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Treaty of Trentschin

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Treaty of Trentschin
Trenčínská smlouva(cs)
Układ w Trenczynie(pl)
Trencséni megegyezés(hu)
Trenčín Castle
Signed24 August 1335
LocationTrencsén Castle,Hungary
Effective9 February 1339
ConditionRatificationby KingCasimir III
Signatories

TheTreaty of Trencinwas concluded on 24 August 1335 between KingCasimir III of Polandand KingJohn of Bohemiatogether with his son MargraveCharles IV.[1]The agreement was reached by the agency of Casimir's brother-in-law KingCharles I of Hungaryand signed atTrencin Castlein theKingdom of Hungary(present-day Trenčín,Slovakia). It initiated the transfer of suzerainty over the formerPolishprovince ofSilesiato theKingdom of Bohemia,whereafter theDuchies of Silesiawere incorporated into theBohemian Crown.Following the integration of this treaty, the three kingdoms of Bohemia, Hungary, and Poland met at theFirst Congress of Visegradlater in 1335 to further discuss the division of land. This congress also made the treaty official.

Prelude[edit]

Bohemia and Silesia 1138—1254

Shortly before his death in 992,Mieszko I,the first ruler of Poland, had conquered theSilesianregion that stretched along the common border. At Pentecost 1137, DukeSoběslav I of Bohemiaofficially renounced the lands in favour ofPiastdukeBolesław III Wrymouth.He was urged by EmperorLothair III.Bolesław died the next year and in histestamentbequested the newly established Duchy of Silesia to his eldest sonWładysław II.Władysław, however, was expelled by his younger half-brothers and had to seek help from theHoly Roman Emperor.That was the beginning of the gradual alienation of Władysław. The rule of DukeBolesław Iover Silesia was restored under pressure from EmperorFrederick Barbarossain 1163. Bolesław's sonHenry the BeardedbecameHigh Duke of Polandin 1232. The marriage of his successor DukeHenry II the PiouswithAnne of Bohemia,daughter of KingOttokar I,strengthened the ties between theSilesian Piastsand the BohemianPřemyslid dynasty.After Henry's death during the 1241Battle of Legnica,Silesia split up into numerous petty states under his descendants.

In 1280 DukeHenry IV of Wrocław,induced by his ambition to gain the PolishSeniorate Provinceof Cracow, paid homage to KingRudolf I of Germanyand was able to succeedLeszek II the Blackas Polish high duke in 1288. Because the Polish sovereignty was weakening, the occasion arose for the Přemyslids to, once again, expand their sphere of influence into Silesia. In 1289 KingWenceslaus II of Bohemiamade DukeCasimir of Bytomhis vassal. In the renewed struggle over the Polish Seniorate Province upon the sudden death of Duke Henry IV in 1290, King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia forged an alliance with Casimir's brotherBolko I of Opoleagainst the rivaling Polish PiastsWładysław I the Elbow-highandPrzemysł II,who finally had to cede Cracow to the Bohemian king one year later. King Wenceslaus failed at first to gain Polish regality as Przemysł II became High Duke and was crowned in 1295 by ArchbishopJakub Świnka of Gniezno.That made Przemysł II the first Polish king after the deposition ofBolesław II the Boldin 1079. When Przemysł II was killed in 1296, Wenceslaus II again took the chance to assume the title of a High Duke. He married Przemysł's daughterElisabeth Richezaand was finally crowned Polish king by Archbishop Jakub Świnka in 1300.

In 1305 King Wenceslaus II died and his sonWenceslaus III,the last Přemyslid ruler, was murdered the following year. The Polish sovereignty turned to the Piast dynasty again when Władysław I, the elbow-high, began to unite the kingdom under his rule. Wenceslaus' successors in Bohemia,Henry of CarinthiaandRudolph of Austriaalso claimed the title of a Polish king but could not prevail. While Władysław was crowned king in 1320, the Bohemian aspirations to power rose again in 1310. CountJohn of Luxembourg,the eldest son of KingHenry VII of Germany,married the Přemyslid princessElizabeth,taking over the power inPragueand also the claims to the Polish throne. Though he failed to succeed his father asKing of the Romans,he had more Silesian dukes swore an oath of allegiance to him against the resistance of King Władysław. In 1327 he vassalized the dukes ofWrocławandOpole,followed by the dukes ofLegnica,Żagań,Oleśnica,ŚcinawaandBrzegin 1329. The tensions intensified when King John campaigned and annexed the SilesianDuchy of Głogówin 1331. He began to interfere in thePolish-Teutonic Warthat broke out inKuyaviaandDobrzyń Landin the aftermath of the 1308takeover of Gdańsk.

