Bolesław the Pious: Difference between revisions
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On [[4 June]] [[1257]] Przemysł I died, aged only 36. With his brother's death, new horizonts opened to Bolesław. First of all, he became in the undisputed sole rule over the whole [[Greater Poland]]. Although the posthumous son of his brother, [[Przemysł II]], was born on [[14 October]] of that year, until he was declared an adult, his guardianship was taken by Boleslaw. The first of Bolesław's new foreign politics was his marriage in 1258 with Princess [[Jolenta of Poland|Jolenta (Helena)]], daughter of King [[Béla IV of Hungary]]. This union resulted in a permanent bound between Bolesław and [[Hungary]], who was reflected in the assistance given to them in the conflict with [[Bohemia]] after the extinction of the [[House of Babenberg]]. For Bolesław, this alliance cost him a complete devastation of Greater Poland during the winter of 1267-1268 by troops of King [[Ottokar II of Bohemia]] during his return from an expedition against the [[Prussians]]. One of the stages of this war was also the trip taken by Bolesław together with Bolesław V the Chaste and [[Leszek the Black]] in the autumn of 1273 in order to visit Władysław of Opole, an ally of the [[Premyslid dynasty]]. |
On [[4 June]] [[1257]] Przemysł I died, aged only 36. With his brother's death, new horizonts opened to Bolesław. First of all, he became in the undisputed sole rule over the whole [[Greater Poland]]. Although the posthumous son of his brother, [[Przemysł II]], was born on [[14 October]] of that year, until he was declared an adult, his guardianship was taken by Boleslaw. The first of Bolesław's new foreign politics was his marriage in 1258 with Princess [[Jolenta of Poland|Jolenta (Helena)]], daughter of King [[Béla IV of Hungary]]. This union resulted in a permanent bound between Bolesław and [[Hungary]], who was reflected in the assistance given to them in the conflict with [[Bohemia]] after the extinction of the [[House of Babenberg]]. For Bolesław, this alliance cost him a complete devastation of Greater Poland during the winter of 1267-1268 by troops of King [[Ottokar II of Bohemia]] during his return from an expedition against the [[Prussians]]. One of the stages of this war was also the trip taken by Bolesław together with Bolesław V the Chaste and [[Leszek the Black]] in the autumn of 1273 in order to visit Władysław of Opole, an ally of the [[Premyslid dynasty]]. |
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====Relations with the Duchies of Masovia and Kuyavia==== |
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During 1258-1261 Bolesław was involved in a long and destructive war against Casimir I of Kuyavia and his ally Swantopolk II for the castellanie of Ladzka. To this end, the Greater Poland Duke allied with [[Wartislaw III, Duke of Pomerania|Wartislaw III]], Duke of [[Pomerania]]-[[Demmin]], [[Siemowit I of Masovia]], Bolesław V the Chaste and [[Roman Danylovich]], Prince of [[Navahradak]]. The war ended in full victory and back to regain the disputed Greater - part back through the chip rozejmowemu of November 29 1259, Kazimierz, however, delayed in implementation of the provisions of this Agreement, which led in 1261 until a new expedition ended regain full activity. In 1262 years to a tragic death at the hands of Lithuanian Siemowit Mazowieckie and slavery, his son, Conrad Duke of Greater Poland became a two-year regency of the minor prince Boleslaw. For re-intervention in the affairs of Bolesław of Kujawy occurred in the 1268 year. Well, the son of Prince Casimir Siemomysł allowed to major positions of the powerful state of German origin, which clearly did not like a local. Fearing to lose the throne gave Siemomysł Boleslaw in return for mediation Castellan Kruszwicka, but to the duration of the Prince Inowrocław at their policies, soon came to a new rebellion and seizure for two years (1,271 - in 1273) by Boleslaw Inowrocław. Although in 1273 he gave the duchy to his brother Siemomysł Leszek the Black, but Radziejów and Kruszwica remained in Wielkopolska. |
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====Internal Policy==== |
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On 16 August 1264 Bolesław granted the first written privilege to the Jews of Greater Poland (the Privilege of Boleslaus of Kalisz). It regulated the judicial authority over the Jewish population, and Jewish credit and trading activity. The comparatively liberal statute served as a basis for Jewish privileges in Poland until 1795. |
On 16 August 1264 Bolesław granted the first written privilege to the Jews of Greater Poland (the Privilege of Boleslaus of Kalisz). It regulated the judicial authority over the Jewish population, and Jewish credit and trading activity. The comparatively liberal statute served as a basis for Jewish privileges in Poland until 1795. |
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Bolesław the Pious (Polish: Bolesław Pobożny; b. 1224/27 - d. 14 April 1279), was a Duke of Greater Poland during 1239-1247 (according to some historians during 1239-1241 sole Duke of Ujście), Duke of Kalisz during 1247-1249, Duke of Gniezno during 1249-1250, Duke of Gniezno-Kalisz during 1253-1257, Duke of whole Greater Poland and Poznań during 1257-1273, in 1261 ruler over Ląd, regent of the Duchies of Masovia, Płock and Czersk during 1262-1264, ruler over Bydgoszcz during 1268-1273, Duke of Inowrocław during 1271-1273, and Duke of Gniezno-Kalisz since 1273 until his death.
