Notes:

Birth:
Emma (Hemma) (b. before 950, d. 1005/06) was a Bohemian duchess consort as the second wife of Boleslaus 2 of Bohemia.

Her origins are uncertain. Historian Gelasius Dobner (1719–1790) thought she was a princess of Burgundy, and this theory has been recently respected. However the latest research of historians and numismatics indicate that she was of Italian-Burgundian origin and identified with Queen Emma of France (Emma of Italy), widow of King Lothair of France (d. 986).

Family/Spouse: Boleslav av Böhmen, "Boleslav 2". Boleslav (son of Boleslav (Boleslaus) av Böhmen, "Boleslav 1" and Biagota) was born about 0932; died on 7 Feb 999. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Bef 1034, Böhmen, Tsjekkia; Hertug.

Notes:

Occupation:
Oldrich (Latin: Odalricus, Udalrichus, German: Odalric, Udalrich; c.?975 – 9 November 1034), a member of the Premyslid dynasty, was Duke of Bohemia from 1012 to 1033 and briefly again in 1034. His accession to the Bohemian throne marked the start of a phase of stability during internal dynastic struggles. Under his rule, the Moravian lands were reconquered from Polish occupation.

Oldrich was the third son of Duke Boleslaus 2 of Bohemia (d. 999) and his consort Emma of Melník. Upon the death of his father, his eldest brother Boleslaus 3 succeeded him as duke, however, he soon entered into a fierce conflict with his younger brothers Oldrich and Jaromír.

In 1001 both had to flee to the Bavarian court at Regensburg. When Boleslaus 3 was deposed by the rivaling Vršovci dynasty the next year and the Polish ruler Boles?aw 1 the Brave invaded Bohemia, King Henry 2 of Germany intervened. Upon his expedition to Prague, Boleslaus' brothers were able to return and Jaromír was installed as Bohemian duke in 1004.

In the German–Polish War, Duke Jaromír remained a loyal supporter of the German king. Nevertheless, Henry did not take action when he was deposed and blinded by his brother Oldrich on 12 April 1012. While Jaromír fled to Poland, Oldrich too recognised the suzerainty of the King of the Romans. He secured his rule by suppressing the Vršovci insurgents.

Oldrich and his son Bretislaus sought to win back Moravia, once conquered by Oldrich's grandfather Duke Boleslaus 1, from the Poles. Bretislaus and his wife Judith of Schweinfurt took their residence in Olomouc.

In 1029 the Bohemian forces, backed by Emperor Conrad 2, finally drove the Poles out of the eastern lands. However, Bretislaus' efforts to occupy adjacent territories in what is today Slovakia by marching against the Kingdom of Hungary failed in 1030 due to the jealousy of the emepror, who reached an agreement with King Stephen 1. In the following year, Bohemian forces refused to take the field for the emperor.

In 1032, Duke Oldrich was invited to the Hoftag diet at Merseburg, but did not appear. His absence raised the ire of the emperor and Conrad, busy with events in Burgundy, charged his son Henry 3 with punishing the recalcitrant Bohemian. Oldrich was arrested, deposed and sent to Bavaria. He was again replaced by his brother Jaromír. However, when Oldrich was pardoned the next year, he returned to Bohemia and had Jaromír captured, blinded, and deposed. He seized power again and drove out Jaromír's son from Moravia.

Oldrich died abruptly on 9 November 1034 and later examination of his skeleton reveal his skull to have suffered a fatal blow. Jaromír then renounced the throne in favour of his nephew Bretislaus.

Udalrik married Bozena av Böhmen about 1002. Bozena (daughter of Kresina) died about 1052. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Bef 1055, Böhmen, Tsjekkia; Hertug.

Notes:

Occupation:
Bretislaus 1 (Czech: Bretislav 1.) (1002/1005 – 10 January 1055), known as the Bohemian Achilles, of the house of the Premyslids, was Duke of Bohemia from 1035 until his death.

Bretislaus was the son of Duke Oldrich and his low-born concubine Bozena. As an illegitimate son could not obtain a desirable wife by conventional means, he chose to kidnap his future wife Judith of Schweinfurt (Czech: Jitka), a daughter of the Bavarian noble Henry of Schweinfurt, Margrave of Nordgau, in 1019 at Schweinfurt.

During his father’s reign, in 1019 or 1029, Bretislaus took back Moravia from Poland. About 1031 he invaded Hungary in order to prevent its expansion under king Stephen. The partition of Bohemia between Old?ich and his brother Jaromír in 1034 was probably the reason why Bretislaus fled beyond the Bohemian border, only to come back to take the throne after Jaromír’s abdication.

In 1035 Bretislaus helped Emperor Conrad 2 in his war against the Lusatians. In 1039 he invaded Little and Great Poland, captured Poznan and sacked Gniezno, bringing the relics of St. Adalbert, Radim Gaudentius and the Five Brothers back with him. On the way back he conquered part of Silesia including Wroclaw (Czech: Vratislav). His main goal was to set up an archbishopric in Prague and create a large state subject only to the Holy Roman Empire. His raid had an unintended enduring influence on Polish history, as the plundering and destruction of Gniezno pushed the next Polish rulers to move their capital to Kraków, which would retain this role for many centuries ahead.

In 1040 the German King Henry 3 invaded Bohemia, but was forced to retreat after he lost the battle at Brudek (a pass in the Bohemian Forest). The following year Henry 3 invaded again, skirted the border defences and laid siege to Bretislaus in Prague. Forced by a mutiny among his nobles and betrayed by his bishop, Bretislaus had to renounce all of his conquests save for Moravia and recognize Henry 3 as his sovereign.

In 1047, Emperor Henry 3 negotiated a peace treaty between Bretislaus and the Poles. This pact worked in Bretislaus' favour, as the Polish ruler swore never again to attack Bohemia in return for an annual subsidy to Gniezno.

Bretislaus was the author of decrees concerning the rules of Christianization, which included a ban on polygamy and trade on holidays.

It was in 1030 that Bretislaus married the afore-mentioned Judith.

Before his death, Bretislaus organised the succession (in 1054) and issued the famous Seniority Law, introducing agnatic seniority for order of succession. Younger members of the dynasty were supposed to govern fiefs (technically, parts of Moravia), but only at the Duke's discretion. Result of this institution was relative indivisibility of the Czech lands, but also alternation of rules of stronger (or perhaps more political) dukes with periods of bitter fraction wars of members of the dynasty. It was effectively ended by elevation of Bohemia to kingdom under Ottokar 1 of Bohemia, when primogeniture became the ruling principle.

His eldest son Spytihnev was to succeed him as Duke of Bohemia with control over that territory. Moravia was incorporated into the Bohemian duchy, but divided between three of his younger sons. The Olomouc Appanage went to Vratislaus; the Znojmo Appanage went to Konrad; and the Brno Appanage went to Otto. The youngest son, Jaromír, entered the church and became Bishop of Prague.

Bretislaus died at Chrudim in 1055 during his preparation for another invasion of Hungary and was succeeded by his son Spytihnev 2 as Duke of Bohemia. His younger children were left the region of Moravia. Otto and Vratislav were shut out of the government by Spytihnev, but after his death both gained control of Moravia and Bohemia, respectively.

Family/Spouse: Judith av Böhmen. Judith died about 1058. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Bef 1092, Böhmen, Tsjekkia; Hertug og konge.

Notes:

Occupation:
Vratislaus (or Wratislaus) 2 (Czech: Vratislav 2.) (d. 14 January 1092), the son of Bretislaus 1 and Judith of Schweinfurt, was the first King of Bohemia as of 15 June 1085. The royal title was merely a lifetime grant from Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV, however, and was not hereditary. Before being raised to the royal dignity, he had ruled Bohemia as duke since 1061.

On his father's death in 1055, Vratislaus became duke of Olomouc. He fell out with his brother Spytihnev 2 and was exiled to Hungary. Vratislaus regained his Moravian ducal throne with Hungarian assistance and eventually reconciled with his brother and succeeded him as duke of Bohemia.

Vratislaus was an ally of the Emperor Henry 4. He supported Henry in both the Investiture Controversy against the popes and the rebellions in Saxony that dominated his long reign. Pope Gregory 7, having already gained the support of Boleslaw 2 of Poland, was keen on roping in the duke of Bohemia to surround the emperor with adversaries fighting for the church. The pope confirmed Vratislaus in the privilege of wearing the mitre and tunic which his predecessors had. The pope also expressed gratitude for the regular payment of tribute to the Holy See.

Vratislaus was often at odds with his brother Jaromír, the bishop of Prague, and he wore his religious vestments around the bishop to irritate him. Jaromír, for his part, ignored the creation of a new Moravian diocese by Vratislaus in 1063. Jaromir even went so far as to take by arms the relics removed from Prague to Moravia. Despite the pope's support for Vratislaus' new see, the Bohemian duke was unswayed in his loyalty to the emperor.

The Saxons revolted under Duke Magnus of Saxony and Otto of Nordheim, Duke of Bavaria, in 1070 and Boleslaus of Poland attacked Bohemia in 1071. In August 1073, Henry responded with an invasion of Poland, but a new Saxon revolt drew him back in 1075. Vratislaus joined him, and they defeated the rebels on 9 June at the First Battle of Langensalza. The Bohemian troops showed conspicuous bravery. Henry then took Jaromír to Germany to be his chancellor under the name of Gebhard and Vratislaus was greatly relieved.

Vratislaus also took part in the wars against the anti-kings who opposed Henry's rule and were elected by a faction of the nobility to replace him. At the Battle of Flarchheim, only through the aid of Vratislaus' contingent was the imperial army capable of overcoming the rebels of the papally-approved claimant Rudolf of Rheinfelden, Duke of Swabia. Vratislaus even succeeded in seizing Rudolf's golden sword. The golden sword was then carried in front of Vratislaus on state occasions.

Vratislaus raised an army to serve in Henry's Italian campaign of 1081. In 1083, Vratislaus and his Bohemians were with Henry when they entered Rome itself.

Despite his serving an excommunicated emperor, Vratislaus maintained good relations with the papacy. Nonetheless, Gregory refused to grant Vratislaus permission to use the Slavonic liturgy. Never, however, did Vratislaus link his fate with that of Henry's antipope, Clement 3.

Vratislaus coveted the largely Slavic marches of Meissen and Lusatia, but, in spite of Henry's promises and Bohemian successes against the rebellious margraves, he never received them. He held Lower Lusatia between 1075 and 1086, but in 1088, with the insurrection of Egbert 2 of Meissen, Henry granted the region to Henry of Ostmark. Vratislaus was thereafter cool to Henry's military adventures. He never wavered in his loyalty, but he abstained from giving the emperor martial aid.

It was a Premyslid tradition that Moravia would be entrusted to the younger brothers of the ruling prince. In Vratislaus' case, his 2 younger brothers Conrad and Otto inherited Brno and Olomouc and the youngest, Jaromír, entered the church. However, enmity grew between the brothers. It was then that Vratislaus founded the diocese of Olmütz (diocese of Olomouc), under the Archbishopric of Mainz, to counter Otto's authority within his province. Both pope and emperor took a hand in mediating the conflict, which was partially fixed with Henry's appointment of Jaromír as chancellor in 1077. In April 1085, a reichstag convened in Mainz suppressed the Moravian see, but Vratislaus later re-founded see. Jaromír protested in Rome to Pope Urban 2, but died in 1090 before a pope ruled on the matter.

Sadly for Vratislaus, his last years were occupied by dynastic quarrelling. When his brother Otto died in 1086, he gave Olomouc to his son Boleslaus, which was seen to be an act against the interests of Conrad. Vratislaus raised an army against Conrad and sent it out under his other son Bretislaus. This son turned on him. Vratislaus, in keeping with Bohemian custom, designated an heir: Conrad. Thus reconciled, the two attacked Bretislaus, who fled to Hungary.

Vratislaus died of a hunting wound on 14 January 1092 after a reign of thirty years. He was buried in St. Peter and Paul's Church, Vyšehrad.

By (re)creation of the Bishopric of Olomouc (1063) and creation of the Vyšehrad Chapter (1070 - richly endowed, independent from the Prague bishop, subjected directly to the Holy See) and also by his obstinacy in conflict with the Prague bishop Jaromír, Vratislaus ultimately little depressed importance of bishop of Prague in domestic Bohemian politics, enabling thus more unified rule over the country for all following dukes and kings. Vratislaus's policy towards the Holy Roman Empire set an example to follow for the next (12th) century, leading ultimately to permanent elevation of Bohemia to kingdom in the beginning of 13th century. His marriage policy not only shows the rising position of Premyslids among European dynasties (Vratislaus's father Bretislaus had to abduct his wife Judith of Schweinfurt in 1019), but also set direction for his followers (as to dynastic bonds to pursue towards Poland and Hungary).

Vratislaus was married 3 times.

His first wife Maria died during premature childbirth.

He married the second time in 1057 to Adelaide, daughter of Andrew 1 of Hungary, who died in 1061. They had 4 children:

1. Vratislaus (-1061).

2. Judith (1056/58-1086), married to Ladislaus I Herman, son of Casimir 1 of Poland.

3. Ludmila (-after 1100).

4. Bretislaus 2 of Bohemia (c. 1060–December 22, 1100), Duke of Bohemia.

In 1062, Vratislaus married a third time to Swatawa of Poland, a daughter of Casimir 1 of Poland. They had 5 children:

1. Boleslaus (-1091).

2. Borivoj 2 of Bohemia (c. 1064-February 2, 1124), Duke of Bohemia.

3. Vladislaus 1 of Bohemia (-April 12, 1125), Duke of Bohemia.

4. Sobeslav 1 of Bohemia (-February 14, 1140), Duke of Bohemia.

5. Judith (c. 1066-9 December 1108), married to Wiprecht 2 of Groitzsch.

Vratislav married Adelheide av Ungarn about 1055. Adelheide (daughter of Andreas av Ungarn, "Andreas 1" and Anastasia av Kiev) was born about 1038; died about 1062. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Judith married Vladislav (Wladyslaw) av Polen, "Vladislav 1" about 1083. Vladislav (son of Casimir Karol, "Casimir 1" and Maria Dobronega av Kiev) was born about 1044; died on 4 Jun 1102. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Bef 1102, Polen; Hertug del 1.
• Occupation: Aft 1102, Polen; Hertug del 2.
• Occupation: Aft 1119, Polen; Hertug del 3.

Notes:

Occupation:
Boleslaw 3 Wrymouth (also known as Boleslaus 3 the Wry-mouthed, Polish: Boleslaw 3 Krzywousty) (20 August 1086 – 28 October 1138), was a Duke of Lesser Poland, Silesia and Sandomierz between 1102 and 1107 and over the whole Poland between 1107 and 1138. He was the only child of Prince Wladyslaw 1 Herman and his first wife Judith, daughter of Vratislaus 2 of Bohemia.

Boleslaw began to rule in the last decade of the 11th century, when the central government in Poland was significantly weakened. Wladyslaw 1 Herman fell under the political dependence of the Count palatine Sieciech, who became the real ruler of the country. Backed by their father, Boleslaw and his half-brother Zbigniew finally expelled Sieciech from the country in 1101, after several years of fighting. After the death of Wladyslaw 1 Herman in 1102, two independent states were created ruled by Boleslaw and Zbigniew.

Boleslaw sought to gain Pomerania which caused an armed conflict between the brothers, and forced Zbigniew to flee the country and seek military help from Germany. Boles?aw effectively stopped the intervention of the German King Henry 5 in 1109 and punished Zbigniew by blinding him. This action caused outrage among supporters of Zbigniew, resulting in a political crisis in Poland. Boles?aw once again gained the favor of his subjects with public penance, and made a pilgrimage to the monastery of his patron, Saint Giles, in Hungary.

Boleslaw, like Boleslaw 2 the Generous, based his foreign policy on maintaining good relations with neighboring Hungary and Kievan Rus, with whom he forged strong links through marriage and military cooperation in order to break the political dependence on Germany and his vassal, the King of Bohemia, who in moments of weakness of Polish policy was forced to pay tribute in Silesia. These alliances have allowed Boleslaw to effectively defend the country from invasion by Henry 5 in 1109. Several years later, Boleslaw skillfully took advantage of the dynastic disputes in Bohemia to ensure peace on the south-west border.

Boleslaw devoted the second half of his rule to the conquest of Pomerania. In 1113 he conquered the northern strongholds along Notec, which strengthened the border with the Pomeranians. In subsequent years, he took steps toward the conquest of Pomerania. The resolution of the conflict with the Holy Roman Empire allowed Boleslaw to subordinate Western Pomerania and incorporate Gdansk Pomerania. The military expeditions, carried out in three stages, ended in the 1120s with military and political successes. Integration of the newly annexed lands enabled Boleslaw to build churches and began the process of converting Pomerania. Bishop Otto of Bamberg confirmed the Christianization of Pomerania from 1123 onward.

In the 1130s Boleslaw participated in the dynastic dispute in Hungary. After an unexpected defeat, he was forced to make an agreement with Germany. The Congress of Merseburg of 1135 addressed the issues of Pomerania, Silesian (probably also Polish) sovereignty and the supremacy of the Archbishopric of Magdeburg over the Polish Church.

Boleslaw was married twice. His first marriage with the Kievan princess Zbyslava gave him an excuse to intervene militarily in the internal affairs of Russia.

After her death, Boleslaw married to a German noblewoman, Salomea of Berg, which in some way was the cause of changes in Polish foreign policy: in the second half of his rule, the Prince sought to restore diplomatic relations with his western neighbor. His last, and perhaps the most momentous act, was his will and testament known as The Succession Statute in which he divided the country among his sons, leading to almost 200 years of feudal fragmentation of the Polish Kingdom.

Boleslaw 3 Wrymouth has been recognized by historiography as a symbol of Polish political aspirations until well into the 19th century. He also upheld the independence of the Polish archbishopric of Gniezno, despite a temporary failure in the 1130s. Despite undoubted successes, he committed serious political errors, most notably against Zbigniew of Poland, his half-brother. The crime against Zbigniew and his penance for it show Boleslaw’s great ambition as well as his ability to find political compromise.

In 1086 the coronation of Vratislav 2 as King of Bohemia, and his alignment with László 1, King of Hungary, threatened the position of the Polish ruler, Prince Wladyslaw 1 Herman. Therefore, that same year Wladyslaw 1 was forced to recall from Hungarian banishment the only son of Boleslaw 2 the Bold and a rightful heir to the Polish throne, Mieszko Boleslawowic. Upon his return young Boleslawowic accepted the over-lordship of his uncle and gave up his hereditary claim to the crown of Poland in exchange for becoming first in line to succeed him. In return, Wladyslaw 1 Herman granted his nephew the district of Kraków. The situation was further complicated for Wladyslaw 1 Herman by a lack of a legitimate male heir, as his first-born son Zbigniew came from a union not recognized by the church. With the return of Mieszko Boleslawowic to Poland, Wladyslaw 1 normalized his relations with the kingdom of Hungary as well as Kievan Rus (the marriage of Mieszko Boleslawowic to a Kievan princess was arranged in 1088). These actions allowed Herman to strengthen his authority and alleviate further tensions in international affairs.

The lack of a legitimate heir, however, remained a concern for Wladyslaw 1 and in 1085 he and his wife Judith of Bohemia sent rich gifts, among which was a life size statue of a child made of gold, to the Benedictine Sanctuary of Saint Giles in Saint-Gilles, Provence begging for offspring. The Polish envoys were led by the personal chaplain of Duchess Judith, Piotr.

The date of birth of Boleslaw is closely linked with the death of his mother Judith. This fact is evidenced by contemporary sources:

Gallus Anonymus in the Cronicae et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum reported that Duchess Judith gave birth to Boleslaw on the day of King Saint Stephen of Hungary (whose feast since the 11th century was celebrated on 20 August). However, the Duchess' health never recovered from childbirth and died on the night of Nativity[18] (i.e. 24–25 December). Gallus did not note the year in his chronicle.

Cosmas of Prague wrote in Latin in his Chronica Boëmorum (Chronicle of Bohemians) that Boleslaw was born 3 days before the death of Judith, who died in 8 Calends of January (25 December) of 1085.

The Kalendarz krakowski said that Duchess Judith died on 24 December 1086, and only indicated that the birth of Boleslaw was in the same year.

The Obituary of the Abbey of Saint-Gilles reported the death of Judith on 24 December 1086.

The Rocznik kapituly krakowskiej (closely related to the Kalendarz krakowski) placed the death of Judith on 24 December 1086.

Historian August Bielowski established Boleslaw's birth on 26 December 1085 and the death of his mother 2 days later, on 28 December. According to him Gallus Anonymus committed 2 errors.
First, instead of the Sunday after the Nativity of the Lord wrote incorrectly in the Sunday of the Nativity. Secondly, he mistaken the day of Saint Stephen (26 December) with the festivities of King Stephen of Hungary (20 August). Both corrections lead to the birth date of Boleslaw on 26 December.
This theory was supported by the fact that in 1085 28 December fell on a Sunday.

Oswald Balzer refuted Bielowski's theory and pointed that Judith's death was on the night between 24–25 December 1086, and the birth of Boleslaw was 4 months before, on 20 August. According to him, if Judith died on the night between 24–25 December, are possible discrepancies in determining the exact date of the event. All known sources who placed the death of Judith, would then right. Gallus wrote that Judith died shortly after giving birth to a son.
Later sources interpret this as a death in childbirth and Cosmas of Prague followed this fact, despite he didn't received the information at first hand. Hence, his mistake would result in this point. In contrast, the right -indicated by Gallus- date of birth of Boleslaw would be 20 August. In the medieval tradition the year began on 25 December. In that case, the reports of Cosmas must be concluded that Boleslaw was born yet in 1085. This information, however, was in contradiction with the reports of the Kalendarz krakowski, who gave the year 1086. Judith was styled by the authors of the Kalendarz as regina Polonia (Queen of Poland in Latin), and this title could be associated with her father's coronation as King of Bohemia and Poland on 15 June 1086 (according to Cosmas). Karol Maleczynski refuted the arguments of Balzer, who accepted the date of the coronation of Vratislav II given by Cosmas.[19] However, most researchers indicates that the coronation took place on 15 June 1085, so Judith could be called Queen a year earlier.

Karol Maleczynski determined that the death of Judith took place on the night between 24–25 December 1085, and Boleslaw was born four months before, on 20 August. Researchers found that the date given by the Rocznik kapituly krakowskiej (24 December 1086) was the same established by Cosmas (25 December 1085). The difference in the year could be explained in the different of style dating followed by Cosmas, who began the year according to the Julian calendar on 1 January and Christmas (Nativitate in Latin) on 25 December. For Maleczynski, Kazimierz Jasinski not consider this calendar difference who occurs only during the period 25–31 December.

Archaeologist Wojciech Szafranski reasumed the theory of Bielowski:
Judith of Bohemia died on 28 December 1085, and Boleslaw was born 2 days before, on 26 December.
According to Szafranski Cosmas used the term 8 Calends of January, with no specific date. However, in the Chronicle of Gallus should read that Judith died on Christmas Day, but on Sunday in the Octave of Christmas. Using such a broadened range of days, the investigator determined the birth of Boleslaw in the feast of Saint Stephen (26 December). For this reasons, the date of 1085 given by Bielowski is correct according to him. However, Jasinski pointed the weaknesses of the argument of Szafranski because Gallus has written about the Octave, but specifically about Christmas night, but the investigator didn't consider all other sources, as well as the achievements of research in genealogy.

Marian Plezia argued that Boleslaw was born on 2 September 1085 or 1086. According to Gallus, the day of King Stephen of Hungary was also celebrated on 2 September. Jasinski considered this theory unfounded. In Poland the feast of King Stephen of Hungary is pointed by the Kalendarz krakowski and the kalendarz Kodeksu Gertrudy on 20 August. Besides, if Boleslaw was born on 2 September, Gallus probably would be noted that this was the day after the celebration of Saint Giles (1 September), which was attributed to be the intercessor of his birth.

Kazimierz Jasinski placed the death of Judith in the night between 24–25 December 1086 and the birth of Boleslaw 4 months before, on 20 August. In this point he agrees with the findings of Balzer. He supported his views with additional arguments:
All sources are based in the missing Rocznika kapituly krakowskiej, and the next known text of this source refers to events in 1086.
Cosmas, writing his chronicle a few decades later, probably benefited from oral tradition and could make a mistake when he placed the year. His reports who placed the birth of Boleslaw 3 days before the death of his mother denoted a quite short time.

Today is widely recognized the view of both Jasinski and Balzer, that Boleslaw most likely was born in the day of King Stephen of Hungary, 20 August 1086.

According to Cosmas of Prague, Boleslaw was named after his uncle, Boleslaw 2 the Generous. Wladyslaw 1 Herman had no reason to named his first-born legitimate son after his brother, but probably in this way tried to placate the former allies of his predecessor.

Boleslaw's nickname Wrymouth (pl: Krzywousty) appeared in Polish and Latin sources of the 13th century: Genealogii plockiej (Criwousti) and the Roczniku swietokrzyskim mlodszym (Crzyvousti). Probably the origin of this nickname dates back on the 12th century and is relationed with some physical characteristics of the Polish ruler, who were noticed at the time of his reign. Probably he began to be named in this way after 1114, because Gallus Anonymus in his Chronicle never mentioned it. In the Kronice ksiazat polskich and Kronice polsko-slaskiej Boleslaw was qualified by the Latin adjective curvus, whose significance remains unclear. According to the 14th century Kroniki o Piotrze Wlostowicu the Prince was hunchbacked (Latin: gibbosus) or had a crooked mouth. The 15th century chronicler Jan Dlugosz wrote:

He had a mouth on one side slightly bent, and for this he was called Wrymouth; however, this is not marred his face, and even added to him some charm.

In 1974, in the Masovian Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral of Plock, where according to tradition Boleslaw was buried, an archaeological research project was conducted. A coffin was discovered containing the bones of 16 men and women. One of the skulls, of a man who died aged 50, had a deformed mandible. There is a hypothesis that these remains belonged to Boleslaw. Opponents of this theory suggest that the Prince was named in this way many years after his death, and his contemporary Gallus did not mention any physical defect in the hero of his Chronicles. The defenders of the hypothesis argue that the work of Gallus has the characteristics of a panegyric in honor of Boleslaw, because the chronicler did not mention his physical infirmities. It is also speculated that the bone damage occurred as a result of childbirth complications, which led to the death of his mother a few months later.

The nickname of Boleslaw was also explained in other ways. According to a legend, Boleslaw slammed his face against a wall after watching his father's subservience towards the Germans and Czechs. According to Jan Dlugosz, the Prince in his youth suffered from an ulcer, which caused the deformity of his face. According to older historiography, he received the nickname Wrymouth for his perjury.

Following Boleslaw’s birth the political climate in the country changed. The position of Boleslaw as an heir to the throne was threatened by the presence of Mieszko Boleslawowic, who was already 17 at the time and was furthermore, by agreement with Wladyslaw 1 Herman himself, the first in line to succeed. In all likelihood it was this situation that precipitated the young prince Mieszko’s demise in 1089. In that same year Wladyslaw 1 Herman’s first-born son Zbigniew was sent to a monastery in Quedlinburg, Saxony. This suggests that Wladyslaw 1 Herman intended to be rid of Zbigniew by making him a monk, and therefore depriving him of any chance of succession. This eliminated 2 pretenders to the Polish throne, secured young Boleslaw’s inheritance as well as diminished the growing opposition to Wladyslaw 1 Herman among the nobility. Shortly after his ascension, however, Wladyslaw 1 Herman was forced by the barons to give up the de facto reins of government to Count Palatine Sieciech. This turn of events was likely due to the fact that Herman owed the throne to the barons, the most powerful of whom was Sieciech.

Around this time Wladyslaw 1 Herman married again. The chosen bride was Judith-Maria, daughter of Emperor Henry 3 and widow of King Solomon of Hungary, who after her wedding took the name Sophia in order to distinguish herself from Wladyslaw 1 Herman's first wife. Through this marriage Boleslaw gained 3 or 4 half-sisters, and as a consequence he remained the only legitimate son and heir. It's believed that the new Duchess was actively aiding Sieciech in his schemes to take over the country and that she became his mistress.

In 1090 Polish forces under Sieciech's command, managed to gain control of Gdansk Pomerania, albeit for a short time. Major towns were garrisoned by Polish troops, and the rest were burned in order to thwart future resistance. Several months later, however, a rebellion of native elites led to the restoration of the region’s independence from Poland. The following year a punitive expedition was organized, in order to recover Gdansk Pomerania. The campaign was decided at the battle of the Wda River, where the Polish knights suffered a defeat despite the assistance of Bohemian troops.

Prince Boleslaw’s childhood happened at a time when a massive political migration out of Poland was taking place, due to Sieciech’s political repressions. Most of the elites who became political refugees found safe haven in Bohemia. Another consequence of Sieciech’s political persecution was the kidnapping of Zbigniew by Sieciech’s enemies and his return from abroad in 1093. Zbigniew took refuge in Silesia, a stronghold of negative sentiment for both Sieciech as well as his nominal patron Wladyslaw 1 Herman. In the absence of Sieciech and Boleslaw, who were captured by Hungarians and kept captive, Prince Wladyslaw 1 then undertook a penal expedition to Silesia, which was unsuccessful and subsequently obliged him to recognize Zbigniew as a legitimate heir. In 1093 Wladyslaw 1 signed an Act of Legitimization which granted Zbigniew the rights of descent from his line. Zbigniew was also granted the right to succeed to the throne. Following Sieciech and Boleslaw’s escape from Hungary, an expedition against Zbigniew was mounted by the Count Palatine. Its aim was to nullify the Act of Legitimization. The contestants met at the battle of Goplo in 1096, where Sieciech’s forces annihilated the supporters of Zbigniew. Zbigniew himself was taken prisoner, but regained his freedom a year later, in May 1097, due to the intervention of the bishops. At the same time his rights, guaranteed by the Act of Legitimization, were reinstated.

Simultaneously a great migration of Jews from Western Europe to Poland began circa 1096, around the time of the First Crusade. The tolerant rule of Wladyslaw 1 Herman attracted the Jews who were permitted to settle throughout the entire kingdom without restrictions. The Polish prince, took great care of the Hebrew Diaspora, as he understood its positive influence on the growth of the country’s economy. The new Jewish citizens soon gained trust of the gentiles during the rule of Boleslaw 3.

In view of his father’s disapproval, and after discovering the plans of Sieciech and Duchess Judith-Sophia to take over the country Zbigniew gained an ally in the young prince Boleslaw. Both brothers demanded that the reins of government should be handed over to them. It is difficult to believe, however, that Boleslaw was making independent decisions at this point as he was only 12 years of age. It is postulated that at this stage he was merely a pawn of the Baron’s power struggle. Wladyslaw 1 Herman, however, agreed to divide the realm between the brothers, each to be granted his own province while the Prince – Wladyslaw 1 himself – kept control of Mazovia and its capital at Plock. Wladyslaw also retained control of the most important cities i.e. Wroclaw, Kraków and Sandomierz. Zbigniew’s province encompassed Greater Poland including Gniezno, Kuyavia, Leczyca Land and Sieradz Land. Boleslaw’s territory included Lesser Poland, Silesia and Lubusz Land.

The division of the country and the allowance of Boleslaw and Zbigniew to co-rule greatly alarmed Sieciech, who then began preparing to dispose of the brothers altogether. Sieciech understood that the division of the country would undermine his position. He initiated a military settlement of the issue and he gained the Prince’s support for it. The position of Wladyslaw 1 is seen as ambiguous as he chose to support Sieciech’s cause instead of his sons'.

In response to Sieciech’s preparations Boleslaw and Zbigniew entered into an alliance. This took place at a popular assembly or Wiec organized in Wroclaw by a magnate named Skarbimir of the Awdaniec family. There it was decided to remove the current guardian of Boleslaw, a noble named Wojslaw who was a relative of Sieciech, and arrange for an expedition against the Palatine. Subsequently, in 1099, the armies of Count Palatine and Prince Herman encountered the forces of Zbigniew and Boleslaw near Zarnowiec by the river Pilica. There the forces of Boleslaw and Zbigniew defeated Sieciech's army, and Wladyslaw 1 Herman was obliged to permanently remove Sieciech from the position of Count Palatine. In the same year, at Christmas, Boles?aw concluded to short-lived peace with Bohemia. The agreement was concluded in Žatec. According to Cosmas, Boleslaw was appointed Miecznik (en: Sword-bearer) of his uncle Bretislaus 2, Duke of Bohemia. In addition, the young prince would be paid the amount of 100 pieces of fine silver and 10 talents of gold annually as a tribute to Bohemia (it was about the land of Silesia, for which he paid tribute to Wladyslaw 1).

The rebel forces were then further directed towards Sieciechów, where the Palatine took refuge. Unexpectedly, Prince Wladyslaw came to the aid of his besieged favorite with a small force. At this point, the Princes decided to depose their father. The opposition sent Zbigniew with an armed contingent to Masovia, where he was to take control of Plock, while Boleslaw was directed to the South. The intention was the encirclement of their father, Prince Wladyslaw 1. The Prince predicted this maneuver and sent his forces back to Masovia. In the environs of Plock the battle was finally joined and the forces of Wladyslaw 1 were defeated. The Prince was thereafter forced to exile Sieciech from the country. The Palatine left Poland around 1100-1101. He was known to sojourn in the German lands. However, he eventually returned to Poland but did not play any political role again. He may have been blinded.

Occupation:
Wladyslaw 1 Herman died on 4 June 1102. The country was divided into 2 provinces, each administered by one of the late prince’s sons. The extent of each province closely resembled the provinces that the princes were granted by their father 3 years earlier, the only difference being that Zbigniew also controlled Mazovia with its capital at Plock, effectively ruling the northern part of the kingdom, while his younger half-brother Boleslaw ruled its southern portion. In this way two virtually separate states were created. According to some historians, Zbigniew tried to play the role of princeps or overlord, because at that time Boleslaw was only 16 years old. Because he was still too inexperienced to independently direct his domains, the local nobility gathered around him took great influence in the political affairs, included his teacher, Skarbimir from the Awdaniec family.

They conducted separate policies internally as well as externally. They each sought alliances, and sometimes they were enemies of one another. Such was the case with Pomerania, towards which Boleslaw aimed his ambitions. Zbigniew, whose country bordered Pomerania, wished to maintain good relations with his northern neighbor. Boleslaw, eager to expand his dominion, organized several raids into Pomerania and Prussia. In Autumn of 1102 Boleslaw organized a war party into Pomerania during which his forces sacked Bialogard.

As reprisal the Pomeranians sent retaliatory war parties into Polish territory, but as Pomerania bordered Zbigniew’s territory these raids ravaged the lands of the prince who was not at fault. Therefore, in order to put pressure on Boleslaw, Zbigniew allied himself with Borivoj 2 of Bohemia, to whom he promised to pay tribute in return for his help. By aligning himself with Boleslaw’s southern neighbor Zbigniew wished to compel Boleslaw to cease his raids into Pomerania. Boleslaw, on the other hand, allied himself with Kievan Rus and Hungary. His marriage to Zbyslava, the daughter of Sviatopolk 2 Iziaslavich in 1103, was to seal the alliance between himself and the prince of Kiev. However, Boleslaw's first diplomatic move was to recognize Pope Paschal 2, which put him in strong opposition to the Holy Roman Empire. A later visit of papal legate Gwalo, Bishop of Beauvais brought the church matters into order, it also increased Boleslaw's influence.

Zbigniew declined to attend the marriage of Boleslaw and Zbyslava. He saw this union and the alliance with Kiev as a serious threat. Thanks to bribery, he therefore prevailed upon his ally, Borivoj 2 of Bohemia to invade Boleslaw’s province, ostensibly to claim the Polish crown. Boleslaw retaliated with expeditions into Moravia in 1104–1105, which brought the young prince not only loot, but also effectively disintegrated the alliance of Pomeranians and Zbigniew. During the return of the army, one part commanded by Zelislaw were defeated by the Bohemians. Boleslaw, who commanded the other part of the army, couldn't defeated them. Skarbimir, thanks to bribery, could stopped Borivoj 2. With a vast amount of money, the Bohemian ruler returned to his homeland and was concluded a short-lived peace with Bohemia. Then Borivoj 2 ended his alliance with Zbigniew. In order to paralyze the alliance of Pomerania and his older brother, Boleslaw carried out multiple attacks on northern land in 1103 (the battle of Kolobrzeg, where was defeated), and in 1104–1105, ended with success.

The intervention of Boleslaw in the dynastic dispute in Hungary led him in a difficul political situation. At first, he supported the pretender Álmos, and marched to Hungary to help him. However, during the siege of Abaújvár in 1104, Álmos changed his mind and made peace conversations with his brother and rival King Coloman, at that point Zbigniew's ally. Boleslaw then retired his troops from Hungary and in 1105 made a treaty with Coloman. It was decided then that Boleslaw didn't support Álmos against the alliance Coloman-Zbigniew. In addition, the Hungarian King broke his agreements with the Bohemian Kingdom. The dynastic dispute in Prague between Borivoj 2 and his cousin Svatopluk caused the intervention of Boleslaw and his ally King Coloman in support of Svatopluk, with the main objective to place him in the Bohemian throne. However, a new rebellion of Álmos forced Coloman and his army to return Hungary. Boleslaw also decided to retreat. Svatopluk tried to master the city alone, but suffered a complete defeat; his attempt to seize power in Bohemia was unsuccessful.

Also in 1105, Boleslaw entered into an agreement with his half-brother, in the same way like just a few years before entered with their stepmother Judith-Sophia (who in exchange of an abundant Oprawa wdowia (dower lands), secured her neutrality in Boleslaw's political contest with Zbigniew). The treaty, signed in Tyniec, was a compromise of both brothers in foreign policy; however, no agreement about Pomerania was settled there. One year later, the treaty ended when Zbigniew refused to help his half-brother in his fight against Pomerania. While hunting, Boleslaw was unexpectedly attacked by them. In the battle, the young prince almost lost his life. Bohemia, using the involvement of Boleslaw in the Pomeranian affairs as an excuse, attacked Silesia. The prince tried to re-established the alliance with his half-brother, without success. The effect of this refusal was the rapprochement to the Bohemian Kingdom in 1106. Boleslaw managed to bribe Borivoj 2 and have him join his side in the contest against Zbigniew and shortly after formally allied himself with Coloman of Hungary. With the help of his Kievan and Hungarian allies Boleslaw attacked Zbigniew’s territory, and began a civil war for the supreme power in Poland. The allied forces of Boleslaw easily took control of most important cities including Kalisz, Gniezno, Spycimierz and Leczyca, in effect taking half of Zbigniew’s lands. Through a mediation of Baldwin, Bishop of Kraków, a peace treaty was signed at Leczyca, in which Zbigniew officially recognized Boles?aw as the Supreme Prince of all Poland. However, he was allowed to retain Masovia as a fief.

In 1107 Boleslaw 3 along with his ally King Coloman of Hungary invaded Bohemia in order to aid Svatopluk in gaining the Czech throne. The intervention in the Czech succession was meant to secure Polish interests to the south. The expedition was a full success: on 14 May 1107 Svatopluk was made Duke of Bohemia in Prague.

Later that year Boleslaw undertook a punitive expedition against his brother Zbigniew. The reason for this was that Zbigniew had not followed his orders and had refused to burn down one of the fortresses of Kurów near Pulawy. Another reason was that Zbigniew had not performed his duties as a vassal by failing to provide military aid to Boleslaw for a campaign against the Pomeranians. In the winter of 1107–1108 with the help of Kievan and Hungarian allies, Boleslaw began a final campaign to rid himself of Zbigniew. His forces attacked Mazovia and quickly forced Zbigniew to surrender. Following this Zbigniew was banished from the country and with his followers, took refuge in Prague, where he found support in Svatopluk. From then Boleslaw was the sole lord of the Polish lands, though in fact his over-lordship began in 1107 when Zbigniew paid him homage as his feudal lord.

