Przemysł I of Greater Poland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Przemysł I
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| Duke of Greater Poland | |
Przemysł I's seal, dated from 1252
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| Born | 4 June 1221 Trzebnica, Silesia |
| Died | 4 June 1257 (aged 36) Poznań, Greater Poland |
| Buried | Poznań Cathedral |
| Noble family | Piast dynasty |
| Spouse(s) | Elisabeth of Wrocław |
| Issue | Constance of Greater Poland Euphrosyne of Greater Poland Anna of Greater Poland Euphemia of Greater Poland Przemysł II |
| Father | Władysław Odonic |
| Mother | Jadwiga |
Przemysł I (born June 4, 1221 – died June 4, 1257) was an important ruler from the Piast dynasty. He was the Duke of Greater Poland from 1239 until he passed away. For some time, his younger brother, Bolesław the Pious, ruled alongside him.
Przemysł I worked hard to get back many areas of Greater Poland. He ruled different parts at different times, like Poznań, Gniezno, and Kalisz. He became the sole Duke of Greater Poland in 1250. People at the time called him primus, which means "The First."
Contents
Life and Rule of Przemysł I
Przemysł I was the oldest son of Duke Władysław Odonic of Greater Poland. His mother was Jadwiga. His father made sure he got a good education. Przemysł could even read Latin psalms easily, which was impressive for his time.
Starting His Government
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Przemysł I first started appearing in official papers with his father in 1232. When his father died in 1239, Przemysł began to rule on his own. This was during a time when Poland was divided into many smaller duchies.
In 1241, Przemysł officially made his younger brother Bolesław a co-ruler. But in truth, Przemysł was the one making all the big decisions.
His father had left him control of northern Greater Poland, including areas like Ujście and Nakło. Przemysł wanted to get back the rest of Greater Poland. In 1241, after his cousin, High Duke Henry II the Pious, died in the Battle of Legnica, Przemysł took back Poznań and Gniezno. He then managed to conquer other parts of Greater Poland that had been controlled by the Dukes of Silesia.
Getting Back Lost Lands
In 1242, Przemysł I won back Zbąszyń and Międzyrzecz from Bolesław II the Bald. His actions in Silesia caused Duke Swantopolk II of Pomerania to step in and capture Nakło. However, Przemysł quickly got Nakło back from the Pomeranian ruler.
Even with his successes, Przemysł wanted to end fights with the Silesian Piasts. In 1244, he married Elizabeth, who was Bolesław II's sister. This marriage, however, did not stop the border conflicts. But it did help Przemysł get Kalisz back from Duke Władysław of Opole. He couldn't get Wieluń back at that time, but it was added to Greater Poland later in 1249. By 1247, he had also recovered Santok.
Challenges and Divisions in Greater Poland
In 1247, local knights made Przemysł I give his brother Bolesław the district of Kalisz as a separate duchy. However, Przemysł still had full control over Greater Poland's foreign policy. This wasn't the last time they would divide their lands.
A year later, Przemysł I stopped a group of knights who were against him. He even put their leaders in prison. He let them go in 1250 when he got involved in a fight between Bolesław II the Bald and his brother Konrad. Konrad was married to Przemysł I's sister, Salomea. Przemysł's help allowed Konrad to get Głogów as his own independent duchy.
In 1249, Przemysł I and his brother traded lands again. Przemysł gave Bolesław Gniezno and became the Duke of Poznań and Kalisz. In 1250, Przemysł had Bolesław arrested for reasons we don't fully know. This made Przemysł the sole ruler of all Greater Poland. The brothers finally made peace in 1253, after the Church stepped in. Bolesław then received the Duchy of Kalisz-Gniezno.
Przemysł I tried to have a more peaceful approach in the early 13th century. He worked closely with his brother-in-law Konrad I of Głogów. He also arranged for his sister Euphemia to marry Duke Władysław of Opole. His brother Bolesław even helped him with soldiers against Duke Casimir I of Kuyavia to gain control of Ladzka.
