Historical calendar: January 5, 1173 – Bolesław Kędzierzawa dies

Historical calendar – anniversary of the death of Prince-Senior of Poland, Bolesław Kędzierzawa. After him, the most crucial man in the country was Mieszko Old.

Today in our calendar we will look at the turbulent times of the beginning of the break-up of the territory Poland.

After Bolesław Krzywousty's death in 1138, he introduced the rule of seniority. The first elder of Poland was Władysław, whose primary territory was Silesia. As a senior, he besides ruled Małopolska, Gdańsk Land and West-Pomeranian Lenna. His brother Bolesław Kędzierzawa received Mazowisz, Mieszko Stary Wielkopolska, Henryk Earth Sandomierska (not at once), and the widow of Krzywousty – Duchess of Salomea – Łęczycka Land. Kazimierz the just – the gravestone of Krzywousty, initially received no district.

Despite his sincere intentions, the will of Krzywousty did not prevent fighting between brothers. Interestingly, it was not the younger brothers who started the conflict to overthrow their superior, but Sr. Władysław, who, under the influence of Agnieszka's ambitious wife, wanted to unite the full country under his sceptre. To this end, he brought Russian troops against his brothers respective times. In exchange for military aid he bought his territories (e.g. in 1144 he gave Rusi the castle of Wizna).

In 1146, as a consequence of another fight with the brothers, Władysław suffered an unexpected defeat and was driven out of the country by them. elder power was assumed by Bolesław Kędzierzawa. The exile then paid tribute to the German emperor and begged both him and the pope to intervene to reconstruct his throne. An effective invasion of Poland was not possible until 10 years later. At that time under the pretext of defending his rights, the German ruler Frederick Barbarossa came to Poland.

The consequence of the German invasion of Poland was a tribute to Lenna, made by Barbararossie close Poznań by Bolesław Kędzierzawa. Under the arrangements then made, elder became the emperor's ruler and had to pay him a tribute.

Bolesław Kędzierzawa died on 5 January 1173. After him, Mieszko Stary became senior, but his regulation did not last long. The hard hand and fiscalism rapidly led to revolts of the powerful under the leadership of the Bishop of Krakow Gedka. In 1177, Mieszko Stary was overthrown and Kazimierz the Righteous sat on the elder throne. In spite of his exceptionally modest strength, he mastered the majority of the country straight or dependently.

The first so large concentration of power in the hands of 1 of the Piasts in more than 40 years has had the hope of ending the territory breakdown, as well as the ensuing continuous wars between princes. However, the renewal of the sole power required acceptance of the powerful and clergy, especially since the subordinate Kazimierz princes conspired against him, and the exiled Mieszko Stary sought aid in the Empire and the Czech Republic, which threatened the fresh invasion of Barbarossa. Among another things, in order to establish an hereditary throne, a convention of the mighty and clergy was convened, held in Łódź in 1180.

On exit, where the most crucial of the Polish nobles, bishops and princes were gathered, it was decided to yet destruct the regulation of senate, while establishing the inheritance of the Kraków throne in the household of Kazimierz the Right.

Previous entry from our calendar is available Here.