Zbigniew of Poland
Encyclopedia
Zbigniew Duke of Poland
(in Greater Poland
, Kuyavia
and Masovia) from 1102 until 1107.
. The actual status of Zbigniew's mother has been a matter of dispute among historians: some believe that she was only Władysław's mistress while others assert that they were married but only under pagan rituals and, in consequence, the union wasn't recognized by the Church as a valid marriage. Whatever the case, Zbigniew was raised at his father's court enjoying all his respects.
We don't know when Zbigniew was born. According to scholars was born before 1076 (Oswald Balzer), between 1070 and 1073 (Roman Grodecki), around 1070 (Gerard Labuda), around 1073 (Karol Maleczyński) or simply between 1060 and 1075.
Prince Władysław assumed the Polish throne in 1079 after the deposition of his older brother Bolesław II the Bold. In 1080, as Duke Władysław I, he married the Bohemian princess Judith, daughter of Duke Vratislaus II of Bohemia
. Soon after Przecława was sent away; according to some sources, she took the veil and died around 1092.
The apparent barrenness of the Duchess encouraged Zbigniew's expectations to succeeded his father despite his illegitimacy. However in 1085, likely due to the pressure of the barons, Duke Władysław I recalled Mieszko Bolesławowic the only son of the deposed Bolesław II from his exile in Hungary
. Young prince Mieszko accepted the overlordship of his uncle and gave up his hereditary claims in exchange for becoming first in line of succession; in addition, he received the district of Kraków
.
Now with a legitimate son and heir, both Zbigniew's and Mieszko's positions were threatened by Duke Władysław I. In the case of Mieszko, he was forced to accept the situation due to the popularity of the latter among the nobility; however, in 1089 the Mieszko died under mysterious circumstances, probably by poisoning.
Zbigniew began his studies with the intention of entering an ecclesiastical career. In 1086 he was named Canon
of Kraków, where he studied under the tutelage of his paternal grandmother, the Dowager Duchess Maria Dobroniega
. Zbigniew, however, was still too young to be ordained a priest.
In 1089 Zbigniew's father, after the death of his Bohemian wife, married again with Judith of Swabia
renamed Sophia, sister of Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
and widow of the ex-King Solomon of Hungary
. The relationship between the new Duchess and her stepsons was cold, especially with the first-born Zbigniew. It's thanks to her intrigues that in 1089, Władysław I sent Zbigniew to Saxony
, and placed him in the Quedlinburg Abbey
, where the Abbess was Judith-Sophia's sister, Adelaide
. This actions showed the Duke's efforts to get rid of Zbigniew, making him a monk and ineligible for the succession and, after Mieszko's death, this two events allowed Duke Władysław I to eliminate the two pretenders to the Polish throne, protect the heritage of his legitimate son Bolesław and undermine the growing opposition against his rule.
. He is probably owed his elevation to the throne. Sieciech was the first guardian of the minor prince Bolesław. In his plans to seize power over the country, the Count Palatine gained the support of Duchess Judith-Sophia. The following year, an attempt to recover the domain of Gdańsk Pomerania was unsuccessfully.
At that time, Poland politics were involved in the Russian case. The Rostislavich line not recognize the Polish sovereignty, leading hostile politics (especially Prince Vasilko of Terebovlia, who was allied with the Cumans
) and invading the country. Sieciech became then in the undisputed ruler of the country, and made his own coin. In the absence of a ruler, he held the highest military functions in the country. Also, he give the highest court dignities to his supporters. The main objectives of Sieciech were simple: ambition, lust for power and desire to enrich himself. To achieve them, the Count Palatine was able to use violent means. At the same time his rights guaranteed by the Act of Legitimization were returned to him.
