Life Bolesław IV the Curly

1 life

1.1 bolesław iii s testament , inheritance of masovian province
1.2 first part of conflict high duke władysław ii
1.3 władysław ii expelled country. bolesław iv, high duke of poland
1.4 expedition of king conrad iii of germany , recognition of authority of junior dukes
1.5 expedition of emperor frederick barbarossa poland. final recognition of authority of bolesław iv
1.6 return of władysław ii s sons silesia
1.7 crusade against prussians
1.8 rebellion of casimir ii just. relations silesian dukes
1.9 relations church

life
bolesław iii s testament , inheritance of masovian province

bolesław 13 years old @ time of father s death (1138) , of legal age take on government of lands inherited according father s testament, newly created duchy of masovia (composed of masovia , eastern kuyavia). because main domain masovia, prince called bolesław of masovia.

in first years of government, young bolesław remained under strong influence of mother salomea , voivode wszebor, feared ambition of elder half-brother high duke władysław ii (the first-born son of late duke first wife zbyslava of kiev). władysław ii tried restore unity of country , deposed junior dukes.

first part of conflict high duke władysław ii

the disputes high-duke began openly in 1141, when dowager duchess salomea -without consent of high duke władysław ii-, organized meeting sons @ residence in Łęczyca. here decided betrothal of youngest daughter agnes mstislav ii of kiev, scion of rurik dynasty — in order gain allies in possible conflict — , division of Łęczyca lands between salomea s sons upon death. however, junior dukes in first struggle defeated, because kievan grand prince vsevolod ii decided make alliance władysław ii, reinforced marriage of vsevolod s daughter zvenislava high duke s eldest son bolesław tall. additional humiliation bolesław iv , brothers sent high duke on expedition kievan rus ambassadors during 1142–1143.

the peace lasted 2 years until 1144 when, after salomea s death , according bolesław iii s testament, Łęczyca province reverted seniorate province of high duke władysław ii. idea reserve lands minor brothers henry , casimir ii not popular wladyslaw, thought land temporarily separated dzielnica senioralna , in entirety should returned. outbreak of civil war therefore matter of time.

the war erupted full force in 1145, , seemed junior dukes defeated , high duke achieved unification of country. @ first combined forces of bolesław iv , brothers prevented disaster , demanded hasty reorganization of forces of władysław @ battle on pilicą river. major significance of battle former voivode wszebor, military experience far exceeded ability of władysław s commanders. soon, however, situation totally reversed result of kievan troops entered in country władysław s allies. bolesław had agree step down , renounce pretension on lands belonging mother.

the concessions of junior dukes didn t resolve problem. moreover, władysław s confidence in forces had him embark on final solution, removal of stepbrothers lands. suddenly, junior dukes rely on support of high duke s all-powerful voivoide piotr włostowic, whom władysław s plans radical , threatened weaken position. while władysław opted quick response against him (the voivode blinded , muted), forcing włostowic go kiev, high duke s final decision on confrontation voivode considerably weakened position. s more, włostowic convinced kievans break alliance władysław.

władysław ii expelled country. bolesław iv, high duke of poland

at beginning of 1146 rebellions against władysław s government rose mighty, sparked fate of piotr włostowic. nevertheless, final victory of władysław seemed likely, after conquest of masovia (forcing bolesław escape) , siege of poznań in greater poland in spring of 1146. however, rebellion in władysław s own lands, , excommunication imposed him archbishop of gniezno, high duke suffered unexpected defeat. władysław , family had flee across border holy roman empire, @ first bohemia , later germany, accommodated king conrad iii.

the junior dukes reassigned polish provinces between them. duchy of silesia , seniorate province @ kraków taken bolesław, received title of high duke, western duchy of greater poland retained brother mieszko iii, , henry received long-promised land of sandomierz. casimir ii, youngest brother, again remained without lands.

expedition of king conrad iii of germany , recognition of authority of junior dukes

thanks intrigues of wife agnes of babenberg, half-sister of king conrad iii, władysław ii succeeded in convincing brother-in-law make military expedition poland. hastily organized expedition clashed reluctance of former subjects of deposed high duke, , defeated on polish border near oder river in august 1146.

in subsequent years, bolesław iv along younger brothers bellows sought maintain relations royal house of hohenstaufen, władysław s allies. end, in 1148 junior dukes organized meeting in kruszwica, invited warlike margrave albert bear of german northern march (the later margraviate of brandenburg), had reached polish border in course of wendish crusade. there, bolesław arranged marriage of sister judith margrave s son otto. boleslaw , mieszko militarily supported germans in fight against reluctant west slavic lutici tribes, considerably contributing stability of german domination on middle spree region. second important ally of piast prince wettin margrave konrad of meissen.