In 1108 the balance of power in Europe changed. Svatopluk decided to paid homage to Emperor Henry 5 and in exchange received from him the formal investiture of Bohemia. At the same time King Coloman of Hungary was under attack by the combined forces of the Holy Roman Empire and Bohemia. Svatopluk also directed an attack to Poland; in this expedition took part Zbigniew and his followers. Boleslaw avoided a direct confrontation because he was busy in his fight against Pomerania. Now, the Polish-Hungarian coalition decided to give help and shelter to Borivoj 2. Later that year, Boleslaw and Coloman made an new expedition against Bohemia. This expedition was prompted by the invasion of the German-Bohemian coalition to Hungary (siege to Pozsony Castle) and the fact that Svatopluk, who owed Boles?aw his throne, didn't honor his promise in which he returned Silesian cities seized from Poland (Racibórz, Kamieniec, Kozle among others) by his predecessors. Boleslaw then decided to restore Borivoj 2 in the Bohemian throne. This attempt was unsuccessful as a result of the attack of the Pomeranians. Boleslaw was forced to bring his army to the north, where could repelled the invasion. Thanks to this situation, Borivoj 2 failed to regain the throne.

In response to Boleslaw’s aggressive foreign policy, German king and Holy Roman Emperor Henry 5 undertook a punitive expedition against Poland in 1109 (the later called Polish-German War). In this fight, Henry 5 was assisted by Czech warriors provided by Svatopluk of Bohemia. The alleged reason for the war was the exile of Zbigniew and his restoration. Boleslaw received an ultimatum from the German King: he abandoned the expedition against him only if Zbigniew was restored with half of Poland as a rule, the formal recognition of the Holy Roman Empire as overlord and the payment of 300 pieces of fine silver as a regular tribute. Boleslaw rejected. During the negotiations between Germany and Poland, the Polish ruler was in the middle of a war against Pomerania. On the west side of the Oder river, Henry 5 hurriedly gathered knights for his expedition against Poland. Before the fight ended in Pomerania, the German troops have been able to approach Glogów.

The military operations mainly taken place in southwestern Poland, in Silesia, where Henry 5’s army laid siege to major strongholds of Glogów, Wroclaw and Bytom Odrzanski. At this time along with the defense of towns, Boleslaw was conducting a highly effective guerrilla war against the Holy Roman Emperor and his allies, and eventually he defeated the German Imperial forces at the legendary Battle of Hundsfeld on 24 August 1109, who received that name because the dogs devoured the many corpses left in the battlefield. In the end Henry 5 was forced to withdraw from Silesia and Poland altogether. The heroic defense of towns by villagers, where Polish children were used as human shields by the Germans, in large measure contributed to the German inability to succeed and gave the battle a national character.

In 1110 Boleslaw undertook an unsuccessful military expedition against Bohemia. His intention was to install yet another pretender on the Czech throne, Sobeslav 1, who sought refuge in Poland. During the campaign won a decisive victory against the Czechs at the Battle of Trutina on 8 October 1110; however, following this battle he ordered his forces to withdraw further attack against Bohemia. The reason for this is speculated to be the unpopularity of Sobeslav 1 among Czechs as well as Boleslaw’s unwillingness to further deteriorate his relations with the Holy Roman Empire. In 1111 a truce between Poland and the Holy Roman Empire was signed which stipulated that Sobeslav 1 would be able to return to Bohemia while Zbigniew would be able to return Poland. Boleslaw probably also agreed with the return of his half-brother as a result of pressure from the many supporters of the exiled prince in 1108, who according to the reports of Gallus Anonymus was surrounded to bad advisers (in this group unfavorable to Boleslaw was probably Martin 1, Archbishop of Gniezno). Once in Poland, Zbigniew could claim the sovereignty over his previous domains at the instigation of this group. The first step towards this was his presence in the Advent ceremonial (which was forbidden to him by Boleslaw after recognizing him as his overlord in Leczyca in 1107), which is reserved only for rulers. Zbigniew arrived surrounded by attendants, being carried before him a sword. This could be perceived by Boleslaw as an act of treason and caused a definitive breach in their relationship, under which Zbigniew was the vassal and Boleslaw the ruler. Probably these factors influenced Boles?aw's decision of a terrible punishment to Zbigniew: a year later, in 1112, he was blinded on Boleslaw’s orders.

The blinding of Zbigniew caused a strong negative reaction among Boles?aw's subjects. Unlike blinding in the east, blinding in medieval Poland was not accomplished by burning the eyes out with a red hot iron rod or knife, but a much more brutal technique was employed in which the condemned's eyes were pried out using special pliers. The convict was then made to open his eyes and if they did not do so, their eyelids were also removed.

Contemporary sources don't provide clear information if Boleslaw was indeed excluded from the community of the Church. Is generally believed that Archbishop Martin I of Gniezno (who was a strong supporter of Zbigniew) excommunicated Boleslaw for committing this crime against his half-brother. The excommunication exempted all Boleslaw's subjects from his oath to obedience. The prince was faced with a real possibility of uprising, of the sort that deposed Boles?aw the Bold. Seeing his precarious situation Boleslaw sought the customary penance that would reconcile the high priesthood. According to Gallus Anonymus, Boleslaw first fasted for forty days and made gifts to the poors:

...He slept in ashes and sackcloth, among the streams of tears and sobs, as he renounced communion and conversation with people.

It's possible that Boleslaw decided to celebrate a public penance as a result of the negative public response to the blinding of Zbigniew. His intention with this was to rebuild his weakened authority and gain the favor of Zbigniew's supporters. Punishment of blinding was used in medieval Europe to the rebellious nobles. This act of Boles?aw against his half-brother could be received by the Polish society as a breach of the principle of solidarity among the members of the ruling dynasty, accepting the foundation of public order.

According to Gallus, Boleslaw also sought and received forgiveness from his half-brother. In the next part of his penance, the prince made a pilgrimage to Hungary to the Abbeys of Saint Giles in Somogyvár and King Saint Stephen I in Székesfehérvár. The pilgrimage to the Abbey of Saint Giles also had a political goal; Boleslaw strengthened his ties of friendship and alliance with the Arpad dynasty. Following his return to Poland, Boleslaw even traveled to Gniezno to pay further penance at the tomb of Saint Adalbert of Prague, were poor people and clergy received numerous costly gifts from the prince. Only after this the excommunication was finally lifted. Following his repentance the Polish prince made a vague commitment to the Church.

About Zbigniew's death there are not preserved information. In the obituary of the Benedictine monastery in Lubi? dated 8 July 1113 was reported the death of a monk in Tyniec called brother Zbigniew. Historians believed that he could be Boleslaw's half-brother. The information marked that his burial place was in the Benedictine monastery of Tyniec.

The separation of Pomerania during the reign of Casimir 1 the Restorer contributed to the weakening of the Polish state, and subsequent rulers during the second half of the 11th century weren't able to unite all the lands that once belonged to Mieszko 1 and Boleslaw 1 the Brave. All attempts made to reconquer this area failed. Only after defeating Zbigniew and repelling the claims of Bohemia against Silesia during the Polis-German War of 1109, Boleslaw 3 Wrymouth was able to direct the expansion to the West, which he intended to return to Poland.

The issue of conquest of Pomerania had been a lifelong pursuit for Boleslaw 3 Wrymouth. His political goals were twofold;

First – to strengthen the Polish border on the Notec river line,

Second – to subjugate Pomerania with Polish political overlordship but without actually incorporating it into the country with the exception of Gdansk Pomerania and a southern belt north of river Notec which were to be absorbed by Poland.

By 1113 the northern border has been strengthened. The fortified border cities included: Santok, Wielen, Naklo, Czarnków, Ujscie and Wyszogród. Some sources report that the border began at the mouth of river Warta and Oder in the west, ran along the river Notec all the way to the Vistula river.

Before Boleslaw 3 began to expand in Gdansk Pomerania (Pomerelia), he normalized his political relations with Bohemia. This took place in 1114 at a great convention on the border of the Nysa Klodzka river. In addition to Boleslaw also assisted Bohemian princes of the Premyslid line: Vladislaus 1, Otto 2 the Black and Sobeslav 1. The pact was sealed by the marriage of Boleslaw (a widower since his wife Zbyslava's death) with Vladislaus 1 and Otto 2's sister-in-law, the German noblewoman Salomea of Berg.

After being normalized his relations with Bohemia, Boleslaw directed his efforts against Prussia, and in 1115 he made a victorious expedition, ravaging their tribal lands. As a result, the north-east border was at peace, which allowed to freely prepare the invasion to Gdansk Pomerania. The conquest of this part of the Pomeranian lands (made during 1115–19), crowned a long-time struggle of previous Polish rulers. The result was the complete incorporation of the territories on the Vistula River, including the castellany of Naklo, to Poland. Northern borders were established Polish Duchy probably on the line along the rivers Gwda and Uniesta (in later times currents of these rivers were the boundary between Pomerania and the Oder Slavic). It's also possible that the border ran along the Leba.

The local rulers of the conquered Gdansk and Slupsk were removed from power and replaced by Polish nobles. Boleslaw also introduced Polish clerical organization, which was made in order to protect his interests in that territory. However, these areas refused to follow the church organization. The incorporation to the Polish Church occurred only during 1125–1126 at the time of the visit of Papal Legate Gilles, Cardinal-Bishop of Tusculum.

During Boles?aw's Pomeranian campaign a formidable rebellion led by Count Palatine Skarbimir from the Awdaniec family began. The rebellion was quelled by the prince in 1117 and the mutinous nobleman were blinded as punishment. The conflict between Boleslaw and the Awdaniec family is difficult to explain due to the lack of sources. The cause was probably the growing influence of the family, the ambition and jealousy of Skarbimir against Boleslaw and his increased popularity. Another probable factor was the desire to put Wladyslaw 2, Boleslaw's first-born son, as the sole ruler after his death or also Boleslaw's fears to lose his position, as it was in the conflict with Sieciech. It was also suggested that Skarbimir entered in contacts with Pomeranians and Vladimir 2 Monomakh, Grand Prince of Kievan Rus'. Medieval historiography also associated the rebellion with the Law of Succession issued by Boleslaw. The problem with the principle of inheritance appeared between 1115 and 1116 (after the birth of his second son Leszek, first-born from his second marriage). According to one hypothesis Skarbimir objected the adoption of the statute who changed the traditional Polish succession customs. In the suppression of the rebellion played a major role Piotr Wlostowic of the Labedz family, who replaced Skarbimir as Count Palatine. Defeated, Skarbimir received a minor punishment from Boleslaw. The rebellion of Skarbimir also rested importance to the conquest of Gdansk Pomerania.

Probably in the rebellion of Skarbimir intervened the Rurikid ruler Vladimir 2 Monomakh and his sons. In 1118 Monomakh incorporated Volhynia to his domains and expelled his ruler, Yaroslav Sviatopolkovich, who sought refuge firstly in Hungary, then in Poland. In Yaroslav's place, Monomakh put his son Roman as a ruler of Volhynia, and after his early death in 1119, replaced him with another son, Andrew, who in 1120 invaded Polish territory with the support of the Kipchaks tribe. A year later, Boleslaw with the exiled Yaroslav (who was his brother-in-law), organized a retaliatory expedition to Czermno. After this, for several years Boleslaw intervened in the dynastic disputes of the House of Rurik.

During the 1120s the Kievan princes continue their expeditions against Poland. The neutrality of the neighboring Principality of Peremyshl was attributed to Count Palatine Piotr Wlostowic, who in 1122 captured Prince Volodar. A year later Boleslaw intervened again in Volhynia, where he wanted to restore Yaroslav. The expedition (aided by the Bohemian, Hungarian, Peremyshl and Terebovl forces) failed due to the death of Yaroslav and the stubborn resistance of the besieged Volodymyr-Volynskyi, aided by Skarbimir's supporters. This failed military expedition led to disturbances in the Polish-Hungarian-Halych alliance.

Occupation:
In 1121 (or 1119) Pomeranian Dukes Wartislaw 1 and Swietopelk 1 were defeated by Boleslaw's army at the battle of Niek?ad? near Gryfice. Polish troops ravaged Pomerania, destroyed native strongholds, and forced thousands of Pomeranians to resettle deep into Polish territory. Boleslaw's further expansion was directed to Szczecin (1121–1122). He knew that this city was well defended by both the natural barrier of the Oder river and his well-built fortifications, like Kolobrzeg. The only way to approach the walls was through the frozen waters of a nearby swamp. Taking advantage of this element of surprise, Boleslaw launched his assault from precisely that direction, and took control of the city. Much of the population was slaughtered and the survivors were forced to paid homage to the Polish ruler.

A further step is probably fought battles on the western side of the Oder River, where Boleslaw had addressed areas to the Lake Morzyce (now the German Müritz). These areas were outside the territorial scope of Pomeranians. In parallel with the expansion of the Polish ruler to the west continued the conquest of these lands by Lothair, Duke of Saxony (and future Holy Roman Emperor). According to contemporary sources, a Saxon army approaching from above the Elbe River in the direction of today's Rostock. They conquered the Warinis, Circipanes, Kessinians and part of the Tollensers tribes. The expansion led by the two rulers was probably the result of earlier unknown agreements. This was the first step for the later Christianization of Pomeranian lands.

In 1122 Boleslaw finally conquered Western Pomerania, who became a Polish fief. Duke Wartislaw 1 was forced to paid homage to the Polish ruler, paying an annual tribute of 500 marks of fine silver and the obligation to give military aid to Poland at Boleslaw’s request. In subsequent years the tribute was reduced to 300 marks. This success enabled Boleslaw to make further conquests. In 1123 his troops even reached to Rügen, but didn't mastered these areas.

