Boleslaw III Prince of Poland Date of Birth: 20.08.1086 Country: Poland

1. The Early Life and Ancestry of Bolesław III
2. Contests for Power
3. Conflicts with the Empire
4. Subjugation of Pomerania
5. Western Pomerania and Christianization
6. German Pressure and Alliance with Denmark
7. Recognition and Imperial Homage

The Early Life and Ancestry of Bolesław III

Bolesław III, Prince of Poland from 1102 to 1138, was a prominent member of the Piast dynasty. Born as the second son of Prince Władysław I Herman and Judith of Bohemia, the daughter of King Vratislav II, Bolesław's early life was marked by the political struggles within the Polish principality.

Contests for Power

Upon the death of Władysław I Herman, a prolonged struggle for power ensued between Bolesław and his elder brother, Zbigniew. Bolesław relied on the support of prominent Polish aristocrats, the higher clergy, minor knights, and alliances with the Kievan Rus' and Hungary. Zbigniew, in turn, sought assistance from the Holy Roman Emperor, the Duke of Bohemia, and the princes of Western Pomerania. In 1106, Bolesław defeated Zbigniew, who fled to Pomerania, securing Bolesław's dominance and eventual control over all Polish territories by 1108.

Conflicts with the Empire

Zbigniew's appeal to the Holy Roman Emperor led to an invasion of Poland by an army of 10,000 troops led by Henry V in 1109. Bolesław III successfully repelled the German forces in the Battle of Głogów and lifted the siege of Wrocław. He also expelled the Czech army from the country and, in 1112, had his brother blinded, cementing his power.

Subjugation of Pomerania

The resolution of conflicts with the empire allowed Bolesław to focus on subduing Pomerania, where Polish княzes' rule had been largely nominal for a century. In 1113, his forces captured the Pomeranian fortress of Nakło, re-establishing княzly authority along the Noteć River. The conquest of Pomerania continued in 1116-1119 with the capture of Gdańsk and the subjugation of Eastern Pomerania.

Western Pomerania and Christianization

The primary challenge lay in Western Pomerania, a prosperous region with powerful, autonomy-minded cities and strong German influence. In 1121, Polish troops seized Szczecin, followed by the occupation of the island of Rügen the next year. Western Pomeranian princes acknowledged the supremacy of Poland. To strengthen his central power, Bolesław III initiated the Christianization of Pomerania. With the assistance of Bishop Otto of Bamberg, he converted the pagan population in 1124-1125. The Pomeranian Bishopric was established in Wolin in 1128 (later relocated to Kamień Pomorski).

German Pressure and Alliance with Denmark

Despite his efforts, German principalities such as Brandenburg, Saxony, Meissen, and the Archbishopric of Magdeburg exerted pressure on Pomerania. Facing resistance, Prince Wartislaw of Western Pomerania recognized the Emperor's suzerainty in 1127 and opposed Poland. Bolesław III countered by allying with Denmark, leading to an invasion of Western Pomerania in 1129. The joint Polish-Danish forces quickly subjugated the principality, forcing Wartislaw to flee and resulting in the division of Western Pomerania: lands west of the Oder River and Rügen went to Denmark, while eastern regions came under Polish control.

Recognition and Imperial Homage

Bolesław III's ambition to fully restore Polish authority over Western Pomerania faced distractions from events in the Kievan Rus' and Hungary. As a result, at the Imperial Diet of Merseburg in 1135, although recognized as the suzerain of Western Pomerania, Bolesław III was obligated to pay homage to the Emperor for this fief.