Notes:

Died:
Drept av sin svigerdatter Drahomira.

Wenceslaus' wife Drahomíra became jealous of Ludmila's influence over Wenceslaus. She had two noblemen murder Ludmila at Tetín, and part of Ludmila's story says that she was strangled with her veil. Initially Saint Ludmila was buried at St. Michael's at Tetín. Sometime before the year 1100 her remains were removed to the St. George's Basilica, Prague.

Saint Ludmila is venerated as a patroness of Bohemia. Her feast day is celebrated on 16 September. She is considered to be a patron saint of Bohemia, converts, Czech Republic, duchesses, problems with in-laws, and widows. She was canonized shortly after her death.

Ludmila married Borivoj av Böhmen, "Borivoj 1" before 0871. Borivoj was born about 0852; died about 0889. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Between 0894 and 0895, Böhmen, Tsjekkia; Hertug.

Notes:

Occupation:
He was the eldest son of Duke Borivoj 1, the first historically-documented Bohemian ruler of the Premyslid dynasty, and his wife Ludmila. He was still a minor upon his father's death c. 889, and the Bohemian lands were placed under the regency of their suzerain Prince Svatopluk 1 of Great Moravia. After Svatopluk died in 894, an inheritance conflict arose between his sons Mojmir 2 and Svatopluk 2. Spytihnev took advantage of the situation to free himself from Moravian vassalage. According to the Annales Fuldenses, he appeared at the 895 Reichstag in Regensburg and paid homage to the East Frankish king Arnulf of Carinthia.

Spytihnev is known for his alliance with Margrave Luitpold of Bavaria, who in 898 fought against Mojmir 2, finally separating Bohemia from the Greater Moravian realm. Designed to protect Bohemia against the ravages of Magyar raiders, this pact also opened Bohemia to East Frankish Carolingian culture and paved the way for the eventual triumph of Roman Catholicism in Czech spiritual affairs. Spytihnev continued the extension of Prague Castle as the administrative center of the Premyslid duchy.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Abt 0915, Böhmen, Tsjekkia; Hertug.

Notes:

Occupation:
Upon the death of his elder brother Spytihnev in 915, Vratislaus became Bohemian duke at a time when his duchy had already distanced itself from the political and cultural influence of Great Moravia and fallen under East Frankish, especially Bavarian influence. The Annales Fuldenses report that in the year 900 the Bavarians had attacked Moravia in alliance with the Bohemians. On the other hand, Vratislaus supported the Magyars in their 915 campaign against the Duchy of Saxony under Duke Henry the Fowler.

Vratislaus is credited with the establishment of St. George's Basilica at Prague Castle and also with the foundation of the Silesian city of Wroclaw (Vratislavia). He died in battle against the Magyars, possibly in 919, although 921 is more often conjectured.

Vratislav married Drahomira av Hevelli before 0907. Drahomira was born between 0877 and 0890; died after 0935. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Abt 0921, Böhmen, Tsjekkia; Hertug.

Notes:

Occupation:
In 921, when Wenceslaus was 13, his father died and he was brought up by his grandmother, Saint Ludmila, who raised him as a Christian. A dispute between the fervently Christian regent and her daughter-in-law drove Ludmila to seek sanctuary at Tetín Castle near Beroun. Drahomíra, who was trying to garner support from the nobility, was furious about losing influence on her son and arranged to have Ludmila strangled at Tetín on September 15, 921. Wenceslaus is usually described as exceptionally pious and humble, and a very educated and intelligent young man for his time.

According to some legends, having regained control of her son, Drahomíra set out to convert him to the old pagan religion. According to other legends, she was a Christian herself; however, very little is known about her rule.
After the fall of Great Moravia, the rulers of the Bohemian duchy had to deal both with continuous raids by the Magyars and the forces of the Saxon duke and East Frankish king Henry the Fowler, who had started several eastern campaigns into the adjacent lands of the Polabian Slavs, homeland of Wenceslaus' mother. To withstand Saxon overlordship Wenceslaus' father Vratislaus had forged an alliance with the Bavarian duke Arnulf the Bad, then a fierce opponent of King Henry; however, it became worthless when Arnulf and Henry reconciled at Regensburg in 921.

In 924 or 925 Wenceslaus assumed government for himself and had Drahomíra exiled. After gaining the throne at the age of eighteen, he defeated a rebellious duke of Kourim named Radslav. He also founded a rotunda consecrated to St Vitus at Prague Castle in Prague, which exists as present-day St Vitus Cathedral.

Early in 929 the joint forces of Duke Arnulf of Bavaria and King Henry 1 the Fowler reached Prague in a sudden attack, which forced Wenceslaus to resume the payment of a tribute which had been first imposed by the East Frankish king Arnulf of Carinthia in 895. Henry had been forced to pay a huge tribute to the Magyars in 926 and he therefore needed the Bohemian tribute which Wenceslaus probably refused to pay any longer after the reconciliation between Arnulf and Henry. One of the possible reasons for Henry's attack was also the formation of the anti-Saxon alliance between Bohemia, the Polabian Slavs and the Magyars.

Died:
Muligens drept av broren Boleslav.

In September 935 (in older sources 929) a group of nobles—allied with Wenceslaus' younger brother Boleslav—plotted to kill the prince. After Boleslav invited Wenceslaus to the feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Stará Boleslav, three of Boleslav's companions – Tira, Cesta and Hnevsa – murdered Wenceslaus on his way to church after a quarrel between him and his brother. Boleslav thus succeeded him as the Duke of Bohemia.
According to Cosmas's Chronicle, one of Boleslav's sons was born on the day of Wenceslaus' death, and because of the ominous circumstance of his birth the infant was named Strachkvas, which means a dreadful feast.
There are discrepancies in the records regarding the date of St Wenceslaus' death. It has been argued that

Wenceslaus' remains were transferred to St Vitus's Church in 932, ruling out the later date; however, the year 935 is now favored by historians as the date of his murder.
There is a tradition which states that Saint Wenceslaus' loyal servant, Podevin, avenged his death by killing one of the chief conspirators. Podevin was executed by Boleslav.

Wenceslas was considered a martyr and a saint immediately after his death, when a cult of Wenceslas grew up in Bohemia and in England.

Bildetekst:
Wenceslaus' assassination: the duke flees from his brother (with sword) to a church, but the priest closes the door, Gumpold von Mantua, 10th century.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Abt 0935, Böhmen, Tsjekkia; Hertug.

Notes:

Occupation:
Boleslav was the ruler (knize, literally prince, but usually translated as duke) of Bohemia from 935 to his death. He was the son of Vratislaus 1 and the younger brother of his predecessor, Wenceslaus 1.

Boleslav is notorious for the murder of his brother Wenceslaus, through which he became Duke of Bohemia. Wenceslaus was murdered during a feast; at precisely that time Boleslav's son was allegedly born. He received a strange name: Strachkvas, which means a dreadful feast. Being remorseful for what he had done, Boleslav promised to devote his son to religion and educate him as a clergyman.

Despite the fratricide, Boleslav is generally respected by Czech historians as an energetic ruler who significantly strengthened the Bohemian state and expanded its territory. The pro-Christian religious policies pursued by Wenceslaus do not appear to have been a cause for Boleslav's fratricide, since Boleslav in no way impeded the growth of Christianity in Bohemia, and in fact actually sent his daughter Mlada, a nun, to the Pope in Rome to ask permission to make Prague a bishopric.
One of Boleslav's major concerns was the tribute paid yearly to the East Frankish kings. He stopped the payment shortly after he ascended the throne, which led to the prolonged war with King Otto the Great. This conflict, presumably consisting of border raids (the general pattern of warfare in this region at the time), reached its conclusion in 950 when Boleslav signed a peace treaty with Otto. Despite being undefeated, he promised to resume the payment of the tribute. Five years later, the armies of Czechs and Germans allied against the Magyars in the victorious Battle of Lechfeld on 10 August 955. Boleslav had also helped Otto to crush an uprising of Slavs on the Lower Elbe in 953.

After the Battle of Lech, the rest of the huge Magyar army turned to Bohemia, where it was crushed by Boleslav. Because of this victory, Boleslav freed Moravia from Magyar raids and expanded his territory to Upper Silesia and Malopolska. To strengthen the Bohemian-Polish alliance, Boleslav's daughter Dobrawa married the pagan Piast prince Mieszko I in 965, and helped bring Christianity to Poland. Boleslav's wife may have been Biagota. He was succeeded by his oldest son Boleslaus the Pious.

Anerkjente keiseren som lensherre 946. Utvidet riket med Mähren og deler av Galitsja og Schlesien.

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

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Bef 0999, Böhmen, Tsjekkia; Hertug.

Notes:

Occupation:
Boleslaus 2 the Pious (Czech: Boleslav 2. Pobožný) (c.?932 - 7 February 999) was a Bohemian nobleman, a member of the P?emyslid dynasty and was the ruling Duke of Bohemia from 972 until his death.

Boleslaus was the son of Boleslaus 1 and brother of Strachkvas, Dobrawa - wife of Mieszko 1 and Mlada Maria. According to some historians his mother was Biagota. Biagota is only known from her coins and according some historians (V. Katz, J. Slama, J. Paukert) was wife of Boleslaus 1.

