Miecław
| Miecław | |
|---|---|
| Leader ofMiecław's State | |
| Reign | c. 1038–1047 |
| Died | 1047 |
Miecław[a](10th/11th century – 1047) was acup-bearerof kingMieszko II Lambert,who in c. 1038 had proclaimed independence of thestatethat he ruled, from theDuchy of Poland,beginning therebellionthat lasted until his death in 1047.
History
[edit]
Following the death ofMieszko II Lambert,king of Poland, in 1034, and the exile of his son,Casimir I the Restorer,toKingdom of Hungary,the state had fallen into a period of destabilization within theDuchy of Poland,that led to the start of the1038 Peasant Uprising.[1]Seizing the opportunity, around 1038, thecup-bearerMiecław had formed the state inMasovia,declaring its independence from Poland, and started his own royal dynasty.[2]
Casimir I the Restorer, duke of Poland, had returned to the country from his exile in 1039.[2]He had formed an alliance withYaroslav the Wise,Grand Prince of Kiev, the leader ofKievan Rus',via the marriage ofMaria Dobroniegawith Casimir. Expecting the attack from Rus', Miecław had formed an alliance withPomeranianandYotvingiantribes. In the spring of 1041, he had begun the campaign against Polish forces.[3]Miecław's forces had fought with the army led by Casimir and Yaroslav, in thebattle of Pobiedziska.The battle ended with a decisive Polish victory and destruction of Miecław's army and led to the signing of thetrucebetween both sides.[3][4]
The fighting had begun again in 1047, as Casimir I, together with Yaroslav, had organized the attack on Masovia, which led to thebattleof their forces against the forces of Miecław and Pomerelia.[5][6]The location of the battle remains unknown in modern times, though it was known to the 11th-century historian,Gallus Anonymus,according to whom, it took place near the river, with the bluff edge. According to him, Miecław forces had 30 divisions ofcavalry,while Casimir, 3 divisions. It is probable that he did not account for the forces of Yaroslav the Wise, and that both sides, in fact, had a similar number of forces.[5]The battle was probably initiated by Casimir I, who hoped to win before the arrival of the Pomerelian army. The battle itself was fierce, with numerous casualties on Miecław's side. The battle ended with Polish victory, following which, Miecław's state was reincorporated into Poland.[5][6]According to Gallus Anonymus, Miecław had died in the battle. However, according toWincenty Kadłubekin hisChronica seu originale regum et principum Poloniae,he had escaped toPrussia,where he was murdered.[2]
Citations
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Tadeusz Łepkowski,Słownik historii Polski.p. 363.
- ^abcŁ. Piernikarczyk,Masław i jego państwo (1037–1047)
- ^abKazimierz Odnowiciel.p. 112-118.
- ^A. Bielowski,Kronika śląsko-polska,inMonumenta Poloniae Historica,vol. 3. p. 622.
- ^abcGallus Anonymus,Gesta principum Polonorum
- ^abNestor the Chronicler,Primary Chronicle
Bibliography
[edit]- Ł. Piernikarczyk,Masław i jego państwo (1037–1047).
- Tadeusz Łepkowski,Słownik historii Polski.Warsaw. 1973, p. 363.
- Kazimierz Odnowiciel,Śląsk,1979.
- A. Bielowski,Kronika śląsko-polska,inMonumenta Poloniae Historica,vol. 3, Warsaw, 1961.
- Gallus Anonymus,Gesta principum Polonorum,Ossolineum, 2003, ISBN 83-04-04610-5.
- Nestor the Chronicler,Primary Chronicle,Ossolineum, 2005, ISBN 83-04-04750-0.