Bolesław II the Horned

Bolesław II the Horned

Bolesław II the Bald known also as the Horned (Polish: Bolesław II Łysy or Rogatka; b. ca. 1220/5 - d. 26/31 December 1278), was a Duke of Krakow briefly in 1241, of Southern Greater Poland during 1241 - 1247, and Duke of all Silesia-Wroclaw since 1241 until 1248, when was divided between him and his brothers. He was Duke of Neumarkt in Silesia (Środa Śląska) from 1277 and during his reign was a second Mongol raid against Poland, led by Nogai Khan.

He was the eldest son of Henry II the Pious by his wife Anna, daughter of King Ottokar I of Bohemia.

Life

Beginning of his Reign and Fight over the Greater Poland Inheritance (1241-47)

Bolesław, in contrast to his father, doesn't have to wait too much for reign, because on 9 April 1241, during the Battle of Legnica against the Mongols, Duke Henry II was killed after only three years of government. At the time of these tragic events, of the five sons of the Silesian Duke, only Bolesław and his inmediate younger brother Mieszko could be considered adults and capables to ruled without a regency. However, during the first and difficult months of government, their mother Anna would help them. Some sources even speak directly to her regency. Whatever was the case, this "regency" wasn't to too long and even in the same year Bolesław formally began his personal reign, whose beginning wasn't successful. Although the Mongols, after conquest considerable areas of Silesia soon withdrew to Hungary, with any intention to retain that lands permanently, for Bolesław the situation wasn't too easiest. The paternal inheritance included the Southern Greater Poland and Krakow, but soon erupted the revolts from others Piast Dukes who wanted these lands. In Lesser Poland, by July 1241 appeared to eternal pretender to Krakow: Konrad I of Masovia. The war was not yet a defeat, thanks to the effective resistance against the Masovians organized by the Governor of Krakow, Clement of Ruszczy; however, the complete inaction of Bolesław dissapointed the nobility, who quickly found a new candidate for the Krakow throne in Bolesław V the Chaste. In Greater Poland, the situation was not very different. After hear the news of the defeat of Henry II in Legnica, Przemysł I and Bolesław the Pious, decided to retaken the district once belonging to their father Władysław Odonic, their father. The Greater Poland nobility and knighthood strongly supported them, because for them, as a chronicler stated, they were the true heirs of that lands. This time, Bolesław decided to avoid any fight and renounce to all his Greater Poland lands, but obtained in exchange some district as Santok and Międzyrzecz. But the uncompromising attitude of the Greater Poland Dukes and the increasing problems who this caused in the family, ultimately forced Bolesław to resign the lands and with this all his pretentions over Greater Poland, in 1247.

The black crownless eagle of the Silesian Piasts

The First Division of Lower Silesia (1248)

Bolesław initially didn't any intended to made a division of his father's Silesian Duchy, and wanted to concentrate all the power in his hands. Certainly, in 1242 years, died unexpectedly his next brother Mieszko, who had received Lubusz as a Duchy, but because he died without issue, his lands reverted to. Bolesław's resistance to share the government with his younger brothers only caused revolts against him; shortly after the young Silesian princes were able to imprison his older brother. These incidents caused in Bolesław, until the end of his life very suspicious to his environment and a further difficults to deal with the government. As an interim of the revolts, Bolesław made an agreement with his brother Henry III the White in 1247, when he was declared co-ruler of Silesia. The cooperation between the brothers wasn't too good and a year later, they decided to made a division of the districts Legnica-Głogów-Lubusz and Wrocław. In addition, the brothers have pledged to offer hospitality to the younger brothers, Bolesław to Konrad, and Henry to Władysław. Bolesław, as the older brother, had the opportunity to choose his district; he decided to Legnica, because there was found gold in the Kaczawa and Wierzbiak Rivers.

The choice of Legnica can also be dictated by the growing conflict between Bolesław and the powerful Wrocław nobility, a problem who Henry III didn't had; shortly after he could took control over the duchy. But now Bolesław began to regret his choice and tried to recover Wroclaw. Henry III, of course, refused to voluntarily give up his new duchy. The war was only a matter of time.

War against Henry III the White and Sale of Lubusz (1248-49)

Henry and Bolesław began his preparations for the war, but, didn't have adequate funds. In these circumstances, there was a most common practices during the period of regional divisions. Bolesław had married in 1242 with Hedwig of Anhalt, daughter of Count Henry I and niece of the Landgraves of Thuringia, and now he decided to use this family connections to find allies in his fight against his brother. The price for troops was putting by the Archbishop of Magdeburg: half of Lubusz, who passed then to the hands of Brandenburg, because at that time, Magdeburg was part of them.