Boleslaus 2 became Duke (or Prince) on his father's death. Boleslaus maintained good relations with the Ottonian German kings, and in 975 supported Otto 2 during the civil war against Henry 2, Duke of Bavaria. In 977, Boleslaus again attacked Bavaria, but on this occasion was barred from annexing any lands by Otto 2.

Boleslaus' reign is most notable for the foundation of the Diocese of Prague in 973, placed at that time within the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Mainz.

In 982, Adalbert of Prague (later known as Saint Adalbert) was appointed to head the bishopric until he abandoned his primacy to lead a mission to the Old Prussians in 994. The alliance between Poland and Bohemia was overturned between 977 and 985, and Poland participated in invasions led by the German Emperor against Bohemia. However, in 985 or 990 Poland acquired Silesia at the expense of Bohemia.

On 28 September 995, Boleslaus and his confederate Vršovci stormed Libice in southern Bohemia and massacred the members of the Slavník dynasty. This clan had been the main rival of P?emyslid power in Bohemia. Boleslaus' brutal triumph ensured the unity of Bohemia under a single ruler.

Boleslaus' first wife Adiva, was perhaps the daughter of Edward the Elder, King of England, who married a prince near the Jupiter mountains, meaning the Alps.

His second wife was Emma of M?lník.

His sons were:

1. Boleslaus 3, his eldest son and successor.

2. Wenceslaus, died as an infant.

3. Jaromír, later became Duke of Bohemia.

4. Old?ich, also became Duke of Bohemia.

Family/Spouse: Hemma (Emma) av Sachsen. Hemma was born before 0950; died about 1006. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Dobrawa (Dabrówka) (Czech: Doubravka, Polish: Dobrawa) var en bøhmisk (tsjekkisk) prinsesse. Hun tilhørte dynastiet Premislovci og var datter av hertug Boleslav 1 av Böhmen og Adiva av England, som var datter av kong Edvard den eldre.

Dobrawa's date of birth is not known. The only indication is communicated by the chronicler Cosmas of Prague, who stated that the Bohemian princess at the time of her marriage with Mieszko I was an old woman. The message is regarded as tendentious and of little reliability, and some researchers believe that the statement was made with malicious intent. It is possible that in the statement about Dobrawa's age, Cosmas was making a reference to the age difference between her and her sister Mlada. That would give him a basis for determining Dobrawa as old. It also found that Cosmas confuses Dobrawa with Mieszko 1's second wife Oda, who at the time of her marriage was around 19–25 years old, a relatively advanced age for a bride according to the customs of the Middle Ages. Some researchers have taken up speculative views, such as Jerzy Strzelczyk, who assumed that in the light of contemporary concepts and habits of marriage of that time (when as a rule marriages were contracted with teenage girls) is assumed that Dobrawa had passed her early youth, so, it's probable that she was in her late teens or twenties.

Died:
Dobrawa died in 977. In his study of 1888, Józef Ignacy Kraszewski wrote that her tomb was discovered in Gniezno Cathedral. It was a simple stone marked with a cross. Purple robes and a weighty gold loincloth were the only objects found in her tomb.

A similar view of Dobrawa's burial place was expressed earlier, in 1843, by Edward Raczynski in his study Wspomnienia Wielkopolski to jest województw poznanskiego, kaliskiego i gnieznienskiego (Memories of the Greater Poland districts of Poznan, Kalisz and Gniezno). However, the burial place of the Bohemian princess is now considered to be unknown.

Dobrawa's death weakened the Polish-Bohemian alliance, which finally collapsed in the mid-980s.

Dobrawa married Mieszko av Polen, "Mieszko 1" between 0965 and 0966. Mieszko (son of Ziemoslav av Polen and Gorka) was born between 0922 and 0945; died on 25 May 0992. [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]

Notes:

Birth:
Navnet Swietoslawa er en rekonstruksjon som først og fremst er begrunnet på en inskripsjon i - Liber vitae of the New Minster and Hyde Abbey Winchester - om at en søster til sønnen Knut den store skal ha hett - Santslaue – den fulle inskripsjonen lyder:

Santslaue soror CNVTI regis nostri.

Antagelig var denne datteren trolig døpt etter sin mor. Hun er ellers kjent under navnet Gunhild eller Gunhilda, en mulig norrøn forenkling av hennes opprinnelige navn.

I henhold til islandske sagaer og andre kilder var Svein Tjugeskjeggs hustru den vestgøtiske stormannsdatteren Sigrid Storråde. Kildekritiske forskere på 1900-tallet argumentert for at Sigrid Storråde var en oppdiktet og fiktiv person og at begge navnene Gunhild og Sigrid har vært norrøne forenklinger av det polske navnet Swietoslawa.
I den senere tid har forskerne derimot hellet til begrunnelser at Sigrid Storråde var en faktisk historisk person, og at Svein Tjugeskjegg var gift 2 ganger, og at Adam av Bremen tok feil, og de islandske sagaene hadde rett. Sigrid Storråde var da gift med både Erik Seiersæl og Svein Tjugeskjegg, og Swietoslawa av Polen var kun gift med danskekongen.

Ifølge Snorre Sturlasson hadde Gunhild 2 søstre, Geira og Astrid. Geira ble i 982 gift med Olav Tryggvason som senere ble norsk konge (995-1000). Geira døde ifølge kildene barnløs i 985. Prinsesse Astrid ble gift med jomsvikingenes høvding Sigvalde jarl.

Swietoslawa married Svein Haraldsen, "Otto 1" after 0994. Svein (son of Harald Gormsen av Danmark and Gunnhild) was born about 0960; died on 03 Feb 1014 in Gainsborough, North Lincolnshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Abt 1024, Polen; Konge av Polen fra 1024, og regnes for rikets grunnlegger.

Family/Spouse: Hemmilde av Slavekia. [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: Abt 1014, Danmark; Konge.

Notes:

Occupation:
Regjerte i farens navn mens faren var på krigerferd og erobret det meste av England i 1013. Da faren døde året etter ble Harald konge også i navnet mens broren Knut Sveinsson, senere kalt for Knut den store, beholdt makten i England. Hjalp sin bror med å vinne England. Kun 4 år fikk Harald som regent før han døde, og da overtok broren Knut også Danmark.

Ettertiden vet svært lite om Svein Tjugeskjeggs sønn og arving.

I 1013 bød kong Svein på dansk leidang, seilte over Nordsjøen og begynte erobringen av England. I Danmark plasserte han sin sønn som regent i sitt fravær. Da England ble erobret flyktet den engelske kongen Ethelred den rådville til Normandie, hvor han søkte beskyttelse hos sin svoger Robert.
Da Svein Tjugeskjegg døde i februar 1014 valgte hans menn sønnen Knut til konge, men i Danmark hyllet høvdingene broren Harald som konge.

Ved Sveins død kalte det engelske riksrådet den fordrevne kong Ethelred hjem, og Knut måtte reise til Danmark for å samle støtte. I følge noen kilder anmodet han storebroren Harald om å få del styret av Danmark, men Harald avviste ham. Han skal likevel ha lovet Knut hærstyrker og hjelp til å gjenerobre England som åpenbart ble oppfattet som Svein Tjugeskjeggs arv til sønnen Knut. Muligens var det hele tiden Sveins intensjon at Danmark skulle ha en konge og England den andre slik at begge sønnene kunne konsentrere seg om hvert sitt rike.

Died:
Harald Sveinsson døde i 1018 uten at vi kjenner til årsaken. Danskene valgte derfor broren Knut til konge, visstnok i 1019.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Abt 1014, England; Konge i England da faren, Svein Tjugeskjegg, døde i 1014.
• Occupation: Abt 1019, Danmark; Konge.
• Occupation: Abt 1028, Norge; Konge. Nå er Daneveldet på sitt største.

Notes:

Birth:
Kong Knut ble døpt Lambart og omtalte seg selv som det. Tilnavnene den store eller den mektige fikk han fordi det lyktes ham å legge Norge og deler av Sverige inn under riket sitt.

Occupation:
Hæren utropte ham til konge av England, mens høvdingene i hjemlandet Danmark utropte den eldre broren Harald Sveinsson til konge av Danmark. Sannsynligvis hadde det vært kong Sveins intensjon at brødrene skulle arve hvert sitt rike. Da broren Harald døde 4 år senere arvet Knut også Danmark.

Som konge i England ble Knut førts kastet ut av engelske stormenn, men kom tilbake i 1015 med en stor hær. Han slo sin engelske rival, Edmund Jernside, og gjenerobret med det kongemakten i England i slaget ved Assatun i 18.oktober 1016.

I England skulle flere kamper til for å vinne makten over det meste av England da den forviste kong Ethelred den rådville kom tilbake ved Sveins død. I samarbeid med den senere Olav den hellige ble Knut konge av England i 1016.

I 1017 giftet han seg strategisk med kong Ethelreds enke, Emma av Normandie. Hun var datter av normannerhertugen Robert. Knuts søster, Estrid (datter av Svein og Sigrid Storråde), giftet seg med broren til hertugen, Richard.

