Bolesław I the Brave

Bolesław I the Brave

Bolesław I the Brave, also known as Bolesław the Great, was Duke of Poland from 992 to 1025. In 1025, he became the first King of Poland. He belonged to the Piast dynasty and helped shape Central Europe during his time.

Bolesław worked to spread Western Christianity in Poland and helped raise the country to the level of a kingdom. As the son of Mieszko I of Poland, he began ruling part of Poland even before his father passed away. He worked to bring the country together and supported Christian missionaries. One of his big achievements was helping set up an independent Polish church, with its main center in Gniezno.

Bolesław was a skilled leader in battles. He fought to protect and grow Poland's borders. At one time, he captured Kiev and placed his son-in-law there to lead. He also made many changes, like creating Poland's first money and building churches and forts. Historians think he was one of Poland's most successful rulers.

Early life

Bolesław was born in 966 or 967. He was the first child of Mieszko I of Poland and his wife, the Bohemian princess Dobrawa. He was named after his maternal grandfather, Boleslaus I, Duke of Bohemia.

Not much is known about Bolesław's early years. His epitaph said that he had a special hair-cutting ceremony when he was seven. A lock of his hair was sent to Rome. This shows that Mieszko wanted his son to be protected by the Holy See. Dobrawa, Bolesław's mother, died in 977. After that, his father married Oda of Haldensleben. At about this time, Bolesław became the ruler of Lesser Poland.

Accession and consolidation

Mieszko I died on 25 May 992. Bolesław I the Brave took control of Poland and brought the country together. He chased away his stepmother and half-brothers. He began making his own coins around 995. Bolesław helped the Holy Roman Empire by sending soldiers to fight against the Polabian Slavs. During one battle in 995, he met the young German leader, Otto III.

After a sad event in Bohemia where many from the Slavník dynasty were harmed, Soběslav came to live in Poland. Bolesław welcomed him and became a friend to Bishop Adalbert of Prague, who later traveled to share Christianity with the Prussians. Although Adalbert faced danger and was harmed, Bolesław respected him by bringing his remains back and burying them in Gniezno.

Congress of Gniezno and its aftermath (999–1002)

Main article: Congress of Gniezno

In the year 999, a very important leader named Emperor Otto III visited Poland. He met with Bolesław in a city called Gniezno in the year 1000. Otto III was welcomed warmly. This meeting helped Poland become stronger and more independent.

Because of this meeting, Poland created its first important church area, called an archdiocese, in Gniezno. Three smaller church areas were also set up in Kołobrzeg, Kraków, and Wrocław.

Bolesław showed his wealth and loyalty by giving valuable gifts to the Emperor, including special items that once belonged to Saint Adalbert. He also promised to help the Church. Even with these changes, many people in Poland took time to learn new Christian ways.

Expansion (1002–1018)

After the death of Otto III in 1002, Bolesław the Brave used a disagreement about who should be the next king of Germany to grow his lands. A German leader, Henry IV of Bavaria, asked Bolesław to help defeat another leader in return for control of the Margraviate of Meissen. Bolesław took this chance to expand into places like Lusatia and Meissen, going deep into lands where Sorbs lived.

Bolesław also got involved in the matters of Bohemia. When the leader of Bohemia died, Bolesław helped a new ruler take over. Later, when that ruler was replaced, Bolesław stepped in and became Duke of Bohemia. His attempts to control these areas caused many fights with the German king, Henry II. Even though there were several battles and changing alliances, Bolesław kept much of the land he had won. In 1018, the Peace of Bautzen agreed that Lusatia and parts of Meissen would stay under Polish control. During this time, Bolesław also built stronger connections with German nobles through marriages, which helped make him a more powerful ruler.

War in Kiev (1018)

Main article: Bolesław I's intervention in the Kievan succession crisis

In 1018, Bolesław I the Brave helped his son-in-law, Sviatopolk I of Kiev, by leading soldiers into Kievan Rus. His army included Polish warriors and others. On July 23, Bolesław’s army defeated the army of Yaroslav the Wise, the Prince of Kiev, at the Battle of the River Bug. After this win, Kiev let Bolesław’s army enter in August. This campaign helped Poland take back the Red Strongholds, also called Red Ruthenia, which they had lost before.

Last years (1019–1025)

Main article: Crown of Bolesław I the Brave

In his later years, Bolesław I tried to improve Poland’s ties with other powerful nations. In 1018, he reached out to the Byzantines, though we don’t know if they answered.

Bolesław became the first King of Poland in 1025. Most historians agree on this year, but some think it might have been 1000. One story says he received royal symbols at a meeting in Gniezno. Others believe he crowned himself after the king of Germany died in 1024. The exact date and place of his coronation, Gniezno or Poznań, are still debated by historians. This event made Poland a kingdom and more important than its neighbor, Bohemia.

Death and burial

Bolesław I died on 17 June 1025, just after becoming the first King of Poland. We do not know exactly why he died. He was buried at the Archcathedral Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul in Poznań. His tomb was damaged and rebuilt over time, but his remains stayed in Poznań Cathedral.

Historians know the content of his epitaph. This helped give him the nickname "the Brave." The name comes from early records written soon after his death.

Family

Bolesław I the Brave was married four times and had many children. His first wife was the daughter of Rikdag, Margrave of Meissen. After her father died, Bolesław sent her away. His second wife was a Hungarian woman, who gave birth to a son named Bezprym. Bolesław also ended this marriage.

Bolesław’s third wife was Emnilda, daughter of Dobromir. They had several children, including Regelinda, who married Herman I, Margrave of Meissen, and Mieszko II Lambert, who later became king and then duke of Poland. Their youngest son was Otto.

In 1018, Bolesław married his fourth wife, Oda, daughter of Eckard I of Meissen. They had a daughter named Matilda, who was betrothed to Otto of Schweinfurt.

He also had a concubine named Predslava, a daughter of Vladimir the Great.

Marriages and Issue

Oda/Hunilda?, daughter of Rikdag

Unknown Hungarian woman (sometimes identified as Judith of Hungary):

1. Bezprym (c. 986–1032) – became Duke of Poland

Emnilda, daughter of Dobromir:

1. Unknown abbess of an unidentified abbey
2. Regelinda (c. 989 – 21 March aft. 1014), married Herman I, Margrave of Meissen becoming Margravine of Meissen
3. Mieszko II Lambert (c. 990 – 10/11 May 1034), became king and subsequent to his dethronement, regained power as duke of Poland
4. Unknown daughter, married Grand Prince Sviatopolk I of Kiev and became Grand Princess of Kiev
5. Otto Bolesławowic (c. 1000–1033)

Oda of Meissen

1. Matilda (c. 1018–1036), betrothed to Otto of Schweinfurt but the marriage was rejected.