Bolesław the Forgotten

Updated on Sep 21, 2024

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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

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