Individual Details
Boleslaw II, Duke of Masovia
(Bet 1253 and 1258 - 20 Apr 1313)
According to Wikipedia:
Boleslaw II of Masovia or Boleslaw II of Plock (pl: Boleslaw II mazowiecki (plocki); ca. 1253/58 - 20 April 1313), was a Polish prince member of the House of Piast, Duke of Masovia during 1262-1275 jointly with his brother, since 1275 sole ruler over Plock, since 1294 ruler over all Masovia and Duke of Kraków and Sandomierz during 1288-1289.[1] In 1310 he gave to his sons the districts of Warsaw and Czersk. Also High duke of Poland twice (1288, 1289).
Life
Early years
He was younger son of Siemowit I of Masovia and Pereyaslava, a Rus' princess, who was according to some historians a daughter of Prince Daniel of Halych or according to other his distant relative.[2] He was born around 1253-1258.[3]
Nothing is known from Boleslaw II's first years[4], except that in 1262 he wasn't with his father and older brother Konrad II during the siege and battle of Jazdów, where Siemowit I was killed and Konrad II was captured by the Lithuanians. Because Boleslaw II was too young to rule by himself, the regency was exercised by his mother Pereyaslava and his late father's ally, Boleslaw the Pious, Duke of Greater Poland, until 1264, when his brother Konrad II was liberated and returned to assume the government.
Duke of Plock
When Boleslaw II attained his majority in 1275, he demanded from his brother his part over their paternal inheritance. As a result, he received the western part of Masovia, with his capital in Plock. However he was not satisfied with this distribution, evidenced in his long-standing conflict with Konrad II; during this fight, Boleslaw II did not hesitate to ask for the help from the murderers of his father, the Lithuanians. The alliance between Boleslaw II and Lithuania was strengthened in 1279 when he married Gaudemante, the daughter of Grand Duke Traidenis, who in her baptism took the name of Sophia.
Another ally of Boleslaw II was his cousin Wladyslaw I the Elbow-high, who was then Duke of Kujawy. The war between Boleslaw II and Konrad during the second half of the 1270s and the first half of the 1280s didn't benefit any party, only causing destruction in extended parts of Masovia.
Death of Leszek II the Black. Fighting for Kraków and Sandomierz
On 30 September 1288 Leszek II the Black died childless. Part of the local nobility, led by Pawel of Przemankowo, Bishop of Kraków and the Topór family supported the succession of Boleslaw II.
However, he wasn't the only candidate for the Seniorate. Henryk IV Probus, Duke of Wroclaw, also advanced his claims. At first, it seemed that Boleslaw II was able to master Lesser Poland without obstacles, as his troops in 1288 captured Kraków and Sandomierz. However, later in the same year he was expelled from Kraków by the troops of Henryk IV Probus, who gained the decisive favor of the castellan Sulk the Bear (pl: Sulk z Niedzwiedzia), who opened the gates of Wawel Castle to him. After this victory, Henryk IV Probus returned to Wroclaw, and Boleslaw II managed to say in Sandomierz. In early February 1289 a coalition of Piast princes (Henry III of Glogów, Przemko of Scinawa and Bolko I of Opole) organized an expedition to Kraków with the purpose of consolidating the rule of Henryk IV Probus. At the sime time Boleslaw II, who still wanted to recover Kraków, organized a coalition with Wladyslaw I the Elbow-high and Casimir II of Leczyca, Unexpectedly, he also received the support of his brother Konrad II and Kievan Rus' troops. In this way, Boleslaw II was able to organized a powerful army with the main objective of reconquering the Seniorate. The army of Henryk IV Probus withdrew from Kraków, and on 26 February the bloody Battle of Siewierz took place, which ended with the defeat of Henryk IV's allies; during the fight, was killed Przemko of Scinawa and Bolko I of Opole was captured. After the battle, Boleslaw II occupied Kraków, where he triumphantly entered in the summer of 1289. Shortly after, he gave Sandomierz to his brother Konrad II as they had previously accorded in exchange of his military support. This action caused outrage among the Lesser Poland nobility (accustomed to see the Duke of Kraków reign over Sandomierz), who utterly refused to recognize Boleslaw II as their ruler, and proclaimed Wladyslaw I the Elbow-high as the new Duke of Kraków. For unknown reasons, Boleslaw II refused to fight and retreated to his domains in Plock, and in August 1289 Wladyslaw I the Elbow-high was in turn expelled by Henryk IV Probus, who became in the new ruler over Kraków and Sandomierz.[1]
The only positive aspect of this struggle for the throne of Kraków was the reconciliation with his brother Konrad II.
