Leszek II the Black
Encyclopedia
Leszek the Black (c. 1241 - 30 September 1288), named after his black hair, was one of the High Dukes of the fragmented Kingdom of Poland. He ruled from 1279 to 1288, and was married to Agrippina of Slavonia
with no children.
to his second wife Constance of Wrocław
, daughter of High Duke Henry II the Pious
from the Silesian
branch of the Piast dynasty. His nickname, the Black (in latin Niger) appears for the first time in the fourteenth century Chronicle. In 1257, after the death of his mother, his father made his third marriage, to Euphrosyne of Opole
, which soon became a source of conflict in the family. Leszek's new stepmother drove her husband's previous children from their inheritance, among them the later Polish king Władysław I the Elbow-high. Some chronicles accuse the duchess of attempting to poison them.
In 1261 his father, stuck in an ongoing conflict with Duke Bolesław the Pious of Greater Poland, had to cede the Duchy of Sieradz
to Leszek. Though he was the eldest son, the Duchy of Kuyavia
proper passed to his younger brother Ziemomysł
after their father's death in 1267. Leszek himself was designated to succeed Bolesław V the Chaste, cousin of his father, as High Duke in the Seniorate Province
of Kraków
. After Ziemomysł was expelled by Bolesław the Pious due to his alliance with the Pomerelia
n duke Sambor II
, Leszek also became Duke of Kuyavia in 1273, but allowed his brother to return five years later.
Leszek assumed the throne at Kraków in 1279. During his government there was a third Mongol
raid led by Nogai Khan
against Poland in 1287.
He married Agrippina of Slavonia
, daughter of the Rurikid
prince Rostislav Mikhailovich, who was received in the court of the King Béla IV of Hungary
. The monarch later gave one of his daughters as wife to Rostislav and entrusted to him the administration of the region of Slavonia in the Hungarian Medieval Kingdom. The marriage of Leszek and Agrippina turned out to be an unhappy one, as Aggripina publicly blamed her husband to never consummating it. The couple had no children, and eventually were forced to escape to Hungary during a tatar invation.
Agrippina of Slavonia
Agrippina of Slavonia also known as Gryfina was Princess Krakow by her marriage to Leszek the Black in 1265.-Biography:...
with no children.
Life
Leszek Czarny was the eldest son from the marriage of Duke Casimir I of KuyaviaCasimir I of Kuyavia
Casimir I of Kuyavia was Prince of Kujawy, Mazovia and Wielkopolska, from 1233 until his death. He was the son of Konrad I of Masovia, King of Poland, and his wife Agafia of Rus.- Life :...
to his second wife Constance of Wrocław
Constance of Wrocław
Constance of Wrocław was a Princess of Silesia and the Duchess of Kuyavia. She was a member of the House of Piast...
, daughter of High Duke 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...
from the Silesian
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...
branch of the Piast dynasty. His nickname, the Black (in latin Niger) appears for the first time in the fourteenth century Chronicle. In 1257, after the death of his mother, his father made his third marriage, to Euphrosyne of Opole
Euphrosyne of Opole
Euphrosyne of Opole was a daughter of Casimir I of Opole and his wife Viola, Duchess of Opole. She was a member of the House of Piast and became Duchess of Kujavia from her first marriage and Duchess of Pomerania from her second marriage.- Family :Euphrosyne's paternal grandparents were Mieszko I...
, which soon became a source of conflict in the family. Leszek's new stepmother drove her husband's previous children from their inheritance, among them the later Polish king Władysław I the Elbow-high. Some chronicles accuse the duchess of attempting to poison them.
In 1261 his father, stuck in an ongoing conflict with Duke Bolesław the Pious of Greater Poland, had to cede the Duchy of Sieradz
Duchy 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...
to Leszek. Though he was the eldest son, the Duchy of Kuyavia
Kuyavia
Kujawy , is a historical and ethnographic region in the north-central Poland, situated in the basin of the middle Vistula and upper Noteć Rivers, with its capital in Włocławek.-Etymology:The origin of the name Kujawy was seen differently in history...
proper passed to his younger brother Ziemomysł
Ziemomysł of Kuyavia
Ziemomysł of Kuyavia was Prince of Kuyavia from 1267-1271 and 1278-1287. He was a member of the large House of Piast- Early life :...
after their father's death in 1267. Leszek himself was designated to succeed Bolesław V the Chaste, cousin of his father, as High Duke in the Seniorate Province
Seniorate Province
Seniorate Province, also known as the Senioral Province , Duchy of Kraków , Duchy of Cracow, Principality of Cracow, Principality of Kraków, was the superior among the five provinces established in 1138 according to the Testament of Bolesław III Krzywousty...
of 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...
. After Ziemomysł was expelled by Bolesław the Pious due to his alliance with the Pomerelia
Pomerelia
Pomerelia is a historical region in northern Poland. Pomerelia lay in eastern Pomerania: on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea and west of the Vistula and its delta. The area centered on the city of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula...
n duke Sambor II
Sambor II, Duke of Pomerania
Sambor II of Tczew was a duke of Pomerania and prince of Lubiszewo Tczewskie.Sambor was a son of Mestwin I, Duke of Pomerania, and member of the Samborides. He was married to Mechtild of Mecklenburg. His daughter, Margaret Sambiria, became Queen of Denmark in 1248 by marriage with Christopher I of...
, Leszek also became Duke of Kuyavia in 1273, but allowed his brother to return five years later.
Leszek assumed the throne at Kraków in 1279. During his government there was a third Mongol
Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire , initially named as Greater Mongol State was a great empire during the 13th and 14th centuries...
raid led by Nogai Khan
Nogai Khan
Nogai , also called Isa Nogai, was a general and de facto ruler of the Golden Horde and a great-great-grandson of Genghis Khan. His grandfather was Baul/Teval Khan, the 7th son of Jochi...
against Poland in 1287.
He married Agrippina of Slavonia
Agrippina of Slavonia
Agrippina of Slavonia also known as Gryfina was Princess Krakow by her marriage to Leszek the Black in 1265.-Biography:...
, daughter of the Rurikid
Rurik Dynasty
The Rurik dynasty or Rurikids was a dynasty founded by the Varangian prince Rurik, who established himself in Novgorod around the year 862 AD...
prince Rostislav Mikhailovich, who was received in the court of the King Béla IV of Hungary
Béla IV of Hungary
Béla IV , King of Hungary and of Croatia , duke of Styria 1254–58. One of the most famous kings of Hungary, he distinguished himself through his policy of strengthening of the royal power following the example of his grandfather Bela III, and by the rebuilding Hungary after the catastrophe of the...
. The monarch later gave one of his daughters as wife to Rostislav and entrusted to him the administration of the region of Slavonia in the Hungarian Medieval Kingdom. The marriage of Leszek and Agrippina turned out to be an unhappy one, as Aggripina publicly blamed her husband to never consummating it. The couple had no children, and eventually were forced to escape to Hungary during a tatar invation.