Slavic/Frankish Relations in the Early Middle Ages[edit]

In order to understand the events leading to the Treaty of Trencin, it is crucial to understand the history of the relationship between the Franks and Slavs in Central Europe. Throughout the 9th century,Frankishrulers sought to control the centralDanubian basin.By installing client dukes in certain areas of their Empire, the Franks quickly became a commanding force in the region. But the Frankish kingdom did not stand unopposed. According to historians, a certain variety of Slavic people were gaining notoriety in theCarpathian basinamidst Frankish dominance. Speculated to be ofBulgar-Turkicorigin, these Slavs played a crucial part in the disruption of the Franks. While these Slavic people often sought to benefit from Frankish support, they also rejected Frankish dominance. They craved independence, desiring to break free from the chains of taxation.[2]

Establishing the Three Kingdoms[edit]

When looking at the history preceding the Treaty of Trencin, it lines up with the history of the three kingdoms involved in the signing of the treaty. The issues addressed and remedied in the treaty all directly relate to the kingdoms themselves. In order to have a better understanding of what each kingdom was experiencing, it is vital to look back at their individual histories.

Hungary[edit]

It is well known that the vast majority of Europe in the Middle Ages identified with some denomination of either Christianity or a religious belief. In the case of the Hungarians, they remainedPaganfor quite a long time. In the late 9th century, these "Pagan Hungarians" were known for their consistent attacks upon different kingdoms. Most notably among these were the Eastern Franks. According to theAnnales Bertinianifrom 862, theEastern Frankishkingdom was raided by a group of people known as theUngri.To the knowledge of many historians, this is the first recorded instance of Hungarian action in Western texts. This conflict with the Frankish people continued in 881 when the Hungarians allied withMoravianrulerSvatoplukin a series of two battles against the Franks. However, following a change of heart in 892, Franks and Hungarians would partner to defeat Svatopluk, a former ally of Hungary.[3]

After a long period of raids and battles led against a number of kingdoms, Hungarians decided to pursue a greater purpose. Starting in 894, the Hungarian people would come to occupy the Carpathian basin. This occupation is better known as "The Conquest".Unfortunately, no existing sources contain reliable accounts of The Conquest. Using pieces of novelistic speculation from a former notary ofKing Bela III(1172 - 1196), historians have been able to form an educated hypothesis about the events in the Carpathian basin. However, there has been an interpretation compiled by a number of historians that starts with the Bulgaro-Frankish alliance in 892. This was short lived when Khan Simeon took the throne of Bulgaria in 893, ending the alliance. Bulgaria found new allies in the form of the Moravian kingdom the same year. Hungarians are recorded as the attackers of both the Moravians and Bulgarians. This holds great historical significance as the first large-scale attack led by Hungarians in Western Europe.[3]

In the many years following the occupation of the Carpathian basin, the kingdom of Hungary underwent several societal changes. Keeping it brief, an evolution from barbarianism to Christianity was one of the most significant changes. This transition even led to a close relationship between Hungary andPope Innocent III (1198-1216).The formation of this alliance provided some of the most detailed pieces of information regarding the foreign policy of Hungary and the internal affairs of Central Europe. The occurrence of Christianization in Hungary is crucial to understanding the events preceding the Treaty of Trencin.[3]At end of the 13th century, Hungary would experience one of the greatest power struggles in the kingdom's history. After the death ofAndrew III,the royal bloodline ofSaint Stephenwould come to an end. Adverse effects also took place as recognition of Central power would lose nearly all significance. This sent the territories of Hungary into a frenzy. However, in 1301,Charles of Anjouwould be crowned. His inheritance of the throne would be the first in Hungarian history to be conducted by election over actual inheritance. Backed byPope Boniface VIII,Charles would soon become the illegitimate ruler of Hungary. Many barons believed this appointment was blasphemy. In August of the same year, the barons would succeed in removing Charles with the appointment ofWenceslas,the son ofWenceslas II of Bohemia,although he would change his name to Ladislaus.[3]

