In the area of Liptov and Zvolen, above a valley of upper river Hron, is a tall mountain called Kralova Hole (King's bare mountain top) King Matej used to stop there when hunting in the surrounding forests to have a lunch with his suite. He enjoyed the gorgeous view of the beautiful countryside.

After the death of king Matej, the ruling nobility became extremely oppressive, imposed unbearable forced labor to their subjects, forcing many young man to flee to the deep forests and becoming "zbojniks" - armed rebels also called "mountain boys". The mountain top again became full of life, this time used by the mountain boys as their base. The chief of the 11 boys was Janosik from village Tarchova in upper Trencin area. The group hunted for living, but their main mission was to revenge the unjust treatment of their people. Janosik was a son of a poor farmer, who noticed his son's gift to learn easily and decided to send him to school to be a priest and live a better life. One nobleman, whose subjects included Janosik's family, was offended, that one of them dared to become equal to him. He made life of the family as hard as he could, calling them to forced labor anytime, when they needed to work on their own farm. But his father patiently worked hard hoping his son would be able to free himself.

One day, almost finished with his studies, young Janosik learned, that his mother become seriously ill and rushed home from school to visit his parents. The nobel sent soldiers to bring them to perform forced labor, father and son refused, were captured and both punished with 100 hard strokes of hazel rods. Father did not survived the beating, mother died when they brought them home and young Janosik, when barely recovered fled to the mountains.

In the forests, he met a nymph, who gave him a magic belt and an ax, providing him with a magical strength, making him undefeatable. Janosik used the gift for years to revenge the oppressed people, by whom he was supported and loved. Janosik himself never killed anybody, nor allowed anybody else to kill. His famous line was "Give your soul to God and money to us." He hid several treasures in the mountains. He used it to help to the poor and needy.

The nobility, fearing Janosik's retaliation actually eased the oppression of their subjects at that time.

Several years later, in a village of Klenovce, near town of Tisovec, a shepherd named Blaha, betrayed Janosik for a reward. He invited him to his house surrounded by soldiers, stole his magic ax and Janosik was attacked. A first he was winning the fight, but an old woman called on soldiers to cut his magic belt. As soon as they succeeded, Janosik was overpowered chained, jailed and tortured. He was sentenced to death in Liptovsky Mikulas on March, 13 1713. Before his death, he danced around gallows to show his courage and resentment to his captors.

Thanks to Diane Janosik, NY, USA for help with English translation.