Władysław Odonic
Władysław Odonic | |
---|---|
Hedwig | |
Issue | Przemysł I Bolesław the Pious Salomea Ziemomysł Euphemia |
Father | Odon of Poznań |
Mother | Viacheslava Yaroslavna of Halych |
Władysław Odonic, nicknamed Plwacz or the Spitter, (c. 1190 – 5 June 1239) was a duke of Kalisz 1207–1217, duke of Poznań 1216–1217, ruler of Ujście in 1223, ruler of Nakło from 1225, and duke of all Greater Poland 1229–1234; from 1234 until his death he was ruler over only the north and east of the Warta river (some historians believed that shortly before his death, he lost Ujście and Nakło).
He was a son of Duke Odon of Kalisz by his wife Viacheslava, daughter of Prince Yaroslav Osmomysl of Halych. Władysław was probably named after either his paternal uncle Władysław III Spindleshanks or his ancestor Władysław I Herman.
The nickname "Plwacz" (English: the Spitter) was already given to him in the 13th century chronicles. It is unknown if he received that nickname because of a disease that affected his throat or because he had bad manners. Another nickname used in the contemporary sources was "Odonic", a corruption of his patronymic Odowic ("son of Odon"); it is also unknown why the sources persisted in using the erroneous form instead of the correct one.[1]
Life
Early years
Duke Odon of Kalisz died on 20 April 1194. Władysław (then only four years old) and his siblings were placed under the care of his paternal uncle
First War against Władysław III Spindleshanks
Mieszko III the Old died in 1202, and Władysław III Spindleshanks inherited the lands of Greater Poland. At some point in the ensuing four years, Władysław III surrendered the Duchy of Kalisz to
In 1206 Władysław Odonic was declared an adult and began to claim government over his domains. It was especially hard for him to accept the surrender of the Duchy of Kalisz, as the young prince believed it to be part of his rightful heritage. Unable to reach a favorable agreement with his uncle, Władysław Odonic decided to declare open war against Władysław III Spindleshanks. His attempt to overthrow the High Duke was strongly supported by part of the
Duke of Kalisz
However, despite the efforts of both Władysław Odonic and Archbishop Kietlicz (who even launched an
Congress of Głogów. Attempt to reconcile with Władysław III Spindleshanks
Despite these gestures, Henry I the Bearded refused to militarily support Władysław Odonic, as he tried to reconcile both princes through diplomatic channels. In 1208 a meeting was arranged in
Close cooperation with the Church
In July 1210, the
Leszek the White, along with other Piast princes, wanting to ensure the support of the Church, then issued a Great Privilege, which ensured the integrity of territorial possessions of the Bishops. The privilege was not signed by Henry I the Bearded and Władysław III Spindleshanks, but they later accepted the provisions established there. Mieszko I Tanglefoot was not present in Borzykowa; with the support of the Gryfici family, he decided to lead his army and march against Kraków, where confusion among the citizens left him in total control of the capital without fighting, and he became the new High Duke.
Władysław Odonic's policy of full cooperation with the Church resulted in the issue of a bull by Pope Innocent III on 13 May 1211, in which the Pope declared Władysław to be under his protection. Władysław also actively supported the monastic orders, notably the Cistercians, who received lands in the district of Przemęt on 29 July 1210. On 20 October 1213, a new Cistercian monastery was founded in Ołobok over the Prosna river, which was richly furnished by Władysław.
In 1215 Władysław Odonic took part in the congress of princes and bishops in Wolbórz, where he and the other Piast rulers (including Leszek I the White, Konrad I of Masovia, and Casimir I of Opole) agreed to extend the economic and legal benefits for the Church.
Duke of Southern Greater Poland. Conflict with Henry I the Bearded
One year later, Archbishop Kietlicz supported the provisions of the IV Lateran Council, wherein papal authority was reinforced and the Fifth Crusade was organized. Also, and with the support of the other Polish princes, the Archbishop promoted the surrender of the southern Greater Poland lands to Władysław. Finally, in 1216 Władysław III Spindleshanks gave his nephew the rule over southern Greater Poland.
However, the receipt of these lands near
In 1217, a congress of other Piast dukes in Danków proved to be very detrimental to Władysław Odonic. There his uncle Władysław III Spindleshanks and Leszek the White signed an agreement of mutual succession, which reduced considerably the chances of the young prince to acquire, by peaceful means, his uncle's inheritance.
