In the past of Poland, the figure of the prince of the Piast family, who was the descendant of the King, Lives II Lambert and the Lorraine Rycheza, is recorded. This prince, unlike later legends, was not prepared for spiritual life, though he received education in writing skills. After his father's death in 1034 he assumed the throne as the only son, but his parent could play a key function in the management of the state during that period. The period of his regulation came to a time of serious difficulties, which were the consequence of the collapse of the state created by Bolesław Chrobry and the resulting armed conflicts that his father and his brothers had fought.
Chaos in Poland after the death Lives II
After the death of Mieszko II in Poland, a revolt against Christianity and the elite of power broke out. The populace, dissatisfied with the imposed religion and the taxation burden of many wars, returned to pagan practices, destroying churches and killing clergymen and nobles. During this period, after the end of Bolesław Chrobry's reign, there was a deficiency of strong power that could face increasing social discontent.
Kazimierz I Renovator, who was the successor of Lives II, was at that time in Germany, where he and his parent Rycheza were preparing for spiritual life. Consequently, there was no central power in the country, which led the rulers to take control of their regions. Masław, 1 of them, took power over Mazovia, separating them from Gniezno and maintaining peace there for a decade.
In 1038 Poland experienced another blow erstwhile Brestislav I, ruler of the Czech Republic, invaded the weakened state, looting and destroying the bulkheads encountered. He reached Gniezno, where he took the relics of St. Wojciech and plundered the tomb of Lives I in Poznań. Brestislav joined Silesia to the Czech Republic, placing his crews in the bulkheads. At the same time Poland was besides attacked by Prusai and Pomeranian, which led to the separation of Pomeranian Gdańsk from the Polish state.
Kazimierz returns to Polish lands
Polish neighbours watched events in its territory with concern. The Germans feared the increasing strength of the Czechs, the Wiełta and Pomerania, while Russia had concerns about Pomerania, Prussia, Lithuania and the fresh ruler in Mazowsz, Masław. All curious wanted strong power in the Polans to take control of these areas again.
In 1039 Casimir returned to Poland from the western side, with the support of the ruler Kiev, Jarosław, and 500 soldiers, who were donated to him by the German king Konrad II. Renovator took control of the destroyed Wielkopolska and Małopolska, which suffered the least losses during the rebellion, most likely thanks to the profoundly rooted Christian religion among Wiślan and the avoidance of the Czech invasion. Local power, taught by lesson after a bloody rebellion, accepted Casimir as an announcement of the return of strong central power.
Kazimierz chose Kraków to be his headquarters, due to the fact that Gniezno and Poznań were besides damaged. He sought to establish a fresh capital of Archbishopship, and Aaron, a Benedictine monk, was given the dignity of the metropolitan. In 1044 Kazimierz most likely founded the Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec, which strengthened Krakow's position. In order to strengthen his alliance with Kiev, Kazimierz married Dobronega Maria, Jarosław's half-sister, and his sister Gertrude became married to Jarosław's son, Isiaslaw.
The process of unifying Poland by Kazimierz Renovator
Kazimierz, having respect to the nonsubjective of recovering old Polish lands, focused his efforts on Mazowsz, Pomerania and Silesia. In 1047, thanks to support from Russia, he managed to recover Mazovia, where Masław was killed in the battle. He then directed his steps towards Pomerania, where, despite his numerical advantage, he won.
The situation with Śląski was more complex, as the area was influenced by the Czech Republic, which was the centre of the Empire. Germany accepted the takeover of Silesia by the Czech Republic, which put Kazimierz in a hard situation. Eventually, after unsuccessful diplomatic attempts, in 1050 he decided to occupy Silesia. At this time Henry III had another interior problems and did not decide to intervene in the armed field. Instead, he took on the function of mediator in the conflict between Brestislav and Kazimierz. As a consequence of the gathering in Kwedlinburg on 22 May 1054, a peace agreement was concluded, which was granted to Silesia Poland on condition that the Czechs were paid the tribute.
Casimir, until his death on 19 May 1058, loyally fulfilled the terms of the arrangement, paying a fixed tribute. Although he failed to regain his royal crown, his regulation contributed to rebuilding the power of the state. He carried out reforms that strengthened the country internally, specified as rebuilding the ecclesiastical administration, reforming monetary policy, and recolonization of deserted lands. Through these actions, the threat of annihilation of the country was avoided.
