Konrad II of Czersk (pl: ''Konrad II czerski''; c. 1250 – 24 June/21 October 1294
[ assumed that both dates are equally likely]), was a Polish prince member of the
House of Piast
The House of Piast was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. The first documented Polish monarch was Duke Mieszko I (c. 930–992). The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of king Casimir III the Great.
Branc ...
, Duke of
Masovia
Mazovia or Masovia ( pl, Mazowsze) is a historical region in mid-north-eastern Poland. It spans the North European Plain, roughly between Łódź and Białystok, with Warsaw being the unofficial capital and largest city. Throughout the centurie ...
during 1264-1275 jointly with his brother, after 1275 sole ruler over
Czersk
Czersk (; ; formerly german: Czersk, (1942-5): ) is a town in northern Poland in Chojnice County, Pomeranian Voivodeship. As of December 2021, the town has a population of 9,844.
Today the center of the city of Czersk in is the Village Square. ...
and Duke of
Sandomierz
Sandomierz (pronounced: ; la, Sandomiria) is a historic town in south-eastern Poland with 23,863 inhabitants (as of 2017), situated on the Vistula River in the Sandomierz Basin. It has been part of Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship (Holy Cross Prov ...
during 1289.
He was the eldest son of
Siemowit I of Masovia and
Pereyaslava, a Russian princess.
Life
Captivity in Lithuania
Konrad II is mentioned for the first time in 1262, when
Lithuanian Grand Duke Treniota
Treniota ( be, Транята; ''Troniata''; c. 1210–1264) was the Grand Duke of Lithuania (1263–1264).
Treniota was the nephew of Mindaugas, the first and only king of Lithuania. While Mindaugas had converted to Christianity in order to di ...
launched a major campaign against
Masovia
Mazovia or Masovia ( pl, Mazowsze) is a historical region in mid-north-eastern Poland. It spans the North European Plain, roughly between Łódź and Białystok, with Warsaw being the unofficial capital and largest city. Throughout the centurie ...
. He and his father stayed at a small fort in
Jazdów when they were surprised by the attack; Siemowit I was killed during the battle and Konrad II was captured by the Lithuanians.
With Konrad II as a prisoner of the Lithuanians and his brother
Bolesław II too young to rule, the regency of the Duchy of Masovia was exercised by
Bolesław the Pious and the children's mother Pereyaslava. After two years of captivity, Konrad II was released and recovered his lands left to him by his father.
Rule
In terms of foreign policy, Konrad II continued the line of his father, working closely with
Bolesław V the Chaste
Bolesław V the Chaste ( pl, Bolesław Wstydliwy; 21 June 1226 – 7 December 1279) was Duke of Sandomierz in Lesser Poland from 1232 and High Duke of Poland from 1243 until his death, as the last male representative of the Lesser Polish branch o ...
,
Leszek II the Black
Leszek II the Black (c. 1241 – 30 September 1288), was a Polish prince of the House of Piast, Duke of Sieradz since 1261, Duke of Łęczyca since 1267, Duke of Inowrocław in the years 1273-1278, Duke of Sandomierz and High Duke of Poland from ...
and Bolesław the Pious. He fought alongside
Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the ...
in the war which opposed
Bohemia for the Babenberg
inheritance
Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Officia ...
. In 1271 became part of a coalition against
Henryk IV Probus
Henryk IV Probus (Latin for ''the Righteous'') ( pl, Henryk IV Probus or ''Prawy''; german: Heinrich IV. der Gerechte) ( – 23 June 1290) was a member of the Silesian branch of the royal Polish Piast dynasty. He was Duke of Silesia at Wro ...
, to prevent it from providing support to the Bohemian King
Ottokar II. Two years later, the same coalition attacked
Władysław Opolski
Vladislaus I of Opole ( pl, Władysław opolski) ( – 27 August/13 September 1281/2) was a Duke of Kalisz during 1234–1244, Duke of Wieluń from 1234 to 1249 and Duke of Opole–Racibórz from 1246 until his death.
He was the second son ...
who during the general confusion for the Bohemian-Hungarian war, tried to obtain the Seniorate from Bolesław V, but without results.
In 1275 when his brother Bolesław II attained his majority, forced Konrad II to make a division over their paternal domains. He gave
Płock
Płock (pronounced ) is a city in central Poland, on the Vistula river, in the Masovian Voivodeship. According to the data provided by GUS on 31 December 2021, there were 116,962 inhabitants in the city. Its full ceremonial name, according to th ...
to him, retaining only Czersk. This division didn't satisfied Bolesław II and a prolonged conflict began between the two brothers, who didn't bring any real benefit for any of the parties but caused extensive damage in large parts of the region.
When Bolesław V the Chaste died on 7 December 1279, he was succeeded by his designated heir,
Leszek II the Black
Leszek II the Black (c. 1241 – 30 September 1288), was a Polish prince of the House of Piast, Duke of Sieradz since 1261, Duke of Łęczyca since 1267, Duke of Inowrocław in the years 1273-1278, Duke of Sandomierz and High Duke of Poland from ...
. The civil war in Masovia prevented Konrad II to claim the Seniorate, but he was allowed to make extensive contacts with the oppositors of the new Duke of
Kraków
Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 1596 ...
and Sandomierz.
