Mieszko III the Old man

|- | Reign || Of 1173 with 1177, in 1190/1191 and of 1198 with 1202 |- | Dynasty || Piast |- | Parents || Boleslas III the Stop-Chest
Salome von Berg-Schelklingen |- | Wives || * Elisabeth of Hungary (v. 1140)
* Eudoxie of Kiev, girl of the large prince Iziaslav II |- | Children || with Elisabeth of Hungary
* Odon (v. 1145 - 1194)
* Stephan (v. 1150 - 1168/1177)
* Wierzchosława Ludmiła (before 1152 - 1223)
* Elisabeth (before 1154 - 1209)
* Judith (before 1154 - after 1201)
with Eudoxie of Kiev
* Boleslas (1159 - 1195)
* Mieszko (1160/1165 - 1193)
* Ladislas (1161/1166 - 1231)
* Salome (1162/1164 -?)
* Anastasie (before 1164 - àprès 1240)
* Zwinisława (before 1168 - 1240) |- | Birth date || v. 1126 |- | Birthplace || ? |- | Date of death || March 13rd 1202 |- | Place of death || Kalisz |- | Place of burial || Collegial Saint Paul, Kalisz, Poland |- |} Mieszko III the Old man (in Polish Mieszko III Stary ), from the dynasty of the Piasts, was born towards 1126 and deceased the March 13rd 1202 with Kalisz. He is the son of Boleslas III the Stop-Chest and of Salome, the girl of the count Henri de Berg.

He was Duc Large-Poland (starting from 1138, with one period of interruption) and princeps (duke of Poland) of 1173 with 1177, in 1190/1191 and of 1198 with 1202.

The will of Boleslas III the Stop-Chest

Boleslas III the Stop-Chest dies the October 28th 1138. Its will, written a few years and inspired before of the habits of Kiev, mark the beginning of the territorial dismemberment of the Poland. It shared its State between its four sons, each one receiving a hereditary duchy.

Ladislas II the Outlaw receives the Silesia (with Wrocław like capital), Boleslas IV Curly the receives the Mazovie and the Cujavie (with Płock like capital), Mieszko III the Old man receives the Large-Poland (with Poznań like capital), Henri receives the duchy of Sandomierz (with Sandomierz like capital).

The elder one of the male representatives of the dynasty Piast, Ladislas II the Outlaw, becomes the princeps (or senior ) and for this reason, control surface also on the Petite Poland (with Cracow like capital), the Eastern Large-Poland with Gniezno and Kalisz, the Western Poméranie, the Eastern Poméranie as well as the area of Łęczyca and Sieradz (which must return to him after the death of Salome, the second wife of its father). It is him which decides in last spring on the questions of foreign politics, concludes the treaties, declares the wars, has the right of nomination, is the chief and the supreme judge.

Casimir II the Juste, who had not been born during the drafting of the will, does not receive anything.

Mieszko and its brothers are opposed to Ladislas II

As of 1139, supported by their mother Salome, Boleslas IV and Mieszko are opposed to Ladislas II the Outlaw who wants to restore the union of the Poland. In 1141, Ladislas launches an offensive against his/her half-brothers and seizes several cities. Archbishop of Gniezno and of many Tycoon S, which estimates that a too great centralization of the capacity goes against their interests and to their influence, are joined the children of Salome to counter increasingly powerful Ladislas. In 1145, on the Pilica, the young people Duke S, supported by the tycoons, obtain a first victory over Ladislas which is obliged to recognize their legitimacy and to return part of the to them Fief of their Salome mother who has just died.

In 1146, Ladislas II, the Rus' of Prussian Kiev and the , launch triple attacks. Ladislas continues its countryside to the doors of Poznań. During the seat of the city, the new conquered territories revolt and the archbishop of Gniezno launches a Anathème against Ladislas, enemy of peace and combined with pagan . Too much presumptuous, Ladislas continues the head office of Poznań but its army is put in rout by important rebellious forces and it must be folded up on Cracow.

