Casimir Ier the Restorer

|- | Reign || duke of 1039 with 1058 |- | Dynasty || Piast |- | Parents || Mieszko II Lambert
Rycheza (Ryksa) of Lorraine |- | Wife || Dobronega (Marie) of Kiev |- | Children || * Boleslas II the Generous (1039 - 1081)
* Ladislas Ier Hermann (1040 - 1102)
*Świętosława (? - 1126)
*Mieszko (1045 - 1065)
*Othon (between 1046 and 1048 - 1048) |- | Birth date || 1016 |- | Birthplace || ? |- | Date of death || November 28th 1058 |- | Place of death || ? |- | Place of burial || Cathedral of the Wawel, Cracow, Poland |- |} Casimir Ier the Restorer ( Kazimierz I Odnowiciel ), also called Renovating the or also the Pacific , from the dynasty of the Piasts, was born in 1016 and deceased the November 28th 1058. Duke of Poland, he is the son of Mieszko II Lambert and Rycheza (Ryksa) of Lorraine, the niece of Othon III.

Anarchy

The May 10th 1034, the assassination of Mieszko II Lambert marks the one vacancy beginning of the capacity and one anarchistic long period. One attends a return of paganism in Poméranie, Large-Poland and Silesia. It is hunting for the clergy, the abroads, combined of Piasts and all the defenders of a centralized capacity. Rycheza of Lorraine, the mother of Casimir, must flee the country and take refuge in the Saint Empire.

Boleslas, the oldest son of Mieszko II, would have tried to eliminate the enemies and to unify the country before being assassinated towards 1037.

Casimir Ier, the son of Mieszko II and the brother of Boleslas, tries to seize the power but it is prevented by it by Miecław, old the wine waiter of Mieszko II, which proclaimed duke of Mazovie. Casimir takes refuge in the Saint Worsens. It is complete chaos in Poland where there is no more central authority, a great pagan rebellion and a revolt antiféodale.

In 1038, the Czech of the prince Bretislav Ier of Bohemia attack Poland. They invade the Silesia, destroy Poznań and Gniezno in 1039, stealing the relics of Saint Adalbert of Prague (the owner of Poland).

The reconquest

In 1039, Casimir Ier research of the assistance in the Holy Empire and near its family fasteners. Henri III (assembled on the throne the June 4th 1039), the son of Conrad II deceased, offers its assistance to Casimir Ier and gives it to the capacity. This one succeeds in setting up a small army and reconquering most of Poland (Large-Poland and Petite Poland). It is combined with Iaroslav Wise the, the large prince of Kiev of which it will marry the sister, to protect itself from an attack on the Eastern border. Large Poland and his old cities (Poznań and Gniezno) being in ruins, Casimir Ier settles with Cracow which becomes the capital of Poland in 1040, in the place of Gniezno. Casimir Ier starts a long war of reconquest of the Mazovie and Poméranie, areas supported by the Bohemia.

In 1041, an agreement is concluded with Ratisbon by which Bohemia gives up its Polish conquests except for the Silesia.

Its subjects being revolted, it passed in France and was made Diacre in the Ordre of Cluny, in 1042; but the Poles, in prey since his departure with the internal dissensions, obtained from the pope Benoît IX that their king would go up on the throne and could marry.

In 1043, Gertruda, the sister of Casimir, marries Iziaslav, the son of prince de Kiev, in order to reinforce alliance between the Rus' and Poland, to put itself at the shelter during the reconquest of Poméranie and Mazovie.

In June 1046, to Mersebourg, Casimir Ier, Břetislav Ier of Bohemia and Ziemomysł de Poméranie are presented in front of the emperor so that it referee their different. The same year, Casimir concludes a treaty from friendship with the Hungary. He names also Aaron with the head of the évêché of Cracow. This one it second in the rebuilding of the country.

In 1047, Mazovie is taken again thanks to the assistance of the Rus' of Kiev, the reinforcements poméraniens arriving too late. Miecław is killed in the battle. Casimir Ier the Renovating one consolidates his capacity and also takes again Poméranie Eastern under his authority. In 1050, Henri III being with the catches with internal competitions and Hungarian incursions, Casimir Ier attacks the Czechs by surprised and takes again Silesia. Břetislav Ier calls upon Henri III, who threatens, but which is weakened too much by the disease to assemble a military campaign. In November 1050, Casimir Ier is presented to Goslar in front of the emperor. He promises to return Silesia and returns to Poland having obtained the favors of the emperor.

In 1054, extremely of its bonds of friendship with the emperor, Casimir Ier the Renovating cost in Silesia. Henri III, always with the catches with his internal problems and the Hungarian raids, cannot allow a war against Poland. The May 22nd 1054, Henri III decides to grant Silesia to Casimir, but this one must, in compensation, to pay an annual tribute with the Czechs.

Casimir Ier dies the November 28th 1058. His/her son, Boleslas II the Generous, that others say the Bold one, succeeds to him on the throne, his others wire becoming of the governors of province with a very broad autonomy.

See too

History of Poland
Piast

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