Historical calendar: April 18, 1025 – Bolesław Chrobry king of Poland

Historical calendar: the anniversary of the coronation in Gniezno of Prince Bolesław Chrobry. Thanks to this act, Poland gained the position of a Christian kingdom.

Today in our calendar we will look at Chrobry's politics, which brought him to the position of monarch.

After his death, Oda's stepson, Bolesław, became ruler of the Gniezno State, and she herself assumed the control of the state as regent. Despite the support of any of the mighty, Oda and her sons were driven out of the country by Bolesław Chrobry – the boy of Goody, who, after a winning fight around 995, gained full power in the country.

During the first years of his reign, Bolesław continued his father's politics – he fought the pagan Longies, expanded the castles and spread Christianity. He besides made efforts in Rome to get a royal crown. The key event was the arrival in 997 from the Czech Republic to the Gniezno Bishop of Prague Wojciech. Wojciech was driven out of his homeland for his stubbornness in spreading Christ's doctrine and opposition to the Church's unscientific actions of the Czech court.

This is due to the fact that the Czech Republic, despite being a long-standing Christian country, inactive indulged in pagan customs and practiced the stigmatized Catholic Church, slave trade. The bishop accepted Bolesław Chrobry with open hands, granted him hospitality and prepared him for the Christianization mission to Gdańsk and Prussia, which Wojciech wanted to devote himself to. At the time of the expedition, the bishop was murdered by an axe blow (most likely by a pagan priest), after which his severed head was impaled.

The surviving brothers and companions of Wojciech came with terrible news about the destiny of their comparative at Bolesław's court. This 1 bought the body of a martyr, giving the Gentiles as much gold as it weighed, and then buried it in the basilica of Gniezno. In 1000, young Emperor Otton III went to his grave. This event is known as the Gniezno Congress. At the time, very crucial decisions were made: the Polish-German alliance was extended and an autonomous Archbishop of Gniezno was created along with subordinate dioceses.

In addition, Bolesław received from Otto copy of St. Maurice's spear, and was besides recognized as the "brother of the Emperor" or equal ruler. It was a milestone on the way to the king's crown. Equally important, in the chronicles of this period, the names defining the Gniezno State as Poland appear for the first time.

Bolesław Chrobry's successes were not just about effective diplomacy. He was a ruler who was all-powerful and well-educated. The cunning and sophisticated Bolesław besides proved to be a master of war art. After the abrupt death of Otto III, in the Empire, the conflict for the imperial crown, which the ruler of Polan utilized in a typical way – occupied under the imperial authority Milsko, Lusatia and Misnia.

When a akin fight for the throne broke out in the Czech Republic, it took over the full country along with the territory of present-day Slovakia. The fresh Emperor Henry II demanded Bolesław to pay tribute to the flax and Tribute of occupied lands. Chrobry refused and began the 16-year-old (1002-1018) Polish-German war. Although Bolesław lost control of the Czech Republic very quickly, he remained in Slovakia for many years to come. In 1017 there was the first German-Russian cooperation against Poland in history.

Henry II besieged Germany, and Jarosław the Wise Brest over Bug. This did small due to the fact that the heroic defence of the German broke the momentum of the imperial invasion, and Brest was unlocked by an efficient rescue of the princely team. The war against Germany ended with a peace in Budziszyn in 1018, under which Poland yet obtained Milsko and Lusatia.

Since peace was made with the Emperorship, the Prince Polan remained un evenly accounted for in the east. Repaying for the attack on Brest and refusing to marry the sister of the large Prince Jarosław, Przedsława – Chrobry, he began the invasion of Kiev in the same year. A flash run (including winning the conflict of Bug) led to the capture of Kiev, where Bolesław placed his son-in-law on the throne.

Returning from the expedition, Bolesław joined Poland lost years ago in Czerwieńskie. At the same time, the Western Pomerania detached from Poland, utilizing the turmoil of war.

Bolesław Chrobry's last success was to get papal consent for coronation. The ceremony, chaired by Archbishop Hippolyt, was held in the Gniezno Archaedra on 18 April 1025. Shortly after that act, the king died. His successor was Mieszko II, who was crowned in the same year, on December 24.

Previous entry from our calendar is available Here..