Bolesław II, Duke of Legnica (1249-51)

The German aid only give to Bolesław a temporary advantage in the war against his brother. In 1249 unexpectedly returned to the country of study their younger brother Konrad, whose Bolesław unsuccessfully tried to convince to entered to the Church. He proposed him as Bishop of Passau but Konrad refused and began his own claims over Silesia. Bolesław obviously refused his consent, so that the young prince took refuge at the court of Bolesław's long-time enemies, the Dukes of Greater Poland. Shortly after, Konrad reforced his bonds with Duke Przemysł I after a double marriage: the Greater Poland with Konrad's sister Elizabeth, and himself with Duke Przemysł's sister, Salome. The final crash occurred two years later, when the Legnica Duke was defeated by the combined forces of Przemysł I and Henry III the White, who supported the pretentions of his brother. Bolesław was finally forced to agree on the division of his own lands and give Głogów to Konrad. After this, the elder Duke of the Silesian branch only retained the small district of Legnica.

Agreement with Henry III the White (1252 - 1256)

However, Bolesław needed other two years and the help of Henry III (who in this difficult situation he eventually decided to give him his support) to recover in 1253 the full authority over his Principality. Finally the brotherly cooperation was imposed and for the next years was quite specific. With Henry III wasn't the case, and the eventual struggles for the main power led to a major clashes. But during this time, Bolesław made some agreements with the others Piast Dukes, especially with the princes of Greater Poland and with Thomas I, Bishop of Wroclaw, althought Bolesław never forgive the Bishop that in the disputes with his brothers he always supported the younger princes.

Conflict with Bishop Thomas of Wrocław (1257-1261)

Bolesław's conflict with the Bishop of Wrocław reached his point more critical in 1257, when the Duke of Legnica decided to desposed and incarcerate him at the Castle Wleń. It is unknown if Bolesław wanted to this act take control over the local Church, but the inmediate and direct consecuence of his behavior was the excommunication to him (Bolesław was already excommunicated twice, in 1248 and 1249, but was later forgive by the Bishop. Both excomnications were removed only after approval of the Church) and the call to all his neighbors to a crusade against him. In an unexpected way, were only his brothers who quickly intervene and who began to work in a settlement between both parties. The price for Bolesław's return to the Church was high: the Duke was finally forced in 1261 to pay a huge monetary compensation and made a public penitance at the gates of the Cathedral in Wroclaw. The victory of Bishop Thomas was complete.

Relations with Konrad of Głogów (1262-1271)

Bolesław II, but was able to reach an agreement with Henryk to the end of his life remained in the hostile relations with Konrad Głogowskim. Do wzajemnych waśni dochodziło między nimi dosyć często i właściwie do końca życia Konrada trwała ustawiczna wojna podjazdowa. For mutual waśni the case, among them quite frequently and properly to the end of his life lasted Konrad continuous war podjazdowa. Z powodu braku źródeł wiemy jednak tylko o dwóch aspektach konfliktu. In the absence of sources, we know, however, only about two aspects of the conflict. Jeszcze 1257 roku Konrad głogowski przeprowadził brawurową akcję porwania Bolesława z zamku w Legnicy. Another 1,257 years głogowski Konrad moved brawurową kidnapping Bolesław share of the castle in Legnica. Wolność odzyskał on dopiero po paru miesiącach, nie wiadomo za jaką cenę. Freedom regained it after a few months, we do not know for what price. Można więc powiedzieć, że książę legnicki nie miał do Konrada szczęścia, choć w 1271 roku Rogatce udało się wydrzeć z rąk brata Bolesławiec nad Bobrem . It can therefore say that the prince did not have to legnicki Konrad happiness, though in 1271 years Rogatce managed to snatch from the hands of brother Boleslawiec over Bobrem.