The plans of Sieciech and Duchess Judith-Sophia to take the complete control over the country were discovered by Zbigniew; his young half-brother Bolesław became in his ally. In 1098, both princes prevailed on their father to give them separate provinces. The Duke was forced to accept and made the formal division of his domains. Zbigniew received Greater Poland
(included Gniezno
), Kuyavia
, Łęczyca Land and Sieradz Land; Bolesław obtained Lesser Poland
, Silesia
and Lubusz Land
. Duke Władysław I kept control of Masovia and its capital at Plock
; also, could retained control of the most important cities i.e. Wrocław, Kraków
and Sandomierz
.
organized in Wrocław by the magnate Skarbmir. There it was decided to remove the current guardian of Bolesław, a noble named Wojslaw (a Sieciech's relative) and arrange an expedition against the Count Palatine. Subsequently in 1099 the troops of both Sieciech and Duke Władysław I faced with the forces of Zbigniew and Bolesław near Zarnowiec by the river Pilica
. The rebel forces were victorious and the humilliated Duke was obliged to permanently remove Sieciech from the position of Count Palatine.
A few months later, the opposition forces have been directed towards Sieciechów
, where the former Count Palatine was hidden. Surprisingly, Duke Władysław I, with a few branches come to the aid of Sieciech. In this situation, the princes decided the deposition of their father. Zbigniew marched against Masovia, where he was to take control of Płock, while Bołeslaw was directed to the South. The intention of the two brothers, was the encirclement of Duke Władysław I; however, he could predicted the maneuver and could sent back his forces to Masovia. The definitive conflict between both forces took place near Płock. Duke Władysław I was completely defeated and was forced to exile Sieciech from the country. The ex-Count Palatine left Poland around 1100/1101. Is known that he took refuge in German lands. However, is known that he eventually returned to Poland after several years of exile, but didn't play any political role again. He may have been blinded. Duke Władysław I died on 4 June 1102.
from the late Duke's domains. However, soon arose disputes between the brothers; it's probable that the main reason was the fact that Zbigniew, as the oldest, considered himself as the Senior Duke, a right who was recognized to him by the Polish society.
The two states created after the division were virtually separated. Both Dukes maintain different internal and foreign politics, and this caused that some times the brothers were enemies. The case of Pomerania
proved to a delicate matter. Zbigniew was a strong opponent of Bolesław III anti-Pomeranian politics and wanted to keep good relations with the northern neighbor. With one of the first organized expeditions to Pomerania by Bolesław III he managed to convinced the knights to turn back and return home, which caused the fury of the Junior Duke. This situation didn't last long, because even following months the booty-hungry knights sided with Bolesław III, made some military expeditions to Pomerania and Prussia
.
Pomeranians retaliatory military actions, however, were directed against Zbigniew. The latter has established closer contacts with Bohemia, and wanted to exert pressure over Bolesław III and in this way obtain his definitive withdrawal from the Pomeranian affairs. The Junior Duke, by the other hand, strengthened his position through contacts with Hungary
and Kievan Rus. The marriage of Bolesław III with Princess Zbysława (ca. 1103), daughter of Grand Prince Sviatopolk II of Kiev
sealed his alliance with Kievan Rus. Zbigniew see in this marriage and alliance with the Kievan ruler a directed attack against him; then he began his attempts to persuade Duke Borivoj II of Bohemia to invaded Bolesław III's domains. Bolesław III, in response to this actions ravaged the Pomeranian border during 1104-1105. These expeditions brought a valuable loot and effectively ended the previous alliance of Zbigniew with the Pomeranians.
In 1105 Zbigniew made an agreement with his brother, under which both princes regarded a reciprocal compromise in matters of foreign policy; howeer, and despite further attempts to ended the matter (Tyniec Accord), the case of Pomerania remained unresolved. In 1106, with the help of his Kievan and Hungarian allies, Bolesław III attacked Zbigniew’s territory. The combined forces could take without much problems Kalisz
, Gniezno
, Spycimierz
and Leczyca, occupying half of the Senior Duke's domains. Bolesław III also captured the ally of his older brother, Archbishop of Gniezno, Martin I
. Through the Bishop of Kraków, Baldwin, came to a settlement in Łęczyca, where Zbigniew officially recognized Bolesław III as the High Duke of all Poland, and was forced to surrendering to him Greater Poland
, Kuyavia
, Łęczyca and Sieradz Land. Zbigniew could retain Masovia, but only as a fief.
in Puławy and to provide military to Bolesław III in a campaign against the Pomeranians in the winter of 1107–1108.
