Mieszko I

Mieszko I (c. 935-May 25 992), son of the semi-legendary Siemomysl, was the rirst (historically known) Piast duke of Poland.

In 964 or more probably in 965 he married Dubrawka (or Dobravy), a daughter of Boleslaus I, duke of the Bohemians. In 978 he married Oda, daughter of Dietrich (Theoderic) of Haldesleben, warden of the Saxon North March (965-985), after abducting her from the monastery of Kalbe.

The early career of Mieszko was dominated by fighting with the tribes of Wieletes and Volinians south of the Baltic Sea, and their ally, the Saxon count Wichman. Mieszko was baptised in 966, probably under the influence of his Christian first wife and in order to avoid confrontation with the Holy Roman Empire to the west; he built a church dedicated to Saint George at Gniezno.

He had probably one sister of unknown name, and two brothers: one of them, unknown from name, was killed in battle around 964; and the second, named Czcibor, died in the Battle of Cedynia in 972.

His reign began around 962 in Greater Poland (Wielkopolska|), Cujavia, Masovia and eastern Pomerania. In the 960s he probably at least partially conquered western Pomerania, and in 990 he conquered Silesia and Little Poland (Malopolska).

Much of his military activity was along the Baltic coast, in Pomerania. He defeated the count of the Northern March at Cedynia in 972, and reached the mouth of the Oder river in 976. Responding to Mieszko's advances, the count appealed to the Holy Roman Emperor Otto II for help. The decisive battle, fought in 979, ensured Mieszko's position as sole lord of Pomerania. To celebrate his victory, he dedicated a city, Gdansk, at the mouth of the Vistula River, to compete with the ports of Szczecin and Wolin on the Oder.

In 981 he lost the land known only as Grody Czerwienskie to Vladimir I, prince of Kiev. In 986 he pledged allegiance to the Emperor Otto III, and helped him with wars with the Polabians. Shortly before his death he placed his state under the suzerainty of the Pope in a document usually called the Dagome Index.

From his first marriage he had a son, his successor Boleslaus, and a daughter, Swiatoslawa, later the wife (as queen Gunhild) of king Sweyn Forkbeard of Denmark and mother of king Canute of Denmark and England. From his second marriage he had three sons, Mieszko, Lambert, and Swiatopolk.

see also History of Poland