In 1282 Konrad II organized an expedition against Leszek II which ended in a complete failure, although the Masovian troops briefly captured the districts of
Radom
Radom is a city in east-central Poland, located approximately south of the capital, Warsaw. It is situated on the Mleczna River in the Masovian Voivodeship (since 1999), having previously been the seat of a separate Radom Voivodeship (1975 ...
and Sandomierz. With a better prepared army, Konrad II made another expedition in 1285, where the Czersk army was supported by Lesser Poland rebels gathered around the
Topór family; however, Konrad II failed to take the
Wawel Castle
The Wawel Royal Castle (; ''Zamek Królewski na Wawelu'') and the Wawel Hill on which it sits constitute the most historically and culturally significant site in Poland. A fortified residency on the Vistula River in Kraków, it was established o ...
, defended by the faithful local burghers, led by Leszek II's wife
Gryfina of Halych
Gryfina, or Agrippina (c. 1248between 1305 and 1309) was a Princess of Kraków by her marriage to Leszek II the Black in 1265; she later became a nun and abbess.
Family
Gryfina was the daughter of Rostislav Mikhailovich (1225–1262), Prince of H ...
. On 3 May 1285 took place a decisive battle in
Bogucice
Bogucice (german: Bogutschütz) is a district of Katowice, in Poland. It has an area of 2.78 km2 and in 2007 had 16,538 inhabitants.
The most eminent piece of architecture in Bogucice is the neo-gothic St. Stephen the Martyr's church, whic ...
, where with the help of the Hungarians Leszek II obtained a great victory, forcing Konrad II to return to Czersk. In 1286, with the help of Lithuanian troops, he took the district of
Gostynin
Gostynin is a town in central Poland with 19,414 inhabitants (2004). It is situated in the Masovian Voivodship since 1999 and was previously in the Płock Voivodship from 1975 to 1998. It is the capital of Gostynin County.
History
Gostynin h ...
from
Władysław I the Elbow-high Władysław is a Polish given male name, cognate with Vladislav. The feminine form is Władysława, archaic forms are Włodzisław (male) and Włodzisława (female), and Wladislaw is a variation. These names may refer to:
Famous people Mononym
* ...
.
Leszek II the Black died on 30 September 1288; this event offered a new opportunity for Konrad II to ascend the throne of Kraków. This time (in a different way that in 1279) Konrad II -who was just in
Ruthenia with his ally and maternal relative Vladimir III Ivan Vasilkovich, Prince of Volhynia- reacted quickly, and with the help of Vladimir III invaded Lesser Poland; however, he had to face the pretensions of another candidates for the throne: Henryk IV Probus and his own brother Bolesław II. Despite this, Konrad II didn't give up, and in 1289 (when the balance seemed to lean in favor of Henryk IV), he concluded an agreement with his brother. The exact terms of the treaty are unknown, but is assumed that in exchange of giving his support to his youngest brother for the throne of Kraków, Konrad II obtained his acceptance to the territorial division made in 1275 and also acquired Sandomierz. At the end, this treaty never came into force, because for unknown reasons Bolesław II resigned his pretensions over the Seniorate despite his victory at the Battle of Siewierz, and Konrad II was expelled from Sandomierz by the half-brother of Leszek II, Władysław I the Elbow-high, who claimed to be his rightful heir.
The events of Lesser Poland where the last political manifestation of Konrad II. He died between 23 June and 11 October 1294
[ in the district of Czerwińsk nad Wisłą, and was buried in either the Dominican Church of ]Warka
Warka ( yi, ווארקע) is a town in east-central Poland, located on the left bank of the Pilica river ( south of Warsaw), with 11,035 inhabitants (2004). It has been situated in Grójec County, in the Masovian Voivodeship, since 1999; p ...
(now destroyed, according to the information given by the ''Rodowodzie książąt polskich'') or in the Abbey of Czerwińsk (according to the reports of Jan Długosz
Jan Długosz (; 1 December 1415 – 19 May 1480), also known in Latin as Johannes Longinus, was a Polish priest, chronicler, diplomat, soldier, and secretary to Bishop Zbigniew Oleśnicki of Kraków. He is considered Poland's first histo ...
).
Marriage and Issue
Around 1265/70, Konrad II married with Hedwig (ca. 1250/55 – aft. 1280), a daughter of Bolesław II Rogatka Boleslav or Bolesław may refer to:
In people:
* Boleslaw (given name)
In geography:
* Bolesław, Dąbrowa County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland
* Bolesław, Olkusz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland
* Bolesław, Silesian Voivodeship, ...
, Duke of Legnica. They had one daughter:
# Anna
Anna may refer to:
People Surname and given name
* Anna (name)
Mononym
* Anna the Prophetess, in the Gospel of Luke
* Anna (wife of Artabasdos) (fl. 715–773)
* Anna (daughter of Boris I) (9th–10th century)
* Anna (Anisia) (fl. 1218 to 12 ...
(1270 – aft. 13 July 1324), married betw. 1289/91 to Duke Przemysław of Racibórz
Przemysław of Racibórz ( pl, Przemysław raciborski) (between 21 October 1258 and 12 June 1268 – 7 May 1306) was a Duke of Racibórz since 1282 until his death (until 1290 with his brother as co-ruler).
He was the fourth son of Władysław, ...
.
Because he died without male offspring, all his domains passed to his brother Bolesław II, against whom he had fought all his life.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Konrad 02 of Masovia
1250 births
1294 deaths
Dukes of Masovia
Polish Roman Catholics