Historical Calendar: May 25, 992 – Mieszko I dies

Historical calendar: the anniversary of the death of the first historical ruler of Poland, who was Duke of Piskov Mieszko I.

Today in our calendar we will look at the life and activities of this distinguished policy.

Mieszko I assumed power in the hub state around 960. The pagan country inherited from its ancestors occupied the territory of Wielkopolska, Lubuska Land and partially Mazovia. It was already comparatively well organized, centralized and possessing considerable military potential, especially in relation to the surrounding tribes. Mieszko decided to extend his principality, in the beginning towards the northwest.

He predicted that if he did not master the Western Pomerania, in a certain position it would become the domain of the Ottoman Empire. During the Pomeranian campaign, the young woman state was invaded by the Wieletów under the leadership of the imperial comparative Wichman. The 963-965 battles ended with the team's defeats Live and the ravages of border areas. Above Gniezno there was a imagination of full demolition at the hands of the Empire, the Czech Republic and, tactically supporting them, shortsighted Gentiles from beyond Oder.

The ruler of Polan decided to change his policies and rebuild the state. First of all, he intended to baptize himself and his powerfuls (in their case – forcedly), which, from a political point of view, would knock weapons out of the hands of Christian rulers who could attack his country utilizing a convenient spiritual argument. This could, if not completely prevent further invasions, although weakening them. This would give the Polans priceless time to lick wounds and strengthen themselves before another confrontation.

Not without importance were the civilizational values of Christianity, including the technological, economical and military advantage over the archaic strategy of the pagan state of the hub. Mieszko understood that without his own writing, unified authoritative language, and universal spiritual religion and culture his state had no chance of a longer life. The large political sense of Lives allowed him to usage the baptism issue on all possible levels.

In 966 he accepted him from the Czech Republic and married the Princess of Goodwa there. This has radically changed the geopolitical situation of the young state. From then on, Mieszko acted as an imperial ally, cleverly utilizing friction on the line of the emperor-border margraves and the emperor-Czech state. The results of a fresh policy based on the achievements of civilization brought to Gniezno by Catholic missionaries and nuns did not take long.

Every year, thanks to the work of scholars of monks and priests, the state was increasingly economically and administratively efficient. The cognition and technology brought from the west to the south besides translated into a military section. Already in 967, the bellow squad defeated the Wichman Gentiles, and 5 years later – in an equally beautiful kind – defeated the Margrave Hodon army at Cedynia. In 979 the country defended itself against the invasion of Emperor Otto II.

This would mean small to me if he did not care about the full thing with the dry and farsighted politician Mieszko I. In subsequent years, it began to grow its state north and east. In a number of winning campaigns he conquered Pomerania Gdańsk and Western Pomerania. In 968 he led to the establishment – independent of the empire – of bishoprics in Poznań, with Bishop Jordan at the head. After the death of Goody, he married German Princess Oda, which was intended, among others, to strengthen his alliance with the Empire.

Probably in the 1970s, he conquered Sandomierz Land and Red Castles. He unmistakably utilized Otto II's death in 983. Reversing alliances and supporting alternately individual contenders to the imperial throne, he led to the removal of Silesia and Małopolska from the Czech Republic. His northern policy meant an alliance with Sweden, who had joined his daughter's bellow wedding – Świętosława – with her ruler Erik there.

Excavations indicate that the consequence of this arrangement may have been crucial saturation of the princely squad with excellent Ware equipment and mercenaries. In 981, Mieszko lost control of the Czerwieński Gates for the benefit of the Kiev prince Vladimir the Great. About 991 he issued a paper Dagome IudexIn which you gave the Gniezno state to the pope. With this testimony, we can be certain of the state of the borders just before his death.

It is not entirely clear whether the ruler has appointed his boy as successor to the relation with the Good – Bolesław, later called Chrobry, or whether you have shared between him and the children of the relation with Oda. In any case, after his death, a conflict broke out over this background, ending in exile. Ody and her children and taking full power in the country by Chrobry.

Mieszko died on May 25, 992. He was most likely buried in the cathedral in Poznań.

He enrolled in past as the actual creator of the foundations of power and later successes of the Polish state. He was a man of large intellect and charisma, a political visionary, a clever commander and diplomat and host. He was not afraid to make extremist changes if he felt necessary. He reformed the strategy of power, enlarged the territory of the state and introduced the most perfect of civilization forms – Latin civilization.

Using antagonisms between his neighbors, he balanced between them. He defeated any in a covenant with others to change the front in a moment, if it was in his interest. What is peculiarly important, Mieszko has never allowed himself to be driven into non-alternative scenarios and – even a comparatively lasting alliance with the Empire – he treated only as a means to an end, not a goal in itself.

Previous entry from our calendar is available Here.