Leszek II the Black facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leszek II the Black |
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| High Duke of Poland | |
| Reign | 1279–1288 |
| Predecessor | Bolesław V the Chaste |
| Successor | Henryk IV Probus |
| Born | c. 1241 Brześć Kujawski |
| Died | 30 September 1288 (aged 46–47) Kraków |
| Burial | Dominican Church of the Holy Trinity, Kraków |
| Spouse | Gryfina of Halych |
| House | House of Piast |
| Father | Casimir I of Kuyavia |
| Mother | Constance of Wrocław |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Leszek II the Black (born around 1241 – died September 30, 1288) was an important Polish prince from the House of Piast. He ruled as the Duke of Sieradz starting in 1261, and later became the Duke of Łęczyca in 1267. He also ruled Inowrocław for a few years (1273-1278). From 1279 until his death, Leszek was the Duke of Sandomierz and the High Duke of Poland, which meant he was the most powerful ruler in the country.
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Early Life and Family Conflicts
Leszek was the oldest son of Duke Casimir I of Kuyavia. His mother was Constance of Wrocław, who came from the Silesian Piasts, another branch of the Piast dynasty. People called him "the Black" (Niger in Latin), probably because he had dark hair. This nickname first appeared in a book written in the 1300s called Kronika Dzierzwy.
In 1257, Leszek's mother passed away. Soon after, his father married Euphrosyne of Opole. Leszek's stepmother wanted to gain more land and power for her own children, especially her oldest son, Władysław I the Elbow-high, who later became a Polish king. This caused problems for Leszek and his younger brother, Ziemomysł of Kuyavia.
In 1261, Leszek and Ziemomysł rebelled against their father and stepmother. At first, the rebellion didn't go well because the local nobles didn't support them. But with help from other powerful dukes like Bolesław V the Chaste, Siemowit I of Masovia, and Bolesław the Pious, Leszek managed to make his father give him the region of Sieradz as his own separate duchy.
Ruling as Duke of Sieradz
Leszek ruled as the Duke of Sieradz from 1261 to 1279. Sieradz was not a very populated area. However, Leszek worked hard to develop it. He encouraged people to settle there and founded new cities like Nowa Brzeźnica, Lutomiersk, Wolbórz, and Radomsko. He also worked closely with the Church, which helped improve the region.
In 1267, Leszek's father, Casimir, died. His lands were divided among his five sons. Leszek, being the oldest and already ruling Sieradz, also received Łęczyca. A year later, in 1268, the people of Inowrocław rebelled against Leszek's brother, Ziemomysł. They didn't like Ziemomysł's pro-German policies and asked Bolesław the Pious to be their new ruler.
Ziemomysł held onto power until 1271, when Bolesław invaded and forced him to flee. Bolesław ruled Inowrocław for two years. Then, in 1273, he gave the duchy to Leszek. Leszek ruled Inowrocław until 1278. After a meeting in Ląd on August 24, Leszek returned the duchy to his brother, thanks to Przemysł II of Greater Poland who helped them make peace.
Becoming Heir to Kraków
After Leszek gained his own duchy in 1261, he quickly became good friends with Bolesław the Chaste, who ruled Kraków and Sandomierz. They first met in 1260 during a military trip against the Kingdom of Bohemia. Leszek continued to fight alongside Bolesław against Bohemia and its allies, especially between 1271 and 1273.
Bolesław the Chaste had no children. Because he worked so closely with Leszek, he decided to adopt Leszek as his heir. This adoption was made official in 1265. Eight years later, Władysław Opolski didn't agree with this adoption and led an army to Kraków. On June 4, 1273, the Battle of Bogucin Mały took place, and Władysław's army was defeated.
In October, Bolesław attacked Władysław's duchy in return. In 1274, Władysław Opolski and Bolesław the Chaste made peace. Władysław gave up his claim to the throne of Kraków. In exchange, he received some land next to his duchy, reaching the Skawinka river.
In 1265, Leszek married Gryfina of Halych, also known as Agrippina. She was the daughter of Prince Rostislav Mikhailovich. Their marriage was not very happy, and Gryfina left her husband in 1271. They got back together four years later, in 1275, thanks to Bolesław the Chaste and his wife, Kinga of Poland. Leszek and Gryfina never had children.
High Duke of Poland
On December 7, 1279, Bolesław the Chaste died. According to his wishes, Leszek II inherited the duchies of Kraków and Sandomierz, becoming the new High Duke of Poland. This happened smoothly, though Leszek might have had to agree to a formal election by the nobles in Kraków.
