Henry of Sandomierz
Encyclopedia
Henry of Sandomierz (ca. 1131 – 18 October 1166) was a Duke of Sandomierz
since 1138 (titulary) or 1146 (formally) until his death.
He was the fifth but third surviving son of Bolesław III Wrymouth, Duke of Poland, by his second wife Salomea
, daughter of Henry, Count of Berg, from who he received his name.
, who was at that time in the Seniorate Province
of his eldest half-brother and High Duke, Władysław II. Because at the time of Bolesław III's death he was still a minor (1138) the Duchy remained in the Seniorate until he reached the proper age, when Władysław had to given him. But Henry could take formal possession of Sandomierz only when the High Duke was deposed and exiled, in 1146.
As ruler of Sandomierz, Henry appears only on the occasion of the Act of Foundation of a Church in his land. His Ducal title was rarely mentioned by the chronicles, who called him a son of Bolesław III Wrymouth or brother of Bolesław IV the Curly. Some historians (for example M. Gładysz and D. Guttner) advance a hypothesis that he was the “King of the Poles” mentioned by the Greek chronicler John Kinnamos
. If the theory were to be correct, Henry would have been the commander of the Polish contingent in the Second Crusade
in 1147. This possible incursion in the Crusades was short (if really occur), because in 1149, together with his older brother Bolesław IV, he took part in a military expedition in Kiev
to support the Grand Prince Iziaslav II
.
The first and maybe the most famous of all Sandomierz's Dukes, Henry was certainly ventured to the Holy Land
in 1153-1154 (a number of Polish annals reported it under the year 1154 as did Jan Długosz in his Annals) and took part in the Crusade under the command of King Baldwin III of Jerusalem
. Henry close affiliation to crusading resulted in the establishment of a commandery of the Hospitallers (between 1154 and 1166) in Zagość.
After returning to Poland with an air of holiness, Henry, together with his brothers, organized a Crusade against the pagan Prussians
. The military expedition, under the command of Bolesław IV and Henry, launched in the second half of 1166. He never return home.
According to the chronicles, Henry was killed in battle against the Prussians, and this fact was without doubts. The date of his death, 18 October 1166, was known through indirect sources. However, there is a legend, where Henry apparently was killed in the current Wąbrzeźno County
, probably in the vicinity of Nielub
or Orłowo, close to the Wieczno Lake.
Henry never married and left legitimate offspring. In his will, he left his Duchy to his youngest brother, Casimir II the Just
, who until that time, he remained without lands. These last will was done only partially. The destiny of the Duchy of Sandomierz could be showed in a document dated 31 December 1167:
The other two parts were taken by the other surviving brothers: Wiślica
, was given to Casimir II, and the rest to Mieszko III the Old
.
His remains were probably buried in a crypt of a church in Wiślica
, where his grave is marked by an ornamental tombstone donated by his younger brother Casimir II. Only in 1173, after the death of Bolesław, Casimir finally could take the title of Duke of Sandomierz.
Sandomierz
Sandomierz is a city in south-eastern Poland with 25,714 inhabitants . Situated in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship , previously in Tarnobrzeg Voivodeship . It is the capital of Sandomierz County . Sandomierz is known for its Old Town, a major tourist attraction...
since 1138 (titulary) or 1146 (formally) until his death.
He was the fifth but third surviving son of Bolesław III Wrymouth, Duke of Poland, by his second wife Salomea
Salomea of Berg
Salomea of Berg was a German noblewoman and by marriage Duchess of Poland.She was the daughter of Swabian Count Henry of Berg Castle by his wife Adelaide of Mochental , probably a sister of Margrave Diepold III of Vohburg...
, daughter of Henry, Count of Berg, from who he received his name.
Life
According to the Testament of his father, Henry inherited the Duchy of SandomierzSandomierz
Sandomierz is a city in south-eastern Poland with 25,714 inhabitants . Situated in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship , previously in Tarnobrzeg Voivodeship . It is the capital of Sandomierz County . Sandomierz is known for its Old Town, a major tourist attraction...
, who was at that time in the Seniorate Province
Seniorate Province
Seniorate Province, also known as the Senioral Province , Duchy of Kraków , Duchy of Cracow, Principality of Cracow, Principality of Kraków, was the superior among the five provinces established in 1138 according to the Testament of Bolesław III Krzywousty...
of his eldest half-brother and High Duke, Władysław II. Because at the time of Bolesław III's death he was still a minor (1138) the Duchy remained in the Seniorate until he reached the proper age, when Władysław had to given him. But Henry could take formal possession of Sandomierz only when the High Duke was deposed and exiled, in 1146.