Olav den hellige og Anund Jakob av Sverige i tillegg til svenske Ulf Jarl inngikk et forbund mot kong Knut.
I 1026 seiret Knut over dem i slaget ved Helgeå i Skåne. Samme år skal han ha latt Ulf jarl myrde i Roskilde domkirke (Ulf Jarl må ikke forveksles med en annen av samme navn i England).

Sluttet fred med sveakongen Anund Jakob og angrep Olav Digre sommeren 1028 med 50 skip, annen kilde sier 1.400 skip. Nordmennene sluttet opp om ham og tvang Olav Digre til å flykte. Han innsatte først sin søstersønn Håkon Eiriksson Ladejarl som konge. Da denne druknet innsatte Knut sin egen sønn, Svein Knutsen. Nå var Danevelde på sitt største.

Knut var da en mektig konge. Da han besøkte Roma for å se pave Johannes 19. krone den tyske kong Konrad til keiser av det hellige tysk-romeske riket, ble han hyllet som den nest mektigste kristne fyrsten. Knut så på seg selv mest som konge av England og var lite tid i de andre landene. Han tok seg særlig av England, hvor han førte et heldig indre styre.

Hardeknut Knutsson, konge etter sin far 1035-1042.
Mistet styret i England til sin bror Harald Harefot allerede 1035 og Norge til Magnus den gode samme år.
Fikk igjen styret i England 1039 da Harald døde. Forlikte seg med Magnus 1038, hvor de ble enige om at lengstlevende skulle arve begge riker.

Ifølge islandsk saga var Knut høy og flott, men hadde en krokete nese.

Died:
Han døde i 1035 i Shaftesbury, Dorset, og ble gravlagt i domkirken i Winchester.

Knut married Alfiva before 1015. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Knut married Emma av Normandie about 1017. Emma (daughter of Richard av Normandie, "Richard 1" and Gunnor Haraldsdatter av Crepon) was born in Normandie, Frankrike; died about 1052. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Bef 1034, Polen; Konge.

Mieszko married Richiza av Saalfeld og Lothringen about 1013. Richiza (daughter of Ezzo av Lothringen and Mathilde av Sachsen) was born about 0994; died on 21 Mar 1063 in Tyskland. [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]

Family/Spouse: Isjaslav av Kiev, "Isjaslav 1". Isjaslav (son of Jaroslav av Kiev, "Jaroslav 1" and Ingegjerd (Irina) Olofsdatter av Sverige, "av Kiev") was born about 1025; died about 1078. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Bef 1058, Polen; Hertug.

Notes:

Birth:
25.juli 1016?

Occupation:
Casimir 1 the Restorer (Polish: Kazimierz 1 Odnowiciel; b. Kraków, 25 July 1016 – d. Poznan, 28 November 1058), was a Duke of Poland of the Piast dynasty and the de jure monarch of the entire country from 1034 until his death.

He was the only son of Mieszko 2 Lambert by his wife Richeza, daughter of Count Palatine Ezzo of Lotharingia (of the Ezzonids) and granddaughter of Emperor Otto 2.

Casimir is known as the Restorer because he managed to reunite all parts of the Polish Kingdom after a period of turmoil. He reinstated Masovia, Silesia and Pomerania into his realm. However, he failed to crown himself King of Poland, mainly because of internal and external threats to his rule.

Relatively little is known of Casimir's early life. He must have spent his childhood at the royal court of Poland in Gniezno. In order to acquire a proper education, he was sent to one of the Polish monasteries in 1026. According to some older sources he initially wanted to have a career in the Church (it is probable that he held the post of oblate) and even asked for a dispensation to become a monk. This hypothesis, however, is not supported by modern historians. Regardless, he left church work for good in 1031.

Casimir's father, Mieszko 2, was crowned King of Poland in 1025 after the death of his father Boleslaw 1 the Brave. However, the powerful magnates of the country feared a strong central government like the one that existed under Boleslaw 1's rule. This led to considerable friction between the King and the nobility. Taking advantage of the King's precarious situation, Mieszko 2's older half-brother Bezprym and younger brother Otto turned against him and allied themselves with the Holy Roman Emperor Conrad 2, whose forces attacked Poland and regained Lusatia. Years of chaos and conflict followed, during which Mieszko 2 was forced to cede the throne to Bezprym in 1031, fled to Bohemia, was imprisoned by Duke Old?ich and castrated, returned to rule a portion of the kingdom, eventually regained the kingdom, and then died in May 1034 under suspicious circumstances.

Sometime during the reign of Bezprym, Casimir and his sisters were taken by their mother to Germany (her native land) for refuge. It has been reported that Queen Richeza brought the Polish royal crown and regalia to Emperor Conrad II at Bezprym's request to indicate his acceptance of the primacy of his western neighbor, although the Queen could have taken them for safekeeping, or they could have been brought to the Emperor by another means. At the time of his father's death in 1034, Casimir was about 18 years old and in Germany at the court of his uncle Hermann 2, Archbishop of Köln.

The central district of Greater Poland (Wielkopolska) revolted against the nobles and Catholic clergy in a mass rebellion. A pagan revival in the area lasted for several years. The district of Masovia seceded and a local lord, Mieclaw, formed a state of his own. A similar situation occurred in Pomerania.

In 1037 both the young prince and his mother returned to Poland and attempted to seize the throne. This precipitated a rebellion by local barons, which coupled with the so-called - Pagan Reaction - of the commoners, forced Casimir and Richeza to flee to Saxony.
However, soon Casimir returned to Poland and in 1038, once again, tried to regain power with the aide of his influential mother. This also failed and he had to flee again, this time to the Kingdom of Hungary where he was imprisoned by Stephen 1. The Dowager Queen remained in Germany as a nun until her death, in 1063.

Taking advantage of the chaos and his neighbour's weakness, Duke Bretislaus 1 of Bohemia invaded and ravaged the country in 1039. Lesser and Greater Poland were severely pillaged, Pozna? was captured, and Bretislaus sacked Gniezno, taking the relics of Saint Adalbert, Radim Gaudentius, and the five hermit brothers with him. On the way back he conquered part of Silesia, including Wroclaw, destroyed religious buildings which were built by Mieszko 1 during the feast of the conversion of Poland, and plundered Mieszko 1's tomb.

After initially escaping to Hungary, Casimir went to Germany, where in 1039 his relative the Emperor Henry 3 (who feared the increased power of the Bohemian ruler) gave him military and financial support. Casimir received a force of 1,000 heavy footmen and a significant amount of gold to restore his power in Poland. Casimir also signed an alliance with Yaroslav I the Wise, the Prince of Kievan Rus', who was linked with him through Casimir's marriage with Yaroslav's sister, Maria Dobroniega. With this support, Casimir returned to Poland and managed to retake most of his domain.

In 1041, Bretislaus, defeated in his second attempted invasion by Emperor Henry 3, signed a treaty at Regensburg (1042) in which he renounced his claims to all Polish lands except for Silesia, which was to be incorporated into the Bohemian Kingdom.
It was Casimir's success in strengthening royal power and ending internal strife that earned him the epithet of the Restorer.

The treaty gained Casimir a period of peace on the southern border and the capital of Poland was moved to Kraków, the only major Polish city relatively untouched by the wars. It is probable that the Holy Roman Emperor was pleased with the balance of power that had been restored to the region and forced Casimir not to crown himself the King of Poland. In 1046 Emperor Henry 3 held royal and imperial courts at Merseburg and Meissen, at which he ended the strife among the Duke of Pomerania (Dux Bomeraniorum), Duke Bretislaus of Bohemia, and Casimir 1.

In 1047 Casimir, aided by his Kievan brother-in-law, started a war against Masovia and seized the land. It is probable that he also defeated Mieclaw's allies from Pomerania and attached Gda?sk to Poland. This secured his power in central Poland. Three years later, against the will of the Emperor, Casimir seized Bohemian-controlled Silesia, thus securing most of his father's domain. In 1054 in Quedlinburg, the Emperor ruled that Silesia was to remain in Poland in exchange for a yearly tribute of 117 kg. of silver and 7 kg. of gold.

At that time Casimir focused on internal matters. To strengthen his rule he re-created the bishopric in Kraków and Wroclaw and erected the new Wawel Cathedral. During Casimir's rule heraldry was introduced into Poland and, unlike his predecessors, he promoted landed gentry over the dru?yna as his base of power. One of his reforms was the introduction, to Poland, of a key element of feudalism: the granting of fiefdoms to his retinue of warriors, thus gradually transforming them into medieval knights.

Casimir married Maria Dobroniega (ca. 1012–1087), daughter of Grand Duke Vladimir 1 of Kiev. There is no consensus among historians as to when it took place. Wladymir D. Koroliuk said that it was in 1039, Aleksej A. Szachmatow and Iwan Linniczenko 1041, while Dymitr S. Lichaczew 1043.

