Mieszko II Lambert ( Polish pronunciation: [ˈmjɛʂkɔ ˈdruɡʲi ˈlambɛrt] ; c. 990 – 10/11 May 1034) was King of Poland from 1025 to 1031, and Duke from 1032 until his death.
121-571: He was the second son of Bolesław I the Brave , but the eldest born from his third wife Emnilda of Lusatia . He organized two devastating invasions of Saxony in 1028 and 1030. Then, Mieszko II ran a defensive war against Germany , Bohemia and the Kievan princes. Mieszko II was forced to escape from the country in 1031 after an attack by Yaroslav I the Wise , who installed Mieszko's older half-brother Bezprym onto
242-537: A sobriquet , was given to him as a reference to Saint Lambert . However, it is also probable that the name was chosen after Bolesław's half-brother Lambert Mieszkowic . It is thought that the choice of this name for his son was an expression of warming relations between Bolesław I and his stepmother Oda of Haldensleben . Since Mieszko II was politically active before his father's death, Bolesław appointed him as his successor. He participated mainly in German politics, both as
363-591: A "pagan reaction". The exact reasons and date are unknown. Mieszko II's only son and heir, Casimir I , was either expelled by this insurrection, or the insurrection was caused by the aristocracy's expulsion of him. Some modern historians argue that the insurrection was caused more by economic than by religious issues, such as new taxes for the Church and the militarization of the early Polish polity. Priests, monks and knights were killed; cities, churches and monasteries were burned. The chaos became still greater when, unexpectedly,
484-722: A Polish army to assist the imperial troops in invading the land of the Abodrites or Veleti in 995. During the campaign, he met the young German monarch, Otto III . Soběslav , the head of the Bohemian Slavník dynasty , also participated in the 995 campaign. Taking advantage of Soběslav's absence, Boleslav II of Bohemia invaded the Slavníks' domains and had most members of the family murdered. After learning of his kinsmen's fate, Soběslav settled in Poland. Bolesław gave shelter to him "for
605-607: A Polish church structure with a metropolitan see at Gniezno , independent from the Archbishopric of Magdeburg . Bishoprics were also established in Kraków , Wrocław , and Kołobrzeg , and Bolesław formally repudiated paying tribute to the Empire. Following Otto's death in 1002, Bolesław fought a series of wars against Otto's cousin and heir, Henry II , ending in the Peace of Bautzen (1018). In
726-589: A detachment of Moravian knights in a diversionary attack against the Eastern March of the empire. Soon after, the imperial army, having suffered a defeat near the Bóbr marshes, retreated from Poland without any permanent gains. After this event, Bolesław's forces took the initiative. Margrave Gero II of Meissen was defeated and killed during a clash with the Polish forces in late 1015. In 1015 and 1017, Bolesław I attacked
847-513: A devout Christian, Bolesław supported the missionary endeavours of Adalbert of Prague and Bruno of Querfurt . The martyrdom of Adalbert in 997 and Bolesław's successful attempt to ransom the bishop's remains, paying for their weight in gold, consolidated Poland's autonomy from the Holy Roman Empire . At the Congress of Gniezno (11 March 1000), Emperor Otto III permitted the establishment of
968-570: A foreign matron and thereby commit fornication , the act is immediately avenged through the following punishment. The guilty party is led on to the market bridge, and his scrotum is affixed to it with a nail. Then, after a sharp knife has been placed next to him, he is given the harsh choice between death or castration. Furthermore, anyone found to have eaten meat after Septuagesima is severely punished, by having his teeth knocked out. The law of God, newly introduced in these regions gains more strength from such acts of force than from any fast imposed by
1089-459: A gesture of good will after being pressured by Saxon nobles. Bolesław nonetheless refused to aid the emperor militarily in his Italian expedition. This led to imperial intervention in Poland and so in 1015 a war erupted once again. The war started out well for the emperor, as he was able to defeat the Polish forces at the Battle of Ciani. Once the imperial forces crossed the river Oder , Bolesław sent
1210-514: A hostage. Henry II probably wanted to force the presence of Bolesław I in Merseburg and make him explain his actions. The plan failed however, because, under pressure from his relatives, the Emperor soon agreed to release Mieszko II. A year later, Mieszko II stood at the head of Polish troops in the next war against the Emperor. The campaign was not favorable to Henry. His army needed over a month to reach
1331-591: A local ruler from present-day Brandenburg who was closely related to the imperial Liudolfing dynasty, or the last independent prince of the Vistulans , before their incorporation into Poland. Wiszewski dates the marriage of Bolesław and Emnilda to 988. Emnilda exerted a beneficial influence on Bolesław, reforming "her husband's unstable character", according to Thietmar of Merseburg's report. Bolesław's and Emnilda's oldest (unnamed) daughter "was an abbess" of an unidentified abbey. Their second daughter Regelinda , who