As ruler of Sandomierz, Henry appears only on the occasion of the Act of Foundation of a Church in his land. His Ducal title was rarely mentioned by the chronicles, who called him a son of Bolesław III Wrymouth or brother of Bolesław IV the Curly. Some historians (for example M. Gładysz and D. Guttner) advance a hypothesis that he was the “King of the Poles” mentioned by the Greek chronicler John Kinnamos
John Kinnamos
Joannes Kinnamos or John Cinnamus was a Greek historian. He was imperial secretary to Emperor Manuel I , whom he accompanied on his campaigns in Europe and Asia Minor...
. If the theory were to be correct, Henry would have been the commander of the Polish contingent in the Second Crusade
Second Crusade
The Second Crusade was the second major crusade launched from Europe. The Second Crusade was started in response to the fall of the County of Edessa the previous year to the forces of Zengi. The county had been founded during the First Crusade by Baldwin of Boulogne in 1098...
in 1147. This possible incursion in the Crusades was short (if really occur), because in 1149, together with his older brother Bolesław IV, he took part in a military expedition in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
to support the Grand Prince Iziaslav II
Iziaslav II of Kiev
Iziaslav II Mstislavich , Prince of Pereyaslav , Prince of Turov , Prince of Rostov , Prince of Vladimir and Volyn , Pereyaslavl , Velikiy Kniaz of Kiev , was the oldest son of Mstislav Vladimirovich, Kniaz' , and...
.
The first and maybe the most famous of all Sandomierz's Dukes, Henry was certainly ventured to the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
in 1153-1154 (a number of Polish annals reported it under the year 1154 as did Jan Długosz in his Annals) and took part in the Crusade under the command of King Baldwin III of Jerusalem
Baldwin III of Jerusalem
Baldwin III was king of Jerusalem from 1143 to 1163. He was the eldest son of Melisende and Fulk of Jerusalem, and the grandson of Baldwin II of Jerusalem.-Succession:...
. Henry close affiliation to crusading resulted in the establishment of a commandery of the Hospitallers (between 1154 and 1166) in Zagość.
After returning to Poland with an air of holiness, Henry, together with his brothers, organized a Crusade against the pagan 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...
. The military expedition, under the command of Bolesław IV and Henry, launched in the second half of 1166. He never return home.
According to the chronicles, Henry was killed in battle against the Prussians, and this fact was without doubts. The date of his death, 18 October 1166, was known through indirect sources. However, there is a legend, where Henry apparently was killed in the current Wąbrzeźno County
Wabrzezno County
Wąbrzeźno County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, north-central Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and only town is Wąbrzeźno,...
, probably in the vicinity of Nielub
Nielub
Nielub is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Wąbrzeźno, within Wąbrzeźno County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-central Poland. It lies approximately south-west of Wąbrzeźno and north-east of Toruń.-References:...
or Orłowo, close to the Wieczno Lake.
Henry never married and left legitimate offspring. In his will, he left his Duchy to his youngest brother, Casimir II the Just
Casimir II the Just
Casimir II the Just was a Lesser Polish duke at Wiślica during 1166–1173, and at Sandomierz since 1173. He became ruler over the Polish Seniorate Province at Kraków and thereby High Duke of Poland in 1177; a position he held until his death, interrupted once by his elder brother and predecessor...
, who until that time, he remained without lands. These last will was done only partially. The destiny of the Duchy of Sandomierz could be showed in a document dated 31 December 1167:
- In the year 1166 in Poland during the reign of Princes Bolesław, Mieszko and Casimir, their fourth brother, Prince Henry died without offspring. His district has been divided into three parts; the seat of his sovereignty, Sandomierz, was granted to Bolesław, the older brother. The same day and year, Mateusz, Bishop of Kraków, also died.
The other two parts were taken by the other surviving brothers: Wiślica
Wislica
Wiślica is a village in Busko County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Wiślica. It lies on the Nida River, approximately south of Busko-Zdrój and south of the regional capital Kielce...
, was given to Casimir II, and the rest to Mieszko III the Old
Mieszko III the Old
Mieszko III the Old , of the royal Piast dynasty, was Duke of Greater Poland from 1138 and High Duke of Poland, with interruptions, from 1173 until his death....
.
His remains were probably buried in a crypt of a church in Wiślica
Wislica
Wiślica is a village in Busko County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Wiślica. It lies on the Nida River, approximately south of Busko-Zdrój and south of the regional capital Kielce...
, where his grave is marked by an ornamental tombstone donated by his younger brother Casimir II. Only in 1173, after the death of Bolesław, Casimir finally could take the title of Duke of Sandomierz.