Bolesław III, with the help of his Kievan and Hungarian allies, began a final campaign to rid himself of Zbigniew. Their forces attacked Masovia, and quickly forced Zbigniew to surrender. As a punishment, the deposed Duke was banished from the country. From then Bolesław III was the sole lord of the Polish lands. However, it seems that the transfer of power to Bolesław III took place in early 1107, when Zbigniew still was in Masovia as a vassal.
and Bohemia
; later, he went to the court of the Holy Roman Emperor
Henry V
.
In the meanwhile, Bolesław III attacked Bohemia (1108); thanks to this expedition, the planned German-Bohemian attack against Hungary failed. In response to the aggressive politics of the Polish ruler, the Emperor made a retaliatory expedition against Poland with the support of Bohemian warriors (Polish-German War). As a pretext to this actions, Henry V declared his support to the exiled Zbigniew, who never gave up to his pretentions and wanted to regain his lost territories. The German ruler set an ultimatum to Bolesław III, under which he demanded in exchange for the abandonment of the expedition half of the Polish state to Zbigniew, the recognition of the sovereignty of the Holy Roman Empire, and the regular payment of 300 fine silver per year as a tribute, or provide 300 knights for military expeditions.
Hostilities began in Silesian territory. The Imperial troops faced the strong resistance of the defenders of Bytom Odrzański
, Głogów, and Wrocław, whose apogee was the heroic defense of Głogów (Battle of Głogów, 14 August 1109). Thanks to this heroic defense of the Silesian castles, Henry V failed to obtain the victory. Bolesław III continue the resistance and gradually began to show positive results. Ultimately, King Henry V retired to Silesia (Battle of Hundsfeld
, 24 August 1109). It's worth noting the participation of villagers in defending the castles; this actions showed the first traces of the Polish nationalism. Zbigniew escape to Bohemia.
In 1111 a truce was concluded between the Duke Vladislav I of Bohemia and Bolesław III. Under the terms of this agreement was made an specific transaction: the Bohemian ruler allowed to return home to prince Soběslav, and the Polish Duke obtain the return of Zbigniew to Poland. Zbigniew was received back in Poland and furnished with a grant (probably Sieradz
); but, according to Gallus Anonymus
, he maintain his arrogance and caused the anger of his brother, who committed an act who regret forever; however, the chronicle Cosmas of Prague
, stated that the punishment of Bolesław III was calculated:
For this crime, Bolesław III was excommunicated by the Archbishop of Gniezno, Martin I
, whom remained as a strong supporter of Zbigniew. According to Gallus Anonymus, the Polish ruler held after repentance, received a pardon from his brother Zbigniew.
About Zbigniew's death nothing is known. An interesting reference contains an obituary of the Benedictine monastery in Lubin
. On 8 July 1113, is recorded in it the death of a monk of Tyniec Abbey, brother Zbigniew. This obituary served to historians to propose the hypothesis that he was Bolesław III's brother. The place of burial is marked there as Benedictine monastery in Tyniec
.
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...
(in Greater Poland
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
, 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...
and Masovia) from 1102 until 1107.
Early years
Zbigniew was the first-born son of Prince Władysław I Herman and Przecława, who apparently belonged to the Prawdzic clanPrawdzic coat of arms
Prawdzic - is a Polish Coat of Arms. It was used by the nobility clans and later szlachta families in the times of the Kingdom of Poland and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.-History:-Notable bearers:...
