Leszek, Duke of Masovia
Encyclopedia
Leszek of Masovia (ca. 1162 – 1186) was the second Duke of Masovia and Kuyavia
from 1173 until his death.
He was the second but only surviving son of Bolesław IV the Curly, High Duke of Poland by his first wife Viacheslava
, daughter of St. Vsevolod
, Prince of Novgorod and Pskov
. Once it was thought that his mother was Maria
, Bolesław IV's second wife, a fact who was showed in several web sources; however, after the discovery of coins where Leszek called himself son of Bolesław and Anastasia (the Greek or Latin equivalent of Viacheslava's name), this theory proved to be inaccurate. He was named either thanks to the courtly tradition preserved by Gallus Anonymus
in his Cronicae Polonorum
or after the eldest full-brother of his father, Leszek, who died young around 1131.
to Leszek, at the age of eleven or less. The overlordship of Poland (who included the control over Kraków
and Gniezno
), was taken by the eldest surviving brother of Bolesław IV, Mieszko III the Old
.
Leszek began his rule under the guardianship of his youngest uncle, Casimir II the Just
. According to the Bishop of Kraków and chronicler Wincenty Kadłubek, the young Duke of Masovia suffered of an extremely poor health and even after he formally took the government of his domains in 1177, the effective rule was handed by the magnate Żyron.
Since he take the control over his domains, Leszek's policy was based on a close cooperation with Casimir II the Just, whose interests in Masovia (after he took the title of High Duke in 1177) were represented by the magnate Żyron. A manifestation of good relations with Casimir II was the participation of Leszek in the war against Prince Volodar of Minsk
, who in 1180 captured Brest
, who belonged to Leszek's brother-in-law, Vasilko Iaropolkovich. After a long and exhausting war, Brest ultimately wasn't recovered, and Vasilko gave all the rights over this land to Leszek (the region was annexed to Poland only by Casimir II in 1191, after he deposed Mieszko III and took the title of High Duke).
In 1184 Leszek unexpectedly changed his dynastic politics. For unknown reasons, during a meeting in Płock, he made an agreement with his uncle Mieszko III the Old
, who was declared his heir if he died without issue; also, Leszek called his cousin Mieszko the Younger (Mieszko III's son) and entrusted him with the government of his Duchy. Probably the real purprose of the appointment of Mieszko the Younger as governor of Masovia was prepared him as Leszek's successor after his death.
However, the inheritance of Masovia and Kuyavia by the Greater Poland branch never happen; one year later (1185), Leszek changed his testament again and named his uncle Casimir II as his successor. The main reason of this attitude maybe were the rude and harsh proceedings of the Greater Poland Duke.
Leszek died unmarried and childless in 1186; he was probably buried in the Płock Cathedral. Under his will, his heir was Casimir II the Just, but Mieszko III managed to conquer Kuyavia
, who was given to his son Bolesław. The High Duke only could take Masovia, but thanks to this inheritance, he became in the most powerful ruler of Poland.
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...
from 1173 until his death.
He was the second but only surviving son of Bolesław IV the Curly, High Duke of Poland by his first wife Viacheslava
Viacheslava of Novgorod
Viacheslava of Novgorod , was a Kievan Rus' princess member of the House of Rurik and by marriage Duchess of Masovia and Kuyavia and High Duchess of Poland since 1146.She was the daughter of St...
, daughter of St. Vsevolod
Vsevolod of Pskov
Vsevolod Mstislavich , the patron saint of the city of Pskov, ruled as Prince of Novgorod in 1117–32, Prince of Pereslavl and Prince of Pskov in 1137–38.- Early life :...
, Prince of Novgorod and Pskov
Pskov
Pskov is an ancient city and the administrative center of Pskov Oblast, Russia, located in the northwest of Russia about east from the Estonian border, on the Velikaya River. Population: -Early history:...
