Bolesław of Kuyavia

Bolesław of Kuyavia (also known as Mieszkowic) (Polish: Bolesław kujawski (Mieszkowic)) (1159 – 13 September 1195) was a Duke of Kuyavia from 1186 until his death.

He was the eldest child (but third-born son) of Mieszko III the Old, Duke of Greater Poland and High Duke of Poland in 1173, by his second wife Eudoxia, daughter of Grand Prince Iziaslav II of Kiev.

Life

Almost immediately after his birth, Bolesław was considered the main successor to his father in the Greater Poland inheritance, especially since Mieszko III had become the High Duke and overlord of Poland in 1173 after the death of his brother Bolesław IV the Curly.

In 1177 the authoritarian government of Mieszko III began The Rebellion of The Kraków Nobility and called upon his brother, Casimir II the Just to take the title of High Duke. At the same time was joined to the conspiracy Mieszko III's eldest son Odon (from his first marriage), who resented his father's favoritism for the children born to his second marriage with Eudoxia. The revolt which broke out in Greater Poland between 1177-1179 was a complete surprise to Mieszko III, who was forced to escape from Poland with Bolesław and his younger brothers Mieszko and Władysław. The deposed High Duke took refuge in Bohemia, Germany and then in the court of his son-in-law Bogislaw I, Duke of Pomerania.

Mieszko III regained the control over Greater Poland in 1181, thanks to the help of Pomeranian troops. One he recovered his domains, Mieszko III didn't divided his domains between his sons (as was expected) and already trying to pull his own political plans who were centered in the recovery of Kraków and with this, the Seniorate Province.

In 1186 Leszek, Duke of Masovia died without issue. In his will, he left all the Masovian-Kuyavian principality to his youngest uncle Casimir II the Just. However, Mieszko III could mastered Kuyavia; soon after, he passed his new acquisition to Bolesław (some historians believed that Bolesław only obtain Kuyavia in 1194 after the death of Casimir II the Just).

Another important year in Bolesław could be 1191, when his father, using the absence of Casimir II the Just (who was involved in the Kievan Rus' succession disputes) seized and conquer Kraków. Then, for unknown reasons, Mieszko III didn't took personally the government of the capital, but gave them to Bolesław (although some sources believed that the prince who was appointed Governor of Kraków was Mieszko the Younger). Bolesław's rule as governor in Kraków wasn't too long, because soon Casimir II the Just could recover his authority over the capital and imprisoned his nephew. However, the victorious Casimir II acted generously and sent the prince with his father.

On 5 May 1194 Casimir II the Just died unexpectedly, leaving to minor sons: Leszek and Konrad. Mieszko III saw his brother's death as a new opportunity to regain the supreme power; however, this time the local nobility stood at the side of Casimir II's sons.

Mieszko III's Greater Poland and Kuyavian troops and the Lesser Poland's troops (who fight on behalf of Leszek and Konrad), led by the voivode Mikołaj Gryfita, faced in the bloody Battle of Mozgawą (13 September 1195); Bolesław was among the casualties. Mieszko III, seriously injured, withdraw to Kalisz without waiting for the Silesia troops who came to his aid, led by Mieszko I Tanglefoot and Jarosław of Opole.

Marriage and issue

Around 1187/89, Bolesław married with Dobroslawa (b. 1162/72 - d. 23 November 1206/after 1230?), a Pomeranian princess.^[1] They all certainly had only female offspring, but the exact number remains disputed. Various sources show some of the following three daughters, but no source shows all three of them:

1. Eudoxia (Audacia) (b. ca. 1190/95 – d. 1270), married in 1208 to Henry I, Count of Schwerin.
2. Wierzchosława (b. bef. 1195 – d. 2 January/11 September? ca. 1212), a nun in Strzelno.
3. Daughter (Dobroslawa?) (b. posthumously? bef. 1196 – d. aft. 1249/53), married in 1210/15 to Jaczo I, Lord of Gützkow.

After his death without male issue, Kuyavia returned to his father Mieszko III, but in 1198 he ceded the Duchy to Casimir II's sons in exchange of his recognition as High Duke.

Notes

1. Although sources clearly established Dobroslawa's origin, her exact parentage is disputed among historians. Some sources, e.g. Cawley, Charles, POMERANIA: Dobroslawa M1 Boleslaw Kujavia M2 Wart Gutzkow, Medieval Lands database, Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, place her as a daughter of Bogislaw I, Duke of Pomerania by his first wife Walburgis; Herbert Stoyan Archived July 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. places her as a daughter of Wartislaw I, Duke of Pomerania; and finally Michael Shuster calls her a daughter of either Casimir I, Duke of Pomerania-Demmin or Ratibor I, Duke of Pomerania.