He was the second son of Władysław Odonic, Duke of Greater Poland by his wife Hedwig, who was probably daughter of Duke Mestwin I of Pomerania, or a member of the Premyslid dynasty. His name was very popular in the Piast dynasty, so it's unknown exactly after whom he was named. Very soon Bolesław received the nickname of "the Pious" (Latin: Pius), given to him during his lifetime by the Chronicle of the Chapter of Poznań.
Life
Early Years
Certainly the first years of Bolesław weren't easy, because he had to share the fiercely dispute of his father against Władysław III Spindleshanks (his own uncle) for his inheritance. However, is known that Władysław Odonic took care properly for the upbringing of his offspring, evidenced by the fact that Bolesław, like his older brother Przemysł I, was able to read and write Latin.
Under the care of Przemysł I
Co-Duke of Greater Poland
Władysław Odonic died on 5 June 1239, and because Bolesław was a minor at that time, he remained under the custody of his brother Przemysł I. At first the brothers' heritage was small, because only covered the northern Greater Poland, Ujście and Nakło. In 1241, however, they effectively began to claim the lost lands by their father. By 1243 was recovered most of the Duchies of Poznań and Gniezno, in 1244 Kalisz, in 1247 Santok, and in 1249 Wieluń. In 1244 Bolesław supported his brother in the conflict that broke out between the local nobility and the clergy led by the Bishop of Poznań Bogufał II for the privileges granted by Władysław Odonic in 1237. On 24 April 1245 was knighted by Przemysł I during the solemn Mass in honor of St. Adalbert in Gniezno, celebrated by Archbishop Pełka.
Duke of Kalisz-Gniezno
The indivisibility of the Duchy certainly wasn't like to Bolesław and finally in 1247 he managed to persuade his brother to surrender his own Duchy. It was the land compressed between the Prosna and Przemęt with the north of Warta River and thence to the Obra River: briefly speaking, this lands were the whole Duchy of Kalisz. This division, though rather injust for Bolesław, was approved by the Church and after he protested, was threatened with the excommunication. Despite now he had his own district, Bolesław didn't pursue a foreign policy, who continue under the hands of his brother, a fact revealed during the dispute with Duke Casimir I of Kuyavia for the possession of Ladzka, who was given to him by Henry II the Pious as a dowry of his daughter Constance -Casimir I's second wife-; this decision wasn't recognized by Władysław Odonic's sons, but eventually they reconciled and even signed and an alliance with the Kuyavian Duke, which effectively ended with any attempt to change the ownership of the disputed land.
In 1249 Bolesław, dissatisfied with excessive tutelage of his older brother, persuaded him to make a new division of their patrimony. He received the Duchies of Kalisz and Gniezno, with the addition of Wieluń, who shortly after returned under the rule of Władysław Odonic's sons. Aparently, the new division was made pacefully, because later in that same year the brothers together gave support to Konrad I of Głogów against his brother Bolesław II the Bald. However, on 19 May 1250 took place an unexplained event, who was related by the Chronicle of Greater Poland:
- Przemysł captured his brother Bolesław and took all his lands and castles.