. The actual status of Zbigniew's mother has been a matter of dispute among historians: some believe that she was only Władysław's mistress while others assert that they were married but only under pagan rituals and, in consequence, the union wasn't recognized by the Church as a valid marriage. Whatever the case, Zbigniew was raised at his father's court enjoying all his respects.
We don't know when Zbigniew was born. According to scholars was born before 1076 (Oswald Balzer), between 1070 and 1073 (Roman Grodecki), around 1070 (Gerard Labuda), around 1073 (Karol Maleczyński) or simply between 1060 and 1075.
Prince Władysław assumed the Polish throne in 1079 after the deposition of his older brother Bolesław II the Bold. In 1080, as Duke Władysław I, he married the Bohemian princess Judith, daughter of Duke Vratislaus II of Bohemia
Vratislaus II of Bohemia
-Literature:*Vratislav Vaníček: Vratislav II. . První český král. Vyšehrad 2004, ISBN 80-7021-655-7*Hans Patze: Die Pegauer Annalen, die Königserhebung Wratislaws v. Böhmen und die Anfänge der Stadt Pegau. JGMODtl 12, 1963, 1-62...
. Soon after Przecława was sent away; according to some sources, she took the veil and died around 1092.
The apparent barrenness of the Duchess encouraged Zbigniew's expectations to succeeded his father despite his illegitimacy. However in 1085, likely due to the pressure of the barons, Duke Władysław I recalled Mieszko Bolesławowic the only son of the deposed Bolesław II from his exile in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. Young prince Mieszko accepted the overlordship of his uncle and gave up his hereditary claims in exchange for becoming first in line of succession; in addition, he received the district of Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
.
Removal of Zbigniew's hereditary rights
In 1086, and after six years of marriage, Duchess Judith gave birth a son, the future Bolesław III Wrymouth. This event changed Zbigniew's situation drastically.Now with a legitimate son and heir, both Zbigniew's and Mieszko's positions were threatened by Duke Władysław I. In the case of Mieszko, he was forced to accept the situation due to the popularity of the latter among the nobility; however, in 1089 the Mieszko died under mysterious circumstances, probably by poisoning.
Zbigniew began his studies with the intention of entering an ecclesiastical career. In 1086 he was named Canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Kraków, where he studied under the tutelage of his paternal grandmother, the Dowager Duchess Maria Dobroniega
Maria Dobroniega of Kiev
Maria Dobroniega of Kiev , was a Kievian Rus princess of the Rurikid dynasty and by marriage Duchess of Poland.-Family:She was one of the youngest children of Vladimir I, Grand Prince of Kiev...
. Zbigniew, however, was still too young to be ordained a priest.
In 1089 Zbigniew's father, after the death of his Bohemian wife, married again with Judith of Swabia
Judith of Swabia
Judith-Maria of Swabia was a German princess, a member of the Ottonian dynasty and by her two marriages Queen of Hungary and Duchess of Poland renamed Sophia in 1089....
renamed Sophia, sister of Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV was King of the Romans from 1056 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 until his forced abdication in 1105. He was the third emperor of the Salian dynasty and one of the most powerful and important figures of the 11th century...
and widow of the ex-King Solomon of Hungary
Solomon of Hungary
Solomon , King of Hungary . He was crowned as a child during his father's lifetime in order to ensure his succession, but his uncle Béla managed to dethrone his father and ascend to the throne...
. The relationship between the new Duchess and her stepsons was cold, especially with the first-born Zbigniew. It's thanks to her intrigues that in 1089, Władysław I sent Zbigniew to Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
, and placed him in the Quedlinburg Abbey
Quedlinburg Abbey
Quedlinburg Abbey was a house of secular canonesses in Quedlinburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It was founded in 936 on the initiative of Saint Mathilda, the widow of Henry the Fowler, as his memorial...
, where the Abbess was Judith-Sophia's sister, Adelaide
Adelheid II, Abbess of Quedlinburg
Adelaide II was Abbess of Gandersheim and Quedlinburg.Adelaide was born in the autumn of 1045 as the first child of Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor, and Agnes of Poitou, his second wife. In 1061, she was elected successor to her older half-sister, Beatrice, as Imperial Abbess of Gandersheim...