Unification of Masovia; last years
Boleslaw II's wife Sophia died in 1288. His second marriage was, like the first one, contracted for political reasons. The chosen bride was Princess Kunigunde, sister of King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia; the wedding took place in the first half of 1291. Thanks to this union, the Bohemian King neutralized the claims of the Duke of Plock over the Seniorate, especially when he was able to conquer Kraków in 1291. Boleslaw II also wanted to strengthen his position with Wenceslaus II, so he didn't hesitate when in 1292 he helped his brother-in-law in his war against Wladyslaw I the Elbow-high.
The alliance between Masovia and Bohemia did not last very long. In 1294 Konrad II died without male offspring, so Boleslaw II became the sole ruler over all Masovia. Feeling stronger, he broke relations with the Kingdom of Bohemia and reestablished relations with Wladyslaw I the Elbow-high.
In 1295 Przemysl II became King of Poland. The following year, after his assassination, Boleslaw II supported Wladyslaw I in his brief war against Henry III of Glogów for the succession in Greater Poland.
The hostile policy towards the Kingdom of Bohemia forced[citation needed] Wenceslaus II to launch an attack against Masovia. Despite the siege and destruction of Plock, Boleslaw II didn't change his political course, evidenced by his refusal to recognize Wenceslaus II as King of Poland in 1300 and the repudiation of his wife Kunigunde, who was sent back to Prague in 1302.
In the early 1300s Boleslaw II founded the stronghold of Warsaw, contributing to its development in detriment of the nearby Czersk.
After 1305 Boleslaw II was not present in any more political activity. The next information about him took place in 1310, when he granted two separate districts to his eldest two sons: Siemowit II received Warsaw and Trojden I received Czersk. In 1311, Borzyslaw becomes his Chancellor.[5]
Boleslaw II died on 20 April 1313 in Wyszogród and was buried at Plock Cathedral.[6]
Marriages and Issue
In 1279 Boleslaw II married firstly to Gaudemante (baptized as Sophia; d. 1288), a daughter of Grand Duke Traidenis of Lithuania.[7] They had three children:
Siemowit II (1283 - 18 February 1345).
Trojden I (1284/86 - 13 March 1341).
A daughter [Ana?] (ca. 1288 - aft. 1329), married after 13 August 1325 to Wladyslaw of Legnica (div. before 13 Jan 1329).
In 1291 Boleslaw II married secondly to Kunigunde (January 1265 - 27 November 1321), a daughter of Ottokar II[8] and sister of Wenceslaus II, Kings of Bohemia; in 1302 Boleslaw and Kunigunde were divorced and she was sent back to Prague,[8] where she became a nun.[8] They had two children:[8][9]
Euphrosyne (1292/94 - aft. 26 December 1327),[8] married ca. 1304/09 to Wladyslaw of Oswiecim.
Wenceslaus (1293/97 - 23 May 1336).[8]
References
M. Spórna, P. Wierzbicki: Slownik wladców Polski i pretendentów do tronu polskiego, Kraków 2003, p. 85, 165, 282, 283 and 451.
Teterycz-Puzio, Agnieszka (2015). Boleslaw II mazowiecki. Na szlakach ku jednosci. Kraków: Avalon. p. 16. ISBN 978-83-7730-151-7.
Teterycz-Puzio, Agnieszka (2015). Boleslaw II mazowiecki. Na szlakach ku jednosci. Kraków: Avalon. p. 17. ISBN 978-83-7730-151-7.
Teterycz-Puzio, Agnieszka (2015). Boleslaw II mazowiecki. Na szlakach ku jednosci. Kraków: Avalon. p. 18. ISBN 978-83-7730-151-7.
"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-09-27. Retrieved 2009-12-19.
Teterycz-Puzio, Agnieszka (2015). Boleslaw II mazowiecki. Na szlakach ku jednosci. Kraków: Avalon. p. 104. ISBN 978-83-7730-151-7.
Robert Frost, The Oxford History of Poland-Lithuania:Vol I, The Making of the Polish-Lithuanian Union, 1385-1569, (Oxford University Press, 2015), 28.
Alfred Thomas, Reading Women in Late Medieval Europe: Anne of Bohemia and Chaucer`s Female Audience, (Palgrave Macmillan, 2015), 32.
Older historiography attributed a third child to Boleslaw II and Kunigunde, a daughter called Bertha, who became a nun in the Benedictine monastery in Prague (O. Balzer: Genealogia Piastów, Kraków 1895, p. 446); however, recent research showed that Bertha was in fact a dwarf give to Kunigunde by her husband as a servant, who followed her to Prague and joined in the monastery with her (K. Jasinski: Rodowód Piastów mazowieckich, Poznan - Wroclaw, pp. 48-49).