. Once it was thought that his mother was Maria
Maria (wife of Bolesław IV the Curly)
Maria , was by marriage High Duchess of Poland.By the majority of historians and web sources, her parentage is unknown; however, others authors believed that she was a daughter of Rostislav I Mstislavich, Grand Prince of Kiev....
, Bolesław IV's second wife, a fact who was showed in several web sources; however, after the discovery of coins where Leszek called himself son of Bolesław and Anastasia (the Greek or Latin equivalent of Viacheslava's name), this theory proved to be inaccurate. He was named either thanks to the courtly tradition preserved by Gallus Anonymus
Gallus Anonymus
Gallus Anonymus is the name traditionally given to the anonymous author of Gesta principum Polonorum , composed in Latin about 1115....
in his Cronicae Polonorum
Cronicae et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum
The Gesta principum Polonorum is a medieval gesta, or deeds narrative, concerned with Duke Boleslaw III Wrymouth, his ancestors, and the Polish principality during and before his reign. Probably completed between 1112 and 1118, the extant text is present in three manuscripts with two distinct...
or after the eldest full-brother of his father, Leszek, who died young around 1131.
Life
The death of his older brother Bolesław in 1172 leave him as the only heir of his father. High Duke Bolesław IV (reportedly devastated by his first born son's death) died one year later (3 April 1173), leaving Masovia and KuyaviaKuyavia
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...
to Leszek, at the age of eleven or less. The overlordship of Poland (who included the control over 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 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...
), was taken by the eldest surviving brother of Bolesław IV, Mieszko III the Old
Mieszko III the Old
Mieszko III the Old , of the royal Piast dynasty, was Duke of Greater Poland from 1138 and High Duke of Poland, with interruptions, from 1173 until his death....
.
Leszek began his rule under the guardianship of his youngest uncle, 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...
. According to the Bishop of Kraków and chronicler Wincenty Kadłubek, the young Duke of Masovia suffered of an extremely poor health and even after he formally took the government of his domains in 1177, the effective rule was handed by the magnate Żyron.
Since he take the control over his domains, Leszek's policy was based on a close cooperation with Casimir II the Just, whose interests in Masovia (after he took the title of High Duke in 1177) were represented by the magnate Żyron. A manifestation of good relations with Casimir II was the participation of Leszek in the war against Prince Volodar of Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, who in 1180 captured Brest
Brest, Belarus
Brest , formerly also Brest-on-the-Bug and Brest-Litovsk , is a city in Belarus at the border with Poland opposite the city of Terespol, where the Bug River and Mukhavets rivers meet...
, who belonged to Leszek's brother-in-law, Vasilko Iaropolkovich. After a long and exhausting war, Brest ultimately wasn't recovered, and Vasilko gave all the rights over this land to Leszek (the region was annexed to Poland only by Casimir II in 1191, after he deposed Mieszko III and took the title of High Duke).
In 1184 Leszek unexpectedly changed his dynastic politics. For unknown reasons, during a meeting in Płock, he made an agreement with his uncle Mieszko III the Old
Mieszko III the Old
Mieszko III the Old , of the royal Piast dynasty, was Duke of Greater Poland from 1138 and High Duke of Poland, with interruptions, from 1173 until his death....
, who was declared his heir if he died without issue; also, Leszek called his cousin Mieszko the Younger (Mieszko III's son) and entrusted him with the government of his Duchy. Probably the real purprose of the appointment of Mieszko the Younger as governor of Masovia was prepared him as Leszek's successor after his death.
However, the inheritance of Masovia and Kuyavia by the Greater Poland branch never happen; one year later (1185), Leszek changed his testament again and named his uncle Casimir II as his successor. The main reason of this attitude maybe were the rude and harsh proceedings of the Greater Poland Duke.
Leszek died unmarried and childless in 1186; he was probably buried in the Płock Cathedral. Under his will, his heir was Casimir II the Just, but Mieszko III managed to conquer 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...
, who was given to his son Bolesław. The High Duke only could take Masovia, but thanks to this inheritance, he became in the most powerful ruler of Poland.