Ziemomysł of Kuyavia
Encyclopedia
Ziemomysł of Kuyavia (c. 1245 – 1287) was Prince of Kuyavia from 1267-1271 and 1278-1287. He was a member of the large House of Piast
and his second wife Constance
, daughter of Henry II the Pious
.
On 21 February 1257, Ziemomysł's mother, Constance died. His father soon remarried to Euphrosyne of Opole
, with whom he had four children. Euphrosyne knew that when Casimir died, Ziemomysł and Leszek would inherit most of his lands, leaving her sons with very little. She therefore wanted to get rid of the two boys so her sons would be able able to inherit the Duchy of Kuyavia
. There was an unsuccessful attempt to poison the boys.
. The small duchy survived the considerable strength of Přemysl Otakar II of Bohemia, and there was soon a crusade against pagan Lithuania
.
Ziemomysł developed close contacts with the Teutonic Order and Sambor II, Duke of Pomerania
. When Sambor II loaned Ziemomysł some German knights, this sparked a rebellion among the Duke's subjects. The rebels called on Boleslaw the Pious to help them. Boleslaw took Radziejów
, Kruszwica
and the castle in Bydgoszcz. Only through rapid action did Ziemomysł win temporary control of his lands.
In 1271, Ziemomysł was involved in the war of Gdansk-Pomerania, in which he supported his new father-in-law, Sambor II against Mestwin II, Duke of Pomerania. His decision to fight in this battle triggered another invasion by Boleslaw the Pious. Ziemomysł was now forced into exile.
Ziemomysł was given back Kuyavia
and his other lands in 1278 as a result of an agreement with Boleslaw and his brother. They asked Ziemomysł to distance himself away from his German advisors.
To improve Ziemomysł's situation, there was an agreement, in which he was given back custardy of Radziejów
. His brother ended his pro-German policies in 1284, making the Teutonic Order hostile to the family. The details of the conflict are not known.
Ziemomysł also gave his subjects Town privileges
, endowing them upon Gniewkowo
.
Ziemomysł died in the last quarter of 1287. It is assumed he was buried somewhere in the capital of the duchy, Inowroclaw
. His widow Salome and his half-brother Ladislaus the Short were given custardy of the children.
. They had six children:
Early life
Ziemomysł was the second son of 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 :...
and his second wife Constance
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 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...
.
On 21 February 1257, Ziemomysł's mother, Constance died. His father soon remarried 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...
, with whom he had four children. Euphrosyne knew that when Casimir died, Ziemomysł and Leszek would inherit most of his lands, leaving her sons with very little. She therefore wanted to get rid of the two boys so her sons would be able able to inherit 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...
. There was an unsuccessful attempt to poison the boys.
Adult life
After Casmir died in 1267, Ziemomysł inherited Kuyavia, and his brother Leszek became a pretender to the throne of PolandPoland
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...
. The small duchy survived the considerable strength of Přemysl Otakar II of Bohemia, and there was soon a crusade against pagan Lithuania
History of Lithuania
The history of Lithuania dates back to at least 1009, the first recorded written use of the term. Lithuanians, a branch of the Baltic peoples, later conquered neighboring lands, establishing the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and in the 13th century the short-lived Kingdom of Lithuania. The Grand Duchy...
.
Ziemomysł developed close contacts with the Teutonic Order and Sambor II, Duke of Pomerania
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...
. When Sambor II loaned Ziemomysł some German knights, this sparked a rebellion among the Duke's subjects. The rebels called on Boleslaw the Pious to help them. Boleslaw took Radziejów
Radziejów
Radziejów is a town in Poland, in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, about 45 km south of Toruń. It is the capital of Radziejów County. Its population is 5,804 .-History:...
, Kruszwica
Kruszwica
Kruszwica is a town in central Poland and is situated in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship , previously in Bydgoszcz Voivodeship .It has a population of 9,412 people .-History:...
and the castle in Bydgoszcz. Only through rapid action did Ziemomysł win temporary control of his lands.
In 1271, Ziemomysł was involved in the war of Gdansk-Pomerania, in which he supported his new father-in-law, Sambor II against Mestwin II, Duke of Pomerania. His decision to fight in this battle triggered another invasion by Boleslaw the Pious. Ziemomysł was now forced into exile.
Ziemomysł was given back 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 his other lands in 1278 as a result of an agreement with Boleslaw and his brother. They asked Ziemomysł to distance himself away from his German advisors.
To improve Ziemomysł's situation, there was an agreement, in which he was given back custardy of Radziejów
Radziejów
Radziejów is a town in Poland, in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, about 45 km south of Toruń. It is the capital of Radziejów County. Its population is 5,804 .-History:...
. His brother ended his pro-German policies in 1284, making the Teutonic Order hostile to the family. The details of the conflict are not known.
Ziemomysł also gave his subjects Town privileges
Town privileges
Town privileges or city rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium.Judicially, a town was distinguished from the surrounding land by means of a charter from the ruling monarch that defined its privileges and laws. Common privileges were related to trading...
, endowing them upon Gniewkowo
Gniewkowo
Gniewkowo is a town in Inowrocław County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland with a population of 7,301 .- Location :Gniewkowo is located to the south of the Bydgoszcz forest on route 52, 15 km northeast of Inowrocław and 23 km southwest of Toruń.- History :Archaeological...
.
Ziemomysł died in the last quarter of 1287. It is assumed he was buried somewhere in the capital of the duchy, Inowroclaw
Inowroclaw
Inowrocław , is a town in northern Poland.According to the 2004 Census estimate the town has a total population of 77,641. Situated in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999, Inowrocław was previously in the Bydgoszcz Voivodeship . Inowrocław is an industrial town located about 40 km...
. His widow Salome and his half-brother Ladislaus the Short were given custardy of the children.
Marriage and children
On the 29 February 1268, Ziemomysł married Salome, daughter of Sambor II, Duke of PomeraniaSambor 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...
. They had six children:
- Euphemia (died c.1278), died young
- FenennaFenenna of KuyaviaFenenna of Kuyavia was a Polish princess member of the House of Piast in the Mazovia branch and by marriage Queen of Hungary....
(c.1278-1295) married Andrew III of Hungary and had a daughter Elizabeth, who was betrothed to Wenceslaus III of BohemiaWenceslaus III of BohemiaWenceslaus III Premyslid was the King of Hungary , King of Bohemia and the king of Poland .... - Leszek (1275/76-after 27 April 1339), Duke of Kuyavia
- Przemysł (1276/79-before 16 February 1339), Prince of Sieradz
- CasimirCasimir II of KuyaviaCasimir II of Kuyavia was Duke of Kuyavia and was a member of the House of Piast. He was son of Ziemomysł of Kuyavia and his wife Salome , daughter of Sambor II, Duke of Pomerania.-Life:...
(1277/80-22 August 1345/13 May 1350]), Duke of Kuyavia and grandfather to Elizabeth of Bosnia. - Constance (d.1331), nun