According to modern historiography, Boleslaw began to pay tribute to Emperor Henry 5, at least from 1135. Is believed that the amount was 500 marks of fine silver annually. It's unknown why Boleslaw began to paid homage to Henry 5, as the sources do not mention any reference about the Polish ruler being tributary of the Holy Roman Empire in the period 1121–1135.

In order to make Polish and Pomeranian ties stronger, Boleslaw organized a mission to Christianize the newly acquired territory. The Polish monarch understood that the Christianization of the conquered territory would be an effective means of strengthening his authority there. At the same time he wished to subordinate Pomerania to the Gniezno Archbishopric. Unfortunately first attempts made by unknown missionaries did not make the desired progress. Another attempt, officially sponsored by Boleslaw and led by Bernard the Spaniard, who traveled to Wolin during 1122–1123, has ended in another failure. The next 2 missions were carried out in 1124–1125 and 1128 by Bishop Otto of Bamberg (called the Apostle of Pomerania). After appropriate consultation with Boleslaw, Bishop Otto set out on a first stage of Christianization of the region in 1124. In his mission Otto stayed firstly at Boleslaw's court, where he was provided with appropriate equipment, fire and several clergymen for his trip to Pomerania.

The Bishop was accompanied throughout his mission by the Pomeranian ruler Wartislaw 1, who greeted him on the border of his domains, in the environs of the city of Sanok. In Stargard the pagan prince promised Otto his assistance in the Pomeranian cities as well as help during the journey. He also assigned 500 armored knights to act as guards for the bishop’s protection, and obtain the baptism of the elders tribal leaders. Primary missionary activities were directed to Pyrzyce, then the towns of Kamien, Wolin, Szczecin and once again Wolin. In the first 2 towns the Christianization went without resistance. In Kamien the task was facilitated by the intercession of Wartislaw 1's own wife and dignitaries. At Szczecin and Wolin, which were important centers of Slavic paganism, opposition to conversion was particularly strong among the pagan priests and local population. The conversion was finally accepted only after Boleslaw lowered the annual tribute imposed on the Pomeranians. Four great pagan temples were torn down and churches were built in their places. Otto's mission of 1124 ended with the erection of bishoprics in Lubusz for Western Pomerania and in Kruszwica for Eastern Pomerania (Gdansk), which was subordinated to the Archbishopric of Gniezno.

In 1127 the first pagan rebellions began to take place. These were due to both the large tribute imposed by Poland as well as a plague that descended on Pomerania and which was blamed on Christianity. The rebellions were largely instigated by the old pagan priests, who had not come to terms with their new circumstances. Wartislaw 1 confronted these uprisings with some success, but was unable to prevent several insurgent raids into Polish territory. Because of this Boleslaw was preparing a massive punitive expedition that may have spoiled all the earlier accomplishments of missionary work by Bishop Otto. Thanks to Otto’s diplomacy direct confrontation was avoided and in 1128 he embarked on another mission to Pomerania. Wartislaw 1 greeted Otto at Demmin with some Polish knights. This time more stress was applied to the territories west of the Oder River, i.e. Usedom, Wolgast and Gützkow, which weren't under Polish suzerainty. The final stage of the mission returned to Szczecin, Wolin and Kamien. The Christianization of Pomerania is considered one of the greatest accomplishments of Boleslaw’s Pomeranian policy.

In 1129 Boleslaw concluded with Niels, King of Denmark an alliance directed against Wartislaw 1 and the attempts of Lothair 3, King of Germany to subordinate Western Pomerania. In retaliation for the sack of Plock by Wartislaw 1 in 1128, Polish-Danish troops taken the Western Pomeranian islands of Wolin and Usedom.

At end of the 1120s Boleslaw began to implement an ecclesiastical organization of Pomerania. Gdansk Pomerania was added to the Diocese of Wloclawek, known at the time as the Kujavian Diocese. A strip of borderland north of Notec was split between the Diocese of Gniezno and Diocese of Poznan. The bulk of Pomerania was however made an independent Pomeranian bishopric (whose first Bishop was one of the participants in the missionary expedition and former Polish royal chaplain, Adalbert), set up in the territory of the Duchy of Pomerania in 1140, and after Boles?aw had died in 1138 the duchy became independent from Poland.

During the 1130s a project was designed by Norbert, Archbishop of Magdeburg, under which Pomerania would be divided between two dioceses subordinated to the Archbishopric of Magdeburg. At the same, he revivied the old claims about Magdeburg's ecclesiastical sovereignty over all Poland. A first Bull was prepared already in 1131, but never entered into force. Despite adversity, Norbert continued his actions to subdue the Polish Church during 1132–1133. For the Polish bishops, a call was made in the Curia.

The Polish bishops didn't appear before Pope Innocent 2, which resulted in the issuing of the Bull Sacrosancta Romana in 1133, which confirmed the sovereignty of the Archbishopric of Magdeburg over the Polish Church and the projected Pomeranian dioceses. The formal privilegium maius was the culmination of Norbert's efforts. Boleslaw, trying to save his past efforts in Pomeranian politics, opted for his submission at Merseburg in 1135.

To consolidate his power over Pomerania Boleslaw conducted in 1130 an expedition to the island of Rügen. For this purpose, he concluded an alliance with the Danish duke Magnus Nilsson (his son-in-law) who provided him with a fleet in exchange for support in his efforts to obtain the Swedish throne. The fleet of Magnus transported Polish troops to the shores of the island of Rügen. However, the intended battle on the island doesn't happen, because the Rani at the sight of the Polish-Danish combined forces recognize Boleslaw 's overlordship.

After the successful invasion to the Danish capital, Roskilde in 1134 Boleslaw formed an alliance with Wartislaw 1 of Pomerania against King Eric 2 of Denmark (an ally of Emperor Lothair 3). The role of the Polish prince was limited only to aid the House of Griffins, not due while the real interest in Danish affairs. The Danish, after repelling the first attack, in retaliation led an expedition who led to their expansion into the lands of Pomerania.

In 1125 Henry 5, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Germany, died. His successor, Lothair of Supplinburg, has been embroiled in disputes over his inheritance. For the Imperial crown, he became involved in the affairs of the Papacy. In 1130 there was a double election to the Apostolic See. Lothair supported Pope Innocent 2, hoping in this way to secure his own coronation. Contrary to was expected, Lothair's Imperial coronation didn't end his disputes against the contenders for the German throne.

In 1130 Boleslaw controlled the areas situated on the left bank of the Oder river on the island of Rügen. Germany also wanted to control these lands, but the internal political situation and the involvement in the civil war in Hungary, however, didn't allow an armed conflict. The Bull Sacrosancta Romana of 1133 give the Archbishopric of Magdeburg sovereign rights over the Pomeranian dioceses instituted by Boleslaw.

The death of King Stephen 2 of Hungary in 1131 led the country into civil war between two claimaints to the throne: Béla the Blind (son of Álmos, Duke of Croatia) and Boris (the alleged son of King Coloman). Boris sought the help of the Polish ruler, who hoped for a closer alliance with Hungary and cooperation with the Kievan Rus' princes (Boris was a son of a daughter of Vladimir 2 Monomakh). However, Boleslaw overestimated his strength against Béla, who counted with the support of almost all his country. The Polish army faced the combined forces of Hungary, Bohemia, Austria and Germany in the Battle of the Sajó river (22 July 1132), where the coalition had a complete victory over the Polish prince, who was forced to retreat.

The success in Hungary was used by the Bohemian ruler Sobeslav 1, an Imperial vassal, who during 1132–1134 repeatedly led invasions to Silesia. The issue over the property of Silesia was subjected to the decision of Lothair 3.

In February 1134 Sobeslav 1 of Bohemia and dignitaries of King Béla 2 of Hungary, together with Bishop Peter of Székesfehérvár went to Altenburg, where they presented their allegations against the Polish ruler. They asked the intervention of the Holy Roman Empire (preliminary requests occurred two years earlier). Lothair 3 accepted the request, acting as an arbitrator in the dynastic disputes in Central Europe.

At the same time Béla 2 and Prince Volodymyrko of Peremyshl undertook a military expedition against Poland. The combined forces occupied Lesser Poland, reaching to Wislica. Shortly after, Boleslaw received a summons to the Imperial court at Magdeburg on 26 June 1135. Playing for time, however, he only send deputies. The emperor sent another delegation and requested a personal appearance of the Polish ruler, setting a new date on 15 August 1135, this time in Merseburg. Boleslaw realized that without an agreement with Lothair 3 he couldn't maintain the control over the newly conquered lands on the west side of the Oder and the island of Rügen.

Even before the Congress of Merseburg was performed, Boleslaw persuaded one of ruling princes of Western Pomerania, Ratibor 1 to make an expedition against Denmark. It was a clear expression of ostentation to Emperor Lothair 3 because the King of Denmark was a German vassal. The fleet formed by 650 boats (with 44 knights and 2 horses) attacked the rich Norwegian port city of Kungahälla (now Kungälv in Sweden).

The Congress took place on 15 August 1135. During the ceremony, Emperor Lothair 3 recognized the rights of the Polish ruler over Pomerania. In retribution, Boleslaw agreed to paid homage for the Pomeranian lands and the Principality of Rügen, with the payment of 6.000 pieces of fine silver from these lands to the Holy Roman Empire; however he remained fully independent ruler of his main realm, Poland. With Boleslaw's death in 1138, Polish authority over Pomerania ended, triggering competition of the Holy Roman Empire and Denmark for the area. The conflict with Hungary also ended, with Boleslaw recognizing Béla 2's rule. The agreement was sealed with the betrothal of Boleslaw's daughter Judith with Béla 2's Géza (this marriage never took place). In case of the Bohemian-Polish dispute the Imperial mediation failed. Boleslaw argued he must be treated as a sovereign ruler, who wasn't the case of Sobeslav 1, an imperial vassal. Lothair 3, unable to come to an agreement with the Polish ruler, proposed to discuss the matter in subsequent negotiations.

The Congress ended with church ceremonies, during which Boleslaw carried the imperial sword. This was an honor granted only to sovereign rulers. An indirect goal of Polish diplomacy was the successful invalidation of the Papal Bull of 1133 and the recognition of metropolitan rights of the Archbishopric of Gniezno at the Synod in Pisa in 1135. On 7 July 1136 was issued the protectionist Bull Ex commisso nobis a Deo under which Pope Innocent 2 confirmed the unquestioned sovereignty of the Archbishopric of Gniezno over the Polish dioceses.

After entering in the imperial sphere of influence, Poland normalized his relations with Bohemia at the Congress of Klodzko on 30 May 1137 (the so-called Peace of Klodzko), but the details of this agreement are unknown. This treaty was confirmed in the town of Niemcza, where Wladyslaw, the eldest son of Boleslaw, stood as godfather in the baptism of Wenceslaus, Sobeslav 1's son.

In the last years of his life, Boleslaw's main concern was to arranged political marriages for his children in order to strengthening his relations with neighboring countries. In 1137 Boleslaw reinforced his relations with the Kievan Rus' with the marriage of his son Boleslaw with Princess Viacheslava, daughter of Vsevolod, Prince of Pskov. In the year of his death, by contrast, finally normalized his relations with Hungary through the marriage of his son Mieszko with Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King Béla 2.

Boleslaw 3 Wrymouth died on 28 October 1138, probably in the town of Sochaczew. There are no records about the circumstances of his death. 12th century sources didn't provide information about his place of burial. It was only in the 15th century, when Jan Dlugosz recorded that the Prince's tomb was in the Masovian Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral in Plock. However, he didn't showed from where took this information. Presumably the chronicler took this report from the lost Rocznik mazowiecki. Wawrzyniec Wszerecz, Canon of Plock during the 16th–17th century, wrote that Boleslaw was in a common coffin at the Cathedral, where the remains of his father Wladyslaw 1 Herman and several other Piast Masovian rulers were also placed.

Boleslav married Salome av Berg-Schelklingen about 1115. Salome (daughter of Henrik av Berg-Schelklingen and Adelheid av Mochental) was born about Oct 1101; died on 27 Jul 1144. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Vladimir av Halicz. Vladimir (son of Vsevolod and NN av Tczernigov) was born about 1110; died about 1144 in Novgorod, Russland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Valdemar Knutsen av Danmark, "Valdemar 1". Valdemar (son of Knud Eriksen and Ingeborg Mstislavsdatter av Kiev) was born on 14 Jan 1131; died on 12 May 1182. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sofie married Sigfried av Orlamünde, "Sigfried 3" about 1181. Sigfried (son of Herman av Orlamünde and Irmgard) was born about 1160; died about 1206. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Abt 1188, Schlesvig, Schleswig-Holstein, Tyskland; Hertug av Slesvig.
• Occupation: 25 Dec 1202, Danmark; Konge.

Notes:

Occupation:
Valdemar Sejr, Valdemar 2 av Danmark (1170 - 28.mars 1241 i Vordingborg), sønn av Valdemar 1 den store, var dansk konge fra 1202 til 1241. Han etterfulgte sin bror Knut, som døde barnløs.

I 1188 ble han hertug av Slesvig.

Kronet til konge av Danmark 1.juledag 1202 i domkirken i Lund (Kilde: heimskringla.no).

