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The Treaty of Merseburg of 1033 was an agreement between the Salian Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II and the Piast king of Poland Mieszko II Lambert, settling the question of Polish succession which had been contested between Mieszko Lambert and his half-brothers Bezprym, Otto, and Dytryk, since the death of Bolesław I the Brave. Poland was divided into three parts with Mieszko Lambert designated as the supreme ruler. In exchange for the Emperor's support however, Mieszko was forced to renounce the title of king, which had been acquired in 1025 by his father and give up control over Lusatia and Upper Lusatia. Soon after the treaty was concluded, however, Otto died of natural causes and Mieszko prevented Dietric from assuming power in his portion of the divided Poland. Mieszko also subsequently continued to use the title of king until his death shortly after the treaty in 1034.

Background

Mieszko II and the Duchess Matilda on a 19th-century copy of a now lost medieval Miniature

The Emperor Henry II was succeeded by Conrad II, while Boleslaw I, who had crowned himself King of Poland two months before Henry's death (1025), was succeeded by Mieszko II Lambert. In 1028, Mieszko II attacked the eastern marches of Saxony.^[1] As a consequence, the see of the Bishopric of Zeitz was relocated to the more secure Naumburg, and Conrad II launched several counter-attacks.^[1] Mieszko II avoided open battle and withdrew into difficult terrain,^[1] namely forests nearly impassable for the heavy German cavalry.^[2] Conrad II was supported by Olrich (Udalrich) of Bohemia, who in the course of the 1029 campaign gained Moravia.^[2]

In 1030, Mieszko II again raided the eastern marches, but in 1031 was repulsed by Conrad II and forced to make peace.^[2] In the agreement, Mieszko II renounced his claims to the Lusatian march and Upper Lusatia.^[2]

Merseburg (1033)

Grand Prince of Rus' Yaroslav the Wise by Ivan Bilibin

After the peace of Bautzen (1031), Yaroslav I of Kiev attacked Miesko II from the east.^[2] Yaroslav I had supported Mieszko II's older half-brother Bezprym in the succession of Boleslaw I, and granted him refuge at his court when Mieszko II had assumed power.^[2] With Yaroslav I's support, Bezprym ousted Miesko II, but was murdered in 1032, most likely on account of his cruelty and brutal suppression of noble's opposition.^[2] In contrast to his half-brother, Bezprym had not taken on the title of a Polish king in order to gain support from Conrad II, and even sent the Polish royal insignia to the emperor.^[2] After Bezprym's death, Conrad's wife, Empress Gisela, as well as several German nobles interceded on Mieszko's behalf and he returned to power, and attended a Hoftag in Merseburg in 1033.^[2]

There, Mieszko II renounced claims to the Lusatian march and Upper Lusatia (Milzenerland), and renounced claims to the title of a king.^[1]^[2] Henry II divided Poland into three parts, giving Silesia to Mieszko's half brother Otto, while his other half brother, Dietric (Boguslaw), most likely received Western Pomerania.^[1]^[2] but confirmed Mieszko's superiority over these.^[1]^[3] However, in the same year Otto died of natural causes and Mieszko successfully prevented Dietric from assuming power in Pomerania, thus reuniting the core of Polish lands. He also continued to use the title of king, despite the agreement at Merseburg and Polish documents of the time referred to him as such.

However Mieszko II died soon after in 1034, and upon his death a Pagan reaction in Poland erupted (although some aspects of it were present earlier and contributed to Mieszko's difficulties in dealing with Conrad and Yaroslav). Subsequently, his wife Richeza as well as his son Casimir I fled to Germany.^[1]^[3]

Sources

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Knefelkamp (2002), p. 137
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Boshof (2008), p. 71
^ ^a ^b Boshof (2008), p. 72

Bibliography

Boshof, Egon (2008). Die Salier (in German) (5 ed.). Kohlhammer. ISBN 978-3-17-020183-5.
Knefelkamp, Ulrich (2002). Das Mittelalter. UTB M (in German). Vol. 2105 (2 ed.). UTB. ISBN 3-8252-2105-9.

[Knefelkamp137-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Knefelkamp (2002), p. 137

[Boshof71-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Boshof (2008), p. 71

[Boshof72-3] Boshof (2008), p. 72

[1]

[2]

[3]

