Miecław (10th/11th century – 1047) was a cup-bearer of king Mieszko II Lambert, who in c. 1038 had proclaimed independence of the state that he ruled, from the Duchy of Poland, beginning the

rebellion Rebellion is an uprising that resists and is organized against one's government. A rebel is a person who engages in a rebellion. A rebel group is a consciously coordinated group that seeks to gain political control over an entire state or a ...

that lasted until his death in 1047.

History

Following the death of Mieszko II Lambert, king of Poland, in 1034, and the exile of his son, Casimir I the Restorer, to

Kingdom of Hungary The Kingdom of Hungary was a monarchy in Central Europe that existed for nearly a millennium, from 1000 to 1946 and was a key part of the Habsburg monarchy from 1526-1918. The Principality of Hungary emerged as a Christian kingdom upon the Coro ...

, the state had fallen into a period of destabilization within the Duchy of Poland, that led to the start of the 1038 Peasant Uprising. Seizing the opportunity, around 1038, the cup-bearer Miecław had formed the state in Masovia, declaring its independence from Poland, and started his own royal dynasty.Ł. Piernikarczyk, ''Masław i jego państwo (1037–1047)'' Casimir I the Restorer, duke of Poland, had returned to the country from his exile in 1039. He had formed an alliance with Yaroslav the Wise, Grand Prince of Kiev, the leader of

Kievan Rus' Kievan Rus', also known as Kyivan Rus,. * was the first East Slavs, East Slavic state and later an amalgam of principalities in Eastern Europe from the late 9th to the mid-13th century.John Channon & Robert Hudson, ''Penguin Historical At ...

, via the marriage of Maria Dobroniega with Casimir. Expecting the attack from Rus', Miecław had formed an alliance with Pomeranian and Yotvingian tribes. In the spring of 1041, he had begun the campaign against Polish forces.''Kazimierz Odnowiciel''. p. 112-118. Miecław's forces had fought with the army led by Casimir and Yaroslav, in the battle of Pobiedziska. The battle ended with a decisive Polish victory and destruction of Miecław's army and led to the signing of the truce between both sides.A. Bielowski, ''Kronika śląsko-polska'', in ''Monumenta Poloniae Historica'', vol. 3. p. 622. The fighting had begun again in 1047, as Casimir I, together with Yaroslav, had organized the attack on Masovia, which led to the

battle A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force co ...

of their forces against the forces of Miecław and Pomerelia. Gallus Anonymus, '' Gesta principum Polonorum'' Nestor the Chronicler, '' Primary Chronicle'' The location of the battle remains unknown in modern times, though it was known to the 11th-century historian, Gallus Anonymus, according to whom, it took place near the river, with the bluff edge. According to him, Miecław forces had 30 divisions of

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...

, while Casimir, 3 divisions. It is probable that he did not account for the forces of Yaroslav the Wise, and that both sides, in fact, had a similar number of forces. The battle was probably initiated by Casimir I, who hoped to win before the arrival of the Pomerelian army. The battle itself was fierce, with numerous casualties on Miecław's side. The battle ended with Polish victory, following which, Miecław's state was reincorporated into Poland. According to Gallus Anonymus, Miecław had died in the battle. However, according to Wincenty Kadłubek in his '' Chronica seu originale regum et principum Poloniae'', he had escaped to

Prussia Prussia (; ; Old Prussian: ''Prūsija'') was a Germans, German state centred on the North European Plain that originated from the 1525 secularization of the Prussia (region), Prussian part of the State of the Teutonic Order. For centuries, ...

, where he was murdered.

Citations

Notes

References

Bibliography

* Ł. Piernikarczyk, ''Masław i jego państwo (1037–1047)''. * Tadeusz Łepkowski, ''Słownik historii Polski''. Warsaw. 1973, p. 363. * Kazimierz Odnowiciel, ''Śląsk'', 1979. * A. Bielowski, ''Kronika śląsko-polska'', in ''Monumenta Poloniae Historica'', vol. 3, Warsaw, 1961. * Gallus Anonymus, '' Gesta principum Polonorum'', Ossolineum, 2003, ISBN 83-04-04610-5. * Nestor the Chronicler, '' Primary Chronicle'', Ossolineum, 2005, ISBN 83-04-04750-0. {{DEFAULTSORT:Mieclaw 1047 deaths Polish courtiers Polish rebels Year of birth unknown Miecław's Rebellion Early Slavs Self-proclaimed monarchy Slavic warriors Polish politicians Polish civil servants 10th-century Polish people 11th-century Polish people Medieval Polish nobility Cup-bearers Usurpers