Valdemar drev kraftig utenrikspolitikk. Den danske ekspansjonen, som Valdemar den store hadde påbegynt ble videreført under Knut, og også under Valdemar Sejr.
I 1204 hadde han et resultatløst felttog mot Viken for å støtte baglerne.
En traktat med keiser Fredrik 2 i 1214, gjorde han til herre over en del av Nord-Tyskland. La under seg Holstein, Ditmarsken, Hamburg og Lübeck.

Erobret Estland 1219-1220 etter flere korstog og foretok flere erobringstog til Østersjø landene. Ingen av erobringene ble etterfulgt av dansk bosetning og flere gikk tapt da han ble fanget av en av sine lendmenn 1223.

Den 15. juni 1219 kom Estland under dansk overherredømme. Paven hadde oppfordret kong Valdemar til å iverksette et dansk korstog til Det hellige land eller føre et korstog mot de antatt hedenske balterne. Valdemar ville langt heller gjøre ferdig den mangeårige erobringspolitikken i Estland slik at sverdridderne (senere innlemmet i Den tyske orden) ikke ble for mektige på bekostning av det danske kongedømmet.
Med på korstoget var også Johanniter-ordenen, som siden rundt 1130 hadde hatt pavens velsignelse til å føre rødt-hvitt korsbanner. Det var et hvitt kors som delte den røde duken i fire kvadratiske felter. Det danske flagget Dannebrog har som bekjent to kvadratiske og to avlange felter.

Roskilde-munken Peder Olsen beskrev omkring år 1500 det dramatiske slag hvor det lenge så ut som de kristne ville tape slaget ved Lyndanisse (i dag Tallinn) den 15. juni 1219. Den gamle erkebiskopen Anders Sunesen knelte i bønn på en bakketopp. Da han strakte armene mot himmelen rykket danskene fram og da armene av tretthet ble senket vek danskene tilbake. Det kom hjelpere til for å støtte den gamle erkebiskopens armer.
Denne delen av Roskilde-munk Peder Olsens beskrivelse fra omkring år 1500 kan tenkes å være inspirert av Bibel-fortellingen der Moses har omtrent samme rolle som Anders Sunesen, nemlig i 2. Mosebok 17:11-12.
Da kampen var på sitt kraftigste sendte Gud hjelp. Tegnet fra Gud var et rødt flagg med et hvitt kors som dalte ned fra himmelen. Dette ansporet danskene ytterligere, og de vant en stor seier. Kong Valdemar kunngjorde at dette korsbanner som ga danskene seieren skulle heretter være det danske riksbanner.

I 1217 sendte Valdemar sin nevø Albert av Orlamünde til Estland i håp om å erobre øya Øsel. Vinteren 1218–1219 var kald og hard nok til at man kunne sende tropper fra Riga over isen til Estland. Denne ekspedisjonen fikk i ettertid tilnavnet Det kalde korstog.
Sverdbroderordenen, tyske korsfarere og nyomvendte latviere og litauere bega seg i vinternattens mørke over isen til Suntaken og derfra over land til Reval. Frosten og den bitende vinden fikk ansiktshuden til slå sprekker og falle av. Mange forfrøs nese, hender og føtter i løpet av natten.
Om morgenen satte de i fortvilelse den første landsbyen de fant i brann for å skaffe seg varme, og de tilbrakte de neste dagene med å plyndre og drepe hedninger og deretter jagde de krigsfanger og kveg ut på isen ved Reval og gikk tilbake til Riga med byttet. I løpet av sommeren 1219 kom Valdemar selv. Hvis det er riktig at han hadde med seg 1500 skip hadde han også mobilisert de danske stormennenes egne styrker. Erkebiskop Sunesen var også med.
Danskene reiste nå den borgen som ble kalt for Danskeborgen, men som på estisk ble til Tallinn.

Esterne møtte fram hos Valdemar og overga seg til ham og kristendommen. Rørt ga Valdemar dem store gaver mens biskopene døpte dem. I virkeligheten var det en krigslist for esterne vendte tilbake tre dager senere og overfalt de danske styrkene. Danske satt og spiste kveldsmat og ble overrumplet. De ble reddet kun av at Vitslav av Rügen sto gjemt bak en sanddyne med sine ryttere og fikk drevet esterne på flukt.
Danskene og de tyske vasallene forfulgte de flyktende og skal ha drept mer enn et tusen av dem. Det ble holdt en takkegudstjeneste før Valdemar dro tilbake til Danmark. For sikkerhets skyld ble biskopene igjen med en tropp som hele året kjempet mot Revals beboere inntil de endelig modtok dåpens sakramente.

I løpet av en jakttur til Lyø i 1223 ble Valdemar Sejr sammen med sønnen Valdemar tatt til fange av greve Henrik av Schwerin, kalt for Sorte Henrik. Greven avverget påfølgende angrep fra danskene og i 1225 ble Valdemar kjøpt fri for den store sum 45 000 mark, penger som han måtte låne av Henrik selv. Dessuten var det en betingelse at alle erobrede områder i Nord-Tyskland skulle bli gitt tilbake. Til sist måtte kong Valdemar sverge på å avstå fra hevn.

Alt håp om å gjenerobre de tapte områdene brast med nederlaget ved Bornhøved i Holstein 22.juli 1227 - Rex amisit victoriam (kongen mistet seieren).
Han tok parti for baglerne i den norske tronstriden, dog uten større kraft og engasjement.
Forsøkte, og mislyktes, å gjeninnsette fordrevne Sverker den yngre på Sveriges trone.
De tyske besittelser gikk også tapt.

Deretter gikk Valdemar i gang med rikets indre oppbygging. Kort tid før sin død stadfestet han Den Jyske Lov og Danmarks jordebok med fortegnelser over konge-og krongods, og som bærer navn etter han.
Sølibatet og tienden ble innført og trelldommen avskaffet.

På grunn av sine mange erobringstokt fikk han tilnavnet Sejr. Alle områder unntatt Estland gikk imidlertid tapt igjen allerede i hans egen tid etter konflikten med greve Henrik. Som sin far søkte Valdemar Sejr å sikre den kongelige arvefølgen ved å få kronet sin eldste sønn som medkonge, og de andre sønnene fikk hver et landområde i arvelig len. Dette førte i praksis til en svekkelse av kongemakten og innebar kimen til den kampen om tronen som sønnene utkjempet etter hans død.
I 1205 giftet Valdemar Sejr seg med Dagmar, født på Vyšehrad i Praha og datter av Ottokar 1 av Böhmen (Tsjekkia). Hun var i henhold til tradisjonen elsket av befolkningen. Hun døde i 1212 og hviler udi Ringsted. På sitt dødsleie skulle hun i henhold til folkevisen ha forsøkt å overtale Valdemar Sejr til å ekte Karl av Rises datter Liden Kirsten, og ikke den beske blomme Bengerd som hun kalles i visen.

I 1214 giftet Valdemar Sejr seg med Berengaria som var datter av kong Sancho 1 av Portugal. Hun ble mor til Erik, Abel og Kristoffer.
Med Helena Guttormsdatter (datter av Guttorm jarl; enke etter Esbern Snare) fikk han utenfor ekteskap sønnen Knut Valdemarsson av Danmark (1211 – 1260), hertug av Reval (Tallinn).

Med Margrethe Dragomir (Dagmar av Danmark) fikk han sønnen Valdemar (1209–1231).

Med Berengaria av Portugal fikk han barna:
Erik Plogpenning (1216–1250)
Sofie av Danmark (1217–1247)
Abel av Danmark (ca. 1218-1252)
Kristoffer av Danmark (ca. 1219-1259).

Valdemar Sejrs liv og kriger er hovedtema i B.S.Ingemanns bok med samme navn fra 1826.

Family/Spouse: Helena Guttormsdatter. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Valdemar married Berengaria av Portugal before 1216. Berengaria (daughter of Sancho av Portugal, "Sancho 1" and Dulce Berenguer Ramonsdatter av Barcelona) was born about 1194 in Portugal; died about 1221 in Danmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: 1170, Danmark; Konge.

Notes:

Occupation:
Knut 6 av Danmark (født 1163, død 12.november 1202), konge av Danmark fra 1182 til 1202. Knut var sønn av Valdemar den store og Sofia av Minsk.

Allerede, i 1170, som 7-åring ble Knut salvet og kronet som sin fars medkonge for å sikre at kongsmakten skulle bli i den samme kongsslekten.

Fra heimskringla.no:

Den 25.juni 1170 blir den helgenkårede hertug Knud Lavard (d.1131) skrinlagt i den nyinviede St.Bendts kirke i Ringsted. Samtidig blir danmarkhistoriens første kjente kongekronging sted, da hertug Knuds sønnesønn Knud Valdemarsen krones til konge.

Etter at faren døde i 1182 ble den 19-årige Knut formelt konge. I virkeligheten er det biskop Absalon som regjerer på hans vegne.

Sammen med sin yngre bror slo han ned et opprør i Skåne og erobret nye landområder i s.ø.

Knut nektet å avlegge lenseed til den tyske keiser Frederik Barbarossa. I stedet lyktes det i 1185 å beseire hertug Bugislav, den slaviske hersker over Vendland (Pommern), som ble tvunget til å anerkjenne dansk overherredømme. Derfor kalles Knut ikke bare for - danenes konge - men også - venderes konge. Danmarks grense ble da flyttet til elven Elben. Selv om herredømmet over Pommern opphørte i 1225 fortsatte danske konger til og med Frederik 9 av Danmark å titulere seg som venderes konge.

I 1197 ledet Knut personlig et korstog til Estland.

I 1177 giftet han seg med Gertrud, datter av hertug Henrik Løve av Sachsen og Bayern. Ekteskapet var barnløst.

Den første landskapsloven, Skånske Lov, ble utstedt under Knut 6.

Knut døde i 1202. Hans personlige innflytelse over kongedømmet har blitt diskutert. Han har ofte blitt sett på som en lojal støttespiller til den sterke biskop Absalons politikk. Livet igjennom sto Knut i skyggen av Absalon og broren Valdemar Seier. Samtidens kilder har beskrevet ham som en sterkt religiøs og ærlig mann.

Family/Spouse: Lambert av Gleichen, "Lambert 2". Lambert was born before 1160; died on 14 Sep 1227. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Abt 1241, Danmark; Konge.

Notes:

Occupation:
Erik var dansk medkonge fra 1232, dansk enekonge fra 1241–1250. Hans regjeringstid var full av bitre kamper mellom Erik og brødrene hans, mest hertug Abel av Sønderjylland, som fikk Erik myrdet.

Det var til stor irritasjon for hans to brødre, Abel og Kristoffer, som begge ønsket å få del i makten. Erik og Abel lå i krig i flere år, hvor Abel, som var hertug av Slesvig, fikk støtte av sine holsteinske svogre.

I 1244 ble de forlikte til delta på et felles korstog mot Estland, men snart blusset kampen opp mellom dem igjen.

For å finansiere disse kampene la Erik i 1249 skatt på hver plog, noe som var en rettferdig skatt ettersom antallet ploger sto i forhold til den dyrkede jorden. En penning var såpass lite beløp at alle kunne betale, men harde inndrivelse av skatten skaffet ham tilnavnet Plogpenning. Skatten var ikke særlig populær, og i 1249 måtte han flykte fra rasende bønder i Skåne som nektet å betale.

I tillegg røk Erik også uklar med kirken og den mektige Hvide-slekten. På denne tiden var bispene meget offensive. I 1237 måtte Erik skaffe seg pavens brev mot de bisper som nektet å innsette prester som var utpekt av kongen i hans kirker. Erik var likevel en kirkens mann. For egen regning påbegynte han oppførelsen av Gråbrødre kloster i Roskilde, men krig og ufred forhindret ham i å fullføre arbeidet.
Dronning Jutta nevnes som et vitne i et brev hvor kong Erik få måneder etter sin fars død uttalte et ønske om å få dø i Franciskanenes (gråbrødrenes) ordensdrakt og begraves i deres klosterkirke i Roskilde.

I 1250 lykkes det for Erik å erobre størsteparten av Abels hertugdømme, Rendsburg, og de møttes hos Abel for å slutte forlik, etter megling av søsteren Sophie av Brandenburg. Under besøket, som fant sted på Sankt Laurentiis natt den 9. august 1250, ble Erik tatt til fange, og halshugget av en av Abels menn. Liket ble senket ned i Slien.

Erikskrøniken, Sveriges eldste historiske kildeskrift, kritisert for sin politiske subjektivitet som drar ned troverdigheten, men er ellers en fargeglad skildring av en periode som var full av kongedrap og politiske intriger i de samtlige nordiske landene Norge, Danmark og Sverige. Blant annet beskriver krøniken kong Erik av Danmarks voldsomme død (utdrag i original tekst):

Danmark thz fik digher skadha thz konung erik aff ringst han bleff swa jammerlika döder han var forradin aff sinom bröder Hans broder het hertugh abel han gaff sith rad ok vilia ther tell thz man honom nidh i slää sänkte Ve ward honom at han thz tenkte Fatighe fiskara hitto vpa hans liik hwar thz a grunden laa Ok fördot til landz i thera baat önkelika dödh ok illa waat Huar man honom förde eller baar ther brunno liwss ä hwar han war The gud nid aff hymelin sende oc the helgo ängla tände Gud hauer giort han swa säligh at han er i hymerike häligh Abel var tha konung en lithen riidh sidan vart han dräpin i strid han wart släghin i häll aff frisa Nw haffuer han i heluite engen lisa we er them swa jorderikis ödh...

I 1258 ble hans jordiske levninger overført til St. Bendts kirke i Ringsted hvor han ble gravlagt. På hvelvingene over Eriks grav kan man se kalkmalerier med scener fra hans liv og død.

