For another Boleslaus the Pious, see Boleslaus of Greater Poland

Boleslaus of Greater Poland

Bolesław the Pious was a Duke of Greater Poland during 1239–1247 , 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...

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Boleslaus II the Pious (died February 7, 999) was the duke of Bohemia from 972, a member of the Přemyslid dynasty

Premyslid dynasty

The Přemyslids , were a Czech royal dynasty which reigned in Bohemia and Moravia , and partly also in Hungary, Silesia, Austria and Poland.-Legendary rulers:...

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The son of Boleslaw also called Boleslaus I and Biagota, Boleslaus II became Duke (or Prince) in on his father's death. Boleslaus maintained good relations with the Ottonian

Ottonian

The Ottonian dynasty was a dynasty of Germanic Kings , named after its first emperor but also known as the Saxon dynasty after the family's origin. The family itself is also sometimes known as the Liudolfings, after its earliest known member Liudolf and one of its primary leading-names...

 German kings, and in 975 supported Otto II during his civil war against Henry II, Duke of Bavaria

Henry II, Duke of Bavaria

Henry II , called the Wrangler or the Quarrelsome, in German Heinrich der Zänker, was the son of Henry I and Judith of Bavaria.- Biography :...

. In 977, Boleslaus again attacked Bavaria

Bavaria

Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...

, but on this occasion was barred from annexing any lands by Otto II.

Boleslaus' reign is most notable for the foundation of the diocese of Prague in 973. It was placed within the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Mainz. In 982, Vojtěch

Adalbert of Prague

This article is about St Adalbert of Prague. For other uses, see Adalbert .Saint Adalbert, Czech: ; , , Czech Roman Catholic saint, a Bishop of Prague and a missionary, was martyred in his efforts to convert the Baltic Prussians. He evangelized Poles and Hungarians. St...

 (later known as Saint Adalbert) was appointed to this position until he abandoned his primacy to lead a mission to the Old Prussians

Old Prussians

The Old Prussians or Baltic Prussians were an ethnic group, autochthonous Baltic tribes that inhabited Prussia, the lands of the southeastern Baltic Sea in the area around the Vistula and Curonian Lagoons...

 in 994. War between Poland

Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

 and Bohemia was continual in this period and by 990 Boleslaus had occupied Silesia

Silesia

Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...

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On September 28, 995, Boleslaus and his confederate Vršovci

Vršovci

The Vršovci were a noble Czech family and clan, probable or legendary ancestors of some bearers of the Oksza and the Rawicz coat of arms ....

 stormed Libice in southern Bohemia and massacred Slavník's dynasty

Slavník's dynasty

The Slavniks/Slavníks or Slavnikids was a powerful dynasty in Bohemia during the 10th century. It governed Zličané, one of the oldest Czech tribes. The center of the principality was the gord of Libice located at the confluence of the rivers Cidlina and Elbe...

. This clan had been the main rival of Přemyslid power in Bohemia. Boleslaus' brutal triumph ensured the unity of Bohemia under a single ruler.

Boleslaus was succeeded by, Boleslaus

Boleslaus III of Bohemia

Boleslaus III , called the Red or the Blind, was the duke of Bohemia from 999 until 1002 AD. He was the "worst of all men who ever sat on the Bohemian throne."...

, his eldest son by his first wife, Adiva

Adiva

Adiva was wife of Boleslaus II of Bohemia. The similarity in name to certain Anglo-Saxon forms and the introduction of English-influenced coinage into Bohemia at the time has led to the hypothesis that she may be the daughter of Edward the Elder, King of England and his second wife Aelfflaed, who...

, perhaps the daughter of Edward the Elder

Edward the Elder

Edward the Elder was an English king. He became king in 899 upon the death of his father, Alfred the Great. His court was at Winchester, previously the capital of Wessex...

, King of England who married 'a prince near the Alps

Alps

The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....

'. His second son, Wenceslaus, died as an infant, but his two youngest sons, Jaromír

Jaromir of Bohemia

Jaromir was the second son of Boleslaus II the Pious and Emma. In 1003, he rebelled against his elder brother Boleslaus III, who had him emasculated, but was unable to secure the throne which was subsequently taken by Boleslaw the Brave, King of Poland. Jaromir and his brother Oldrich then sought...

 and Oldřich

Oldrich of Bohemia

Ulrich was the duke of Bohemia from 1012 to 1033 and briefly in 1034. He was a son of Boleslaus II and brother of Boleslaus III and Jaromir....

, were both later dukes. Boleslaus' second wife was Emma of Melnik

Emma of Melnik

Emma was the wife of Boleslaus II of Bohemia and a Bohemian Duchess.Her origin is not certain. Gelasius Dobner thought she was the princess of Burgundy and this theory is respected even today. We do not know if she was the first or second wife of Boleslaus...

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