Siemowit I of Masovia
Encyclopedia
Siemowit I of Masovia (c.1215-June 23, 1262 ) was a son of Konrad I of Masovia
and his wife Agafia
, daughter of Svyatoslav III Igorevich
.
Siemowit was: Duke of Czersk
(1247–1248), Duke of Masovia (1248–1262) and Duke of Sieradz
(1259–1260). He was a member of the House of Piast.
was already Duke of Kuyavia
. Siemowit received Sieradz, Łęczyca and Czersk. Siemowit managed to keep Czersk through military aid from his other brother, Boleslaw I of Masovia.
The geopolitics of the region changed abruptly in the spring of 1248, following the sudden death of Boleslaw I of Masovia. Boleslaw left all his lands to Siemowit rather than the brother closer in age, Casimir. Taking advantage of the confusion following the death of Boleslaw, Casimir seized the stronghold of Dobrzyń nad Wisłą. Having inherited Masovia, Siemowit gave Sieradz and Łęczyca to Casimir so he could focus on Masovia's military activities on the border with the Yotvingians
and Teutonic Order
.
Faced with the constant raids of Baltic
tribes on his territory, Siemowit made an alliance with Daniel of Galicia who suffered the same problem. Siemowit married Daniel's daughter, Pereyaslava. In 1248, Siemowit associated with Boleslaw V the Chaste
, Daniel and Casimir, to organize the first major military campaign against the Yotvingians. The victory removed the threat of the Yotvingians for a few years. The allies held other military campaigns against the Yotvingians in 1253 and 1255.
Siemowit and Daniel Galicia felt they were not strong enough to face the threats of the Pagans
from place such as Lithuania
. In 1254 they made an agreement with the Teutonic Order. In exchange for their help, the Teutonic Order was entitled to one third of the Yotvingians' land that Siemowit had taken. This agreement was followed by a second in 1257 and a third in 1260.
This close collaboration between Siemowit and the Teutonic Order (Siemowit takes their defense before Pope Alexander IV
accuses them of cruelty in 1258) was not as effective as thought. Siemowit was still targeting the Baltic tribes, while the Teutonic Knights received their territorial conquests.
Another problem that has plagued Siemowit's reign was the relationship with his brother Casimir, who feared that Siemowit's alliance with the Teutonic Knights was to strengthen Siemowit's forces so he would be able to go to war against Casimir. So Casimir captured his brother and held him prisoner. Siemowit was released the following year, following the intervention of Bolesław V the Chaste and others who promised to support Casimir against the Duchy of Pomerania
.
The aggressive policy pursued by Casimir turned sour in 1259 when Boleslaw the Pious, ally of Pomerania
, set up a coalition against him with Boleslaw V the Shy, Siemowit and Daniel of Galicia. The victory allowed Siemowit to recover the duchy of Sieradz. In 1260, Siemowit offered the Duchy to the eldest son of Casimir, Leszek II the Black
.
After the "pacification" of the Yotvingians, another threat began to loom over Masovia from their powerful neighbour, Lithuania
.
In spring 1262 Lithuania launched a major, offensiv campaign against the duchy of Mazovia. The capital, Płock was burned by Lithuanians who crossed the Vistula
and captured the stronghold of Jazdów. Siemowit was killed in battle against the Lithuanians on June 23, 1262 .
Konrad I of Masovia
Konrad I of Masovia , from the Polish Piast dynasty, was the sixth Duke of Masovia from 1194 until his death and High Duke of Poland from 1229 to 1232.-Life:...
and his wife Agafia
Agafia of Rus
Agafia Svyatoslavna of Rus was Princess of Mazovia by her marriage and was a member of the Rurikid dynasty.-Life:...
, daughter of Svyatoslav III Igorevich
Svyatoslav III Igorevich
Svyatoslav III Igorevich was a Rus' prince . His baptismal name was Adrian. He was prince of Peremyshl , and of Volodymyr-Volynskyi .-His early life:...
.
Siemowit was: Duke of Czersk
Czersk
Czersk is a town in northern Poland in Chojnice County, Pomeranian Voivodeship.On July 1, 2006 this municipality celebrated 80 years of granting this community the status of city....
(1247–1248), Duke of Masovia (1248–1262) and Duke of Sieradz
Sieradz
Sieradz is a town on the Warta river in central Poland with 44,326 inhabitants . It is situated in the Łódź Voivodship , but was previously the eponymous capital of the Sieradz Voivodship , and historically one of the minor duchies in Greater Poland.It is one of the oldest towns in Poland,...
(1259–1260). He was a member of the House of Piast.
Life
His father died on August 31, 1247, leaving a legacy of the duchies of Sieradz, Łęczyca and Czersk. His brother, CasimirCasimir I of Kuyavia
Casimir I of Kuyavia was Prince of Kujawy, Mazovia and Wielkopolska, from 1233 until his death. He was the son of Konrad I of Masovia, King of Poland, and his wife Agafia of Rus.- Life :...
was already Duke of Kuyavia
Kuyavia
Kujawy , is a historical and ethnographic region in the north-central Poland, situated in the basin of the middle Vistula and upper Noteć Rivers, with its capital in Włocławek.-Etymology:The origin of the name Kujawy was seen differently in history...