Poland[edit]

For most of the Middle Ages, the Polish kingdom would fall under the rule of what modern historians call “Piasts”.However, a phrase more commonly found in medieval Polish sources is “duces et principes Poloniae” or “the dukes and princes of Poland”. Regardless, Piast Poland would come to be the accepted nomenclature.[4]In 965,Mieszko Ior the prince of thePolanie,had severed an alliance between the Christian Czechs and theSlavsto the west. He did so by marrying the daughter of Boleslav I of Bohemia. The next year, Poland would convert toLatin Christianity,allowing Mieszko to take advantage of the many military and political resources of the German Empire, an action that would have been inconceivable prior to conversion. But this alliance was short-lived due to the many conflicting interests of the two empires. After many years of testing his abilities, Mieszko learned his place when he married the German princess Oda in 980, solidifying his alliance with the German Empire. This would lead to the earliest mention of Polish intervention in Silesia when Mieszko used his roughly 3,000 soldiers to annex Silesia, reclaiming the land from Bohemia. This gives some insight into the struggle over the territory, even in the earlier times of the Middle Ages.[4]

By 1202, the Piast dynasty would begin establishingduchies,another term for territories in possession of royalty. This trend continued through 1288 in which seventeen duchies were established. Ten of these territories were in Silesia, further stressing its importance in Polish history. Following his death,Boleslaw III Wrymouth’s sons from his second wife joined forces against his successorWladyslaw II.This led to the exile of Wladyslaw from both Poland and the duchy of Silesia (inherited from his father) in 1146. The consequences of these actions would create instability in the relations between the elder and younger generations of the Piast dynasty.[4]About 60 years later, Silesia looked very different than in the time ofBoleslaw III.Many towns had been established, most of which were governed by Germans. A majority of these towns spoke German and practiced German mannerisms. This would be the case until the end of the Middle Ages when Polish would again become the dominant language amongst commoners.[4]

Just before the Treaty of Trencin, many small events of importance occurred. In 1305,Lokietek,former Silesian duke, was able to acquire Hungarian territories thanks to Hungary’s support ofCharles I of Anjouin his desire for the throne. This led to conflicts between Lokietek and the German Empire. In 1308 he called upon the Teutonic Knights to help retake the castle of Gdansk from Otto and Waldemar,margravesof Germany. Following this event, the knights would help Lokietek gain control of the vast majority of PolishPomeraniaby 1311.[4]His alliance with the Teutonic Knights would diminish about a decade before his death on March 2, 1333. It was at this time that Casimir III would take the throne. In an attempt to establish stability within Poland, Casimir renewed the truce with the knights, setting up his rule only two year prior to the signing of the Treaty of Trencin.[4]

Bohemia[edit]

The Signing of the Treaty[edit]

Poland under Casimir III (1333–1370), Silesian duchies shown in light yellow

Up until 1322, Charles I of Anjou had held a strong alliance with theHabsburgpeople, a small kingdom that held territory at the time in Central Europe. This had helped Charles maintain his defense against the Germans and Hungarians. However, after this time, the status of their alliance saw a rapid decline. For a few years, Charles participated in petty feuds with the Habsburgs. But in 1328, he was able to push back by acquiring the region known asMedjumurje.This was significant as this was the border lying between theDravaandMuraRivers occupied by the Austrians. After successfully diminishing a number of Habsburg provinces, Charles would soon find himself lacking allies. North was where he looked for allies, finding them easily. The Piast dynasty in Poland and the Luxembourgs in Bohemia would give him constant support during his time of need. But this support first came from Charles. Starting in 1306, he provided arms to Wladislas Lokietek, future King of Poland. This alliance remained very strong from that point on. Charles would also send troops to support Casimir III when he was fighting back against the Teutonic Order. This alliance eventually led to the events in 1335. In August of that year, with the support of King John of Bohemia, Charles was able to maintain Silesia with the signing of the Treaty of Trencin.[5]

In 1333 the Polish king Władysław was succeeded by his son Casimir III. He was prepared to compromise. Casimir III resorted to sue the Teutonic Order at theRoman Curiaand settled the rising conflict with King John of Bohemia by the provisory Trentschin treaty on St Bartholomew's Day 1335. The representatives of the Polish king, in perpetuity, renounced all claims to Silesia in favour of Bohemia while King John and his son Charles in turn finally waived their claims to the Polish throne derived from the Přemyslids.[6]The agreement was to be confirmed, when the rulers met at theCongress of Visegrádlater in November 1335.

King John now had a free hand to continue vassalizing the Silesian duchies ofZiębice/Münsterberg(1336) andNysa/Neisse(1342). It was not until February 9, 1339, that Casimir ratified the treaty inKraków.The agreement was again reaffirmed in 1346 for the Holy Roman Empire by John's sonCharles IV,elected King of the Romans. It was reaffirmed in the 1348Treaty of Namslauwith King Casimir III and again in 1372 by Casimir's successor KingLouis I.

Bolko II the Smallremained the only Silesian duke, who was not content to accept Bohemian overlordship. However, he had no male heirs and his nieceAnna von Schweidnitzmarried Emperor Charles IV in 1353. He signed an inheritance treaty whereupon the death of his widowAgnes of Austria,1392, theDuchy of Jaworwould finally fall to Bohemia.

Aftermath[edit]

Silesian coat of arms atSt. Vitus Cathedral,Prague

With the Treaty of Trentschin, the split of Silesia from thePolish Crownwas made. In 1348 King Charles IV attached it to the Bohemian crown lands together withMoraviaand theLusatias.The Silesian dukes became indirect vassals of theHoly Roman Empirewith noimmediatestatus and no representation at theImperial Diet.According tocanon law,theDiocese of Wrocławremained asuffraganof the PolishArchdiocese of Gniezno.While the Silesian lands also comprised the former MoravianDuchy of Opava,theUpper Silesianduchies ofSiewierz,OświęcimandZatorwere acquired by Poland in the 15th century. TheLower Silesianduchy ofKrosnofell toBrandenburgin 1476.

Upon the death of the Bohemian kingLouis IIduring the 1526Battle of Mohács,his crown lands were inherited by theHabsburgkingFerdinand Iand became a constituent of theHabsburg monarchy.ArchduchessMaria Theresa,Bohemian queen from 1740 on, lost most of the Silesian crown land in the 1742Treaty of Breslau.It was conquered by KingFrederick II of Prussia.The bulk of Silesia returned to theRepublic of Polandupon the implementation of theOder–Neisse lineaccording to the 1945Potsdam Agreement.

The surrender of Silesia by Casimir established a border that remained stable and in effect until after World War I.[7]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Kaps, Johannes (1952).The tragedy of Silesia, 1945-1946: a documentary account with a special survey of the Archdiocese of Breslau.Christ Unterwegs. p. 23.
  2. ^Berend, Nora; Urbanczyk, Przemyslaw; Wizewski, Przemyslaw (2013).Central Europe in the High Middle Ages: Bohemia, Hungary and Poland, c. 900-c. 1300.Cambridge University Press. p. 56.ISBN9780521786959.
  3. ^abcdEngel, Pal (2001). Ayton, Andrew (ed.).The Realm of St Stephen: A History of Medieval Hungary, 895-1526.Translated by Palosfalvi, Tamas. I.B. Tauris.ISBN1860640613.
  4. ^abcdefLukowski, Jerzy; Zawadski, Hubert (2019).Piast Poland?-1385 in A Concise History of Poland.New York: Cambridge University Press.
  5. ^Engel, Pal (2001). "Charles I of Anjou (1301-1342): Relations with Austria, Bohemia, and Poland".The Realm of St Stephen: A History of Medieval Hungary 895-1526.London: I.B. Tauris Publishers.
  6. ^Various (2021-08-05).Routledge Library Editions: Responding to Fascism 12 volume set.Routledge. p. 65.ISBN978-1-136-96016-1.
  7. ^Demshuk, Andrew (2012-04-30).The Lost German East: Forced Migration and the Politics of Memory, 1945-1970.Cambridge University Press. p. 39.ISBN978-1-107-02073-3.