The reign of Boleslas IV the Curly one

Ladislas must be exiled in Saxony and Boleslas IV the Curly one of Mazovie succeeds to him as a princeps (duke of Cracow). Boleslas IV the Curly division the territory of Ladislas between Mieszko III the Old man and Henri de Sandomierz. In August 1146, Conrad III attacks the Silesia but it is stopped on the Oder. It agrees to recognize the new Polish dukes in exchange of a financial arrangement and promise to submit itself to the imperial court for an arbitration. The new Polish leaders will refuse the arbitration of the emperor, too occupied regulating internal problems to be able to impose it.

In 1147, Mieszko III the Old participle with the Crusade against the Obodrites and the Lutices. It takes share with the attack against Szczecin.

In 1157, after an ultimatum requiring the return of Ladislas II, Frederic Barberousse, the Saxon and the Czech launches their invasion of the Poland. The imperial troops cross Oder and lay down their conditions with the Polish dukes: the Silesia for Ladislas II the Outlaw, of the money and the troops for the military countryside Italian of Frederic Barberousse. The Poles must recognize the Suzerain be imperial but, the following year, they cancel the treaty whereas Frederic Barberousse began his Italian countryside: no troops for the emperor, not of Silesia for Ladislas II the Outlaw.

In 1166, Henri de Sandomierz is killed in a crusade against the Prussian . Not having children, it had designated his little brother Casimir like heir. This heritage is disputed by Boleslas and Mieszko which decides to divide this duchy into three, a part for each brother.

The first reign of Mieszko III the Old man

In 1173, Mieszko III the Old man succeeds Boleslas IV the Curly one as a princeps . It gives itself the title of duke of all Poland (in Latin dux totius Poloniae ). Casimir (who finally received Sandomierz) becomes the tutor of Lech, the only son of Boleslas IV the Curly one.

In 1174, Racibor II of Poméranie wife Salome, the girl of Mieszko III the Old man. In 1177, Mieszko III must flee of Cracow following the rising of the inhabitants (supported by Boleslas Ier Length), to which Odon joined, his/her oldest son.

The reign of Casimir II the Juste

Casimir II the Juste goes up on the throne of Cracow. In 1179, Mieszko gives up its throne of Large Poland. His/her Odon son succeeds to him.

In 1180, at the time of the assembly of the noble Polish with Łęczyca, Casimir II the Juste grants privileges to noble and grants its first privileges the Église to make abolish the rights of the others Piasts on Cracow and establish its hereditary capacity there (suppression of the Séniorat).

In 1181, Bogusław Ier de Poméranie wife Anastasie, one of the girls of Mieszko III the Old man. The same year, not managing to gain the Holy Empire with its cause, Mieszko attacks Large Poland with the Poméraniens. It regains most of Large Poland (Gniezno included) which is its legitimate province, without opposition of Casimir II the Juste. Mieszko, which is not satisfied, continuous to want to conspire and to follow a diplomatic policy against Casimir. He is combined with Boleslas Ier Length and with the German court.

In 1184, the emperor gives the order to his son Henri, to set up a military campaign against Poland in order to support Mieszko. Casimir II the Juste retains the empire by reaffirming his Vassal ité and by undoubtedly making other concessions.

In 1186, after the death of Lech, Casimir II the Juste annexes Mazovie and becomes duke of Mazovie and duke of Cujavie.

Second reign of Mieszko III the Old man

In 1190, benefitting from a long voyage of Casimir in the Rus' of Kiev, the governor of Cracow seizes the city and Mieszko place on the throne. The following year, Casimir returns to Poland and easily takes again Cracow with the assistance of Rus' of Kiev.

Third reign of Mieszko III the Old man

In 1194, a few days after the death of Odon, Casimir dies suddenly, undoubtedly by a poisoning. His/her oldest son Lech the White succeeds to him Cracow and becomes also duke of Mazovie and Cujavie. Mieszko III invades Cujavie which it offers to his son Boleslas. The September 13rd 1195, a military confrontation opposing Mieszko III the Old man to the partisans of Lech the White (Battle of Mozgawa) does not enable him to take the advantage. His/her Boleslas son perishes in the battle. In 1198, Mieszko III becomes again princeps in fact (it ensures the Régence in the name of Lech the White which in support of the nobility) in exchange of Cujavie and the recognition of Lech the White like heir to the throne of Large Poland.

Mieszko III the old man dies the March 13rd 1202.

See too

History of Poland
Piast

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