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+{{Short description|1033 treaty between Poland and the Holy Roman Empire}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
 [[File:Konrád2.jpg|thumb|right|100px|[[Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor]]]]
-The '''Treaty of Merseburg''' of 1033 was an agreement between the [[Salian dynasty|Salian]] [[Holy Roman Emperor]] [[Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor|Conrad II]] on one side, and the [[Piast dynasty|Piast]] king of [[Piast Poland|Poland]] [[Mieszko II of Poland|Mieszko II]] which settled the question of Polish succession which had been contested between Mieszko and his half-brothers [[Bezprym]], Otto, and Dietric, since the death of [[Bolesław I Chrobry]]. Poland was divided into three parts with Mieszko designated as the supreme ruler. In exchange for the Emperor's support however, Mieszko was forced to renounce the title of king, which had been acquired in 1025 by his father and give up control over [[Lusatia]] and [[Upper Lusatia]].
+The '''Treaty of Merseburg''' of 1033 was an agreement between the [[Salian dynasty|Salian]] [[Holy Roman Emperor]] [[Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor|Conrad II]] and the [[Piast dynasty|Piast]] king of [[Piast Poland|Poland]] [[Mieszko II Lambert]], settling the question of Polish succession which had been contested between Mieszko Lambert and his half-brothers [[Bezprym]], Otto, and [[Dytryk]], since the death of [[Bolesław I the Brave]]. Poland was divided into three parts with Mieszko Lambert designated as the supreme ruler. In exchange for the Emperor's support however, Mieszko was forced to renounce the title of king, which had been acquired in 1025 by his father and give up control over [[Lusatia]] and [[Upper Lusatia]]. Soon after the treaty was concluded, however, Otto died of natural causes and Mieszko prevented Dietric from assuming power in his portion of the divided Poland. Mieszko also subsequently continued to use the title of king until his death shortly after the treaty in 1034.
 ==Background==
-[[File:Matylda wrecza mieszkowi II ksiege liturgiczna.jpg|thumb|right|100px|[[Mieszko II]] and the Duchess Matilda on a 19th century copy of a now lost medieval Miniature]]
+[[File:Matylda wrecza mieszkowi II ksiege liturgiczna.jpg|thumb|right|100px|[[Mieszko II]] and the Duchess Matilda on a 19th-century copy of a now lost medieval Miniature]]
-The Emperor Henry II was succeeded by [[Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor|Conrad II]], while Boleslaw I, who had crowned himself King of Poland two months before Henry's death (1025), was succeeded by [[Mieszko II of Poland|Mieszko II]]. In 1028, Mieszko II attacked the eastern [[march]]es of [[Duchy of Saxony|Saxony]].<ref name=Knefelkamp137>Knefelkamp (2002), p. 137</ref> As a consequence, the see of the [[Bishopric of Zeitz]] was relocated to the more secure [[Naumburg]], and Conrad II launched several counter-attacks.<ref name=Knefelkamp137/> Mieszko II avoided open battle and withdrew into difficult terrain,<ref name=Knefelkamp137/> namely forrests nearly impassable for the heavy German cavalry.<ref name=Boshof71/> Conrad II was supported by [[Oldrich, Duke of Bohemia|Olrich (Udalrich) of Bohemia]], who in the course of the 1029 campaign gained [[Moravia]].<ref name=Boshof71>Boshof (2008), p. 71</ref>
+The Emperor Henry II was succeeded by [[Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor|Conrad II]], while Boleslaw I, who had crowned himself King of Poland two months before Henry's death (1025), was succeeded by [[Mieszko II Lambert]]. In 1028, Mieszko II attacked the eastern marches of [[Duchy of Saxony|Saxony]].<ref name=Knefelkamp137>Knefelkamp (2002), p. 137</ref> As a consequence, the see of the [[Bishopric of Zeitz]] was relocated to the more secure [[Naumburg]], and Conrad II launched several counter-attacks.<ref name=Knefelkamp137/> Mieszko II avoided open battle and withdrew into difficult terrain,<ref name=Knefelkamp137/> namely forests nearly impassable for the heavy German cavalry.<ref name=Boshof71/> Conrad II was supported by [[Oldrich, Duke of Bohemia|Olrich (Udalrich) of Bohemia]], who in the course of the 1029 campaign gained [[Moravia]].<ref name=Boshof71>Boshof (2008), p. 71</ref>
-In 1030, Mieszko II again raided the eastern marches, but in 1031 was repulsed by Conrad II and forced to make peace.<ref name=Boshof71/> In the agreement, Mieszko II renounced his claims to the [[Lusatian march]] and [[Upper Lusatia]].<ref name=Boshof71/>
+In 1030, Mieszko II again raided the eastern marches, but in 1031 was repulsed by Conrad II and forced to make peace.<ref name=Boshof71/> In the agreement, Mieszko II renounced his claims to the [[March of Lusatia|Lusatian march]] and [[Upper Lusatia]].<ref name=Boshof71/>
 ==Merseburg (1033)==