initially, bolesław had difficult relationship opposing force policy hohenstaufens: roman curia under of pope eugene iii. @ first in 1147 papal legate humbold recognized bolesław new high duke , overlord of poland. however, 1 year later, , again instigated intrigues of władysław s wife agnes, newly papal legate guy arrived country in connection refusal restore former high duke, , declared ban on poland. penalty, cohesive support of polish church hierarchy junior dukes, virtually without repercussions.

expedition of emperor frederick barbarossa poland. final recognition of authority of bolesław iv

things worsened bolesław in 1157, when king conrad s nephew frederick barbarossa, crowned emperor pope adrian iv in 1155, decided make new expedition poland, ongoing pressures aunt agnes, władysław s wife. time campaign organized, , emperor determined force bolesław iv accept own conditions. s unknown why bolesław opted highly security tactics of war, not defending swampy areas in front of middle oder river, centuries natural defense of poland, nor strongholds of głogów , bytom in silesia. imperial army advanced , laid siege poznan.

given difficult situation, bolesław forced accept humiliating negotiations , in shameful ceremony on 30 august 1157, declared vassal of empire @ camp in krzyszkowo. bolesław in knees , beg forgiveness emperor, in return kindly received barbarossa further control on polish lands; also, had pay enormous tribute emperor. unknown reasons however, despite barbarossa s victory, władysław ii great disappointment not restored in polish throne. bolesław formally swore loyalty emperor on christmas day in magdeburg, , gave younger brother, casimir ii, hostage. 2 years later władysław died in exile, having never returned country again.

return of władysław ii s sons silesia

not before 1163 sons of late władysław, bolesław tall , mieszko iv tanglefoot, backed emperor insisting on agreement made bolesław iv, restored in silesia heritage; return didn t affect power of bolesław high duke , overlord of poland. german affinities, senior branch of silesian piasts @ least managed retain silesian lands (wrocław, legnica, głogów, opole , racibórz) without problems.

crusade against prussians

following defeat german forces, bolesław initiated bold plan conquest of pagan prussians, settling beyond northeastern polish border along baltic coast. concept of prussian crusade conceived in view of repeated seizures more , more baltic tribes in several districts of bolesław s masovian province. high duke proclaimed crusade against pagans , pressured collaboration of both pope , emperor. whole efforts , attempts acquire these province defeated in 1166. furthermore, during 1 of battles younger brother of high duke, henry of sandomierz, killed.

rebellion of casimir ii just. relations silesian dukes

after henry s death, against dispositions of bolesław iii s testament, high duke incorporated sandomierz seniorate province. caused anger , frustration of youngest brother, casimir ii just, next in line inherit lands , of bolesław iii sons still without land.

casimir supported in rebellion elder brother duke mieszko iii old of greater poland, magnate jaksa of miechów , sviatoslav, son of voivode piotr włostowic, archbishops of gniezno , kraków; also, leeser polish nobility on side. in february 1168 rebels gathered in jędrzejów, , there proclaimed mieszko iii new high duke , casimir formally invested sandomierz. @ end bolesław maintained rule largely accepting demands of rebels; divided late henry s duchy in 3 parts: lands of wiślica granted casimir, bolesław himself obtained sandomierz proper , rest passed mieszko iii.

after disaster of prussian crusade, silesian dukes bolesław tall , mieszko iv tanglefoot attempted dethrone high duke , recover seniorate province , thereby polish overlordship. bolesław s reprisal expedition in following year ended total disaster, high duke had reconcile silesian nephews.

in 1172 duke mieszko iii rebelled again; time supporting grandnephew jarosław of opole (the eldest son of bolesław tall), who, forced become priest in years, barred silesian succession. unsatisfied this, jarosław tried gain power , obtain own lands. support of rebellion strong, father forced escape erfurt. originated expedition in aid emperor frederick barbarossa, again invaded poland , defeated rebels. high duke ordered mieszko iii magdeburg peace made empire after payment of 8,000 pieces of silver , silesian duchy again granted bolesław tall @ emperor s mercy; despite victory, high duke accepted autonomy of silesian nephews.

shortly afterwards rebellion took place, time of lesser polish nobles, extremely dissatisfied harsh , dictatorial high duke s government. rebels invited casimir ii, duke of wiślica, take kraków throne, bolesław s resistance against younger brother strong both parties made concessions, led finished riots until end of high duke s reign. casimir succeeded bolesław in sandomierz upon death in 1173 , became high duke 4 years later.

relations church

bolesław known many gifts , grants church. particularly enriched him, among others were: church of st. mary , st. catherine , of st. vincent near wrocław, benedictine monastery in trzemeszno , collegiate church in tum near Łęczyca. around 1151 founded canonical regular kolegiata in czerwińsk.