Tripti Joshi (Editor)

Bolesław the Forgotten

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Name
  
Boleslaw Forgotten

Role
  
Mieszko II Lambert\'s son

Parents
  
Mieszko II Lambert, Richeza of Lotharingia

Grandparents
  
Boleslaw I the Brave, Emnilda

Uncles
  
Bezprym, Otto Boleslawowic

Great-grandparents
  
Mieszko I of Poland, Doubravka of Bohemia

Similar People
  
Mieszko II Lambert, Bezprym, Casimir I the Restorer, Boleslaw I the Brave

Bolesław the Forgotten (Polish: Bolesław Zapomniany) or the Cruel (Bolesław Okrutny; before 1016 – 1038/39) was a semi-legendary Duke of Poland of the Piast dynasty from 1034 until his death in 1038 or 1039. He was allegedly the first-born son of Mieszko II Lambert.

In Polish historiography

In older times Bolesław was widely described as historical monarch of Poland. Many Polish historians were sure about his existence: Tadeusz Wojciechowski, Oswald Balzer, Roman Grodecki, Feliks Koneczny, Stanisław Zakrzewski, and Zygmunt Wojciechowski. They had the following arguments:

  • Casimir I the Restorer was sent to monastery in Germany. Usually only the younger sons were sent to the monasteries, implying that Casimir had an older brother.
  • Name Casimir had not been used earlier in the Piast dynasty. It would be natural to name the eldest son as Bolesław, to honor Mieszko's father - Bolesław I Chrobry.
  • In the period 1034–1039 Casimir was living in Germany. It would have been impossible to leave the Polish state alone, without a monarch for such a long time.

    • Some say that Gallus Anonymus failed to describe Bolesław because of the ruler's part in the pagan reaction in Poland.

    References

    Bolesław the Forgotten Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA