Henry I the Bearded
Encyclopedia
Henry I the Bearded of the Silesian
line of the Piast dynasty
, was Duke of Silesia
at Wrocław from 1201 and Duke of Kraków
and thus High Duke of all Poland - internally divided - from 1232 until his death.
, by his second wife Christina, a German
noble lady. He was born in Głogów (Glogau), Lower Silesia
, the fourth son of the ducal couple, and in consequence he had little chance to inherit any land. However, the premature deaths of his older brothers Bolesław, Konrad and Jan (between 1174 and 1190), also given that his older half-brother Duke Jarosław of Opole was forced into an ecclesiastical career by the intrigues of his stepmother Christina, enabled him to become Bolesław's heir. As a result Henry began his preparations in the politics affairs under his father. Through his marriage with Hedwig of Andechs
, Henry became related to the rulers of Germany
, Hungary
, Bohemia
, and France
.
of Upper Silesia
, in a surprise attack took the Duchy of Opole
(Oppeln) of Henry's late half-brother Jarosław. Ambitious Mieszko desired more lands, but this he couldn't do faced with the opposition of the church, who strongly supported Henry. Thanks to the intervention of the Archbishop of Gniezno, Henry Kietlicz and the Bishop of Wrocław, Cyprian, Henry maintained his frontiers, although he had to pay 1,000 pieces of his silver to his supporters.
was in the middle of the struggles between the Staufer and the Welfs, at first, Henry wasn't directly involved in this fight. However, his daughter Gertrude was eventually betrothed to the Bavarian
Pfalzgraf
Otto VIII of Wittelsbach, then a loyal follower of the House of Hohenstaufen — probably due to some political pressure from his wife Agnes, a member of the ducal House of Andechs, who were strong supporters of the Staufer. Generally Henry's strategy was to remain neutral as long as possible and wait for the conflict to tip one way or another.
As a result, in 1204 Henry decided to break the betrothal of his daughter with Otto VIII. This was done in order to please the new German Staufer king Philip of Swabia
who wanted his own daughter to marry Otto. However, very soon the German king changed his mind about a possible marriage of Otto VIII to one of his daughters. Otto VIII, humiliated, swore revenge. Europe was shocked in 1208 when the brutal murder of King Philip by Otto VIII occurred. These events fundamentally changed the political situation in Germany and resulted in the unexpected victory of the Welf Otto IV of Brunswick
in the fight for the throne and the collapse of the importance of Henry's wife's relatives. The relations with Bohemia were only normalized around 1218, after the marriage of his son Henry II
with King Ottokar I
's daughter, Anna Przemyślidka.
from the Greater Polish branch of the royal Piast dynasty
died, which brought an opening for Henry to make his entrance into the political scene. Two opposing groups emerged: on one side, Henry's uncle Mieszko IV Tanglefoot with the son and successor of Mieszko III, Duke Władysław III Spindleshanks of Greater Poland, and on the other side the other Junior Dukes: Leszek I the White
of Sandomierz
and Konrad I of Masovia
, sons of late High Duke Casimir II the Just
, who wanted to maintain the autonomy of their duchies, as well as Władysław's III nephew Władysław Odonic fighting for his Greater Polish inheritance against his uncle. In this increasing conflict Henry once again wanted to remain neutral, although he most likely sympathized with the aims of the Junior Dukes.
Soon, however, the circumstances forced him to get more involved. Władysław III Spindleshanks had assumed the throne at Kraków but was deposed in 1206. Leszek I the White became High Duke and Duke of Kraków. The loss of the Seniorate Province
forced Władysław III to change his alliance (he wanted to increase his presence in West Pomerania
), and therefore proposed to Henry an extraordinary transaction: the exchange of the territories of the Silesian Lubusz Land
for the Greater Polish Kalisz
region. Henry gladly took advantage of this favorable offer, but soon this resulted in more political confusion. Władysław Odonic had been expecting to receive this same land from his uncle Spindleshanks and this decision shut him out. Odonic counted on the support of the church, which was headed by the sympathetic Archbishop Henry Kietlicz of Gniezno. However, Władysław III Spindleshanks proved to be stronger and managed to have his two opponents, Odonic and the Archbishop, exiled. These events placed Henry in a difficult situation because he had a debt of gratitude to the Archbishop, who helped him in the beginning of his reign. After a brief hesitation, he decided to support the decision of Władysław III. On the other hand, he gave the newly acquired land of Kalisz to Odonic, except for Poznań
. This policy clearly contributed to the deterioration of Henry's relations with Władysław III, although this didn't last for long. In 1208 a meeting was arranged in Głogów, during which his bonds with Władysław III were reconfirmed.
's Bull which excommunicated High Duke Leszek I the White. This fact was used by Mieszko IV Tanglefoot, who quickly conquered Kraków and took the title of High Duke for himself. The Bull was issued by the request of an anonymous Duke of Silesia, which could have only been Henry I (because Mieszko IV used the title of a Duke of Racibórz-Opole). The situation became quite confused, as nobody was sure who held the real power.
Archbishop Henry Ketlicz — who had returned from exile some time before — decided to call a synod
in Borzykowa, where he tried to find a solution to this delicate issue. At the convention, in addition to the hierarchy of the church, Henry and the other Junior Dukes were also present. Leszek I the White, wanting to regain the support of the church, along with other Piast princes, bestowed a Great Privilege on the clergy, which ensured the integrity of territorial possession of the bishops (the privilege wasn't signed by Henry and Władysław III, but they did comply with the provisions established there). Mieszko IV Tanglefoot wasn't present in Borzykowa. However he went with his army to Kraków, where the confusion among the citizens as to who was actually in charge resulted in him taking the capital without a fight. This was the zenith of the success of Mieszko; he died in May of the following year. Only then did Archbishop Kietlic manage to make an appeal to Rome in order to obtain the reversal of the Bull. Henry, although he was now the oldest Junior Duke, directed his attention elsewhere. Leszek I the White returned to Kraków without any major difficulties.
in order to obtain the return of Lubusz to Silesia. They returned without a response, and so Henry decided to organize an armed expedition. Ultimately, the situation was happily resolved in his favor, when on 6 May 1210 Margrave Konrad II died, and Henry could take Lubusz and also the Lusatian town of Guben
he held on to at least until 1218.
(which later also included Leszek's younger brother Konrad of Masovia) had brought some mutual benefits to the alliance. Władysław's inclusion brought about an immediate restitution of Lubusz Land and Leszek's formal sovereignty over the rest of the country. Over the next few years the three dukes cooperated very closely.
The first test came up in 1219, when the choice of the next Archbishop of Gniezno after the death of Henry Kietlicz arose. The allies' choice fell on Bishop Iwo Odrowąż
of Kraków but this was unexpectedly blocked by Pope Honorius III
, who refused to accept him. Finally a new candidate Wincenty Niałek managed to convince both the Pope and the Piast dukes.
The main motive for the treaty between the three however, was the crusading
expeditions against the pagan Baltic Old Prussians
. These crusades were organized in 1222 and 1223, but despite a large financial effort both failed. It was probably after that that Henry, thanks to his contacts in Germany, came up with a proposal to bring in the Teutonic Knights
to Poland. Called by Duke Konrad I of Masovia, they entered in the country in 1226.
. Problems with Władysław III effectively prevented the continuation of the treaties. At the same time, in 1225, Henry surprisingly broke the treaty and entered Kraków.
However, an outright war between Leszek and Henry did not break out because of an attack by the Landgrave Louis IV of Thuringia on Lubusz which forced Henry to retreat. At the same time, in order not to lose land to Władysław III, Henry decided to come to an agreement with Leszek and his ally, Konrad of Masovia. The content of the new treaty, signed on the banks of the Dłubną River is unknown, but probably all the parties agreed to maintain the status quo. The struggles for Lubusz intermittently continued until 1230, after Margrave Louis' IV successor Henry Raspe resigned his rights over the region in 1229 and sold his claim to the Magdeburg
Archbishop Albert I of Käfernburg
. As a result Henry was finally able to add this strategically important area to his duchy, although he did this without the consent of Duke Władysław III of Greater Poland. Henry also managed to obtain another asset; a castle in Cedynia
, conquered after a local conflict with Duke Barnim I of Pomerania
.
. At the meeting, Władysław Odonic and Henry assisted Leszek and his brother Konrad of Masovia. For unknown reasons, Władysław III of Greater Poland did not go to Gąsawa, despite the fact that because of his dispute with Leszek his presence was crucial for a successful conclusion of the summit. Another important point of discussion at the meeting was, according to Leszek, the overly independent behavior of Duke Swietopelk II, a member of the Pomerelian Samborides
dynasty, who had declared himself independent from Polish vassalage. The High Duke demanded a serious reprimand for Swietopelk, or his complete removal from the duchy. However, Swietopelk II (probably with the help of Władysław Odonic) decided to attack first, at Gąsawa
. On 23 November 1227, Leszek the White and Henry were trapped in an ambush; Leszek was killed and Henry was seriously wounded, and saved his life only thanks to his faithful knight Peregrinus of Wiesenburg, who covered him with his own body. This act started a new power struggle for the Polish throne.
nobility refused to support him and sided with Leszek's brother Duke Konrad I of Masovia. In the Duchy of Sandomierz
the situation was no less complex. There, the young Bolesław V was declared the rightful heir under the regency of his mother Grzymislawa of Luck
, with the help of local nobles. It soon became clear that it was urgent to recognize the sovereignty of one of the candidates over Kraków and with this, the over lordship of Poland. In the beginning, it seemed that Władysław III had the upper hand in the fight for Kraków, especially after the Congress of Cienia Pierwsza
near Kalisz
on 5 May 1228, where he granted several privileges to the church and promised to respect the old laws. However, the situation became more complicated when his nephew Władysław Odonic rebelled against him. This forced High Duke Władysław III to focus his attention in Greater Poland and as a result Henry was elected to rule Kraków, but not as a sovereign Duke, only as a Governor of the High Duke. The reason for this election was his military support for Władysław III. As part of the deal Henry also obtained the promise and recognition of the High Duke that he, Henry, and his descendants were to be the heirs of Greater Poland.
Henry, wanting to end the conflicts, in 1229 arranged a meeting with Konrad in Spytkowice
. This proved to be one of Henry's worst ideas: during the mass
, he was captured by Konrad's knights and several of his followers were wounded when they tried to save him. He was abducted and imprisoned at Płock Castle.
With this advantage in his hands, the Duke of Masovia marched against Greater Poland. Although he suffered a defeat at the walls of Kalisz, some time later he managed to score a victory over Władysław Odonic who was his senior as he was the sovereign of Greater Poland. Władysław III managed to escape to Upper Silesian Racibórz
, while Konrad, without major obstacles, entered Kraków and took the title of High Duke. Konrad's triumph seemed complete. The war wasn't yet over however, because Silesia remained independent thanks to the strong resistance of Henry II the Pious
, Henry's I eldest surviving son and heir, who became the regent of the duchy after the capture of his father. The Silesian regent soon began to prepare an armed expedition against Lesser Poland.
All the same, the war had been suspended, although this did not mean that Henry lost his interest in the affairs of the Lesser Polish Seniorate Province. There, important events were taking place, primarily an increasing discontent with the uncompromising rule of High Duke Konrad among the nobility. Furthermore Konrad also held proceedings against the young Bolesław V, who was deprived of his Duchy of Sandomierz
which Konrad gave to his own son, Bolesław
. Henry had then the perfect excuse for revenge, and together with Władysław III planned a military expedition for the recovery of Greater Poland.
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The expedition against Konrad, undertaken in 1231, ended in a defeat at the walls of Gniezno
; but, luckily for Henry, Władysław III died unexpectedly in Środa Śląska
, killed by a German girl whom he tried to rape. As he had no issue, his only heir in Greater Poland was Henry. However his authority in these areas was immediately contested. At first, Henry decided to take care of the fate of Lesser Poland, especially after the death of his cousin Duke Casimir I of Opole
and the minority of his sons Mieszko II the Fat
and Władysław Opolski, both under the guardianship of their mother Viola
. He decided to take the regency of Opole on behalf of the infant Dukes, in view of the strategic location of their Duchy on his way to Kraków, and also certainly they helped him to fight. But the most important card in the next conflict wasn't in the hands of Henry and Konrad, but Lesser Poland noble House of Gryfici who decided to support the Silesian Duke. Not without significance was the support which Henry gave -when he was Governor of Kraków- to Grzymislawa of Luck
, widow of Leszek the White; fearing for the future of the inheritance of her infant son Bolesław V, she surrendered the regency of his Duchy of Sandomierz to Henry. Konrad obviously didn't intend to fight with the enormous popularity of Henry's government in both Silesia and Lesser Poland. In 1232, Henry entered Kraków and was proclaimed High Duke and overlord of Poland, and with this, he finally recovered for his Silesian Piast dynasty the title and power which his grandfather Władysław II the Exile had lost in 1146.
, but in return received recognition of his rule over Kraków and the title of High Duke. Also, Henry was confirmed in the regency of Sandomierz on behalf of Bolesław V, a post which Konrad tried to obtain after he ordered the imprisonment of the infant Duke and his mother. Only thanks to the Gryfici's efforts, Bolesław and Grzymislawa could escape and return to their lands. The struggles over Lesser Poland continued, however, until Henry's death.
, Pełka. The success was complete and Odonic, wanting to save his power and convinced by the Archbishop, agreed to made an agreement with Henry: he received the half of Greater Poland up to the Warta River, from Kalisz
and Poznań
; shortly after, he installed there his son and heir, Henry the Pious, as a Duke. On the other hand, in Lesser Poland, the borders were less secure. The military mutual support between Henry and Odonic was tested in 1235, when Henry managed to recover Wladyslaw's castle in Śrem
, in defense of which Borzivoj, son of the deposed Duke Diepold II of Bohemia was killed.
The control of Opole was vital to Henry, because this territory, through which all major commercial tracks from Wrocław to Kraków were made, was extremely strategically important. In 1234 Henryk decided to separate (under his authority) between the Upper Silesian co-Dukes Mieszko II and Władysław the Ziemia wieluńska as the common frontier, in return for which he assumed direct control over Opole.
. However, the increasing conflicts with the church and his own death prevented this idea.
The relationship with the Church wasn't good all the time. In many cases Henry decided to give concessions, but at the end, by one way or other, the conflict arose again. At the end of his life, the conflicts were even more complicated.
During his reign, Henry also improved the economy and infrastructure of his lands by supporting the immigration of German settlers (Ostsiedlung
), mainly from the home of his wife, Franconia
and Bavaria
. Although it is alleged that this policy contributed to the significant Germanization of Silesia, some historians believe that was a common fact during the 13th century and Henry was misunderstood as a result of this. Colonization of Germans didn't cover only Silesia (which prospered considerably thanks to that), but also a dozen other towns or villages in his duchy; in consequence, Henry had to create new town laws
for the new foreigners; the first was granted in 1211 in Złotoryja (Goldberg).
(Crossen an der Oder) and was buried in the Cistercian church of Trzebnica
(Trebnitz) which he had founded in 1202 on the request of his wife.
Henry the Bearded is considered by historians as one of the most prominent Piast Princes from the period of Poland's feudal fragmentation. However, all his work was destroyed only three years after his death due to a completely unexpected event; the Mongolian invasions. In general historians agree that if the disaster at the Battle of Legnica
had never happened, Poland would have been united in the middle of the 13th century, and avoided the territorial losses that occurred. As a capable politician Henry managed to make Silesia one of the most powerful states of fragmented Poland, and also tried to maintain peace in Greater and Lesser Poland during a period of considerable changes in Western Europe
. One contemporary chronicler called him An honest man who only thought to be useful to his people. His personal emblem was a white inverted-cross in the middle of the arc, in the form of white and black eagle on the wings; this remained as the emblem of Silesia.
(ca. 1174 – Abbey of Trebnitz, 15 October 1243), daughter of Duke Berthold IV of Merania
. They had seven children:
Silesian Piasts
The Silesian Piasts were the oldest line of the Piast dynasty beginning with Władysław II the Exile, son of Bolesław III Wrymouth, Duke of Poland...
line of the Piast dynasty
Piast dynasty
The Piast dynasty was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. It began with the semi-legendary Piast Kołodziej . The first historical ruler was Duke Mieszko I . The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of king Casimir the Great...
, was Duke of Silesia
Dukes of Silesia
The Dukes of Silesia were the sons and descendants of the Polish Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth. In accordance with the last will and testament of Bolesław, upon his death his lands were divided into 4-5 hereditary provinces distributed among his sons, and a royal province of Kraków reserved for the...
at Wrocław from 1201 and Duke of Kraków
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...
and thus High Duke of all Poland - internally divided - from 1232 until his death.
Heir of Wroclaw
Henry was the son of Duke Bolesław I the Tall of SilesiaDuchy of Silesia
The Duchy of Silesia with its capital at Wrocław was a medieval duchy located in the historic Silesian region of Poland. Soon after it was formed under the Piast dynasty in 1138, it fragmented into various Duchies of Silesia. In 1327 the remaining Duchy of Wrocław as well as most other duchies...
, by his second wife Christina, a German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
noble lady. He was born in Głogów (Glogau), Lower Silesia
Lower Silesia
Lower Silesia ; is the northwestern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia; Upper Silesia is to the southeast.Throughout its history Lower Silesia has been under the control of the medieval Kingdom of Poland, the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy from 1526...
, the fourth son of the ducal couple, and in consequence he had little chance to inherit any land. However, the premature deaths of his older brothers Bolesław, Konrad and Jan (between 1174 and 1190), also given that his older half-brother Duke Jarosław of Opole was forced into an ecclesiastical career by the intrigues of his stepmother Christina, enabled him to become Bolesław's heir. As a result Henry began his preparations in the politics affairs under his father. Through his marriage with Hedwig of Andechs
Hedwig of Andechs
Saint Hedwig of Silesia , also Saint Hedwig of Andechs from the comital House of Andechs was Duchess of Silesia from 1201 and of Greater Poland from 1231 as well as High Duchess consort of Poland from 1232 until 1238.-Life:...
, Henry became related to the rulers of Germany
Kingdom of Germany
The Kingdom of Germany developed out of the eastern half of the former Carolingian Empire....
, Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
, 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...
, and France
France in the Middle Ages
France in the Middle Ages covers an area roughly corresponding to modern day France, from the death of Louis the Pious in 840 to the middle of the 15th century...
.