Erik ble æret av folket som helgen.

Died:
I Rendsburg, mens han var på besøk hos sin bor Abel for å slutte forlik, ble Erik tatt til fange og halshugget av Laue Gudmundsen, en av bror Abels menn. Dette fant sted på Sankt Laurentiis natt den 9.august 1250.

Liket av kong Erik ble senket ned i Slien.
Et kalkmaleri i St.Bendts kirke i Ringsted skal vise denne siste hendelsen.

Family/Spouse: Judith av Sachsen. Judith (daughter of Albert av Sachsen and Agnes av Østerrike) was born in 1223; died on 02 Feb 1267. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: 1232, Sønderjylland, Danmark; Hertug av Sønderjylland
• Occupation: 1 Nov 1250, Danmark; Konge.

Notes:

Occupation:
Abel, nest eldste sønn av Valdemar og Bengjerd, ble gift med Mechtilde, datter av Adolf 4 av Holstein.

Abel var innsatt av faren til hertug av Sønderjylland i 1232 og med ekteskapet med Mechthilde, som var inngått mot farens vilje, kom han i motsetningsforhold til Erik.

Det var i 1237 at Abel giftet seg med Mechthilde, datter aa grev Adolf 4. av Holsten.
Da Adolf 4. trakk seg tilbake til et franciskansk kloster samme år, var Abel i flere år formynder for sine mindreårige svogere Johan og Gerhard.

På grund af Mechthildes afstamning bidrog ægteskabet til stor holstensk indflydelse på Abels og den senere Abelslægts sønderjyske hertugdømme.

Som hertug af Slesvig kom Abel i strid med sin bror Erik Plogpenning.

Ved Valdemar Seiers død i 1241 ble Abels bror, Erik, konge etter deres far. I de følgende år lå Abel i strid med sin storebror for at oppnå større uavhengighet for sitt sønderjyske hertugdømme. Det var anledningen til en mangeårig borgerkrig, hvor blant andet Randers ble brent av Abels tropper.

Stridighetene fortsatte inntil Abel og Eriks søster Markgrevinde Sophie av Brandenburg forhandlet på plass en skrøpelig våpenhvile.

Kong Erik Plogpenning ble drept i 1250, under et besøk hos Abel, og Abel ble mistenkt for at stå bak. Abel bedyret sin uskyld i Erik`s død og avla ed sammen med 24 av sine riddere ved landstinget i Viborg. Deretter ble Abel hyllet som konge.

På grunn av mordet på broren ble følgende vers diktet om kong Abel:

Abel af navn,
Kain af gavn.

Occupation:
Abel ble valgt til konge og kronet sammen med sin dronning i Roskilde 1.november 1250.

Under en ekspedisjon mot friserne for å tvinge igjennom skattekrav, led Abel nederlag, og ble drept under flukt 29.juni 1252 ved Husum Bro ut for halvøya Ejdersted.

Da Abel ble drept oppholdt hans eldste og halvvoksne sønn Valdemar seg i Frankrike. Han skyndte seg hjem for å overta kronen, men ble arrestert av erkebiskopen av Køln, Konrad Lotharsen av Ahr-Hochstaden. Her ble han holdt som fange, inntil de schauenburgske grever av Holsten betalte løsepengene for ham i 1253.
Da han kom til Danmark, var Abels lillebror Kristoffer imidlertid blitt valgt til konge. Herved var grunnen lagt for en strid mellom den eldre og yngre linje av kongehuset, som kom til at vare i flere årtier.
Kristoffer ble kronet i Lund Domkirke 1.juledag 1252.

Etter Abels død gikk hans enke dronning Mechthilde i kloster, men forlot det senere igen.
I 1261 giftet hun seg på ny, denne gang med Birger Jarl av Sverige.

Died:
Fra heimskringla.no:

Den 29.juni 1252 faller kong Abel Valdemarsen i slaget ved Oldenswort i Nordfriesland, under et felttog mot friserne.

Han ble konge 1.november 1250, etter drapet på broren Erik Plogpenning, og er dermed den danske kongen som har hatt den korteste regjeringstid i historisk tid.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Abt 1252, Danmark; Konge.

Notes:

Occupation:
Kristoffer 1 av Danmark (født 1219, død 29.mai 1259) var dansk konge i 1252–1259, sønn av kong Valdemar Sejr, og yngste bror av Erik Plogpenning og Abel av Danmark, begge brødre var konge før ham.

Da kong Abel ble drept i et bondeopprør i 1252 var hans sønn i Valdemar av Slesvig i Frankrike. Han skyndte seg hjem for å gjøre krav på Danmarks krone som sin fars eldste sønn, men i Köln ble han arrestert av erkebiskop Konrad av Ahr-Hochstaden. Her ble holdt som fange inntil de schauenburgske grever av Holstein betalte løsepenger for ham i 1253. Da han nådde fram til Danmark, var onkelen Kristoffer allerede blitt valgt til konge. Dermed var grunnen lagt for en strid mellom den eldre og den yngre slektslinjen av kongehuset, som kom til å vare i årtier.
Kristoffer ble kronet til konge i Lund domkirke på juledagen 1252.

Kong Kristoffer satte i gang bestrebelser for å få sin bror Erik Plogpenning anerkjent som martyr eller helgen. Foruten at det alltid er heldig å ha en helgen i familien var den viktigste grunnen å få brennmerket Abel som brodermorder, og dermed utelukke hans slekt, først og fremst nevøen Valdemar, nå hertug av Slesvig, fra tronfølgen. Kristoffer samlet opplysninger om ulike undre som hadde skjedd ved Eriks grav. Abels tilhengere var imot forsøket og samtidig ble kongens forhold til kirken stadig forverret.

Ved å tillate Abels sønn Valdemar å bli hertug av Slesvig unngikk Kristoffer umiddelbart borgerkrig, men ble selv mål for intriger og forræderi. Både Slesvig som Holstein sto for en tid uavhengig av kongens styre.

Erkebiskop Jakob Erlandsen, som med pavens velsignelse var blitt innsatt på bispesetet i Lund, var tilhenger av en sterk og uavhengig kirke. Han kom i konflikt med kongen om blant annet de geistliges leidangsplikt og skatteplikt på lik linje med enhver annen jordeier. Biskop Jacob nektet og gikk så langt som å forby bønder som levde eller arbeidet på kirkens eiendommer om å yte militærtjeneste for kongen. Biskopen var kanskje den rikeste i hele kongedømmet og insisterte samtidig at et verdslig styre ikke hadde kontroll eller makt over kirken, dens eiendom eller kirkens ansatte. Han bannlyste kongen for å slå fast at han ikke ville bøye seg for kongens vilje.

Erkebiskopen kjempet dog ikke kun for kirken. På morssiden slektet han på den mektige Hvide-slekten som tilhørte avdøde kong Abels tilhengere. Det kom til uttrykk da Jakob Erlandsen nektet å krone Kristoffers sønn Erik Klipping som medkonge og tronfølger.

I 1256 samlet erkebiskopen rikets fremste til et møte i Vejle hvor de vedtok konstitusjonen Cum Ecclesia Daciana. Her står det at riket vil bli lyst i interdikt (det vil si forbud mot alle kirkelige handlinger) hvis kongen utsetter geistlige for overgrep. Jakob Erlandsen ville innføre kanonisk rett i Danmark, det vil si tvinge igjennom gyldigheten av pave Gregor 9's Liber Extra. Den danske kirkekamp hadde tilsvarende paralleller over hele Europa, blant grunnet pave-keiser-striden.

Vinteren 1257–1258 gikk de holstenske grever på anmodning fra Jakob Erlandsen, og for sikre deres nevøs arverett til hertugdømmet Slesvig i Sønderjylland, til angrep på Danmark, men angrepet ble avverget.

I februar 1259 ble Jakob Erlandsen arrestert av mecklenburgske soldater. I følge en beretning ble han til spott og spe iført en verdslig drakt med en lue av revehaler, deretter bundet og kastet i fengsel. Erkebispesetet i Lund, og kort tid etter også biskop Peder Bang i Roskilde (som var i familie med Jakob Erlandsen) lyste interdikt over kongen.

Sverige og Norge hadde inngått en politisk allianse mot Danmark allerede før Kristoffer var blitt konge ved at de var blitt provosert av kong Abels innblandinger.

I 1256 foretok Håkon 4 Håkonsson et plyndringstokt mot dansk land i Halland.
I 1257 ble det inngått forlik mellom Kristoffer og Håkon Håkonsson. Det samme året var det et bondeopprør i Danmark som brøt ut på nytt i 1258 som et resultat av Kristoffers nye eiendomsskatt, men danskekongen fikk slått disse ned.

I 1259 flyktet biskop Peder Bang av Roskilde til Rügen og overtalte fyrst Jaromar 2, prins av Rügen, som var Erik Abelssons svigerfar, til å gjøre landgang på Sjælland. Herfra inntok han København. Jarmers Tårn er oppkalt etter fyrsten.

Før Kristoffer rakk å reagere døde han den 29.mai 1259 i Ribe hvor han hadde dratt for å være hos biskopen. I følge et rykte skal han ha blitt forgiftet av abbed Arnfast fra Ryd kloster da han ga kongen nattverden. Året etter ble Arnfast gjort til biskop av Århus av erkebiskop Jakob Erlandsson, men paven omgjorde vedtaket.

Kristoffer ble gravlagt foran høyalteret i Ribe domkirke kort tid etter sin død av den lokale biskop til tross for interdiktet.

Det er mulig at kongen døde av naturlige årsaker, men hans tilhengere kalte ham Krist-Offer.

Kristoffer var gift med Margarete Sambiria Samborsdatter av Pommern. De fikk følgende barn:

Erik Klipping, konge av Danmark,
Valdemar,
Niels,
Mechthilde, eller Matilda (død 1311), gift med Albert 3, margreve av Brandenburg,
Margrete (død 1306), gift med greve Johan 2 av Holstein-Kiel,
Ingeborg.

Dronningen og Jaromar var altså begge vendere fra Rügen, og den gylne, vendiske drage på rød bunn var tidligere med i det danske riksvåpen.

Died:
Fra heimskringla.no:

Den 29.mai 1259 dør kong Kristoffer 1. Valdemarsen av Danmark.
Et ondsindet rygte vil vide, at han blevet forgivet af abbed Arnfast fra Ryd Kloster.

Kristoffer married Margrethe (Sambiria) av Pommern about 1248. Margrethe (daughter of Sambor av Pommern, "Sambor 2" and Mechtild av Mecklenburg) was born about 1230 in Pommern, Tyskland; died on 01 Dec 1282. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Adelheid married Ludvig av Eberstein, "Ludvig 1" in 1206 in Eberstein, Braunschweig, Niedersachsen, Tyskland. Ludvig (son of Albrecht av Eberstein, "Albrecht 3" and Agnes av Bayern) was born in Nov 1206 in Eberstein, Braunschweig, Niedersachsen, Tyskland; died in 1284. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sofia married Valdemar Birgersson av Sverige in 1261 in Jönköping, Jönköpings län, Sverige. Valdemar was born in 1239; died on 26 Dec 1302 in Nyköping, Södermanlands län, Sverige. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: 1280, Danmark; Dronning.

Notes:

Occupation:
Ingeborg av Danmark øvde sterk innflytelse på riksstyret etter ektemannen Magnus Lagabøters død i 1280.

Ingeborg married Magnus Håkonsen av Norge, "Magnus 6" in 1261. Magnus (son of Håkon Håkonsen av Norge, "Håkon 4" and Margrethe Skulesdatter på Rein) was born on 01 May 1238 in Bergen, Hordaland, Vestland, Norge; died on 09 May 1280 in Bergen, Hordaland, Vestland, Norge. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Before 1284, Roskilde, Sjælland, Danmark; Abbedisse av Sankt Agneta.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Before 1288, Roskilde, Sjælland, Danmark; Abbedisse av Sankt Agneta.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Abt 1259, Danmark; Konge.

Notes:

Occupation:
Erik Klipping (født 1249, død 22.november 1286) var konge av Danmark i 1259–1286. Han var sønn av Kristoffer 1 av Danmark og dronning Margarete Sambiria (Sprænghest).

Fram til 1264 styrte han kun i navnet under beskyttelse av sin mor, den kompetente dronningenken Margrete Sambiria. I tidsrommet 1261–1262 var han fange i Holstein som følge av et militært nederlag, og etterpå vokste han opp i Brandenburg.

Erik Klipping ble født i Lolland. Ved farens plutselig død i 1259 hadde fyrst Jaromar 2 av Rügen sammen med hertug Erik 1 av Slesvig (sønn av kong Abel av Danmark) invadert Sjælland og inntatt København.

Etter et stort nederlag i 1261 ble både enkedronningen og Erik Klipping tatt til fange. De ble holdt i fangenskap i Hamburg, men dronning Margrete greide å skaffe seg hjelp fra hertug Albert av Braunschweig som gjorde det mulig for henne å vende tilbake til Danmark.
Her gjenvant hun initiativet og fikk hentet sin nå myndige sønn Erik hjem til en plass på tronen i 1264. Inntil da hadde hans mor, enkedronningen, fungert som hans formynder. Erik ble deretter kronet til konge, men farens uforsonlige fiende, den mektige erkebiskop Jakob Erlandsen, bannlyste etterpå alle de biskoper som hadde deltatt i kroningen.

