Mieszko Bolesławowic
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Mieszko Bolesławowic (c.1069 - 1089) was the first and only son of Bolesław II the Bold, King of Poland. Mieszko was Prince of Cracow from 1086 until his death in 1089.
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[edit] Biography
Mieszko Bolesławowic was, in all likelihood, born in Cracow sometime around or during A.D. 1069. He was the eldest son of the king of Poland Bolesław II the Bold and his wife Wyszeslawa. According to the Chronicler Gallus Anonymus, Mieszko was being groomed for the responsibilities of a monarch from an early age. At the age of ten he was forced to leave his country and his education behind and seek refuge at the court of Ladislas I of Hungary. The king of Hungary was apparently very fond of young Mieszko Boleslawowic and treated him like a son.[1]
[edit] Return to Poland
Following the death of his father in 1081, Mieszko remained in Hungary until 1086 when he is known to have returned to his homeland. There are two conflicting versions explaining the circumstances of this return. Chronicler Gallus Anonymus simply states that Mieszko was peacefully summoned to Poland by his uncle Wladyslaw I Herman. Another version, publicized by a Hungarian chronicler who claims that in 1086 Ladislas I of Hungary invaded the Kingdom of Poland, took control of Cracow, and installed Mieszko Bolesławowic as its ruler.[2] The latter of the two theories makes more sense than the former, as Wladyslaw I Herman had nothing to offer the young prince who, after all, was a rightful pretender to the throne.
[edit] Prince of Cracow
Though there is no direct primary source evidence for this, notes in Cracow almanacs strongly suggest that during the years 1086 - 1089 Mieszko was prince of Cracow. However, sometime during this time he accepted over-lordship of his uncle Wladyslaw I Herman, and gave up his hereditary claim to the crown of Poland in exchange for becoming first in line to succeed him. It is also during this time (1088) that he married an unidentified Ruthenian princess.[3]
[edit] Death
According to Gallus Anonymus the young prince was poisoned during a feast on orders of palatine Sieciech (who as Gall Anonim wrote he wanted to "kill off the entire Piast dynasty") in Cracow in 1089.[4] The death of Mieszko allowed Władysław to strengthen his rule over Poland; Sieciech, after failed attempts to kill of Władysław's sons, would be exiled.
[edit] References
- ^ Gallus Anonymus – “Cronicae et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum” (c.1115)
- ^ Mark of Kalt - "Chronicon pictum, Marci de Kalt, Chronica de gestis Hungarorum" (c.1360)
- ^ Oswald Balzer - "Genealogy of the Piasts" Avalon, (2005)
- ^ Lech Bielski, Mariusz Traba – “Poczet Krolow i Ksiazat Polskich” Park, Bielsko-Biala (2005)