. This actions showed the Duke's efforts to get rid of Zbigniew, making him a monk and ineligible for the succession and, after Mieszko's death, this two events allowed Duke Władysław I to eliminate the two pretenders to the Polish throne, protect the heritage of his legitimate son Bolesław and undermine the growing opposition against his rule.
Usurpation of Sieciech
During his stay in Quedlinburg, Zbigniew's father fell into dependence on his supporter, Count Palatine SieciechSieciech
- Biography :All information about Sieciech has come down from the chronicler Gallus Anonymus. He was a count palatine at the court of duke Władysław I Herman of Poland. Though the exact dates of his birth and death are unknown, he is said by Gallus Anonymus to have lived in the second half of the...
. He is probably owed his elevation to the throne. Sieciech was the first guardian of the minor prince Bolesław. In his plans to seize power over the country, the Count Palatine gained the support of Duchess Judith-Sophia. The following year, an attempt to recover the domain of Gdańsk Pomerania was unsuccessfully.
At that time, Poland politics were involved in the Russian case. The Rostislavich line not recognize the Polish sovereignty, leading hostile politics (especially Prince Vasilko of Terebovlia, who was allied with the Cumans
Cumans
The Cumans were Turkic nomadic people comprising the western branch of the Cuman-Kipchak confederation. After Mongol invasion , they decided to seek asylum in Hungary, and subsequently to Bulgaria...
) and invading the country. Sieciech became then in the undisputed ruler of the country, and made his own coin. In the absence of a ruler, he held the highest military functions in the country. Also, he give the highest court dignities to his supporters. The main objectives of Sieciech were simple: ambition, lust for power and desire to enrich himself. To achieve them, the Count Palatine was able to use violent means. At the same time his rights guaranteed by the Act of Legitimization were returned to him.
The plans of Sieciech and Duchess Judith-Sophia to take the complete control over the country were discovered by Zbigniew; his young half-brother Bolesław became in his ally. In 1098, both princes prevailed on their father to give them separate provinces. The Duke was forced to accept and made the formal division of his domains. Zbigniew received Greater Poland
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
(included Gniezno
Gniezno
Gniezno is a city in central-western Poland, some 50 km east of Poznań, inhabited by about 70,000 people. One of the Piasts' chief cities, it was mentioned by 10th century A.D. sources as the capital of Piast Poland however the first capital of Piast realm was most likely Giecz built around...
), 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...
, Łęczyca Land and Sieradz Land; Bolesław obtained Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland is one of the historical regions of Poland, with its capital in the city of Kraków. It forms the southeastern corner of the country, and should not be confused with the modern Lesser Poland Voivodeship, which covers only a small, southern part of Lesser Poland...
, 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...
and Lubusz Land
Lubusz Land
Lubusz Land is a historical region and cultural landscape in Poland and Germany, on both sides of the Oder river.Originally the settlement area of the West Slavic Leubuzzi, a Veleti tribe, the swampy area was located east of Mark Brandenburg and west of Greater Poland, south of Pomerania and north...
. Duke Władysław I kept control of Masovia and its capital at Plock
Plock
Płock is a city in central Poland, on the Vistula river. According to the data provided by GUS on 30 June 2009 there were 126,675 inhabitants. It is located in the Masovian Voivodeship , having previously been the capital of the Płock Voivodeship . It now is a capital of a Powiat at the extreme...
; also, could retained control of the most important cities i.e. Wrocław, Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
and 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...
.