Boleslaw II of Masovia or Boleslaw II of Plock (pl: Boleslaw II mazowiecki (plocki); ca. 1253/58 - 20 April 1313), was a Polish prince member of the House of Piast, Duke of Masovia during 1262-1275 jointly with his brother, since 1275 sole ruler over Plock, since 1294 ruler over all Masovia and Duke of Kraków and Sandomierz during 1288-1289.[1] In 1310 he gave to his sons the districts of Warsaw and Czersk. Also High duke of Poland twice (1288, 1289).
Life
Early years
He was younger son of Siemowit I of Masovia and Pereyaslava, a Rus' princess, who was according to some historians a daughter of Prince Daniel of Halych or according to other his distant relative.[2] He was born around 1253-1258.[3]
Nothing is known from Boleslaw II's first years[4], except that in 1262 he wasn't with his father and older brother Konrad II during the siege and battle of Jazdów, where Siemowit I was killed and Konrad II was captured by the Lithuanians. Because Boleslaw II was too young to rule by himself, the regency was exercised by his mother Pereyaslava and his late father's ally, Boleslaw the Pious, Duke of Greater Poland, until 1264, when his brother Konrad II was liberated and returned to assume the government.
Duke of Plock
When Boleslaw II attained his majority in 1275, he demanded from his brother his part over their paternal inheritance. As a result, he received the western part of Masovia, with his capital in Plock. However he was not satisfied with this distribution, evidenced in his long-standing conflict with Konrad II; during this fight, Boleslaw II did not hesitate to ask for the help from the murderers of his father, the Lithuanians. The alliance between Boleslaw II and Lithuania was strengthened in 1279 when he married Gaudemante, the daughter of Grand Duke Traidenis, who in her baptism took the name of Sophia.
Another ally of Boleslaw II was his cousin Wladyslaw I the Elbow-high, who was then Duke of Kujawy. The war between Boleslaw II and Konrad during the second half of the 1270s and the first half of the 1280s didn't benefit any party, only causing destruction in extended parts of Masovia.
Death of Leszek II the Black. Fighting for Kraków and Sandomierz
On 30 September 1288 Leszek II the Black died childless. Part of the local nobility, led by Pawel of Przemankowo, Bishop of Kraków and the Topór family supported the succession of Boleslaw II.
However, he wasn't the only candidate for the Seniorate. Henryk IV Probus, Duke of Wroclaw, also advanced his claims. At first, it seemed that Boleslaw II was able to master Lesser Poland without obstacles, as his troops in 1288 captured Kraków and Sandomierz. However, later in the same year he was expelled from Kraków by the troops of Henryk IV Probus, who gained the decisive favor of the castellan Sulk the Bear (pl: Sulk z Niedzwiedzia), who opened the gates of Wawel Castle to him. After this victory, Henryk IV Probus returned to Wroclaw, and Boleslaw II managed to say in Sandomierz. In early February 1289 a coalition of Piast princes (Henry III of Glogów, Przemko of Scinawa and Bolko I of Opole) organized an expedition to Kraków with the purpose of consolidating the rule of Henryk IV Probus. At the sime time Boleslaw II, who still wanted to recover Kraków, organized a coalition with Wladyslaw I the Elbow-high and Casimir II of Leczyca, Unexpectedly, he also received the support of his brother Konrad II and Kievan Rus' troops. In this way, Boleslaw II was able to organized a powerful army with the main objective of reconquering the Seniorate. The army of Henryk IV Probus withdrew from Kraków, and on 26 February the bloody Battle of Siewierz took place, which ended with the defeat of Henryk IV's allies; during the fight, was killed Przemko of Scinawa and Bolko I of Opole was captured. After the battle, Boleslaw II occupied Kraków, where he triumphantly entered in the summer of 1289. Shortly after, he gave Sandomierz to his brother Konrad II as they had previously accorded in exchange of his military support. This action caused outrage among the Lesser Poland nobility (accustomed to see the Duke of Kraków reign over Sandomierz), who utterly refused to recognize Boleslaw II as their ruler, and proclaimed Wladyslaw I the Elbow-high as the new Duke of Kraków. For unknown reasons, Boleslaw II refused to fight and retreated to his domains in Plock, and in August 1289 Wladyslaw I the Elbow-high was in turn expelled by Henryk IV Probus, who became in the new ruler over Kraków and Sandomierz.[1]
The only positive aspect of this struggle for the throne of Kraków was the reconciliation with his brother Konrad II.
Unification of Masovia; last years
Boleslaw II's wife Sophia died in 1288. His second marriage was, like the first one, contracted for political reasons. The chosen bride was Princess Kunigunde, sister of King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia; the wedding took place in the first half of 1291. Thanks to this union, the Bohemian King neutralized the claims of the Duke of Plock over the Seniorate, especially when he was able to conquer Kraków in 1291. Boleslaw II also wanted to strengthen his position with Wenceslaus II, so he didn't hesitate when in 1292 he helped his brother-in-law in his war against Wladyslaw I the Elbow-high.
The alliance between Masovia and Bohemia did not last very long. In 1294 Konrad II died without male offspring, so Boleslaw II became the sole ruler over all Masovia. Feeling stronger, he broke relations with the Kingdom of Bohemia and reestablished relations with Wladyslaw I the Elbow-high.
In 1295 Przemysl II became King of Poland. The following year, after his assassination, Boleslaw II supported Wladyslaw I in his brief war against Henry III of Glogów for the succession in Greater Poland.
The hostile policy towards the Kingdom of Bohemia forced[citation needed] Wenceslaus II to launch an attack against Masovia. Despite the siege and destruction of Plock, Boleslaw II didn't change his political course, evidenced by his refusal to recognize Wenceslaus II as King of Poland in 1300 and the repudiation of his wife Kunigunde, who was sent back to Prague in 1302.
In the early 1300s Boleslaw II founded the stronghold of Warsaw, contributing to its development in detriment of the nearby Czersk.
After 1305 Boleslaw II was not present in any more political activity. The next information about him took place in 1310, when he granted two separate districts to his eldest two sons: Siemowit II received Warsaw and Trojden I received Czersk. In 1311, Borzyslaw becomes his Chancellor.[5]
Boleslaw II died on 20 April 1313 in Wyszogród and was buried at Plock Cathedral.[6]
Marriages and Issue
In 1279 Boleslaw II married firstly to Gaudemante (baptized as Sophia; d. 1288), a daughter of Grand Duke Traidenis of Lithuania.[7] They had three children:
Siemowit II (1283 - 18 February 1345).
Trojden I (1284/86 - 13 March 1341).
A daughter [Ana?] (ca. 1288 - aft. 1329), married after 13 August 1325 to Wladyslaw of Legnica (div. before 13 Jan 1329).
In 1291 Boleslaw II married secondly to Kunigunde (January 1265 - 27 November 1321), a daughter of Ottokar II[8] and sister of Wenceslaus II, Kings of Bohemia; in 1302 Boleslaw and Kunigunde were divorced and she was sent back to Prague,[8] where she became a nun.[8] They had two children:[8][9]
Euphrosyne (1292/94 - aft. 26 December 1327),[8] married ca. 1304/09 to Wladyslaw of Oswiecim.
Wenceslaus (1293/97 - 23 May 1336).[8]
References
M. Spórna, P. Wierzbicki: Slownik wladców Polski i pretendentów do tronu polskiego, Kraków 2003, p. 85, 165, 282, 283 and 451.
Teterycz-Puzio, Agnieszka (2015). Boleslaw II mazowiecki. Na szlakach ku jednosci. Kraków: Avalon. p. 16. ISBN 978-83-7730-151-7.
Teterycz-Puzio, Agnieszka (2015). Boleslaw II mazowiecki. Na szlakach ku jednosci. Kraków: Avalon. p. 17. ISBN 978-83-7730-151-7.
Teterycz-Puzio, Agnieszka (2015). Boleslaw II mazowiecki. Na szlakach ku jednosci. Kraków: Avalon. p. 18. ISBN 978-83-7730-151-7.
"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-09-27. Retrieved 2009-12-19.
Teterycz-Puzio, Agnieszka (2015). Boleslaw II mazowiecki. Na szlakach ku jednosci. Kraków: Avalon. p. 104. ISBN 978-83-7730-151-7.
Robert Frost, The Oxford History of Poland-Lithuania:Vol I, The Making of the Polish-Lithuanian Union, 1385-1569, (Oxford University Press, 2015), 28.
Alfred Thomas, Reading Women in Late Medieval Europe: Anne of Bohemia and Chaucer`s Female Audience, (Palgrave Macmillan, 2015), 32.
Older historiography attributed a third child to Boleslaw II and Kunigunde, a daughter called Bertha, who became a nun in the Benedictine monastery in Prague (O. Balzer: Genealogia Piastów, Kraków 1895, p. 446); however, recent research showed that Bertha was in fact a dwarf give to Kunigunde by her husband as a servant, who followed her to Prague and joined in the monastery with her (K. Jasinski: Rodowód Piastów mazowieckich, Poznan - Wroclaw, pp. 48-49).
Events
| Birth | Bet 1253 and 1258 | ||||
| Death | 20 Apr 1313 | ||||
| Acceded |
Families
| Spouse | Kunigunde of Bohemia (1265 - 1321) |
| Child | Wenceslaus, Duke of Plock (1293 - 1336) |
| Father | Siemowit I of Masovia ( - 1262) |
| Mother | Pereyaslava of Galicia ( - 1283) |