Beginning of his reign and loss of Opole
At the time of the death of his father, on 7/8 December 1201, Henry was well prepared to take over the government. However he soon encountered some difficulties. At the beginning of 1202 his uncle, Duke Mieszko IV TanglefootMieszko IV Tanglefoot
Mieszko IV Tanglefoot was a Duke of Silesia from 1163 to 1173 , Duke of Racibórz from 1173, Duke of Opole from 1202 and from 9 June 1210 until his death, Duke of Kraków and High Duke of Poland....
of Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
, in a surprise attack took the Duchy of Opole
Opole
Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...
(Oppeln) of Henry's late half-brother Jarosław. Ambitious Mieszko desired more lands, but this he couldn't do faced with the opposition of the church, who strongly supported Henry. Thanks to the intervention of the Archbishop of Gniezno, Henry Kietlicz and the Bishop of Wrocław, Cyprian, Henry maintained his frontiers, although he had to pay 1,000 pieces of his silver to his supporters.
Relations with the Hohenstaufens, Wittelsbachs, Welfs and Přemyslids
When the Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
was in the middle of the struggles between the Staufer and the Welfs, at first, Henry wasn't directly involved in this fight. However, his daughter Gertrude was eventually betrothed to the Bavarian
History of Bavaria
The history of Bavaria stretches from its earliest settlement and its formation as a stem duchy in the 6th century through its inclusion in the Holy Roman Empires to its status as an independent kingdom and, finally, as a large and significant Bundesland of the modern Federal Republic of...
Pfalzgraf
Count palatine
Count palatine is a high noble title, used to render several comital styles, in some cases also shortened to Palatine, which can have other meanings as well.-Comes palatinus:...
Otto VIII of Wittelsbach, then a loyal follower of the House of Hohenstaufen — probably due to some political pressure from his wife Agnes, a member of the ducal House of Andechs, who were strong supporters of the Staufer. Generally Henry's strategy was to remain neutral as long as possible and wait for the conflict to tip one way or another.
As a result, in 1204 Henry decided to break the betrothal of his daughter with Otto VIII. This was done in order to please the new German Staufer king Philip of Swabia
Philip of Swabia
Philip of Swabia was king of Germany and duke of Swabia, the rival of the emperor Otto IV.-Biography:Philip was the fifth and youngest son of Emperor Frederick I and Beatrice I, Countess of Burgundy, daughter of Renaud III, count of Burgundy, and brother of the emperor Henry VI...
who wanted his own daughter to marry Otto. However, very soon the German king changed his mind about a possible marriage of Otto VIII to one of his daughters. Otto VIII, humiliated, swore revenge. Europe was shocked in 1208 when the brutal murder of King Philip by Otto VIII occurred. These events fundamentally changed the political situation in Germany and resulted in the unexpected victory of the Welf Otto IV of Brunswick
Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Otto IV of Brunswick was one of two rival kings of the Holy Roman Empire from 1198 on, sole king from 1208 on, and emperor from 1209 on. The only king of the Welf dynasty, he incurred the wrath of Pope Innocent III and was excommunicated in 1215.-Early life:Otto was the third son of Henry the...
in the fight for the throne and the collapse of the importance of Henry's wife's relatives. The relations with Bohemia were only normalized around 1218, after the marriage of his son Henry II
Henry II the Pious
Henry II the Pious , of the Silesian line of the Piast dynasty was Duke of Silesia at Wrocław and Duke of Kraków and thus High Duke of all Poland as well as Duke of Southern Greater Poland from 1238 until his death. During 1238–1239 he also served as a regent of two other Piast duchies: Sandomierz...
with King Ottokar I
Ottokar I of Bohemia
-External links:...
's daughter, Anna Przemyślidka.
Alliance with Władysław III Spindleshanks
In the course of the next years, Henry began his interference in Polish affairs. In 1202 the Polish High Duke Mieszko III the OldMieszko 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....
from the Greater Polish branch of the royal Piast dynasty
Piast dynasty
The Piast dynasty was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. It began with the semi-legendary Piast Kołodziej . The first historical ruler was Duke Mieszko I . The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of king Casimir the Great...
died, which brought an opening for Henry to make his entrance into the political scene. Two opposing groups emerged: on one side, Henry's uncle Mieszko IV Tanglefoot with the son and successor of Mieszko III, Duke Władysław III Spindleshanks of Greater Poland, and on the other side the other Junior Dukes: Leszek I the White
Leszek I the White
Leszek I the White , also listed by some sources as Leszek II the White, was Prince of Sandomierz and High Duke of Poland from 1194 until his death, except for the short periods following when he was deposed as Polish ruler...
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...
and Konrad I of Masovia
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:...
, sons of late High Duke 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 wanted to maintain the autonomy of their duchies, as well as Władysław's III nephew Władysław Odonic fighting for his Greater Polish inheritance against his uncle. In this increasing conflict Henry once again wanted to remain neutral, although he most likely sympathized with the aims of the Junior Dukes.
Soon, however, the circumstances forced him to get more involved. Władysław III Spindleshanks had assumed the throne at Kraków but was deposed in 1206. Leszek I the White became High Duke and Duke of Kraków. The loss of 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...
forced Władysław III to change his alliance (he wanted to increase his presence in West 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...
), and therefore proposed to Henry an extraordinary transaction: the exchange of the territories of the Silesian 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...
for the Greater Polish 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...
region. Henry gladly took advantage of this favorable offer, but soon this resulted in more political confusion. Władysław Odonic had been expecting to receive this same land from his uncle Spindleshanks and this decision shut him out. Odonic counted on the support of the church, which was headed by the sympathetic Archbishop Henry Kietlicz of Gniezno. However, Władysław III Spindleshanks proved to be stronger and managed to have his two opponents, Odonic and the Archbishop, exiled. These events placed Henry in a difficult situation because he had a debt of gratitude to the Archbishop, who helped him in the beginning of his reign. After a brief hesitation, he decided to support the decision of Władysław III. On the other hand, he gave the newly acquired land of Kalisz to Odonic, except for Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
. This policy clearly contributed to the deterioration of Henry's relations with Władysław III, although this didn't last for long. In 1208 a meeting was arranged in Głogów, during which his bonds with Władysław III were reconfirmed.
Bull of Pope Innocent III
In 1210 the political scene in Poland was disturbed by Pope Innocent IIIPope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III was Pope from 8 January 1198 until his death. His birth name was Lotario dei Conti di Segni, sometimes anglicised to Lothar of Segni....
's Bull which excommunicated High Duke Leszek I the White. This fact was used by Mieszko IV Tanglefoot, who quickly conquered Kraków and took the title of High Duke for himself. The Bull was issued by the request of an anonymous Duke of Silesia, which could have only been Henry I (because Mieszko IV used the title of a Duke of Racibórz-Opole). The situation became quite confused, as nobody was sure who held the real power.
Archbishop Henry Ketlicz — who had returned from exile some time before — decided to call a synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
in Borzykowa, where he tried to find a solution to this delicate issue. At the convention, in addition to the hierarchy of the church, Henry and the other Junior Dukes were also present. Leszek I the White, wanting to regain the support of the church, along with other Piast princes, bestowed a Great Privilege on the clergy, which ensured the integrity of territorial possession of the bishops (the privilege wasn't signed by Henry and Władysław III, but they did comply with the provisions established there). Mieszko IV Tanglefoot wasn't present in Borzykowa. However he went with his army to Kraków, where the confusion among the citizens as to who was actually in charge resulted in him taking the capital without a fight. This was the zenith of the success of Mieszko; he died in May of the following year. Only then did Archbishop Kietlic manage to make an appeal to Rome in order to obtain the reversal of the Bull. Henry, although he was now the oldest Junior Duke, directed his attention elsewhere. Leszek I the White returned to Kraków without any major difficulties.
The First War of Lubusz
The reason that Henry resigned his claim to Kraków was the seizure of Lubusz Land by Margrave Konrad II of Lusatia. Although Lubusz had belonged to Duke Władysław III Spindleshanks since 1206, he lost it soon after, and the possession of this land directly affected Henry's sovereignty. It's not surprising, therefore, that he quickly decided to send his forces to the Polish western border. Initially, he tried to settle the dispute peacefully. Toward this purpose, he sent ambassadors to the court of Emperor Otto IV at AltenburgAltenburg
Altenburg is a town in the German federal state of Thuringia, 45 km south of Leipzig. It is the capital of the Altenburger Land district.-Geography:...
in order to obtain the return of Lubusz to Silesia. They returned without a response, and so Henry decided to organize an armed expedition. Ultimately, the situation was happily resolved in his favor, when on 6 May 1210 Margrave Konrad II died, and Henry could take Lubusz and also the Lusatian town of Guben
Guben
Guben is a town on the Lusatian Neisse river in the state of Brandenburg, Germany. Located in the Spree-Neiße district, Guben has a population of 20,049...
he held on to at least until 1218.
Alliances with the Piast Dukes
After the Papal Bull affair, Henry opted for a far-reaching cooperation with High Duke Leszek I the White and Duke Władysław III Spindleshanks of Greater Poland. The principles of their pact had been established in a 1217 meeting in Dańkowie and then a year later in Sądowlu. Each member of this Piast triumvirateTriumvirate
A triumvirate is a political regime dominated by three powerful individuals, each a triumvir . The arrangement can be formal or informal, and though the three are usually equal on paper, in reality this is rarely the case...
(which later also included Leszek's younger brother Konrad of Masovia) had brought some mutual benefits to the alliance. Władysław's inclusion brought about an immediate restitution of Lubusz Land and Leszek's formal sovereignty over the rest of the country. Over the next few years the three dukes cooperated very closely.
The first test came up in 1219, when the choice of the next Archbishop of Gniezno after the death of Henry Kietlicz arose. The allies' choice fell on Bishop Iwo Odrowąż
Iwo Odrowaz
Iwo Odrowąż was a medieval Polish humanist, statesman, and bishop. He studied in Bologna and Paris, maintained contacts with a number of western-European intellectuals, and developed for himself a reputation as a "splendid representative of medieval Latin culture", though no writings of his survive...
of Kraków but this was unexpectedly blocked by Pope Honorius III
Pope Honorius III
Pope Honorius III , previously known as Cencio Savelli, was Pope from 1216 to 1227.-Early work:He was born in Rome as son of Aimerico...
, who refused to accept him. Finally a new candidate Wincenty Niałek managed to convince both the Pope and the Piast dukes.
The main motive for the treaty between the three however, was the crusading
Prussian Crusade
The Prussian Crusade was a series of 13th-century campaigns of Roman Catholic crusaders, primarily led by the Teutonic Knights, to Christianize the pagan Old Prussians. Invited after earlier unsuccessful expeditions against the Prussians by Polish princes, the Teutonic Knights began campaigning...
expeditions against the pagan Baltic 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...
. These crusades were organized in 1222 and 1223, but despite a large financial effort both failed. It was probably after that that Henry, thanks to his contacts in Germany, came up with a proposal to bring in the Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
to Poland. Called by Duke Konrad I of Masovia, they entered in the country in 1226.
The Attempt to gain the Kraków throne in 1225 and the Second War of Lubusz
In 1223 the Piast alliance was finally broken. In Greater Poland, Władysław Odonic, with the help of Duke Swietopelk II of Pomerelia, his brother-in-law, managed to conquer UjścieUjscie
Ujście is a town in Piła County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,888 inhabitants ....
. Problems with Władysław III effectively prevented the continuation of the treaties. At the same time, in 1225, Henry surprisingly broke the treaty and entered Kraków.
However, an outright war between Leszek and Henry did not break out because of an attack by the Landgrave Louis IV of Thuringia on Lubusz which forced Henry to retreat. At the same time, in order not to lose land to Władysław III, Henry decided to come to an agreement with Leszek and his ally, Konrad of Masovia. The content of the new treaty, signed on the banks of the Dłubną River is unknown, but probably all the parties agreed to maintain the status quo. The struggles for Lubusz intermittently continued until 1230, after Margrave Louis' IV successor Henry Raspe resigned his rights over the region in 1229 and sold his claim to the Magdeburg
Archbishopric of Magdeburg
The Archbishopric of Magdeburg was a Roman Catholic archdiocese and Prince-Bishopric of the Holy Roman Empire centered on the city of Magdeburg on the Elbe River....
Archbishop Albert I of Käfernburg
Albert I of Käfernburg
Albert I of Käfernburg was the eighteenth Archbishop of Magdeburg.He was the son of Gunther III, Count of Käfernburg, and began his studies at Hildesheim, completing them later at Paris and Bologna. At an early age he was made a prebendary of the Magdeburg cathedral, and in 1200 was appointed...
. As a result Henry was finally able to add this strategically important area to his duchy, although he did this without the consent of Duke Władysław III of Greater Poland. Henry also managed to obtain another asset; a castle in Cedynia
Cedynia
Cedynia is a town in Poland, in West Pomeranian Voivodeship, in Gryfino County. It lies close to the Oder River, near the border with Germany, and is the westernmost town in Poland...
, conquered after a local conflict with Duke Barnim I of Pomerania
Barnim I, Duke of Pomerania
Barnim I the Good from the Griffin dynasty was a Duke of Pomerania from 1220 until his death.-Life:...
.
The Congress of Gąsawa. Death of Leszek the White
In 1227 Leszek the White finally decided to resolve the increasing problems with his relatives. To that end he organized an assembly of Piast Dukes at GąsawaGasawa
thumb|left|100 px|Coat of arms of Gąsawa.thumb|left|St. Nicolas church in Gąsawa: main altarGąsawa called Gmina Gąsawa. It lies approximately south of Żnin and south-west of Bydgoszcz...
. At the meeting, Władysław Odonic and Henry assisted Leszek and his brother Konrad of Masovia. For unknown reasons, Władysław III of Greater Poland did not go to Gąsawa, despite the fact that because of his dispute with Leszek his presence was crucial for a successful conclusion of the summit. Another important point of discussion at the meeting was, according to Leszek, the overly independent behavior of Duke Swietopelk II, a member of the Pomerelian Samborides
Samborides
The Samborides or House of Sobiesław were a ruling dynasty in the historic region of Pomerania. They were first documented about 1155 as governors in the eastern Pomerelian lands serving the royal Piast dynasty of Poland, and from 1227 ruled as autonomous princes until 1294, at which time the...
dynasty, who had declared himself independent from Polish vassalage. The High Duke demanded a serious reprimand for Swietopelk, or his complete removal from the duchy. However, Swietopelk II (probably with the help of Władysław Odonic) decided to attack first, at Gąsawa
Gasawa
thumb|left|100 px|Coat of arms of Gąsawa.thumb|left|St. Nicolas church in Gąsawa: main altarGąsawa called Gmina Gąsawa. It lies approximately south of Żnin and south-west of Bydgoszcz...
. On 23 November 1227, Leszek the White and Henry were trapped in an ambush; Leszek was killed and Henry was seriously wounded, and saved his life only thanks to his faithful knight Peregrinus of Wiesenburg, who covered him with his own body. This act started a new power struggle for the Polish throne.
Henry I, Governor of Krakow
Leszek the White left a one-year-old son, Bolesław V the Chaste, but until he reached the proper age, the rule over Kraków had to be taken over by someone else. The most serious candidate from the beginning seemed to be the Duke of Greater Poland, Władysław III, whose opportune absence at the Congress of Gąsawa saved him from the ambush. Now suddenly there appeared a chance for him to retake Kraków and the title of High Duke. However, the Lesser PolishLesser 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...
nobility refused to support him and sided with Leszek's brother Duke Konrad I of Masovia. In the Duchy 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...
the situation was no less complex. There, the young Bolesław V was declared the rightful heir under the regency of his mother Grzymislawa of Luck
Grzymislawa of Luck
Grzymisław Ingvarevna of Luck was a Princess of Krakow, daughter of Ingvar of Kiev, Grand Prince of Kiev and Prince of Lutsk from the Rurikid Dynasty.- Life :...
, with the help of local nobles. It soon became clear that it was urgent to recognize the sovereignty of one of the candidates over Kraków and with this, the over lordship of Poland. In the beginning, it seemed that Władysław III had the upper hand in the fight for Kraków, especially after the Congress of Cienia Pierwsza
Cienia Pierwsza
Cienia Pierwsza is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Opatówek, within Kalisz County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, in west-central Poland. It lies approximately south of Opatówek, south-east of Kalisz, and south-east of the regional capital Poznań.-References:...
near 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...
on 5 May 1228, where he granted several privileges to the church and promised to respect the old laws. However, the situation became more complicated when his nephew Władysław Odonic rebelled against him. This forced High Duke Władysław III to focus his attention in Greater Poland and as a result Henry was elected to rule Kraków, but not as a sovereign Duke, only as a Governor of the High Duke. The reason for this election was his military support for Władysław III. As part of the deal Henry also obtained the promise and recognition of the High Duke that he, Henry, and his descendants were to be the heirs of Greater Poland.
Loss of Lesser Poland; imprisonment
In the course of the succession after Leszek I, a war between Henry and Duke Konrad I of Masovia erupted in 1228. In the beginning Henry was successful as he managed to repel Konrad's attempts to invade his realms in the Battles of Międzyborzem, Skałą and Wrocieryżem. Shortly thereafter however, the situation changed drastically. Henry, a strong supporter of High Duke Władysław III, had problems ruling the Kraków nobility. Part of the reason for their resistance was that Henry had to split his time as ruler of his Silesian Duchy and as a governor of Kraków and a portion of the nobles thought he favored the first of these.Henry, wanting to end the conflicts, in 1229 arranged a meeting with Konrad in Spytkowice
Spytkowice, Wadowice County
Spytkowice is a village in Wadowice County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Spytkowice. It lies approximately north of Wadowice and west of the regional capital Kraków....
. This proved to be one of Henry's worst ideas: during the mass
Mass
Mass can be defined as a quantitive measure of the resistance an object has to change in its velocity.In physics, mass commonly refers to any of the following three properties of matter, which have been shown experimentally to be equivalent:...
, he was captured by Konrad's knights and several of his followers were wounded when they tried to save him. He was abducted and imprisoned at Płock Castle.
With this advantage in his hands, the Duke of Masovia marched against Greater Poland. Although he suffered a defeat at the walls of Kalisz, some time later he managed to score a victory over Władysław Odonic who was his senior as he was the sovereign of Greater Poland. Władysław III managed to escape to Upper Silesian Racibórz
Racibórz
Racibórz is a town in southern Poland with 60,218 inhabitants situated in the Silesian Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship...
, while Konrad, without major obstacles, entered Kraków and took the title of High Duke. Konrad's triumph seemed complete. The war wasn't yet over however, because Silesia remained independent thanks to the strong resistance of Henry II the Pious
Henry II the Pious
Henry II the Pious , of the Silesian line of the Piast dynasty was Duke of Silesia at Wrocław and Duke of Kraków and thus High Duke of all Poland as well as Duke of Southern Greater Poland from 1238 until his death. During 1238–1239 he also served as a regent of two other Piast duchies: Sandomierz...
, Henry's I eldest surviving son and heir, who became the regent of the duchy after the capture of his father. The Silesian regent soon began to prepare an armed expedition against Lesser Poland.
The intervention of Duchess Hedwig and the apparent abandonment of Kraków
The real help for Henry came from a completely unexpected source. His wife Hedwig of Andechs came to Płock and held a talk with Konrad. The exact details of these talks are unknown, but Konrad, who wanted a good image in the European courts, finally decided to release Henry if he promised to renounce his rights to Kraków. Later, the Pope freed him of this promise as it was obtained under threat of force.All the same, the war had been suspended, although this did not mean that Henry lost his interest in the affairs of the Lesser Polish Seniorate Province. There, important events were taking place, primarily an increasing discontent with the uncompromising rule of High Duke Konrad among the nobility. Furthermore Konrad also held proceedings against the young Bolesław V, who was deprived of his Duchy 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...
which Konrad gave to his own son, Bolesław
Bolesław I of Masovia
Boleslaw I of Masovian was a member of the House of Piast. He was the eldest son of Konrad I of Masovia and his wife Agafia of Rus.He was the Duke of Sandomierz from 1229 to 1232...
. Henry had then the perfect excuse for revenge, and together with Władysław III planned a military expedition for the recovery of Greater Poland.
Death of Władysław III Spindleshanks. Henry I, High Duke of Poland
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...
; but, luckily for Henry, Władysław III died unexpectedly in Środa Śląska
Sroda Slaska
Środa Śląska is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of Środa Śląska County, and of the smaller administrative district called Gmina Środa Śląska. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany...
, killed by a German girl whom he tried to rape. As he had no issue, his only heir in Greater Poland was Henry. However his authority in these areas was immediately contested. At first, Henry decided to take care of the fate of Lesser Poland, especially after the death of his cousin Duke Casimir I of Opole
Casimir I of Opole
Casimir I of Opole was a Duke of Opole-Racibórz from 1211 until his death.He was the eldest child and only son of Mieszko I Tanglefoot, Duke of Opole-Racibórz and High Duke of Poland, and his wife Ludmilla, probably a Přemyslid princess.-Early life:Little is known about his early years of life,...
and the minority of his sons Mieszko II the Fat
Mieszko II the Fat
Mieszko II the Fat was a Duke of Opole-Racibórz since 1230 until his death, and Duke of Kalisz-Wieluń during 1234–1239 ....
and Władysław Opolski, both under the guardianship of their mother Viola
Viola, Duchess of Opole
Viola, Duchess of Opole also known as Wencisława , was a Duchess of Opole-Racibórz by virtue of her marriage with Duke Casimir I.-Origins:...
. He decided to take the regency of Opole on behalf of the infant Dukes, in view of the strategic location of their Duchy on his way to Kraków, and also certainly they helped him to fight. But the most important card in the next conflict wasn't in the hands of Henry and Konrad, but Lesser Poland noble House of Gryfici who decided to support the Silesian Duke. Not without significance was the support which Henry gave -when he was Governor of Kraków- to Grzymislawa of Luck
Grzymislawa of Luck
Grzymisław Ingvarevna of Luck was a Princess of Krakow, daughter of Ingvar of Kiev, Grand Prince of Kiev and Prince of Lutsk from the Rurikid Dynasty.- Life :...
, widow of Leszek the White; fearing for the future of the inheritance of her infant son Bolesław V, she surrendered the regency of his Duchy of Sandomierz to Henry. Konrad obviously didn't intend to fight with the enormous popularity of Henry's government in both Silesia and Lesser Poland. In 1232, Henry entered Kraków and was proclaimed High Duke and overlord of Poland, and with this, he finally recovered for his Silesian Piast dynasty the title and power which his grandfather Władysław II the Exile had lost in 1146.
The First Attempt to gain Greater Poland. Precarious settlement with Konrad of Masovia
In 1232 Henry also had an opportunity to gain Greater Poland, and launched an offensive against Władysław Odonic, who was also a claimant this land. The invasion was a failure, however, as a result of inaction of the Silesian nobility and support from the Church of Odonic. In his war for Lesser Poland, however, he had a complete success. In 1233 Henry and Konrad of Masovia signed a treaty in Chełm. Under the terms of this agreement, he had to resign henceforth any pretension over the Lesser Poland lands of Łęczyca and SieradzDuchy of Sieradz
The Duchy of Sieradz was one of the territories created during the period of the fragmentation of Poland. It was originally part of the central Seniorate Province, but became separated upon the death of High Duke Władysław III Spindleshanks in 1231, ruled by the rivaling Masovian branch of the...
, but in return received recognition of his rule over Kraków and the title of High Duke. Also, Henry was confirmed in the regency of Sandomierz on behalf of Bolesław V, a post which Konrad tried to obtain after he ordered the imprisonment of the infant Duke and his mother. Only thanks to the Gryfici's efforts, Bolesław and Grzymislawa could escape and return to their lands. The struggles over Lesser Poland continued, however, until Henry's death.
The Second War with Władysław Odonic for Władysław III's Inheritance
In summer 1234 Henry the Bearded decided to re-intervene in Greater Poland. This time the campaign was totally different to the expedition of two years earlier. Above all, it was because Władysław Odonic lost the support of the nobility, giving part of the royal prerogatives to the Archbishop of GnieznoGniezno
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...
, Pełka. The success was complete and Odonic, wanting to save his power and convinced by the Archbishop, agreed to made an agreement with Henry: he received the half of Greater Poland up to the Warta River, from 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...
and Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
; shortly after, he installed there his son and heir, Henry the Pious, as a Duke. On the other hand, in Lesser Poland, the borders were less secure. The military mutual support between Henry and Odonic was tested in 1235, when Henry managed to recover Wladyslaw's castle in Śrem
Srem
Śrem is a town on the Warta river in central Poland. It has been situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship since 1999; from 1975 to 1998 it was part of the Poznań Voivodeship...
, in defense of which Borzivoj, son of the deposed Duke Diepold II of Bohemia was killed.
The control of Opole was vital to Henry, because this territory, through which all major commercial tracks from Wrocław to Kraków were made, was extremely strategically important. In 1234 Henryk decided to separate (under his authority) between the Upper Silesian co-Dukes Mieszko II and Władysław the Ziemia wieluńska as the common frontier, in return for which he assumed direct control over Opole.
Efforts to obtain the Royal Crown. Attempt to secure his son's Succession
The conquest of Greater Poland caused later Polish historians to call Henry King of all Poland and the most powerful Piast Prince of his time. Unfortunately, this wasn't consistent with his real territorial and political state. Actually, each principality was an independent title, and only in Lower Silesia was his authority strong enough to not worry about his succession. The continuous rebellions of Konrad of Masovia and Władysław Odonic forced Henry in 1234 to designate his son Henry II the Pious as the heir to the throne. After that, Henry was styled Duke of Silesia and Kraków, and his son Duke of Silesia and Greater Poland. He also made an agreement with the Lesser Polish nobility, who could assure the succession of his son. In order to achieve full protection of the possession of Kraków in his bloodline, Henry began efforts towards the coronation of his son as a King of Poland. To this end, he established contacts with the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II of HohenstaufenFrederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick II , was one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany, and even to Jerusalem, were enormous...
. However, the increasing conflicts with the church and his own death prevented this idea.
Internal Politics
In internal politics Henry maintained the power of the other Piast Dukes under his control. In order to neutralize the growing power of the nobility, he sought to promote Knighthood. Also, he started to restrict the role of land officials, especially chastellains. The complete elimination of the nobility was impossible, and for this, Henry based their government on the support of noble families, like the Gryfici.The relationship with the Church wasn't good all the time. In many cases Henry decided to give concessions, but at the end, by one way or other, the conflict arose again. At the end of his life, the conflicts were even more complicated.
During his reign, Henry also improved the economy and infrastructure of his lands by supporting the immigration of German settlers (Ostsiedlung
Ostsiedlung
Ostsiedlung , also called German eastward expansion, was the medieval eastward migration and settlement of Germans from modern day western and central Germany into less-populated regions and countries of eastern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The affected area roughly stretched from Slovenia...
), mainly from the home of his wife, Franconia
Franconia
Franconia is a region of Germany comprising the northern parts of the modern state of Bavaria, a small part of southern Thuringia, and a region in northeastern Baden-Württemberg called Tauberfranken...
and 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...
. Although it is alleged that this policy contributed to the significant Germanization of Silesia, some historians believe that was a common fact during the 13th century and Henry was misunderstood as a result of this. Colonization of Germans didn't cover only Silesia (which prospered considerably thanks to that), but also a dozen other towns or villages in his duchy; in consequence, Henry had to create new town laws
German town law
German town law or German municipal concerns concerns town privileges used by many cities, towns, and villages throughout Central and Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages.- Town law in Germany :...
for the new foreigners; the first was granted in 1211 in Złotoryja (Goldberg).
Death and Considerations
Henry died in 1238 in Krosno OdrzańskieKrosno Odrzanskie
Krosno Odrzańskie is a city on the east bank of Oder River, at the confluence with the Bóbr. The town in Western Poland with 12,500 inhabitants is the capital of Krosno County...
(Crossen an der Oder) and was buried in the Cistercian church of Trzebnica
Trzebnica
Trzebnica is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in south-western Poland. It is the seat of Trzebnica County, and of the smaller administrative district called Gmina Trzebnica. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany...
(Trebnitz) which he had founded in 1202 on the request of his wife.
Henry the Bearded is considered by historians as one of the most prominent Piast Princes from the period of Poland's feudal fragmentation. However, all his work was destroyed only three years after his death due to a completely unexpected event; the Mongolian invasions. In general historians agree that if the disaster at the Battle of Legnica
Battle of Legnica
The Battle of Legnica , also known as the Battle of Liegnitz or Battle of Wahlstatt , was a battle between the Mongol Empire and the combined defending forces of European fighters that took place at Legnickie Pole near the city of Legnica in Silesia on 9 April 1241.A combined force of Poles,...
had never happened, Poland would have been united in the middle of the 13th century, and avoided the territorial losses that occurred. As a capable politician Henry managed to make Silesia one of the most powerful states of fragmented Poland, and also tried to maintain peace in Greater and Lesser Poland during a period of considerable changes in Western Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. One contemporary chronicler called him An honest man who only thought to be useful to his people. His personal emblem was a white inverted-cross in the middle of the arc, in the form of white and black eagle on the wings; this remained as the emblem of Silesia.
Marriage and issue
By 1188, Henry married Hedwig of AndechsHedwig of Andechs
Saint Hedwig of Silesia , also Saint Hedwig of Andechs from the comital House of Andechs was Duchess of Silesia from 1201 and of Greater Poland from 1231 as well as High Duchess consort of Poland from 1232 until 1238.-Life:...
(ca. 1174 – Abbey of Trebnitz, 15 October 1243), daughter of Duke Berthold IV of Merania
Berthold IV, Duke of Merania
Berthold IV was the Count of Andechs and first Duke of Merania , that is, the seacoast of Dalmatia and Istria of the House of Andechs...
. They had seven children:
- Agnes (ca. 1190 – before 11 May 1214).
- Bolesław (ca. 1191 – 10 September 1206/08).
- Henry II the PiousHenry II the PiousHenry II the Pious , of the Silesian line of the Piast dynasty was Duke of Silesia at Wrocław and Duke of Kraków and thus High Duke of all Poland as well as Duke of Southern Greater Poland from 1238 until his death. During 1238–1239 he also served as a regent of two other Piast duchies: Sandomierz...
(ca. 1196 – killed in battle, Legnica, 9 April 1241). - Konrad the CurlyKonrad the CurlyKonrad the Curly , was a Polish prince member of the Piast dinasty in his Silesian branch.He was the third son of Henry I the Bearded, Duke of Wroclaw, by his wife Hedwig, daughter of Berthold IV, Duke of Merania.-Life:...
(ca. 1198 – Czerwony Kosciol, 4 September 1213). - Sophie (ca. 1200 – before 22/23 March 1214).
- Gertrude (ca. 1200 – Trebnitz, 6/30 December 1268), Abbess of Trebnitz.
- A son [Władysław?] (before 25 December 1208–1214/17).