The conflict certainly wasn't trivial, since Bolesław regained its freedom only on 20 April 1253, thanks to the pressures of the powerful Greater Poland clergy. The final between the brothers occurred in May of that year at a meeting in Pogorzelica near Giecz, where (thanks to the mediation of the Archbishop of Gniezno, Pełka), Bolesław could recover his Duchy of Kalisz-Gniezno. Since them the cooperation between the brothers took place without problems, but Bolesław was still aparted from the foreign politics. On 8 May 1254 Bolesław took part in the national Congress of Piast princes at Kraków on ocassion of the canonization of St. Stanislaus, were was also decided to form a coalition against Swantopolk II, Duke of Pomerania. Among the princes who participated were: his brother Przemysł I, Casimir I of Kuyavia, Siemowit I of Masovia, Władysław of Opole and Bolesław V the Chaste. In September of that year Bolesław participated in the expedition against Henry III the White launched by his brother and Konrad I of Głogów.
Sole Ruler. Duke of Greater Poland
Foreign Policy
On 4 June 1257 Przemysł I died, aged only 36. With his brother's death, new horizonts opened to Bolesław. First of all, he became in the undisputed sole rule over the whole Greater Poland. Although the posthumous son of his brother, Przemysł II, was born on 14 October of that year, until he was declared an adult, his guardianship was taken by Boleslaw. The first of Bolesław's new foreign politics was his marriage in 1258 with Princess Jolenta (Helena), daughter of King Béla IV of Hungary. This union resulted in a permanent bound between Bolesław and Hungary, who was reflected in the assistance given to them in the conflict with Bohemia after the extinction of the House of Babenberg. For Bolesław, this alliance cost him a complete devastation of Greater Poland during the winter of 1267-1268 by troops of King Ottokar II of Bohemia during his return from an expedition against the Prussians. One of the stages of this war was also the trip taken by Bolesław together with Bolesław V the Chaste and Leszek the Black in the autumn of 1273 in order to visit Władysław of Opole, an ally of the Premyslid dynasty.
Relations with the Duchies of Masovia and Kuyavia
During 1258-1261 Bolesław was involved in a long and destructive war against Casimir I of Kuyavia and his ally Swantopolk II for the castellanie of Ladzka. To this end, the Greater Poland Duke allied with Wartislaw III, Duke of Pomerania-Demmin, Siemowit I of Masovia, Bolesław V the Chaste and Roman Danylovich, Prince of Navahradak. The war ended in full victory and back to regain the disputed Greater - part back through the chip rozejmowemu of November 29 1259, Kazimierz, however, delayed in implementation of the provisions of this Agreement, which led in 1261 until a new expedition ended regain full activity. In 1262 years to a tragic death at the hands of Lithuanian Siemowit Mazowieckie and slavery, his son, Conrad Duke of Greater Poland became a two-year regency of the minor prince Boleslaw. For re-intervention in the affairs of Bolesław of Kujawy occurred in the 1268 year. Well, the son of Prince Casimir Siemomysł allowed to major positions of the powerful state of German origin, which clearly did not like a local. Fearing to lose the throne gave Siemomysł Boleslaw in return for mediation Castellan Kruszwicka, but to the duration of the Prince Inowrocław at their policies, soon came to a new rebellion and seizure for two years (1,271 - in 1273) by Boleslaw Inowrocław. Although in 1273 he gave the duchy to his brother Siemomysł Leszek the Black, but Radziejów and Kruszwica remained in Wielkopolska.
Internal Policy
On 16 August 1264 Bolesław granted the first written privilege to the Jews of Greater Poland (the Privilege of Boleslaus of Kalisz). It regulated the judicial authority over the Jewish population, and Jewish credit and trading activity. The comparatively liberal statute served as a basis for Jewish privileges in Poland until 1795.
Children
In 1257, Boleslaw married Blessed Jolenta of Hungary. She was a daughter of Béla IV of Hungary and Maria Laskarina. They had three daughters:
- Elisabeth of Greater Poland (1263 - 28 September, 1304). Married Henry V, Duke of Legnica.
- Jadwiga of Greater Poland (1266 - 10 December, 1339). Married Władysław I the Elbow-high, King of Poland.
- Anna of Greater Poland (born 1278). A nun in Gniezno.