Defeat and Exile of Sieciech
The division of the country greatly alarmed the Count Palatine, who feared that the disminution of his master's power could undermine his own situation. He then began preparations for a military settlement of the issue and gained the Duke’s support for it. The position of Duke Władysław I was strange because he chose to support Sieciech’s cause instead of his own sons. After hear of the expedition, Zbigniew and Bolesław renewed their alliance, who took place at the WiecWIEC
WIEC-LP is a radio station licensed to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA. The station is currently owned by The Eau Claire Broadcasting Association....
organized in Wrocław by the magnate Skarbmir. There it was decided to remove the current guardian of Bolesław, a noble named Wojslaw (a Sieciech's relative) and arrange an expedition against the Count Palatine. Subsequently in 1099 the troops of both Sieciech and Duke Władysław I faced with the forces of Zbigniew and Bolesław near Zarnowiec by the river Pilica
Pilica
Pilica is a river in central Poland, the longest left tributary of the Vistula river, with a length of 319 kilometres and the basin area of 9,273 km2 .-Towns:*Szczekociny*Koniecpol*Przedbórz*Sulejów*Tomaszów Mazowiecki...
. The rebel forces were victorious and the humilliated Duke was obliged to permanently remove Sieciech from the position of Count Palatine.
A few months later, the opposition forces have been directed towards Sieciechów
Sieciechów, Masovian Voivodeship
Sieciechów is a village in Kozienice County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Sieciechów..-History:...
, where the former Count Palatine was hidden. Surprisingly, Duke Władysław I, with a few branches come to the aid of Sieciech. In this situation, the princes decided the deposition of their father. Zbigniew marched against Masovia, where he was to take control of Płock, while Bołeslaw was directed to the South. The intention of the two brothers, was the encirclement of Duke Władysław I; however, he could predicted the maneuver and could sent back his forces to Masovia. The definitive conflict between both forces took place near Płock. Duke Władysław I was completely defeated and was forced to exile Sieciech from the country. The ex-Count Palatine left Poland around 1100/1101. Is known that he took refuge in German lands. However, is known that he eventually returned to Poland after several years of exile, but didn't play any political role again. He may have been blinded. Duke Władysław I died on 4 June 1102.
Struggle for the supremacy (1102-1106)
After their father's death, the division of the country between Zbigniew and Bolesław III was maintained almost exactly as was done in 1098, with the exception that Zbigniew received Masovia (with Płock) and Bolesław III obtain 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...
from the late Duke's domains. However, soon arose disputes between the brothers; it's probable that the main reason was the fact that Zbigniew, as the oldest, considered himself as the Senior Duke, a right who was recognized to him by the Polish society.
The two states created after the division were virtually separated. Both Dukes maintain different internal and foreign politics, and this caused that some times the brothers were enemies. The case 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...
proved to a delicate matter. Zbigniew was a strong opponent of Bolesław III anti-Pomeranian politics and wanted to keep good relations with the northern neighbor. With one of the first organized expeditions to Pomerania by Bolesław III he managed to convinced the knights to turn back and return home, which caused the fury of the Junior Duke. This situation didn't last long, because even following months the booty-hungry knights sided with Bolesław III, made some military expeditions to Pomerania and Prussia
Prussia (region)
Prussia is a historical region in Central Europe extending from the south-eastern coast of the Baltic Sea to the Masurian Lake District. It is now divided between Poland, Russia, and Lithuania...
.
Pomeranians retaliatory military actions, however, were directed against Zbigniew. The latter has established closer contacts with Bohemia, and wanted to exert pressure over Bolesław III and in this way obtain his definitive withdrawal from the Pomeranian affairs. The Junior Duke, by the other hand, strengthened his position through contacts with Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
and Kievan Rus. The marriage of Bolesław III with Princess Zbysława (ca. 1103), daughter of Grand Prince Sviatopolk II of Kiev
Sviatopolk II of Kiev
Sviatopolk II Iziaslavich was supreme ruler of the Kievan Rus for 20 years, from 1093 to 1113. He was not a popular prince, and his reign was marked by incessant rivalry with his cousin Vladimir Monomakh...
sealed his alliance with Kievan Rus. Zbigniew see in this marriage and alliance with the Kievan ruler a directed attack against him; then he began his attempts to persuade Duke Borivoj II of Bohemia to invaded Bolesław III's domains. Bolesław III, in response to this actions ravaged the Pomeranian border during 1104-1105. These expeditions brought a valuable loot and effectively ended the previous alliance of Zbigniew with the Pomeranians.
In 1105 Zbigniew made an agreement with his brother, under which both princes regarded a reciprocal compromise in matters of foreign policy; howeer, and despite further attempts to ended the matter (Tyniec Accord), the case of Pomerania remained unresolved. In 1106, with the help of his Kievan and Hungarian allies, Bolesław III attacked Zbigniew’s territory. The combined forces could take without much problems Kalisz
Kalisz
Kalisz is a city in central Poland with 106,857 inhabitants , the capital city of the Kalisz Region. Situated on the Prosna river in the southeastern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship, the city forms a conurbation with the nearby towns of Ostrów Wielkopolski and Nowe Skalmierzyce...
, Gniezno
Gniezno
Gniezno is a city in central-western Poland, some 50 km east of Poznań, inhabited by about 70,000 people. One of the Piasts' chief cities, it was mentioned by 10th century A.D. sources as the capital of Piast Poland however the first capital of Piast realm was most likely Giecz built around...
, Spycimierz
Spycimierz
Spycimierz is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Uniejów, within Poddębice County, Łódź Voivodeship, in central Poland. It lies approximately south-west of Uniejów, west of Poddębice, and west of the regional capital Łódź....
and Leczyca, occupying half of the Senior Duke's domains. Bolesław III also captured the ally of his older brother, Archbishop of Gniezno, Martin I
Martin I (Archbishop of Gniezno)
Martin or Martin of Gniezno was a medieval prelate based in Principality of Poland. He was Archbishop of Gniezno, head of the Polish church, from ca. 1092/99 until 1112/27...
. Through the Bishop of Kraków, Baldwin, came to a settlement in Łęczyca, where Zbigniew officially recognized Bolesław III as the High Duke of all Poland, and was forced to surrendering to him Greater Poland
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
, 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...
, Łęczyca and Sieradz Land. Zbigniew could retain Masovia, but only as a fief.
Deposition and exile
Zbigniew never accepted the overlordship of his younger half-brother; this was noted when he didn't fulfilled his duties as a vassal by refusing to burn the fortress of KurówKurów
Kurów is a village in south-eastern Poland, located between Puławy and Lublin, on the Kurówka River. It is capital of a separate gmina called Gmina Kurów, within Lublin Voivodeship...
in Puławy and to provide military to Bolesław III in a campaign against the Pomeranians in the winter of 1107–1108.
Bolesław III, with the help of his Kievan and Hungarian allies, began a final campaign to rid himself of Zbigniew. Their forces attacked Masovia, and quickly forced Zbigniew to surrender. As a punishment, the deposed Duke was banished from the country. From then Bolesław III was the sole lord of the Polish lands. However, it seems that the transfer of power to Bolesław III took place in early 1107, when Zbigniew still was in Masovia as a vassal.
Claims against Bolesław III
Zbigniew took refuge firstly in PomeraniaPomerania
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...
and Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
; later, he went to the court of the Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
Henry V
Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry V was King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor , the fourth and last ruler of the Salian dynasty. Henry's reign coincided with the final phase of the great Investiture Controversy, which had pitted pope against emperor...
.
In the meanwhile, Bolesław III attacked Bohemia (1108); thanks to this expedition, the planned German-Bohemian attack against Hungary failed. In response to the aggressive politics of the Polish ruler, the Emperor made a retaliatory expedition against Poland with the support of Bohemian warriors (Polish-German War). As a pretext to this actions, Henry V declared his support to the exiled Zbigniew, who never gave up to his pretentions and wanted to regain his lost territories. The German ruler set an ultimatum to Bolesław III, under which he demanded in exchange for the abandonment of the expedition half of the Polish state to Zbigniew, the recognition of the sovereignty of the Holy Roman Empire, and the regular payment of 300 fine silver per year as a tribute, or provide 300 knights for military expeditions.
