Bolesław Chrobry
Bolesław I the Brave also known as Bolesław I the Great, the first king of Poland (born in 967 in Poznań, died on 17 June 1025 in Kraków)
He loved God in everything and above else and (…) in his heart loved his people, like father his own sons – Gall Anonim about Bolesław I the Brave in Kronika polska
When in 992 the first historical ruler of Poland, Mieszko I died, it was knows that the rule would go to his son, Bolesław. The young ruler from the Piast dynasty quickly disposed of his competitors, banishing his half brothers and his stepmother. Afterwards he began the difficult mission of setting the political matters in Poland in order.
Bolesław's greatest accomplishment was organizing the Congress of Gniezno in 1000, during which Gniezno, at that time the capital of Poland, was visited by the Holy Roman Emperor Otto III. Otto's dream was the creation one unified empire covering whole Europe. Bolesław, as a key leader of Slavic countries, was supposed to be a valuable ally. The meeting had mainly a religious character and resulted in establishing the first archbishopric in Gniezno and a bishopric in Kraków. With this event, Poland confirmed its status as a fully Christianized country.
Bolesław was not only a skilled diplomat but also a brave warrior. Several battles held between 1002 and 1018 created a legend of a steadfast man, dedicated to fighting for interests of his country. This can be best testified by his nickname Chrobry, meaning in old Slavic a brave and gallant man.
The accomplishments of the Polish ruler were acknowledged right before his death. In 1025 Bolesław was crowned king. He probably began his efforts already in 1000, however the sudden death of Otto and the worsening of relations with Germany delayed the dream of coronation by almost a quarter of a century.
Bolesław I the Brave died the same year in which he finally became king. His resting place is located in the Poznań Cathedral.
Do you know?
- In 973, as a six year old boy, Bolesław was staying at a German court as a hostage. His stay abroad was supposed to be a guarantee of lasting peace between the German king and Mieszko I.
- Bolesław I the Brave had four wives, two unknown by name, as well as Emnilda and Oda. All of these marriages resulted in a total of seven children, among them the future king of Poland Mieszko II.
- During the Congress of Gniezno, Otto III gave Bolesław a copy of the Spear of Saint Maurice, a copy of a medieval ceremonial weapon, used as coronation insignia of Holy Roman Emperors. To this day only the spearhead survives, which is located in a museum near Wawel Royal Castle in Kraków.
- The crown of Bolesław I the Brave did not survive to this day. It was stolen by Prussian soldiers from Wawel treasury at the end of the 18th century. In 1809 the crown was disassembled and melted down, with the gold obtained from it used for minting coins.
- The image of Bolesław I the Brave can be seen on a contemporary 20 Polish złoty banknote.