Second War against Władysław III Spindleshanks. Escape from the country
The agreement at Danków (which Henry I the Bearded soon joined) and the death of Archbishop Kietlicz enabled Władysław III Spindleshanks to attack his nephew with the benevolent neutrality of the other
Almost nothing is known about the first phase of Władysław's exile from Poland. There are some assumptions that the prince attended the expedition of King Andrew II of Hungary to Palestine. Subsequently, he probably went to Bohemia and Germany, where he tried to encourage the help of local rulers.
Arrival in Pomerania. Conquest of Ujście and Nakło
In 1218 Władysław Odonic finally arrived to the court of
Thanks to the help of the Pomeranian Duke, Władysław was able to capture the north-eastern fortress of Ujście in 1223. Two years later he was able to repel the counter-attack of his uncle and obtain the district of Nakło.
New phase in the War against Władysław III Spindleshanks. Defeat of voivode Dobrogost
In 1227 Władysław III Spindleshanks finally decided to attack his nephew directly. For this purpose, he sent troops under the command of voivode Dobrogost, who besieged Ujście. Not only did the voivode fail to conquer the strongly fortified city, but Władysław Odonic made a surprise attack on Dobrogost's troops and on 15 July, the voivode's army was completely defeated and he was killed. Thanks to this victory, Władysław Odonic was able to take most of Greater Poland.
The Congress of Gąsawa and his tragic consequences. Responsibility for Leszek the White's death
Afraid that he could lose all of his domains, Władysław III Spindleshanks decided to find a peaceful solution to the dispute with his nephew. For this purpose, a solemn convention of the Piast princes, bishops, and nobles was convened in the Kuyavian district of
The tragic end of the meeting took place on the morning of 24 November, when during a break from the deliberations the princes were attacked by Pomeranians, who killed Leszek the White and seriously injured Henry I the Bearded. By sources and historiography, the main culprit for the murder was Władysław Odonic,[3] although there are some historians[who?] who believe that Duke Świętopełk II was also involved in the crime, and some who are inclined to absolve Władysław Odonic from any part in the attack.
Friendly relations with Konrad I of Masovia. New struggles with Władysław III Spindleshanks
The events of Gąsawa led to a very complicated situation in Poland, and brought few benefits to Władysław Odonic in his conflict with his uncle. At the beginning of 1228, Władysław III Spindleshanks, with the help of Silesian forces, managed to defeat his nephew under unknown circumstances, taking him prisoner. However, the Duke of Greater Poland failed to take advantage of this success, because later that year, while his uncle was in Lesser Poland, Władysław Odonic managed to escape to Płock, where he established friendly relations with Konrad I of Masovia.
Deposition of Władysław III Spindleshanks from Greater Poland and his death
In 1229, Władysław Odonic and Konrad I of Masovia took a concerted action against Władysław III Spindleshanks. Władysław Odonic then managed to control his uncle's domains. Much less successful was the participation of Konrad I, whose troops unsuccessfully besieged Kalisz. Władysław III Spindleshanks ultimately could not defend himself and soon after he escaped to Racibórz in Silesia. Władysław Odonic's success was complete, but a risk still remained: in the spring of 1231 Henry I the Bearded launched an expedition against Greater Poland with the purpose of restoring Władysław III Spindleshanks, but the Silesian troops were defeated at the walls of Gniezno.
On 3 November 1231 Władysław III Spindleshanks died unexpectedly, apparently killed by a German girl whom he tried to rape. However, this only changed Władysław Odonic's situation slightly, as his uncle had passed all his rights of inheritance to Henry I the Bearded before his death.
Policy of cooperation with the Church. Rebellion of the local nobility
Desiring to neutralize the influence of Silesia, Władysław began a policy to be closer to the Church. In 1232, he granted the
However, this policy of submission to the church brought a negative effect among the nobility, who in 1233 rebelled against him and offered the Duchy of Greater Poland to Henry I the Bearded. Thanks to the passivity of Henry I, the revolt failed. Henry I's indifference to Greater Poland was extremely beneficial for Władysław Odonic, who obtained from the Silesian Duke the formal resignation from all his claims over the inheritance of Władysław III Spindleshanks.
The establishment of peace enabled Władysław Odonic and
War against Henry I the Bearded. Loss of half of Greater Poland
In 1234 their recently concluded peace was suddenly broken, and hostilities between Henry I the Bearded and Władysław Odonic were renewed. This time, the Silesian Duke was well prepared, and without major obstacles he seized the southern part of Greater Poland. Władysław was then forced to enter into peace talks with the mediation of Bishop Paul of Poznań and Archbishop
. In gratitude for his mediation, Władysław extended to Archbishop Pełka and the Bishopric of Gniezno the immunity that he gave to the Poznań church in 1232. Even with the ratification of this (unfavorable) agreement on 26 June 1235, both sides seemed aware that the outbreak of a new war would be just a matter of time.Second Part of the War against Henry I the Bearded
The war broke again by the end of 1235, when Władysław Odonic (using the unrest caused by the brutal government in Śrem of the Governor appointed by Henry I the Bearded, Prince Borzivoj of Bohemia), deceitfully tried to recover that part of Greater Poland. The expedition ended with some success (Śrem was recovered and Borzivoj killed during the battle); however, a retaliatory expedition of the Silesian army soon arrived at Gniezno.