. Siemowit received Sieradz, Łęczyca and Czersk. Siemowit managed to keep Czersk through military aid from his other brother, Boleslaw I of Masovia.
The geopolitics of the region changed abruptly in the spring of 1248, following the sudden death of Boleslaw I of Masovia. Boleslaw left all his lands to Siemowit rather than the brother closer in age, Casimir. Taking advantage of the confusion following the death of Boleslaw, Casimir seized the stronghold of Dobrzyń nad Wisłą. Having inherited Masovia, Siemowit gave Sieradz and Łęczyca to Casimir so he could focus on Masovia's military activities on the border with the Yotvingians
Yotvingians
Yotvingians or Sudovians were a Baltic people with close cultural ties to the Lithuanians and Prussians...
and Teutonic Order
Teutons
The Teutons or Teutones were mentioned as a Germanic tribe by Greek and Roman authors, notably Strabo and Marcus Velleius Paterculus and normally in close connection with the Cimbri, whose ethnicity is contested between Gauls and Germani...
.
Faced with the constant raids of Baltic
Balts
The Balts or Baltic peoples , defined as speakers of one of the Baltic languages, a branch of the Indo-European language family, are descended from a group of Indo-European tribes who settled the area between the Jutland peninsula in the west and Moscow, Oka and Volga rivers basins in the east...
tribes on his territory, Siemowit made an alliance with Daniel of Galicia who suffered the same problem. Siemowit married Daniel's daughter, Pereyaslava. In 1248, Siemowit associated with Boleslaw V the Chaste
Boleslaw V the Chaste
Bolesław V the Chaste or the Shy was Duke of Sandomierz in Lesser Poland from 1232 and High Duke of Poland from 1243 until his death.He was the son of High Duke Leszek I the White, who was assassinated in 1227...
, Daniel and Casimir, to organize the first major military campaign against the Yotvingians. The victory removed the threat of the Yotvingians for a few years. The allies held other military campaigns against the Yotvingians in 1253 and 1255.
Siemowit and Daniel Galicia felt they were not strong enough to face the threats of the Pagans
Paganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
from place such as Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. In 1254 they made an agreement with the Teutonic Order. In exchange for their help, the Teutonic Order was entitled to one third of the Yotvingians' land that Siemowit had taken. This agreement was followed by a second in 1257 and a third in 1260.
This close collaboration between Siemowit and the Teutonic Order (Siemowit takes their defense before Pope Alexander IV
Pope Alexander IV
Pope Alexander IV was Pope from 1254 until his death.Born as Rinaldo di Jenne, in Jenne , he was, on his mother's side, a member of the de' Conti di Segni family, the counts of Segni, like Pope Innocent III and Pope Gregory IX...
accuses them of cruelty in 1258) was not as effective as thought. Siemowit was still targeting the Baltic tribes, while the Teutonic Knights received their territorial conquests.
Another problem that has plagued Siemowit's reign was the relationship with his brother Casimir, who feared that Siemowit's alliance with the Teutonic Knights was to strengthen Siemowit's forces so he would be able to go to war against Casimir. So Casimir captured his brother and held him prisoner. Siemowit was released the following year, following the intervention of Bolesław V the Chaste and others who promised to support Casimir against the Duchy of Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
.
The aggressive policy pursued by Casimir turned sour in 1259 when Boleslaw the Pious, ally of Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
, set up a coalition against him with Boleslaw V the Shy, Siemowit and Daniel of Galicia. The victory allowed Siemowit to recover the duchy of Sieradz. In 1260, Siemowit offered the Duchy to the eldest son of Casimir, Leszek II the Black
Leszek II the Black
Leszek the Black , named after his black hair, was one of the High Dukes of the fragmented Kingdom of Poland. He ruled from 1279 to 1288, and was married to Agrippina of Slavonia with no children.- Life :...
.
After the "pacification" of the Yotvingians, another threat began to loom over Masovia from their powerful neighbour, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
.
In spring 1262 Lithuania launched a major, offensiv campaign against the duchy of Mazovia. The capital, Płock was burned by Lithuanians who crossed the Vistula
Vistula
The Vistula is the longest and the most important river in Poland, at 1,047 km in length. The watershed area of the Vistula is , of which lies within Poland ....
and captured the stronghold of Jazdów. Siemowit was killed in battle against the Lithuanians on June 23, 1262 .
Marriage and children
Siemowit married in 1248 to Pereyaslava , daughter of Daniel of Galicia. They had three children :- Konrad II of MasoviaKonrad II of MasoviaKonrad II of Masovia was the eldest son of Siemowit I of Masovia and his wife Perejesława, daughter of Daniel of Galicia....
(1248/50-23 June 1294), Prince of Masovia - Boleslaus II of MasoviaBoleslaus II of MasoviaBoleslaw II of Masovia or Boleslaw II of Płock was a ruler of Masovia. He was the younger brother Konrad II of Masovia and son of Siemowit I of Masovia. His mother was Pereyaslava , daughter of Daniel of Galicia....
(after 1251-20 April 1313), Prince of Masovia, married Kunigunde of BohemiaKunigunde of Bohemia- References :...
and had issue - Salomea (d.1301), nun