Casimir and Maria had 5 children:

1. Boleslaw 2 the Bold (ca. 1043 – 2/3 April 1081/82).

2. Wladyslaw 1 Herman (ca. 1044 – 4 June 1102)

3. Mieszko (16 April 1045 – 28 January 1065).

4. Otto (ca. 1046–1048).

5. Swietoslawa (ca. 1048 – 1 September 1126), married ca. 1062 to Duke (from 1085, King) Vratislaus 2 of Bohemia.

Casimir married Maria Dobronega av Kiev about 1039. Maria (daughter of Jaroslav av Kiev, "Jaroslav 1" and Ingegjerd (Irina) Olofsdatter av Sverige, "av Kiev") was born about 1012; died about 1087. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Bela av Ungarn, "Bela 1". Bela (son of Vazul (Basil) av Ungarn and Katun) was born about 1015 in Ungarn; died about 1063. [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: Kiev, Ukraina

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

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Bef 1102, Polen; Hertug, konge.

Notes:

Occupation:
Wladyslaw 1 Herman (c. 1044 – 4 June 1102) was a Duke of Poland from 1079 until his death.

He was the second son of Casimir 1 the Restorer by his wife Maria Dobroniega, daughter of Vladimir the Great, Grand Duke of Kiev.

As the second son, Wladyslaw was not destined for the throne. However, due to the flight from Poland of his older brother Boleslaw 2 the Bold in 1079, he was elevated to the rank of Duke of Poland. Opinions vary on whether Wladyslaw played an active role in the plot to depose his brother or whether he was handed the authority simply because he was the most proper person, being the next in line in the absence of the king and his son Mieszko Boleslawowic.

In 1080, in order to improve the relations between Poland and Bohemia, Wladyslaw married Judith, the daughter of the Duke (and first King from 1085) Vratislaus 2. After this, the foreign policy of the Duke gravitated strongly towards appeasement of the Holy Roman Empire.

He accepted overlordship of the Empire, and when in 1085 while in Mainz the Holy Roman Emperor Henry 4 announced that his brother-in-law Vratislaus 2 to be King of Bohemia and Poland, Wladyslaw did not object. He also never pursued the Royal crown due to his subservient status. Soon after, he was forced by the barons of Poland to recall from exile in Hungary his nephew and rightful heir to the Polish throne, Mieszko Boleslawowic. The young prince accepted the overlordship of his uncle and gave up his hereditary claims in exchange for becoming first in line of succession. Wladyslaw was forced to accept the terms of his nephew, because his eldest and only son at that time, Zbigniew, was illegitimate because he had been born from a union not recognized by the church. Wladyslaw's relations with the Emperor were considerably improved after his second marriage with his sister Judith (also Dowager Queen of Hungary) in 1089.

Wladyslaw abandoned the alliance with Hungary favored by his deposed brother, and joined the anti-Papal camp. Also, he resumed paying tribute for Silesia to Bohemia. In addition Kraków and Cieszyn were ceded to Bohemia, Lubusz Land was lost to Germany while Przemysl Land in the east was lost to Halych-Ruthenia. Wladyslaw did make attempts to regain the control of Pomerania, and through numerous expeditions was temporarily (1090–1091) able to do so.

Although Wladyslaw was formally Dux and an Overlord of Poland, in reality the barons who banished his brother used this victory to strengthen their position. It's not surprising therefore, that within a short time the Duke was forced to give up the government to his Count Palatine, (Polish: wojewoda) a high born noble named Sieciech. Sieciech's administration of the realm was negatively perceived by those of the barons who were not the beneficiaries of the power shift.

The birth of the future Boleslaw 3 completely changed the political situation in Poland. Mieszko Boleslawowic was already 17 at that time and was, by the previous agreement made after his return, the first in line to succeed. In 1089 Mieszko died under mysterious circumstances, probably poisoned on the orders of Sieciech and Duchess Judith-Sophia. Almost immediately, Zbigniew was sent to Germany and placed in the Quedlinburg Abbey. With the idea of forcing his first-born son to take the holy vows, Wladyslaw intended to deprive him of any chance of succession.

In 1090 Sieciech, with help of Polish forces under his command, managed to gain control of Gdansk Pomerania, albeit for a short time. Major towns were garrisoned by Polish troops, the rest were burned, in order to thwart any future resistance. Several months later, however, a rebellion of native elites led to the restoration of the region’s independence from Poland.

Sieciech's tyrannical rule reflected negatively on Wladyslaw, causing a massive political migration out of Poland. In 1093 Silesia rebelled, and the comes Magnus with the assistance of the Bohemian and Polish knights welcomed Zbigniew after he escaped from Germany; however, soon Sieciech captured the prince and imprisoned him. The increasing dissatisfaction in the country forced the release of Zbigniew in 1097. Immediately after this Wladyslaw (after an unsuccessfully retaliatory expedition against Silesia and forced to recognize Zbigniew as the legitimate heir) appointed his sons as commanders of the army which was formed in order to recapture Gdansk Pomerania.

Simultaneously a great migration of Jews from Western Europe to Poland began circa 1096, around the time of the First Crusade. Wladyslaw, a tolerant ruler, attracted the Jews into his domains, and permitted to settle throughout the entire country without restriction.

Soon Zbigniew and Boleslaw decided to join forces and demanded that the reigns of the government should be handed over to them. Wladyslaw agreed to divide the realm between the brothers, each to be granted his own province while he 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 and Sieradz. Boleslaw’s territory included Lesser Poland, Silesia and Lubusz Land.

However, Sieciech, alarmed by the evident diminution of his power, began to intrigue against the brothers. Wladyslaw decided to support him against his own sons. Defeated, in 1101 and after the mediation of the Archbishop of Gniezno Martin, the Duke was forced to confiscate Sieciech's properties and exiled him.

Wladyslaw died on 4 June 1102, without resolving the issue of succession, leaving his sons to struggle for supremacy. His body was interned in the Plock Cathedral.

Wladyslaw founded several churches in Poland. Most notably he was the founder of the Romanesque Wawel Cathedral of which the Silver Bells Tower still remains standing. He was also very fond of Saint Giles (Polish: Idzi) to whom he founded no less than 3 churches: in Kraków, Inowlodz and Giebultow. This is attributed to the fact that while his first wife was finally pregnant after six years of childless marriage, the Duke sent rich gifts to the Benedictine monastery of Saint Gilles in southern France, begging for a healthy child. When a boy was born, Wladyslaw began building churches in his honor. According to legend, he also founded a church - on the sand - dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which was later granted to the Carmelites.

Before Wladyslaw took the title of Duke of Poland, probably during the 1070s, he had a relationship with a certain Przeclawa, whose exact origins are unknown, although some sources stated that she belonged to the Prawdzic clan. Her status is also a matter of dispute among the historians: some believed that she only was W?adyslaw's mistress and others asserted that she was his wife, but this union was performed under pagan rituals and in consequence not recognized by the Church as a valid marriage. By 1080, one year after Wladyslaw ascended to the Polish throne, Przeclawa either died or was sent away; it's believed by some sources that after she was dismissed by the Duke, Przeclawa took the veil under the name of Christina (Polish: Krystyna) and died around 1092. This union produced a son:

1. Zbigniew (b. c. 1070/73 – d. c. 1112/14), who was considered illegitimate.

In 1080 Wladyslaw married firstly with Judith (b. c. 1056 – d. 25 December 1086), daughter of Duke (and since 1085 King) Vratislaus 2 of Bohemia. They had one son:

2. Boleslaw 3 Wrymouth (b. 20 August 1086 – d. 28 October 1138).

In 1089 Wladyslaw married secondly with Judith (b. 9 April 1054 – d. 14 March c. 1105), daughter of Henry 3, Holy Roman Emperor and widow of King Solomon of Hungary. They had 4 daughters:

3. Sophia (b. c. 1089 – d. bef. 12 May 1112), married bef. 1108 to Yaroslav Sviatopolkovich, Prince of Volhynia, son of Sviatopolk 2 of Kiev.

4. Agnes (b. c. 1090 – d. 29 December 1127), Abbess of Quedlinburg (1110) and Gandersheim (1111).

5. Adelaide (b. c. 1091 – d. 25/26 March 1127), married bef. 1118 to Dietrich 3, Count of Vohburg and Margrave of the Northern March.

6. NN (b. c. 1092 – d. bef. 1111), married c. 1111 with a Polish lord.

Vladislav married Judith av Böhmen about 1083. Judith (daughter of Vratislav av Böhmen, "Vratislav 2" and Adelheide av Ungarn) was born about 1055; died about 1086. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Bef 1095, Ungarn; Konge

Notes:

Occupation:
Ladislaus 1 or Ladislas 1, also Saint Ladislaus or Saint Ladislas (Hungarian: 1 or Szent László; Croatian: Ladislav 1.; Slovak: Svätý Ladislav 1; c. 1040 – 29 July 1095) was King of Hungary from 1077 and King of Croatia from 1091. He was the second son of King Béla 1 of Hungary. After Béla's death in 1063, Ladislaus and his elder brother, Géza, acknowledged their cousin, Solomon as the lawful king in exchange for receiving their father's former duchy, which included one-third of the kingdom. Géza and Ladislaus cooperated with Solomon for the next decade. Ladislaus's most popular legend, which narrates his fight with a "Cuman" (a Turkic nomad marauder) who abducted a Hungarian girl, is connected to this period. Géza's and Ladislaus's relationship with Solomon deteriorated in the early 1070s, and they rebelled against him. Géza was proclaimed king in 1074, but Solomon maintained control of the western regions of his kingdom. During Géza's reign, Ladislaus was his brother's most influential adviser.

