel for murder, tyranny, and the violation of sacred customs. A rebuilt medieval tower in Kruszwica, known as the Mouse Tower, remains a local landmark associated with the tale.
Sources
“Mouse Tower.” Łam dworski, March 12, 2016. https://lamusdworski.wordpress.com/2016/03/12/mouse-tower/