Władysław Odonic, having good relations with the Church, began efforts with Pope Gregory IX for the annulment of the 1234 treaty and Henry I's decision to remove him from Greater Poland by force. In 1236 the Pope ordered Archbishop Pełka to create a committee that would resolve the dispute once and for all. Their decision was favorable to Henry, and after protests by Władysław, another committee produced a document invalidating the treaty of 1234, which in turn was repudiated by Henry I.
In 1237 the hostilities were resumed. As a result, Władysław lost the castellanie of Ladzka. Only after the intervention of a Papal envoy, William of Modena, did both sides agree to a truce.
Relations with Henry II the Pious. Death
The death of Henry I the Bearded on 19 March 1238 did not end the conflict with the Silesian princes because Henry I's son and successor Henry II the Pious maintained his pretensions over Greater Poland. In 1239 a new war broke out and once again Władysław was defeated. This time he lost the rest of Greater Poland, with the exception of Ujście and Nakło.[note 1]
Władysław Odonic died on 5 June 1239 and was buried in the
Marriage and issue
Between 1218/20 Władysław married with
- Hedwig (b. 1218/20 – d. 8 January aft. 1234), married ca. 1233 to Duke Casimir I of Kuyavia.[8]
- Przemysł I (b. 5 June 1220/4 June 1221 – d. 4 June 1257).
- Bolesław the Pious (b. 1224/27 – d. 14 April 1279).
- Konrad I of Głogów.
- Ziemomysł (b. 1228/32 – d. 1235/36).[9]
- Władysław of Opole.
Ancestry
Ancestors of Władysław Odonic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
See also
- Dukes of Greater Poland
- Piast Dynasty
Footnotes
- ^ However, later historians like Kasimir Jasiński and Krzysztof Ożóg refute this development, believing that Władysław lost Ujście and Nakło in the war of 1239, but remained in Gniezno and Poznań until his death.
References
- ^ K. Jasiński, Genealogia Piastów wielkopolskich. Potomstwo Władysława Odonica, [in:] Nasi Piastowie, "Kronika Miasta Poznania" 1995, No 2, p. 37.
- ^ Świętopełk II's first (or second according to some sources) wife Euphrosyne is identified as a daughter of Odon of Poznań, but this is disputed among historians and web sources.
- ^ Gerard Labuda: Historia Kaszubów w dziejach Pomorza (The history of Kashubians within history of Pomerania) t.1 Czasy średniowieczne (vol.1 Middle ages), Gdańsk 2006, p. 517.
- ^ Kazimierz Jasiński, Genealogia Piastów wielkopolskich. Potomstwo Władysława Odonica, pp. 38-39, later additions made in Uzupełnienia do genealogii Piastów, "Studia Źródłoznawcze" No 5 (1960), p. 100.; Oswald Balzer, Genealogia Piastów, Kraków 1895, p. 221; Włodzimierz Dworzaczek, Genealogia, Warsaw 1959, tab. 2, p. 17.
- ^ Marek, Miroslav. "Complete Genealogy of the House of Piast". Genealogy.EU.[self-published source]
- ^ Norbert Mika, Imię Przemysł w wielkopolskiej linii Piastów. Niektóre aspekty stosunków książąt wielkopolskich z Czechami do połowy XIII wieku, [in:] Przemysł II. Odnowienie Królestwa Polskiego edited by Jadwiga Krzyżaniakowej, Poznań 1997, pp. 247-255; Krzysztof Ożóg, Władysław Odonic Plwacz [in:] Piastowie-Leksykon Biograficzny, Kraków 1999, p. 133.
- ^ Władysław Odonic Plwacz
- ^ Parentage disputed. D. Karczewski, W sprawie pochodzenia Jadwigi, pierwszej żony księcia kujawskiego Kazimierza Konradowica, [in:] Europa Środkowa i Wschodnia w polityce Piastów, red. K. Zielińska-Melkowska, Toruń 1997, pp. 235-240.
- ^ Parentage disputed. K. Jasiński, Genealogia Piastów wielkopolskich. Potomstwo Władysława Odonica, pp. 44-45