Géza died in 1077, and his supporters made Ladislaus king. Solomon resisted Ladislaus with the assistance of King Henry 4 of Germany. Ladislaus supported Henry 4's opponents during the Investiture Controversy. In 1081, Solomon abdicated and acknowledged Ladislaus's reign, but he conspired to regain the royal crown and Ladislaus imprisoned him. Ladislaus canonized the first Hungarian saints (including his distant relatives, King Stephen I and Duke Emeric) in 1085. He set Solomon free during the canonization ceremony.

After a series of civil wars, Ladislaus's main focus was the restoration of public safety. He introduced severe legislation, punishing those who violated property rights with death or mutilation. He occupied almost all Croatia in 1091, which marked the beginning of an expansion period for the medieval Kingdom of Hungary. Ladislaus's victories over the Pechenegs and Cumans ensured the security of his kingdom's eastern borders for about 150 years. His relationship with the Holy See deteriorated during the last years of his reign, as the popes claimed that Croatia was their fief, but Ladislaus denied their claims.

Ladislaus was canonized on 27 June 1192 by Pope Celestine 3. Legends depict him as a pious knight-king, the incarnation of the late-medieval Hungarian ideal of chivalry. He is a popular saint in Hungary and neighboring countries, where many churches are dedicated to him.

Ladislaus was the second son of the future King Béla 1 of Hungary and his wife, Richeza (or Adelaide), who was a daughter of King Mieszko 2 of Poland. Ladislaus and his elder brother, Géza, were born in Poland, where Béla had settled in the 1030s after being banished from Hungary. Ladislaus was born around 1040. Ladislaus's physical and spiritual makeup testified to God's gracious will even at his birth, according to his late-12th-century Legend. The almost contemporaneous Gallus Anonymus wrote that Ladislaus was raised from childhood in Poland and almost became a Pole in his ways and life. He received a Slavic name; Ladislaus is the Hungarian version of Vladislav.

Béla and his family returned to Hungary around 1048. Béla received the so-called - Duchy – which encompassed one-third of the kingdom – from his brother, King Andrew I of Hungary. The Illuminated Chronicle mentions that Andrew's son, Solomon, was anointed king with the consent of Duke Bela and his sons Geysa and Ladislaus in 1057 or 1058.

Béla, who had been Andrew's heir before Solomon's coronation, left for Poland in 1059; his sons accompanied him. They returned with Polish reinforcements and began a rebellion against Andrew. After defeating Andrew, Béla was crowned king on 6 December 1060. Solomon left the country, taking refuge in the Holy Roman Empire. Béla 1 died on 11 September 1063, some time before German troops entered Hungary in order to restore Solomon. Ladislaus and his brothers, Géza and Lampert, went back to Poland, and Solomon was once again crowned king in Székesfehérvár. The 3 brothers returned when the Germans left Hungary. To avoid another civil war, the brothers signed a treaty with Solomon on 20 January 1064, acknowledging Solomon's reign in exchange for their father's duchy.

Ladislaus and Géza probably divided the administration of their duchy; Ladislaus seems to have received the regions around Bihar (now Biharia, Romania). Géza and Ladislaus cooperated with King Solomon between 1064 and 1071. The most popular story in Ladislaus's later legends – his fight with a Cuman warrior who abducted a Christian maiden – occurred during this period. The relationship between the king and his cousins became tense in the early 1070s. When Géza accompanied Solomon on a military campaign against the Byzantine Empire in 1072, Ladislaus stayed behind with half of the ducal troops in Nyírség to avenge his brother with a strong hand if Solomon harmed Géza.

Realizing that another civil war was inevitable, the king and dukes launched negotiations to obtain the assistance of foreign powers. First, Ladislaus visited the Kievan Rus', but he returned without reinforcements. He then went to Moravia, and persuaded Duke Otto 1 of Olomouc to accompany him back to Hungary with Czech troops. By the time they returned to Hungary, the royal army had already invaded the duchy and routed Géza's troops at the Battle of Kemej on 26 February 1074. Ladislaus met his fleeing brother at Vác, and they decided to continue the fight against Solomon. A legend preserved in the Illuminated Chronicle mentions that before the battle, Ladislaus "saw in broad daylight a vision from heaven" of an angel placing a crown on Géza's head. Another legendary episode also predicted the dukes' triumph over the king: an ermine of purest white jumped from a thorny bush to Ladislaus's lance and then onto his chest. The decisive Battle of Mogyoród was fought on 14 March 1074. Ladislaus commanded the troops from Byhor on the left flank. Solomon was defeated, but instead of surrendering to his cousins, he fled to the western borders of the kingdom to seek assistance from his brother-in-law Henry 4 of Germany.

Géza was proclaimed king, but Solomon established himself in Moson and Pressburg (now Bratislava, Slovakia). During his brother's reign, Ladislaus administered all of their father's former duchy. He repelled Solomon's attack on Nyitra (present-day Nitra, Slovakia) in August or September 1074, but he could not seize Pressburg. Ladislaus was also his brother's main advisor. Legend says that Géza decided to build a church dedicated to the Holy Virgin in Vác after Ladislaus explained the significance of the wondrous appearance of a red deer at the place where the church would be erected:

As (King Géza and Duke Ladislaus) were standing at a spot near (Vác), where is now the church of the blessed apostle Peter, a stag appeared to them with many candles burning upon his horns, and it began to run swifly before them towards the wood, and at the spot where is now the monastery, it halted and stood still. When the soldiers shot their arrows at it, it leapt into the Danube, and they saw it no more. At this sight the blessed Ladislaus said:

Truly that was no stag, but an angel from God.

And King (Géza) said:

Tell me, beloved brother, what may all the candles signify which we saw burning on the stag's horns.

The blessed Ladislaus answered:

They are not horns, but wings; they are not burning candles, but shining feathers. It has shown to us that we are to build the church of the Blessed Virgin on the place where it planted its feet, and not elsewhere.

— The Hungarian Illuminated Chronicle.

Géza 1 died on 25 April 1077. Since Géza's sons, Coloman and Álmos, were minors, his supporters proclaimed Ladislaus king instead. Gallus Anonymus emphasizes that King Boleslaus 2 the Bold of Poland drove out Solomon from Hungary with his forces, and placed (Ladislaus) on the throne; Boleslaus even called Ladislaus his king. Although the Illuminated Chronicle emphasizes that Ladislaus never placed the crown upon his head, for he desired a heavenly crown rather than the earthly crown of a mortal king, all his coins depict him wearing a crown, suggesting that Ladislaus was actually crowned around 1078. Shortly after his coronation, Ladislaus promulgated 2 law books, which incorporated the decisions of an assembly of the magnates of the kingdom, held in Pannonhalma. The majority of these laws were draconian measures to defend private property, showing that Ladislaus primarily focused on internal consolidation and security during the first years of his reign. Those who were caught stealing were to be executed, and even criminals who committed minor offenses against property rights were blinded or sold as slaves. His other laws regulated legal proceedings and economic matters, including the issuing of judicial summons and the royal monopoly on salt trade.

If someone, freeman or bondman, should be caught in theft, he shall be hanged. But if he flees to the church to evade the gallows, he shall be led out of the church and blinded. A bondman caught in theft, if he does not flee to the church, shall be hanged; the owner of the stolen goods shall take a loss in the lost goods. The sons and daughters of a freeman caught in theft who fled to the church, was led out and blinded, if they are ten years old or less, shall retain their freedom; but if they are older than ten years they shall be reduced to servitude and lose all their property. A bondman or freeman who steals a goose or a hen shall lose one eye and shall restore what he has stolen.

— Laws of King Ladislas 1.

The Illuminated Chronicle claims that Ladislaus planned to restore the kingdom to Solomon and himself have the dukedom, but almost all contemporaneous sources contradict this report. Ladislaus approached Pope Gregory VII, who was the primary opponent of Solomon's ally, Henry 4 of Germany.[48] At the Pope's request, Ladislaus sheltered Bavarian nobles who had rebelled against Henry. In 1078 or 1079, Ladislaus married Adelaide, a daughter of Rudolf of Rheinfelden, whom the German princes had elected to take the place of Henry 4 as king. Ladislaus supported Leopold 2, Margrave of Austria, who also rebelled against Henry 4; however, the German monarch forced Leopold to surrender in May 1078.

Taking advantage of the internal conflicts in the Holy Roman Empire, Ladislaus besieged and captured the fortress of Moson from Solomon in early 1079. However, Henry 4 stormed the western regions of Hungary, and secured Solomon's position. The German invasion also prevented Ladislaus from assisting Boleslaus the Bold, who fled to Hungary after his subjects expelled him from Poland. Ladislaus initiated negotiations with Solomon, who abdicated in 1080 or 1081 in exchange for revenues sufficient to bear the expenses of a king. However, Solomon soon began conspiring against Ladislaus, and Ladislaus imprisoned him.

The first 5 Hungarian saints, including the first king of Hungary, Stephen 1, and Stephen's son, Emeric, were canonized during Ladislaus's reign. Stephen's canonization demonstrates Ladislaus's magnanimity, because Ladislaus's grandfather, Vazul, had been blinded by Stephen's orders in the 1030s. Historian László Kontler says that the canonization ceremony, held in August 1083, was also a political act, demonstrating Ladislaus's "commitment to preserving and strengthening" the Christian state. Ladislaus even dedicated a newly established Benedictine monastery – Szentjobb Abbey – to Stephen's right arm, known as the Holy Dexter, which was miraculously found intact. Ladislaus released Solomon at the time of the ceremony; legend said that Stephen's grave could not be opened until he did so.

(The) Lord, in order to show how merciful (King Stephen 1) had been while living in a mortal body, demonstrated his approval of (Stephen's revelation as a saint) before all other works when (the king) was already reigning with Christ to the point that though for three days they struggled with all their might to raise his holy body, it was not by any means to be moved from its place. For in that time, because of the sins, a grave discord arose between the said king Ladislas and his cousin Solomon, because of which, Solomon, captured, was held in prison. Therefore when they tried in vain to raise the body, a certain recluse at the church of the Holy Savior in Bökénysomlyó, by the name of Karitas, whose famous life at the time was held in esteem, confided to the king by a revelation made to her from heaven that they exerted themselves in vain; it would be impossible to transfer the relics of the holy king until unconditional pardon was offered to Solomon, setting him free from the confinement of prison. And thus, bringing him forth from the prison, and repeating the three-day fast, when the third day arrived for the transferal of the holy remains, the stone lying over the grave was lifted up with such ease as if it had been of no weight before.

— Hartvic, Life of King Stephen of Hungary.

After his release, Solomon made a final effort to regain his crown. He persuaded a Pecheneg chieftain, Kutesk, to invade Hungary in 1085. Ladislaus defeated the invaders at the upper courses of the Tisza River.

In August 1087, German princes who opposed Henry 4's rule held a conference in Speyer. The contemporaneous Bernold of St Blasien mentions that Ladislaus sent envoys to the meeting, and promised that he would assist (them) with 20,000 knights, if it became necessary. Ladislaus also recognized Pope Victor 3 as the legitimate pope, rather than Clement 3, who had been elected pope at Henry 4's initiative. However, Ladislaus provided no further support to Henry 4's opponents after he was informed of Solomon's death in 1087.

King Demetrius Zvonimir of Croatia's wife, Helen, was Ladislaus's sister. After the death of Zvonimir and his successor, Stephen 2, a conflict developed between factions of Croatian noblemen. At Helen's request, Ladislaus intervened in the conflict and invaded Croatia in 1091. The same year, he wrote to Oderizius, Abbot of Monte Cassino in Italy, about his invasion. Thomas the Archdeacon's chronicle describes how Ladislaus occupied the entire land from the River Drava to the mountains called the Iron Alps without encountering opposition. However, his opponents crowned a local nobleman, Petar Sva?i?, as king. Sva?i? fought in the Gvozd Mountains, preventing the complete conquest of Croatia. Ladislaus appointed his nephew, Álmos, to administer the occupied territory. Around the same time, Ladislaus set up a separate diocese in Slavonia, with its see in Zagreb. The bishop of the new see became the suffragan to the archbishop of Esztergom in Hungary.

Ladislaus admitted in his letter to Oderizius that he could not promote the cause of earthly dignities without committing grave sins. Historian Bálint Hóman says that Ladislaus was referring to a developing conflict with Pope Urban 2, who objected to Ladislaus's refusal to acknowledge the Holy See's suzerainty over Croatia. In the letter, Ladislaus styled himself as king of the Hungarians and of Messia. Historian Ferenc Makk writes that the latter title referred to Moesia, implying that Ladislaus had taken the regions between the Great Morava and Drina rivers from the Byzantine Empire. No other documents refer to Ladislaus's occupation of Moesia, suggesting that if Ladislaus did occupy the region, he lost it quickly. Alexandru Madgearu says that Messia should rather be associated with Bosnia, which was occupied during Ladislaus's campaign against Croatia.

The Cumans invaded and plundered the eastern part of the kingdom in 1091 or 1092. Makk argues that the Byzantines persuaded them to attack Hungary, while the Illuminated Chronicle states that the Cumans were incited by the Ruthenians. In retaliation, the chronicle continues, Ladislaus invaded the neighboring Rus' principalities, forcing the Ruthenians to ask for mercy and to promise that they would be faithful to him in all things. No Rus' chronicle documents Ladislaus's military action.

Bernold of St Blasien writes that Duke Welf of Bavaria prevented a conference that Emperor Henry 4 had arranged with the king of the Hungarians in December 1092. A letter written by Henry refers to the alliance into which (he) once entered with Ladislaus. Pope Urban 2 also mentioned that the Hungarians left the shepherds of their salvation, implying that Ladislaus had changed sides and acknowledged the legitimacy of Antipope Clement 3. In the deed of the Benedictine Somogyvár Abbey, Ladislaus stated that the abbot should be obedient to him, proving that Ladislaus opposed the Church's independence, which was demanded by the Gregorian Reforms. Ladislaus personally presided over an assembly of the Hungarian prelates that met in Szabolcs on 21 May 1091. The synod recognized the legitimacy of a clergyman's first marriage, in contrast to the requirements of canon law, which states that members of the clergy may not marry at all. According to a scholarly theory, the sees of the dioceses of Kalocsa and Bihar were moved to Bács (now Ba?, Serbia) and Nagyvárad (present-day Oradea, Romania), respectively, during Ladislaus's reign.

Ladislaus intervened in a conflict between Wladislaw I Herman, Duke of Poland, and the duke's illegitimate son, Zbigniew, on the latter's behalf. He marched to Poland and captured Wladislaw 1 Herman's younger son, Boleslav, in 1093. At Ladislaus's demand, Wladislaw 1 Herman declared Zbigniew his legitimate son. The Illuminated Chronicle also mentions that the Hungarian troops captured Cracow during Ladislaus's campaign, but the credibility of this report has been questioned.

The Illuminated Chronicle states that messengers from France and from Spain, from England and Britain, and especially from Willermus, the brother of the King of the Franks visited Ladislaus in Bodrog (near present-day Ba?ki Monoštor in Serbia) on Easter 1095, asking him to lead their crusade to the Holy Land. Ladislaus's legend says that he decided to go to Jerusalem, and to die there for Christ. The whole story was invented, probably during the reign of King Béla 3 of Hungary (who was actually planning to lead a crusade to the Holy Land in the 1190s), according to historian Gábor Klaniczay. However, Ladislaus did plan to invade Bohemia, because he wanted to assist his sister's sons, Svatopluk and Otto. He became seriously ill before reaching Moravia. The Illuminated Chronicle narrates that Ladislaus, who had no sons, called together his chief men, telling them that his brother's younger son, Álmos, should reign after him.

Ladislaus died near the Hungarian-Bohemian border on 29 July 1095. A papal bull issued by Pope Paschal 2 in 1106 states that Ladislaus's venerable body rests in Somogyvár Abbey, implying that Ladislaus had been buried in Somogyvár. On the other hand, Ladislaus's late 12th-century Legend says that Ladislaus's attendants decided to bury him in Székesfehérvár, but the cart carrying his body set out to Várad on its own, unassisted by any draft animal.

Historian Gyula Kristó says that Ladislaus had a first wife, but her name and family are not known. She gave birth to a daughter, whose name is also unknown.

Ladislaus's daughter married Prince Iaroslav Sviatopolchich of Volhinia around 1090.

Ladislaus again in 1078, to Adelaide, a daughter of the German anti-king Rudolf of Swabia. Their only known child, Piroska, became the wife of the Byzantine Emperor John 2 Komnenos in 1105 or 1106.

For centuries, hagiographers and historians have emphasized Ladislaus's prominent role in the consolidation of the Christian monarchy. The chronicles also stressed his idoneitas, or personal suitability, to reign, because the legitimacy of his rule was questionable. The Illuminated Chronicle clearly states that Ladislaus knew that "the right of law between him and (Solomon) was not on his side but only the force of fact.

After Ladislaus's victories over the Pechenegs and the Cumans, the nomadic peoples of the Pontic steppes stopped invading Hungary until the Mongol invasion of 1241. Kristó suggests that the Székely people—a community of Hungarian-speaking warriors—started settling the easternmost borderlands under Ladislaus. The historic association of the Kingdom of Hungary and Croatia, which ended in 1918, began with Ladislaus's conquest of Croatia. His conquest marked the beginning of a period of Hungarian expansion, which ensured that Hungary developed into a leading Central European power during the following centuries. It became a customary rite for a newly crowned Hungarian monarch to take a pilgrimage to Ladislaus's shrine at Várad. Louis 1 of Hungary, who made many attempts to expand his territory in the Balkan Peninsula, showed a special respect for Ladislaus.

Hungary had never had as great as king, so they repute
And the land thereafter never bore that much and splendid fruit.

— Gallus Anonymus: The Deeds of the Princes of the Poles.

Gábor Klaniczay emphasizes that Ladislaus seemed expressly designed to personify the knight-king ideal of his age. During the reign of Ladislaus's successor, Coloman the Learned, Bishop Hartvik said that Ladislaus's character was distinguished by the respectability of morals and remarkable for the splendor of his virtues. The so-called Gesta Ladislai regis (The Deeds of King Ladislaus), which are the texts about Ladislaus's life and reign preserved in 14th-century Hungarian chronicles, were written during Coloman's rule. Five significant events of Ladislaus's life, which were not included in his official legend, were only preserved in the Gesta.

The most popular story describes Ladislaus's fight with a Cuman warrior after the Battle of Kerlés (at present-day Chirale?, Romania) in 1068. In the battle, the united armies of Solomon, Géza and Ladislaus routed a band of Pechenegs or Oghuz Turks who were plundering the eastern parts of the kingdom. According to the version recorded in the Illuminated Chronicle, Ladislaus spotted a pagan warrior fleeing from the battlefield with a captive Hungarian maiden. Ladislaus pursued the Cuman, but he could not stop him. On Ladislaus's advice, the maiden pulled the warrior off his horse, allowing Ladislaus to kill the Cuman after a long fight on the ground. Archaeologist Gyula László says that murals depicting this legend in medieval churches preserved the elements of pagan myths, including a struggle between forces of light and darkness.

(The) most blessed Duke Ladislaus saw one of the pagans who was carrying off on his horse a beautiful Hungarian girl. The saintly Duke Ladislaus thought that it was the daughter of the Bishop of Warad, and although he was seriously vounded, he swiftly pursued him on his horse, which he called by the name of Zug. When he caught up with him and wished to spear him, he could not do so, for neither could his own horse go any faster nor did the other's horse yield any ground, but there remained the distance of a man's arm between his spear and the Coman's back. So the saintly Duke Ladislaus shouted to the girl and said:

Fair sister, take hold of the Coman by his belt and throw yourself to the ground.

Which she did; and the saintly Duke Ladislaus was about to spear him as he lay upon the ground, for he wished to kill him. But the girl strongly pleaded with him not to kill him, but to let him go. Whence it is to be seen that there is no faith in women; for it was probably because of strong carnal love that she wished him to go free. But after having fought for a long time with him and unmanned him, the saintly Duke killed him. But the girl was not the bishop's daughter.

— The Hungarian Illuminated Chronicle.

During the reign of Stephen 2 of Hungary, Ladislaus's shrine in the cathedral of Várad became a preferred venue for trials by ordeal. However, it cannot be determined whether Ladislaus became subject to veneration soon after his death, or if his cult emerged after he was canonized by Béla 3 of Hungary on 27 June 1192. Béla had lived in the Byzantine court, where Ladislaus's daughter, Empress Irene, was venerated as a saint. According to Thomas the Archdeacon, Pope Innocent 3 declared that Ladislaus should be enrolled in the catalogue of saints, but his report is unreliable, because Celestine III was Pope at the time. Celestine 3's bulls and charters make no reference to Ladislaus's canonization, implying that Ladislaus was canonized without the Holy See's authorization. The nearly contemporaneous Regestrum Varadinense says that a bondsman, named Tekus, son of the craftsman Dénes, opened Ladislaus's tomb at the beginning of the ceremony, after which Tekus was granted freedom. Parts of Ladislaus's head and right hand were severed so that they could be distributed as relics. The 15th-century silver reliquary that contains Ladislaus's head is displayed in the Gy?r Cathedral.

Ladislaus's official legend, which was compiled after 1204, attributes a number of miracles to him. According to one of his legends, a pestilence spread throughout the kingdom during Ladislaus's reign. Ladislaus prayed for a cure; he then shot an arrow into the air at random, hitting a herb which cured the illness. This plant became known as Saint Ladislaus's herb in Hungary.

Ladislaus is a patron saint of Hungary, especially along the borders. In particular, soldiers and the Székely people venerate him. A late medieval legend says that Ladislaus appeared at the head of a Székely army fighting against and routing a plundering band of Tatars in 1345. He is also called upon during times of pestilence. He is often depicted as a mature, bearded man wearing a royal crown and holding a long sword or banner. He is also shown on his knees before a deer, or in the company of 2 angels.

Sofie married Ulrich Weimar, "Ulrich 1" before 1071. Ulrich died before 1071. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sofie married Magnus av Sachsen, "Billung" about 1071 in Sachsen, Tyskland. Magnus (son of Ordulv (Otta/Orthilius) av Sachsen, "Billung" / "av Braunschweig" and Ulvhild (Wulfhild) Olavsdatter) was born about 1045; died on 23 Aug 1106. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Bef 1077, Ungarn; Konge.

Notes:

Occupation:
Géza 1 (Hungarian: 1. Géza; c. 1040 – 25 April 1077) was King of Hungary from 1074 until his death. He was the eldest son of King Béla 1. His baptismal name was Magnus. When his father died in 1063, Géza's cousin Solomon acquired the crown with German assistance, forcing Géza to leave Hungary. Géza returned with Polish reinforcements and signed a treaty with Solomon in early 1064. In the treaty, Géza and his brother, Ladislaus acknowledged the rule of Solomon, who granted them their father's former duchy, which encompassed one-third of the Kingdom of Hungary.

Géza closely cooperated with Solomon, but their relationship became tense from 1071. The king invaded the duchy in February 1074 and defeated Géza in a battle. However, Géza was victorious at the decisive battle of Mogyoród on 14 March 1074. He soon acquired the throne, although Solomon maintained his rule in the regions of Moson and Pressburg (present-day Bratislava, Slovakia) for years. Géza initiated peace negotiations with his dethroned cousin in the last months of his life. Géza's sons were minors when he died and he was succeeded by his brother Ladislaus.

Géza was the eldest son of the future King Béla I of Hungary and his wife Richeza or Adelhaid, a daughter of King Mieszko II of Poland. The Illuminated Chronicle narrates that Géza and his brother Ladislaus were born in Poland, where their father who had been banished from Hungary settled in the 1030s. Géza was born in about 1040. According to the historians Gyula Kristó and Ferenc Makk, he was named after his grandfather's uncle Géza, Grand Prince of the Hungarians. His baptismal name was Magnus.

In about 1048, Géza's father returned to Hungary and received one third of the kingdom with the title of duke from his brother, King Andrew 1. Géza seems to have arrived in Hungary with his father. The king, who had not fathered a legitimate son, declared Béla as his heir. According to the traditional principle of seniority, Béla preserved his claim to succeed his brother even after Andrew's wife Anastasia of Kiev gave birth to Solomon in 1053. However, the king had his son crowned in 1057 or 1058. The Illuminated Chronicle narrates that the child Solomon was anointed king with the consent of Duke Bela and his sons Geysa and Ladislaus, which is the first reference to a public act by Géza. However, according to the contemporaneous text Annales Altahenses, Géza was absent from the meeting where Judith—the sister of the German monarch Henry 4 — was engaged to the child Solomon in 1058.

Géza accompanied his father, who left for Poland to seek assistance against King Andrew. They returned with Polish reinforcements in 1060. Géza was one of his father's most influential advisors. Lampert of Hersfeld wrote that Géza persuaded his father to set free Count William of Weimar, one of the commanders of the German troops fighting on Andrew's side, who had been captured in a battle.

The king died during the civil war; his partisans took Solomon to the Holy Roman Empire and Géza's father Béla was crowned king on 6 December 1060. Although Géza remained his father's principal advisor, King Béla did not grant his former duchy to his son. According to the Annales Altahenses, Béla even offered Géza as hostage to the Germans when he was informed that the German court decided, in August 1063, to invade Hungary to restore Solomon. However, the Germans refused Béla's offer and he died on 11 September 1063, some days after the imperial troops entered Hungary.

Following his father's death, Géza offered to accept Solomon's rule if he received his father's former duchy. This offer was refused, which forced him and his 2 brothers — Ladislaus and Lampert — to leave Hungary for Poland. King Boleslaw 2 of Poland provided them with reinforcements and they returned after the German troops withdrewn from Hungary. The brothers wanted to avoid a new civil war and made an agreement with King Solomon. According to the treaty, which was signed in Györ on 20 January 1064, Géza and his brothers accepted Solomon's rule and the king granted them their father's duchy. The king and his cousins celebrated Easter together in the cathedral of Pécs, where Duke Géza ceremoniously put a crown on Solomon's head.

Being a newcomer and not yet established in his kingdom, King (Solomon) was afraid that (Géza) would perhaps attack him with a Polish army, and he therefore retired for a time with his forces and took up a safe station in the strongly fortified castle of (Moson). The bishops and other religious men strove most earnestly to bring about a peaceful settlement between them. Especially bishop Desiderius softened Duke (Géza)'s spirit with his gentle admonitions and sweet pleadings that he should peaceably restore the kingdom to (Solomon), even though he was the younger, and should himself assume the dukedom which his father had held before him. (Géza) listened to his words of wise persuasion and laid aside his ill feeling. At (Györ), on the feast day of SS Fabian and Sebastian the martyrs, King (Solomon) and Duke (Géza) made peace with each other before the Hungarian people.

— The Hungarian Illuminated Chronicle.

