The Testament of Bolesław III and the Period of Feudal Fragmentation

The death of Bolesław III Wrymouth in 1138 marked a turning point in Polish history, initiating the period of feudal fragmentation. Bolesław's testament divided the Polish realm among his sons, a decision that would have far-reaching consequences for the unity of the Polish state.

The division of the state was as follows:

• Władysław II the Exile received Silesia and the Seniorate Province
• Bolesław IV the Curly got Masovia
• Mieszko III the Old was given Greater Poland
• Henry of Sandomierz received the Sandomierz region
• Casimir II the Just (born after Bolesław's death) later received Lesser Poland

Highlight: This division was intended to prevent fraternal conflicts but ultimately led to a prolonged period of political fragmentation.

The consequences of this division were significant:

1. It was unfavorable for the nobility, who saw their influence diminished
2. It created a desire for internal security among the populace
3. Bishops became advocates for reunification
4. It affected the commercial interests of cities

Example: The civil war of 1146 was a direct result of the power struggles that emerged from this division.

The main centers of the reunification efforts were Lesser Poland and Greater Poland. These regions would play crucial roles in the eventual reunification of the Polish state.

Vocabulary: Seniorate Province - the central province reserved for the eldest member of the dynasty, intended to maintain overall control.

Several key figures played important roles in early Polish history:

• Jordan: The first Bishop of Poland
• Radzim Gaudenty: The first Archbishop of Poland
• Jan Świnka: Archbishop of Gniezno who strongly advocated for reunification

Definition: Senior - the eldest member of the Piast dynasty, who was supposed to have supremacy over the other rulers according to Bolesław III's testament.

The period of feudal fragmentation would last until the late 13th and early 14th centuries, when efforts to reunify the Polish state would finally bear fruit under the last Piasts and early Jagiellonians.

Bolesław Chrobry and the Rise of the Polish Kingdom

The reign of Bolesław I Chrobry (992-1025) marked a significant period in the history of Poland under the First Piasts. Bolesław's rule was characterized by territorial expansion and the establishment of Poland as a recognized European power.

Highlight: In 1000, the Congress of Gniezno took place, a pivotal event in Polish-German relations and Polish ecclesiastical history.

Bolesław's military campaigns were extensive:

• In 1002, he occupied Meissen, Milsko, and Lusatia
• From 1002 to 1018, he engaged in wars with Germany

Vocabulary: Milsko - a historical region between the Oder and Bóbr rivers, now part of eastern Germany and western Poland.

The culmination of Bolesław's reign came in 1025 with his coronation as the first King of Poland. This event marked Poland's formal entry into the ranks of European kingdoms.

Definition: Coronation - the ceremony of crowning a sovereign or their consort.

Following Bolesław's death in 1025, his son Mieszko II was crowned. However, Mieszko II's reign was short and tumultuous, ending with his death in 1034. This period saw internal unrest and external pressures on the young Polish state.

The subsequent ruler, Kazimierz I Odnowiciel (Casimir I the Restorer), ruled from 1034 to 1058. His reign was crucial in rebuilding and stabilizing the Polish state after the crisis that followed Mieszko II's death.

Example: Kazimierz I's efforts to restore Poland earned him the epithet "Odnowiciel" (the Restorer).

The period of the early Piasts continued with the reigns of Bolesław II the Bold (1058-1079), Władysław I Herman (1079-1102), and Bolesław III Wrymouth (1102-1138). The era of the first Piasts concluded with Bolesław III's death and the subsequent period of feudal fragmentation.