Hostilities began in Silesian territory. The Imperial troops faced the strong resistance of the defenders of Bytom Odrzański
Bytom Odrzanski
Bytom Odrzański is a town on the Oder river in western Poland, in Nowa Sól County of Lubusz Voivodeship.-History:Archaeological findings from the Stone Age and Bronze Age around Bytom suggest a early settlement. A Slavic gród is mentioned in 1005...
, Głogów, and Wrocław, whose apogee was the heroic defense of Głogów (Battle of Głogów, 14 August 1109). Thanks to this heroic defense of the Silesian castles, Henry V failed to obtain the victory. Bolesław III continue the resistance and gradually began to show positive results. Ultimately, King Henry V retired to Silesia (Battle of Hundsfeld
Battle of Hundsfeld
The Battle of Hundsfeld or Battle of Psie Pole was allegedly fought on 24 August 1109 near the Silesian capital Wrocław between the Holy Roman Empire in aid of the claims of the exiled Piast duke Zbigniew against his ruling stepbrother, Bolesław III Wrymouth of Poland...
, 24 August 1109). It's worth noting the participation of villagers in defending the castles; this actions showed the first traces of the Polish nationalism. Zbigniew escape to Bohemia.
Blinding and Death
Since his exile in Bohemia, Zbigniew arranged armed robbery in Silesia. This finally caused a retaliatory expedition against Bohemia by Bolesław III (1110). Despite the massacre of Bohemian warriors, the Polish ruler failed to settle his pretender Soběslav in the throne of Bohemia.In 1111 a truce was concluded between the Duke Vladislav I of Bohemia and Bolesław III. Under the terms of this agreement was made an specific transaction: the Bohemian ruler allowed to return home to prince Soběslav, and the Polish Duke obtain the return of Zbigniew to Poland. Zbigniew was received back in Poland and furnished with a grant (probably 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,...
); but, according to Gallus Anonymus
Gallus Anonymus
Gallus Anonymus is the name traditionally given to the anonymous author of Gesta principum Polonorum , composed in Latin about 1115....
, he maintain his arrogance and caused the anger of his brother, who committed an act who regret forever; however, the chronicle Cosmas of Prague
Cosmas of Prague
Cosmas of Prague was a Bohemian priest, writer and historian born in a noble family in Bohemia. Between 1075 and 1081, he studied in Liège. After his return to Bohemia, he became a priest and married Božetěcha, with whom he probably had a son. In 1086 Cosmas was appointed prebendary of Prague, a...
, stated that the punishment of Bolesław III was calculated:
For this crime, Bolesław III was excommunicated by the Archbishop of Gniezno, Martin I
Martin I (Archbishop of Gniezno)
Martin or Martin of Gniezno was a medieval prelate based in Principality of Poland. He was Archbishop of Gniezno, head of the Polish church, from ca. 1092/99 until 1112/27...
, whom remained as a strong supporter of Zbigniew. According to Gallus Anonymus, the Polish ruler held after repentance, received a pardon from his brother Zbigniew.
About Zbigniew's death nothing is known. An interesting reference contains an obituary of the Benedictine monastery in Lubin
Lubin
Lubin is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in south-western Poland. From 1975–1998 it belonged to the former Legnica Voivodeship. Lubin is the administrative seat of Lubin County, and also of the rural district called Gmina Lubin, although it is not part of the territory of the latter,...
. On 8 July 1113, is recorded in it the death of a monk of Tyniec Abbey, brother Zbigniew. This obituary served to historians to propose the hypothesis that he was Bolesław III's brother. The place of burial is marked there as Benedictine monastery in Tyniec
Tyniec
Tyniec is a historic village in Poland on the Vistula river, since 1973 a part of the city of Kraków . Tyniec is notable for its famous Benedictine abbey founded by king Casimir the Restorer in 1044.-See also:...
.