According to Ján Steinhübel and other Slovak historians, Géza only retained the administration of the region of Nyitra (present-day Nitra, Slovakia) and gave the eastern territories of their father's duchy, which were centered around Bihar (present-day Biharia, Romania), to his brother, Ladislaus. The Hungarian historian, Gyula Kristó likewise says that this division of Béla's one-time duchy is probable. The historians Gyula Kristó and Ferenc Makk write that Géza seems to have married a German countess, named Sophia around this time. Géza had the right to coinage in his duchy. The silver half-denars minted for him bore the inscriptions DUX MAGNUS (Duke Magnus) and PANONAI (Kingdom of Hungary).

Géza closely cooperated with the king between 1064 and 1071. For instance, they jointly routed an invading army which had plundered the eastern territories of the kingdom at Kerlés (present-day Chirales, Romania) in 1068. The identification of the invaders is uncertain: the Annales Posonienses writes of Pechenegs, the Illuminated Chronicle and other 14th- and 15th-century Hungarian chronicles refer to Cumans, and a Russian chronicle identifies them as Cumans and Vlachs. Modern historians have concluded that they were Pechenegs.

Géza's and Solomon's relationship only began to worsen during the siege of the Byzantine fortress of Belgrade in 1071. Its commander preferred to surrender to Géza instead of the king and the Byzantine envoys who arrived in the Hungarian camp after the fall of Belgrade only negotiated with Géza. The division of the booty also gave rise to a new conflict between Solomon and Géza. Although Géza accompanied the king on a new campaign against the Byzantine Empire in 1072, but his brother, Ladislaus stayed behind with half of the troops of their duchy.

The conflict between the king and his cousins was sharpened by Solomon's main advisor, Count Vid who wanted to acquire the dukes' domains for himself. However, Solomon and Géza, who were convinced that they needed foreign reinforcements before attacking the other party, concluded a truce which was to last from 11 November 1073 to 24 April 1075. Géza sent his brothers to Poland and Rus' to seek assistance against Solomon. At a meeting in the Szekszárd Abbey, Count Vid persuaded the king to break the truce in order to unexpectedly attack Géza who was hunting in Igfan Forest to the east of the river Tisza. Although the abbot of the monastery, which had been established by Géza's father, warned the duke of the king's plans, the royal army crossed the river and routed Géza's troops in the battle of Kemej on 26 February 1074.

From the battlefield, Géza and his retinue hastened towards Vác where he came upon his brother, Ladislaus and their brother-in-law, Duke Otto 1 of Olomouc. The latter, accompanied by Czech reinforcements, arrived in Hungary in order to assist Géza against Solomon. In the ensuing battle, fought at Mogyoród on 14 March 1074, Géza with the troops from Nitria was stationed in the centre, according to the Illuminated Chronicle. During the battle, Géza and Ladislaus changed their standards in order to bewilder Solomon who was planning to attack Géza. Géza and his allies won a decisive victory and forced the king to flee from the battlefield and to withdraw to Moson at the western frontier of Hungary. Géza made Kapuvár, Babót, Székesfehérvár and other castles secure with garrisons of the bravest soldiers, thus taking possession of almost the entire kingdom.

According to the Illuminated Chronicle, Géza accepted the throne at the insistence of the Hungarians after Solomon had taken refuge in Moson. However, he was not crowned because the royal jewels were still in the dethroned king's possession. The German monarch Henry IV, who was Solomon's brother-in-law, launched an expedition against Hungary in mid-1074. The Germans marched as far as Vác, but Géza applied scorched earth tactics and bribed German commanders, who persuaded the German monarch to retreat from Hungary.

(Géza), hearing that the Emperor had come to Vacia, with prudent policy gave instructions to approach and win over the patriarch of Aquilegia, to whose counsels the Emperor most readily listened, and also all the [German] dukes, promising them much money if they would make the Emperor turn back. The patriarch, therefore, and the dukes, seduced by the gifts and possessed with love of gold, invented various false stories to induce the Emperor to turn back. The patriarch pretended that he had a dream whose interpretation most plainly was that the Emperor's army would be wholly destroyed by the divine vengeance unless he returned with the utmost speed. The dukes pretended likewise to be awestricken by divine warnings...

— The Hungarian Illuminated Chronicle.

In early 1074, Géza had approached Pope Gregory 7 to obtain international recognition of his rule. However, the pope wanted to take advantage of the conflict between Solomon and Géza and attempted to persuade both of them to acknowledge the suzerainty of the Holy See.[39] Géza did not obey the pope and asked the Byzantine Emperor Michael 7 Doukas for a crown. The emperor sent Géza a gold and enamel diadem, which bore the legend Géza, the faithful king of Hungary on one of its plaques. This splendid work of art became the lower part of the Holy Crown of Hungary by the end of the 12th century. Géza was crowned king with this diadem in early 1075. In this year he styled himself as anointed king of the Hungarians by the grace of God in the charter of the foundation of the Benedictine Abbey of Garamszentbenedek (present-day Hronský Benadik, Slovakia).

Géza married a niece of Nikephoros Botaneiates, a close advisor of Emperor Michael 7. However, Solomon still controlled Moson and Pressburg; the royal troops—which were under the command of Géza's brother, Ladislaus—could not take Pressburg in 1076. According to the Illuminated Chronicle, Géza considered renouncing the crown in favor of Solomon from the end of the year. Géza died on 15 April 1077 and was buried in the cathedral of Vác, which he had erected in the honor of the Holy Virgin. His brother, Ladislaus succeeded him. A grave discovered in the center of the medieval cathedral in August 2015 was identified as Géza's burial site by Zoltán Batizi, the leader of the excavations.

(King Géza) celebrated Christmas at (Szekszárd)... When the Mass had been celebrated and all observances had been duly performed, the King instructed that all should leave except the bishop and the abbots. Then the King prostrated himself with tears before the Archbishop and the other ecclesiastical personages and prelates. He said that he had sinned because he had possessed himself of the kingdom of a lawfully crowned king; and he promised that he would restore the kingdom to (Solomon), and that these would be the conditions of firm peace between them: He would by lawful right hold the crown with that third part of the kingdom belonging with the duchy; the crowned (Solomon) would hold the two parts of the kingdom which he had held before... Then King (Géza) sent messengers to King (Solomon) with letters setting forth the terms of peace. Messengers passed to and fro, but feelings on this side and that were at variance, and so the reconciliation found no consummation. Meanwhile King (Géza) fell gravely ill, and on April 25, adorned with virtues, he went the way of all flesh. He was most devoted to God in the Catholic faith, and he was a most Christian Prince.

— The Hungarian Illuminated Chronicle.

Géza married twice. The family of his first wife Sophia, whom he married in the late 1060s, is unknown. After his coronation in 1075, he married his second wife, who was the niece of the future Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros 3.

It is uncertain which wife bore Géza's children, but the historians Gyula Kristó and Márta Font say that Sophia was their mother. Kristó adds that Géza fathered at least 6 children. Although only 2 of them — Coloman and Álmos — are known by name, the Illuminated Chronicle states that Coloman had brothers who died before him. Both Coloman and Álmos were apparently born around 1070.

Geza married Synadena before 1077. [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: Swiatoslaw. Swiatoslaw (son of David and Theodosia) was born about 1080; died about 1143. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Anna married Henry Capet, "Henry 1" on 29 Jan 1051. Henry was born about Apr 1008 in Champagne-Ardenne, Frankrike; died on 04 Aug 1060 in Frankrike. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Wulfhilde married Henrik av Bayern, "Henrik 4" about 1095. Henrik was born about 1074; died about 13 Dec 1126. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elika married Otto av Ballenstädt before 1095. Otto (son of Albrecht (Adalbert) av Ballenstädt, "Adalbert 2" and Adelheid av Meissen) was born about 1075; died on 09 Feb 1123. [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: Vsevolod. Vsevolod died about 1136. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Bef 1108, Frankrike; konge

Notes:

Birth:
Rheims, Marne.

Died:
Melun, Aquitaine.

Philippe married Bertha av Holland about 1080. Bertha was born about 1054 in Vlaardingen, Zuid-Holland, Nederland; died about 1094 in Angers, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire, Frankrike. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Brandenburg, Tyskland; Også nevnt som Albrecht 1 der Bär av Sachsen.

Albrecht married Sofie av Winzenberg in 1124. Sofie (daughter of Herman av Winzenberg, "Herman 1" and Hedvig av Assel) was born in 1107; died in 1160. [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]

Family/Spouse: Richitza Swentoslawa. Richitza (daughter of Boleslav (Boleslaw) av Polen, "Boleslav 3" and Salome av Berg-Schelklingen) was born on 12 Apr 1116; died on 16 Jun 1185. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Irmgard. Irmgard was born about 1140. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Sachsen, Tyskland

Bernhard married Judith av Polen before 1175. Judith was born about 1152 in Polen; died about 1201. [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: 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]

Sigfried married Sofie Valdemarsdatter av Danmark about 1181. Sofie (daughter of Valdemar Knutsen av Danmark, "Valdemar 1" and Sofia av Halicz) was born about 1160 in Danmark. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Agnes av Østerrike. Agnes (daughter of Leopold av Østerrike and Theodora av Bysants) was born in 1206; died in 1225. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]