 [[File:Bilibin yaroslav.jpg|thumb|left|80px|Grand Prince of Rus' [[Yaroslav the Wise]] by [[Ivan Bilibin]]]]
-After the peace of Bautzen (1031), [[Yaroslav I of Kiev]] attacked Miesko II from the east.<ref name=Boshof71/> Yaroslav I had supported Mieszko II's older half-brother [[Bezprym of Poland|Bezprym]] in the succession of Boleslaw I, and granted him refuge at his court when Mieszko II had assumed power.<ref name=Boshof71>Boshof (2008), p. 71</ref> With Yaroslav I's support, Bezprym ousted Miesko II, but was murdered in 1032.<ref name=Boshof71/> In contrast to his half-brother, Bezprym had not taken on the title of a Polish king in order to gain support from Conrad II.<ref name=Boshof71/> After Bezprym's death, Mieszko II returned to power, and attended a ''Hoftag'' in Merseburg in 1033.<ref name=Boshof71/>
+After the peace of Bautzen (1031), [[Yaroslav I of Kiev]] attacked Miesko II from the east.<ref name=Boshof71/> Yaroslav I had supported Mieszko II's older half-brother [[Bezprym of Poland|Bezprym]] in the succession of Boleslaw I, and granted him refuge at his court when Mieszko II had assumed power.<ref name=Boshof71>Boshof (2008), p. 71</ref> With Yaroslav I's support, Bezprym ousted Miesko II, but was murdered in 1032, most likely on account of his cruelty and brutal suppression of noble's opposition.<ref name=Boshof71/> In contrast to his half-brother, Bezprym had not taken on the title of a Polish king in order to gain support from Conrad II, and even sent the Polish royal insignia to the emperor.<ref name=Boshof71/> After Bezprym's death, Conrad's wife, Empress Gisela, as well as several German nobles interceded on Mieszko's behalf and he returned to power, and attended a ''[[Hoftag]]'' in Merseburg in 1033.<ref name=Boshof71/>
-There, Mieszko II renounced claims to the Lusatian march and Upper Lusatia (Milzenerland), and renounced claims to the title of a king.<ref name=Knefelkamp137/><ref name=Boshof71/> Henry II divided Poland into three parts, <ref name=Knefelkamp137/><ref name=Boshof71/> but confirmed Miezko II’s superiority over these.<ref name=Knefelkamp137/><ref name=Boshof72>Boshof (2008), p. 72</ref>
+There, Mieszko II renounced claims to the Lusatian march and Upper Lusatia (Milzenerland), and renounced claims to the title of a king.<ref name=Knefelkamp137/><ref name=Boshof71/> Henry II divided Poland into three parts, giving Silesia to Mieszko's half brother Otto, while his other half brother, Dietric (''Boguslaw''), most likely received [[Western Pomerania]].<ref name=Knefelkamp137/><ref name=Boshof71/> but confirmed Mieszko's superiority over these.<ref name=Knefelkamp137/><ref name=Boshof72>Boshof (2008), p. 72</ref> However, in the same year Otto died of natural causes and Mieszko successfully prevented Dietric from assuming power in Pomerania, thus reuniting the core of Polish lands. He also continued to use the title of king, despite the agreement at Merseburg and Polish documents of the time referred to him as such.
-Mieszko II died in 1034, subsequently, his wife [[Richeza of Lotharingia|Richeza]] as well as his son [[Casimir I of Poland|Casimir I]] fled to Germany.<ref name=Knefelkamp137/><ref name=Boshof72/>
+However Mieszko II died soon after in 1034, and upon his death a [[Pagan reaction in Poland]] erupted (although some aspects of it were present earlier and contributed to Mieszko's difficulties in dealing with Conrad and Yaroslav). Subsequently, his wife [[Richeza of Lotharingia|Richeza]] as well as his son [[Casimir I of Poland|Casimir I]] fled to Germany.<ref name=Knefelkamp137/><ref name=Boshof72/>
 ==Sources==
 ;References
-{{reflist|2}}
+{{reflist|30em}}
 ;Bibliography
-*{{cite book|title=Die Salier|first=Egon|last=Boshof|edition=5|publisher=Kohlhammer|year=2008|isbn=3170201832|language=German}}
+*{{Cite book|title=Die Salier|first=Egon|last=Boshof|edition=5|publisher=Kohlhammer|year=2008|isbn=978-3-17-020183-5|language=German}}
-*{{cite book|title=Das Mittelalter|volume=2105|series=UTB M|first=Ulrich|last=Knefelkamp|edition=2|publisher=UTB|year=2002|isbn=3825221059|language=German}}
+*{{Cite book|title=Das Mittelalter|volume=2105|series=UTB M|first=Ulrich|last=Knefelkamp|edition=2|publisher=UTB|year=2002|isbn=3-8252-2105-9|language=German}}
+{{Polish truces and peace treaties}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Treaty of Merseburg}}
-[[Category:Treaties of the Holy Roman Empire]]
-[[Category:Treaties of Poland]]
 [[Category:11th-century treaties]]
+[[Category:1033 in Europe]]
+[[Category:1030s in the Holy Roman Empire]]
-[[ca:Pau de Bautzen]]
+[[Category:Treaties of the Holy Roman Empire|Merseburg]]
-[[de:Frieden von Bautzen]]
+[[Category:Treaties of the Kingdom of Poland (1025–1385)]]
-[[dsb:Měr wót Budyšyna]]
+[[Category:Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor]]
-[[fr:Traité de Bautzen]]
-[[pl:Pokój w Budziszynie]]
-[[ru:Будишинский мир]]
-[[uk:Будишинський мир]]