In 1254, Przemysł I led a military trip against Henry III the White. He damaged some areas belonging to the Bishopric of Wrocław. Because of this, Przemysł I was excommunicated (removed from the Church). He was only allowed back after he fixed the damage. Another campaign against Henry III happened later that year. This time, Przemysł I, his brother Bolesław, and Konrad I of Głogów worked together and avoided damaging Church lands.
Fighting Brandenburg's Expansion
Przemysł's main concern in foreign policy was the growing power of the Ascanian margraves of Brandenburg in the west. He managed to stop their troops from entering his lands in places like Santok (1247), Zbąszyń (1251), and Drezdenko (1252). But the situation on the western border remained tense.
To try and solve this, Przemysł I tried to build better relationships with the Ascanians between 1254 and 1255. He arranged for his oldest daughter, Constance, to marry Conrad, the son of Margrave John I. This marriage happened after Przemysł I's death in 1260. However, this plan didn't work out well. The Ascanians used the marriage to claim rights over the western part of Greater Poland, calling it their "New March."
Poznań: Capital of Greater Poland
In 1253, Przemysł I chose Poznań as his capital city. It was located on the left bank of the Warta River. He also started building the Royal Castle on a hill overlooking the town.
Religious Policies and Alliances
Przemysł I worked closely with the Church, especially with the Bishops of Poznań, Bogufał II and Bogufał III. This cooperation sometimes caused problems with the local knights. In 1244, some knights rebelled against him. They wanted to take away the special legal and tax freedoms that the Bishops had gained from Władysław Odonic. Przemysł first agreed to their request, but in 1252, he brought back these special rights and even made them stronger.
Even with some troubles, Przemysł I had many trusted advisors. These included the Governor of Poznań, Przedpełk Łódź, and the castellan of Poznań, Boguchwał.
On May 8, 1254, Przemysł took part in a big meeting of Piast princes in Kraków. They met to celebrate the canonization (making someone a saint) of St. Stanislaus. Other princes there included his brother Bolesław, Casimir I of Kuyavia, Siemowit I of Masovia, Władysław of Opole, and the host, Bolesław V the Chaste. Making friends with his relatives proved helpful a year later. Duke Mestwin II of Pomerania captured the district of Nakło. After a war, Przemysł was only able to get Nakło back by paying 500 pieces of silver in 1256.
Death and Family
Przemysł I died in Poznań on June 4, 1257, his 36th birthday. He was buried in the Wawel Cathedral. A head, believed to be his, is displayed in a church in Poznań. There's also a painting in the Historical Museum of Poznań City Hall that some think is his portrait, but this is not certain.
Marriage and Children
In 1244, Przemysł I married Elisabeth (born around 1232 – died January 16, 1265). She was the daughter of Henry II the Pious, Duke of Wrocław. They had five children:
- Constance (born 1245/46 – died October 8, 1281), who married Conrad, Margrave of Brandenburg-Stendal in 1260.
- Euphrosyne (born 1247/50 – died February 17/19, 1298), who became an Abbess (head nun) at St. Clara in Trzebnica.
- Anna (born 1253 – died after June 26, 1295), who became an Abbess at Owińska.
- Euphemia (born 1253 – died September 5, 1298), Anna's twin sister, who was a nun at St. Clara, Wrocław.
- Przemysł II (born October 14, 1257), born after his father's death.
When Przemysł I died, his wife was pregnant with their last child. His brother Bolesław took over the rule of all his lands. Young Przemysł II was cared for by his uncle until 1273. Then, he received Poznań as his own district to rule. Later, Przemysł II inherited all of Greater Poland when his uncle died in 1279. He eventually became King of Poland in 1295. When he died a year later, the Greater Poland branch of the Piast dynasty ended.
See also
- Piast dynasty
- List of Polish monarchs
- Dukes of Greater Poland
- Przemysł II of Poland
- Royal Castle, Poznań
