THE OLYMPIC CIRCUS AS A PROPAGATOR OF GYMNASTICS IN THE GRAND DUCHY OF POSEN DURING THE TURNSPERRE

In the wake of socio-political upheaval and controversies surrounding the political activities of Friedrich Ludwig Jahn—regarded as the father of German gymnastics—a ban on gymnastic exercises by Turner unions, known as the Turnsperre, was enacted in the Kingdom of Prussia between 1819 and 1842. This ban was also enforced in the Grand Duchy of Posen, a political entity established at the Congress of Vienna and incorporated into the Kingdom of Prussia after 1815 (the region had previously been part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which was partitioned by Prussia, Russia, and Austria in 1795). Existing histories of gymnastics in this area have largely overlooked the role of traveling Olympic circuses, which regularly visited the Grand Duchy of Posen during the final years of the Turnsperre. These circus companies showcased various gymnastic forms in their performances, often featuring equestrian vaulting. Their activities were both significant and arguably unique in the context of gymnastics development in Prussian-partitioned Poland. For the Polish residents of the Duchy—who lacked formal opportunities for physical exercise—these performances held particular importance.