The start of Leszek's rule was not peaceful. Leo I of Galicia, with help from King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia, planned to invade Kraków. With soldiers from Lithuania, the Tartars, and some Russian areas, Leo invaded Lublin in February 1280. They crossed the Vistula river and tried to capture Sandomierz, but the city held strong.
Leszek quickly gathered his forces to fight back. The main battle happened in Goźlice on February 23. Polish forces, led by Peter (voivode of Kraków) and Janusz (voivode of Sandomierz), defeated Leo's army and forced them to run away. Later that year, Leszek attacked Leo's lands, burning and destroying areas near Lviv.
The next year, Leszek attacked the Duchy of Wrocław, which belonged to Henryk IV Probus. This was because Henryk had imprisoned Leszek's friend, Przemysł II. This attack brought Leszek a lot of valuable goods, but it didn't achieve its main goal.
The following years also saw more fighting. In 1282, the Yotvingians invaded Lublin and looted several villages. They advanced to Łopiennik Górny. Leszek quickly chased them. Somewhere beyond the Narew river, they fought a fierce battle. The Yotvingians were crushed, and this defeat greatly weakened their tribe. A year later, the Lithuanians attacked in revenge, but Leszek defeated them in the Battle of Rowiny.
Challenges with the Bishop of Kraków
Even with his military wins, Leszek's power in Kraków and Sandomierz wasn't completely secure. He faced opposition from within his own lands for most of his rule. His main opponents were Paweł of Przemyków, the Bishop of Kraków, and Janusz Starża, the voivode of Sandomierz.
The conflict with Bishop Paweł started in the early 1280s. Leszek II refused to grant the bishop special rights and protections. Bolesław's widow, Kinga of Hungary, also played a part in this conflict. According to her husband's will, she received the important district of Stary Sącz. This area was very important because it was on the road to Hungary. Leszek II felt it was too valuable for her to control, possibly wanting to give it to his own wife, Gryfina.
Between 1282 and 1283, the conflict became very serious. Bishop Paweł, who strongly supported Kinga's rights, was captured after a meeting in Łagów and imprisoned in Sieradz. The Polish Church worked hard to free him. A final agreement was reached on November 30, 1286. Leszek agreed to pay Bishop Paweł 3,000 grzywnas (a type of currency) for damages, return his property, and recognize the Bishopric's special rights.
Rebellions by Knights
Leszek's rule also faced opposition from local knights, which might seem strange since they often fought for him. The first rebellion happened in 1282. The voivode Janusz Starża, while Leszek II was away, gave the fortresses of Sandomierz and Radom to Konrad II of Masovia. This rebellion was quickly stopped.
A more serious revolt took place three years later, in April 1285. Otto Toporczyk (voivode of Sandomierz), Janusz Starża (now castellan of Kraków), and Żegota (voivode of Kraków) raised an army against Leszek II. Leszek was caught by surprise and had to escape to Hungary. Luckily for Leszek, the rebels' chosen leader, Konrad II of Czersk, failed to capture Wawel Castle. The castle was bravely defended by loyal citizens, led by High Duchess Gryfina.
On May 3, 1285, a major battle happened in Bogucice. Leszek II, with help from the Hungarians, won a great victory and forced the rebels to leave the country. After overcoming this challenge, Leszek II changed his policies to make his government more stable for the rest of his rule.
Final Years and Legacy
In 1287-1288, the third invasion by the Mongols into Lesser Poland occurred, led by Nogai Khan and Talabuga. Leszek traveled to Hungary to ask for help. This time, Lesser Poland was better prepared than before, with more fortresses in Kraków and Sandomierz to defend the lands.
Some historians believe that Leszek II started a process to unite Poland. One theory suggests that around 1287, Leszek II brought together four princes: Henryk IV Probus, Przemysł II, Henry III of Głogów, and himself. Their goal was to decide who would rule Lesser Poland next. However, many modern historians disagree with this idea because Leszek II, Przemysł II, and Henryk IV Probus did not have good relations at that time. On the other hand, the growing respect for Saint Stanislaus of Szczepanów might have helped bring people together.
Leszek died on September 30, 1288, in Kraków and was buried in the Dominican Church of the Holy Trinity there. After his death, a big fight broke out among the main Piast rulers over who would become the next High Duke. Eventually, Henryk IV Probus became the new High Duke in 1289. But he died suddenly a year later, and the title passed to Przemysł II. However, Przemysł II was removed from power in 1291 by King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia, who claimed Poland for himself. Wenceslaus II had no legal right to rule, but he managed to get a document from Leszek's widow, Dowager Duchess Gryfina. She gave him the district of Stary Sącz, which she had finally received as her dower, and he used this to claim all of the Seniorate Province.
See also
In Spanish: Leszek II el Negro para niños
- Poland during the Piast dynasty
- Nicholas of Poland