Erik Klipping blandet seg inn i den interne striden i Sverige hvor hertugene Erik Magnusson og Valdemar Magnusson kjempet om kongesmakten mot deres eldre bror, kong Birger Magnusson. Den danske kongen støttet først Magnus og siden Valdemar. I 1277 lot han danske styrker herje langt inne på svensk område. For å finansiere disse krigshandlingene foretok kongen en myntforringelse.
Hans pussige tilnavn kan antagelig stamme fra dette.

Klipping eller Glipping stammer antagelig fra hans klipping (devaluering) av landets mynt. Myntene ble klippet eller kuttet for å indikere devalueringen. En tidligere populær forklaring skal være at Erik blunket uvanlig med øynene som et tegn på svakhet, men denne betraktes som en ren spekulasjon.

Erik forsøkte som tidligere konger å tvinge kirken og adelen under sin makt. På 1270-tallet angrep han Småland. Kong Erik gikk så langt som å ta tvangslån hos kirken. Hans konflikt med kirken ble dog ført til et tilfredsstillende resultat ved hjelp av paven. Han hadde et dårlig rykte. Han gjorde sjelden det han sa han ville gjøre og holdt sjelden det han lovte. I tillegg sprang han etter kvinner uansett alder og status.

De utilfredse stormennene tvang i 1282 kongen til å avholde årlige møter med dem, det såkalte Danehoff. Kongen ble tvunget til å underskrive et dokument, som kan betraktes som Danmarks svar på Magna Carta, og som i stor grad begrenset hans autoritet. Her forpliktet kongen seg til regelmessig å rådføre seg med stormennene, og bøndenes rett skal sikres.
Kongen skal i henhold til dokumentet innkalle - rigets bedste mænd - til danehoff og regjere landet sammen med dem. De tradisjonelle landstingene hadde således utspilt sin rolle. Det var ikke lenger bøndene som valgte kongen, men man beholdt skikken med å hylle kongen på tinget.

Erik Klipping gifte seg den 11.november 1273 i Slesvig med Agnes av Brandenburg (død 1304). Paret fikk følgende barn:

1.Erik Menved (1274–1319), konge av Danmark.

2.Kristoffer 2 (1276–1332), konge av Danmark.

3.Margrete Eriksdatter av Danmark (død 1341), kalt for Märta, gift med kong Birger Magnusson av Sverige (død 1321).

4.Rikissa Eriksdatter av Danmark (død 1308), gift med fyrst Nikolaus II av Mecklenburg-Werle (død 1316).

5.Katarina Eriksdatter (død som spedbarn 1283).

6.Elisabet Eriksdotter (død som spedbarn 1283).

7.Valdemar Eriksson (død 1304).

Died:
I løpet av en jakttur den 22.november 1286 (St.Cecilias natt) søkte kong Erik og hans følge ly i en låve i den lille byen Finderup nord i Jylland.
Han ble myrdet av ukjente gjerningsmenn ved Finderup Lade.

Mordet skapte stor uro i Danmark, som i det siste århundret hadde opplevd flere kongemord. Rykteflommen gikk, og kilder fra tiden etter drapet fortalte at flere av kongens mest betrodde menn skal ha vært involvert. Ifølge ryktene skulle morderne ha kommet til åstedet forkledd som munker og drept kongen med 56 knivstikk før de satte låven i brann og red vekk.

En teori er at det var hertug Valdemar av Slesvig (bror av hertug Erik av Slesvig) som sto bak mordet. Da Erik Klipping var død, kunne hans unge sønn Erik Menved, som allerede i 1276 var blitt hyllet som konge, umiddelbart tiltre som konge. Erik Menved var dog kun 12 år gammel i 1286.

Kilder i samtiden viser at mordet ble gitt stor oppmerksomhet i de fleste nordiske og nordtyske annaler og krøniker på denne tiden. De eldste av disse er årbøkene fra Ryd kloster og årbøkene fra erkebispesetet i Lund. I sistnevnte heter det kortfattet at kong Erik ble St.Cecilie natt drept på sitt leie av sine egne menn. Årboken for Ryd kloster skriver det samme, men tilføyer at kongen ble drept av 56 knivstikk.
Senere overleveringer blir gradvis fyldigere, og en årbok fra Lübeck fra tidlig på 1300-tallet heveder at Erik Klipping ble drept av sine menn for sin ukyskhets skyld.

Det som synes klart er at dynastiets motstandere hadde dermed en gyllen mulighet til å fremtvinge et regimeskifte.

Etter drapet på kongen hadde enkedronning Agnes av Brandenburg raskt tatt styringen som formynder for sin 12 år gamle sønn Erik Menved. De mest betrodde menn fra tiden under kong Erik Klipping ble hurtig fjernet og nye menn kom til. Blant annet fikk nettopp hertug Valdemar av Slesvig en sentral posisjon.

Ved domsmøtet i Nyborg pinsen 1287 sto den mektige grev Jakob av Nord-Halland, kongens tidligere marsk Stig Andersen Hvide og flere andre stormenn, som alle hadde vært sentrale i kretsen rundt kongen, på tiltalebenken. Om disse egentlig hadde noe å gjøre med mordet eller ikke er uklart. Stig Andersen Hvide flyktet fra landet og som lovløs ga han seg på piratvirksomhet. De dømte fikk ved domsavsigelsen heller ikke mulighet til å sverge seg fri, slik de ifølge loven hadde anledning til. På dette grunnlaget nektet både den norske kongen Eirik 2 Magnusson og erkebiskopen i Lund, Jens Grand, å anse dommen som rettskraftig. Historikeren Erik Arup har derfor argumentert for at dommen i Nyborg var et justismord. Mange av de danske stormennene søkte tilflukt i Norge i tiden etter dommen.

Erik Klipping ble gravlagt i krypten i Viborg domkirke. Etter kirkens brann i 1726 ble kongens jordiske rester overført til en muret grav bak alteret.

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Albert married Marianne AlbertsdatterEberstein, Braunschweig, Niedersachsen, Tyskland. Marianne was born in 1250; died in 1295. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: 1280, Norge; Konge av Norge.

Notes:

Occupation:
Eirik 2 Magnusen var konge av Norge i perioden 1280–1299. Eirik var eldste sønn av Magnus Lagabøte. Et fall fra hesteryggen påførte ham muligens en hjerneskade.

Siden han bare var et barn da han ble utropt til konge, ble riket ledet av et formynderstyre bestående av moren Ingeborg og de fornemste stormennene.
Disse kom i kamp mot kirken med den mektige erkebiskop Jon Raude for å få minsket kirkens stadig voksende makt over nasjonens verdslige områder (kirkens særrettigheter). Eirik hadde ingen del i konflikten, men fikk likevel tilnavnet prestehater.

Som myndig ble Eirik selv en del av den norske utenrikspolitikken hvor det norske monarkiet forsøkte å knytte dynastiske bånd, først og fremst til Skottland hvor Norge lenge hadde hatt interesser. Han ble først gift med Margaret av Skottland, datter av kong Alexander 3 av Skottland (d.1286). De fikk datteren Margrete, som ble dronning av Skottland i 1286, bare tre år gammel.
Det var avtalt ekteskap mellom henne og den engelske prinsen Edward (senere Edward 2), men Margrethe døde under overfarten til Skottland 1290, trolig på Orknøyene.

Etter datterens død fire år senere var Eirik en av de tretten som hevdet arverett til den skotske tronen. Hans kone døde i barselseng i 1283, og han giftet seg senere med Isobel Bruce, søster av Robert Bruce, den senere store skotske kongen.

Eirik førte en uheldig krig mot Danmark og hansaforbundet i det nordlige Tyskland som endte med at han måtte gi store innrømmelser til de tyske hansaene.

Kongeætten hadde brukt en oppreist løve som slektsvåpen. I 1280 eller noe seinere utstyrte Eirik Magnusson løven med øksa. Mens øksa var et nasjonalt symbol gikk løven tilbake til Eiriks stridbare forgjenger, Magnus Berrføtt. Fellessymbolet av øks og løve kalles i dag for Riksvåpenet og brukes som det overordnede visuelle symbol for den norske stat.

Ettersom Eirik døde sønneløs, ble han etterfulgt av sin bror, hertug Håkon.

Etter Eiriks død påsto ei Margareta å være datter av kong Eirik Magnusson. Det passet Håkon Magnusson dårlig, og hun ble dømt til døden. Etter sin død ble hun dyrket som en helgen.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: 1299, Norge; Konge av Norge.

Notes:

Occupation:
Håkon var sønn av Magnus 6 Haakonsson Lagabøte og Ingeborg Eriksdatter av Danmark. Magnus Lagabøte delte kongeriket mellom sine to sønner Eirik og Håkon. Erik som var eldst, ble konge i 1280, mens den yngre broren, Håkon, fikk hertugtittel allerede i 1273, over Oppland, Oslo, Ryfylke, Færøyene og Hjaltland. Håkons hertugvelde var formynderstyrt fram til 1284 da den 14 år gamle Håkon fikk regjeringsmakt.

Hertug Håkon utviklet Oslo betydelig. Det gamle Oslos sentrum ble utvidet på sørøstsida av Alna da fransiskanerne, etter invitasjon fra hertugen, etablerte kloster på sørøstsida av Alna, i skyggen av Ekebergskrenten. Visstnok skal det allerede ha ligget en kirke i området som Fransiskanerne overtok. Grunnsteinen til Akershus festning ble lagt noe senere på 1290-tallet.

Da broren, kong Eirik 2 Magnusson, døde og Håkon overtok kongemakten over hele Norgesveldet 1. november 1299, overtok Oslo som kongssete etter Bergen. Håkon 5 ble den første konge som ble kronet i Oslo, som regnes som hovedstad heretter. I 1314 ble også det politiske tyngdepunktet flyttet til Oslo i og med at Håkon gav prosten i Mariakirken rikets segl til evig tid. Oslo var nå blitt Norgesveldets nye rikshovedstad.

Han ble omtalt som Hákon Háleggr på norrønt (i Flateyjarbók), og Håkon Langben på dansk.

Bygde Akershus (dvs. påbegynte arbeidet av anlegget på Akersneset (Akershus festning)), Båhus, og Vardøhus festninger.
Håkon innførte faste årlige inspeksjoner av sysselmennenes embedsførsel, og førte en kraftig politikk mot stormennene. Utstedte retterbot 1308 somavskaffet jarle- og lendmannsverdighet og inndro alle sysler og gavebrev på jordegods etter innehaverens død.

Håkon 5 Magnusson så sin kongsgjerning i et kristent perspektiv. Han gikk til daglig enkelt kledd, ga strenge påbud til sine sysselmenn om rettferdig behandling av sine undersåtter og straffet strengt overgrep som ble begått. Han ga påbud om å lage overnattingssteder for pilegrimer på vei til Nidaros, stimulerte misjonsarbeidet og glemte aldri å regulere arbeidsfolkets lønninger. Han ga store gaver til kirkene og bygde Mariakirken i Oslo. Samtidig var han europeisk orientert, og særlig gjennom dronning Eufemia hadde hoffet nær kontakt med europeisk kultur- og åndsliv.

Det fortelles at hele Oslo sørget da han døde, og at det skal ha skjedd flere mirakler ved hans båre. I Mariakirken fantes et Håkons-alter, og det fortelles at kongen helt frem til det 16. århundre ble holdt for å være hellig. Det var krefter i gang for en helligkåring, noe som resulterte i at pave Leo 10 formelt anerkjente hans kult i 1520 og godkjente at helgenmesse ble feiret ved et alter i Mariakirken. Men dette ble stoppet av reformasjonen i 1537.

At Håkon V Magnusson ble æret som helgen, ikke bare i Oslo og på Østlandet, men også utenlands, viser denne folkevisen:
Der kom Bud for Oslo ind
og ingen Mand dem kjende:
død var hellig Haakon Konning
Sankt Olaf Kongens Frende.
Død var hellig Haakon Konning
og Gud kaldte ham af dage:
han blev ført i Oslo ind,
i Mariekirke lagdes han i Graven
(Dansk håndskrift fra ca. 1560).

Håkon støttet svensk hertug Erik Magnussons strid mot broren.

Med ham døde den siste av det gamle norske kongehus på mannssiden.

Gift med Eufemia av Arnstein. Datter: Ingeborg, gift med hertug Erik Magnusson. Deres sønn Magnus ble senere både svensk og norsk konge.
Hans eldste datter, Agnes Håkonsdatter, (1290–1319) var hans uekte barn som giftet seg i 1302 med lendmannen Havtore Jonsson til Sudrheim og Borregård (1275–1320), og deres to sønner Jon og Sigurd ble senere sentrale i norsk politikk.

Håkon regjerte landet til sin død på Tunsberghus 8. mai 1319. Han ble begravet i Mariakirken i Oslo. Graven er markert med en steinplate.
Med Håkon døde Sverre-ætten ut på mannssiden, og Eriks og Ingebjørgs sønn Magnus ble i 1319 konge både i Norge og Sverige.

Kong Håkon 5 Magnussons og hans dronning Eufemias levninger ble funnet ved arkeologiske undersøkelser i Mariakirken på slutten av 1960-tallet. De ble senere identifisert av dr.med. Per Holck, og ble endelig overført til Det kongelige mausoleum på Akershus slott i 1982.

Family/Spouse: Catharina Ivarsdatter. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Håkon married Eufemia av Rügen in May 1299 in Mariakirken, Oslo, Norge. Eufemia was born about 1280; died in 1312. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Richitza married Nikolaus av Werle, "Nikolaus 2" before 1303. Nikolaus was born before 1275; died about 18 Feb 1316 in Güstrow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Tyskland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]