Kidnapping of Henry IV and Battle of Stolcem (1272-1277)

In the seventies we see a clear decline in political activities Bolesława. Coraz bardziej zaczął oddawać też władzę w ręce dorastających synów. More and more he began to give the power in the hands of adolescent sons. W 1273 wydzielił dzielnicę ze stolicą w Jaworze najstarszemu potomkowi Henrykowi V i wydawało się, że starzejący się książę zrezygnował już definitywnie z awanturniczej polityki. In 1273 separated from the district capital in Jaworze oldest potomkowi Henryk V and it seemed that the aging prince already resigned definitively adventurous policies. W 1277 roku zaskoczył jednak wszystkich. In 1277 years, however, surprised everyone. Bolesław związał się mianowicie sojuszem z królem rzymskim Rudolfem I Habsburgiem (miała to być przeciwwaga wobec sojuszu reszty książąt śląskich z królem Czech Przemysłem Ottokarem II ) i za jego namową zdecydował się porwać bratanka, Henryka IV Probusa. Bolesław involved in the alliance with the king of Rome Rudolf Habsburgiem I (had to be counterweight to the rest of the princes of the alliance with the king Silesian Czech Industry Ottokarem II) and for his insistence, decided to tear nephew, Henry IV Probusa. Pretekstem było żądanie wydzielenia mu jednej trzeciej dzielnicy wrocławskiej po zmarłym w 1270 roku najmłodszym bracie Władysławie . The pretext of separating them was the request of one third of the deceased in Wroclaw after 1270 years the youngest brother Władysławie. Porwanie udało się znakomicie i wkrótce ważny jeniec znalazł się na zamku w Legnicy. Kidnapping has a great important prisoner and soon found himself at the castle in Legnica. Problem jednak w tym, że za młodym księciem wrocławskim ujęli się król czeski oraz książę Głogowa, Henryk III i Wielkopolski, Przemysł II . The problem however is that the young prince wrocławskim ujęli the Czech king and prince Głogów, Henryk III and Wielkopolska, Industry II. Wyprawa koalicji jednak nie powiodła się. Swamp coalition but failed. Wprawdzie Rogatka zrejterował z pola bitwy pod Stolcem, ale pomimo tego jego syn Henryk V starcie to z pozoru przegrane potrafił wygrać, biorąc sprzymierzonych wodzów do niewoli. Although the turnpike zrejterował from the Battle of Faeces, but despite that, his son Henry V starts to seemingly lost was able to win, having captured allied chiefs. Spór został zakończony ugodą – Henryk IV odzyskał wolność w zamian za 1/3 księstwa ze Środą Śląską na czele. Dispute settlement has been finalized - Henry IV regained freedom in exchange for 1 / 3 of the Duchy of Środa Śląska headed.

Succession (1278)

It was the last success niepokornego prince. Bolesław II Rogatka zmarł 26 grudnia 1278 roku i został pochowany w klasztorze dominikanów w Legnicy. Bolesław II turnpike died 26 December 1278 year and was buried in the monastery of the Dominicans in Legnica. Z małżeństwa z Jadwigą Anhalcką doczekał się trzech synów ( Henryk V Brzuchaty , Bolko I Surowy i Bernard Zwinny i czterech córek (Agnieszka żona hrabiego Wirtembergii Ulryka I , Jadwiga żona Konrada II czerskiego , Anna ksieni w Trzebnicy i czwarta żona pana von Hackeborn, której imienia nie znamy). Jadwiga zmarła w 1259 roku i wtedy Bolesław zdecydował się na powtórny ożenek. Wybór księcia legnickiego padł na córkę władcy Tczewa Sambora , Eufemię. Małżeństwo to nie było udane. Eufemia miała według jednego z kronikarzy z powodu nieprawości męża i jawnego współżycia z kochanką pieszo w jednej sukni wrócić na Pomorze Gdańskie. Jak było – nie wiadomo, w każdym razie spotykamy jeszcze Eufemię na Śląsku po śmierci męża, najprawdopodobniej więc wróciła. Z drugiego małżeństwa Bolesław miał jedną córkę, Katarzynę. The marriage of Jadwiga Anhalcką doczekał three sons (Henry V bulging, I Bolko raw and Bernard agile and four daughters (Agnieszka wife Count Württemberg Ulryka I Jadwiga wife Konrad II czerskiego, Anna ksieni in Trzebnicy and fourth wife of Mr von Hackeborn whose name we do not know). Jadwiga died in 1259 Bolesław years and then decided to re-marriage. The choice fell on Prince legnickiego daughter ruler Tczewa Sambora, Eufemia. Marriage was not successful. Eufemia was one of kronikarzy because iniquity husband and together with the public lover in a dress walking back to Pomorze Gdansk. How was it - it is not known, but in any case we still Eufemia in Silesia after the death of her husband, most likely, therefore, returned. With a second marriage Bolesław had one daughter, Katarzyna.

Preceded by: Henryk II the Pious

Duke of Wroclaw

Succeeded by: Henryk III the White Władysław of Salzburg