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#17328545593131452-535: A part of Polish territory, and also received military aid in his expedition against Rus' . Also, Bolesław (then a widower) strengthened his dynastic bonds with the German nobility through his marriage with Oda , daughter of Margrave Eckard I of Meissen . The wedding took place four days later, on 3 February in the castle of Cziczani (also Sciciani , at the site of either modern Groß-Seitschen or Zützen ). Bolesław organised his first expedition east, to support his son-in-law Sviatopolk I of Kiev, in 1013, but
1573-657: A period of refusal, confirmed the inviolability of the border in 1970 in the Treaty of Warsaw . In 1990 newly reunified Germany and the Republic of Poland signed a treaty recognizing the Oder–Neisse line as their border. On 11 August 2022, it was discovered that the Oder river had been contaminated and at least 135 tonnes of dead fish washed up on its shores. Water samples taken on 28 July indicated possible mesitylene contamination, although
1694-518: A representative of his father and the commander of the Polish troops. In 1013, Mieszko II went to Magdeburg , where he paid homage to Emperor Henry II . A few months later, Bolesław I paid homage in person. The real purpose of Mieszko II's visit is unclear, especially since soon afterwards, his father paid homage to the Holy Roman Empire. Presumably, the young prince paid homage to Milsko, Lusatia and Moravia. The relevant treaty stipulated that it
1815-664: Is Bolesław's epitaph, which, in part, came from the original tombstone, that is one of the first sources (dated to the period immediately after Bolesław's death, probably during the reign of Mieszko II) that gave the King his widely known nickname of "Brave" (Polish: Chrobry ). Later, Gallus Anonymus , in Chapter 6 of his Gesta principum Polonorum , named the Polish ruler as Bolezlavus qui dicebatur Gloriosus seu Chrabri . The contemporaneous Thietmar of Merseburg recorded Bolesław's marriages, also mentioning his children. Bolesław's first wife
1936-628: Is a river in Central Europe . It is Poland's second-longest river and third-longest within its borders after the Vistula and its largest tributary the Warta . The Oder rises in the Czech Republic and flows 742 kilometres (461 mi) through western Poland, later forming 187 kilometres (116 mi) of the border between Poland and Germany as part of the Oder–Neisse line . The river ultimately flows into
2057-643: Is only a narrow channel (Świna) going to the Bay of Pomerania , which forms a part of the Baltic Sea. The largest city on the Oder is Wrocław , in Lower Silesia . The Oder is navigable over a large part of its total length, as far upstream as the town of Koźle , where the river connects to the Gliwice Canal . The upstream part of the river is canalized and permits larger barges (up to CEMT Class IV ) to navigate between
2178-528: Is the second longest river overall taking into account its total length, including parts in neighbouring countries. The Oder drains a basin of 119,074 square kilometres (45,975 sq mi), 106,043 km (40,943 sq mi) of which are in Poland (89%), 7,246 km (2,798 sq mi) in the Czech Republic (6%), and 5,587 km (2,157 sq mi) in Germany (5%). Channels connect it to
2299-430: Is widely believed that Bolesław had to receive permission for his coronation from the newly-elected Pope John XIX . John was known to be corrupt, and it is likely that consent was or may have been obtained through bribes . However, Rome also hoped for a potential alliance to defend itself from Byzantine Emperor Basil II , who launched a military expedition to recover the island of Sicily and could subsequently threaten
2420-740: The Allies decided that the new eastern border of Germany would run along the Oder. After World War II, the former German areas east of the Oder and the Lusatian Neisse passed to Poland by decision of the victorious Allies at the Potsdam Conference (at the insistence of the Soviets). As a result, the so-called Oder–Neisse line formed the border between the Soviet occupation zone (from 1949 East Germany ) and Poland. The final border between Germany and Poland
2541-590: The Bohemian throne . Also in 1005, a pagan rebellion in Pomerania overturned Bolesław's rule and resulted in the destruction of the newly established local bishopric . In 1007, after learning about Bolesław's efforts to gain allies among Saxon nobles and giving refuge to the deposed duke of Bohemia, Oldřich , King Henry denounced the Peace of Poznań, which caused Bolesław's attack on the Archbishopric of Magdeburg as well as
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#17328545593132662-689: The Czechs invaded Silesia and Greater Poland from the south (1039). The land became divided among local rulers, one of whom is known by name: Miecław , ruler of Masovia. Greater Poland was so devastated that it ceased to be the core of the Polish Kingdom. The capital was moved to Kraków, in Lesser Poland. In Merseburg ca. 1013, Mieszko II married Richeza , daughter of Count Palatine Ezzo, Count Palatine of Lotharingia and Matilda of Germany, Countess Palatine of Lotharingia . They had: Boles%C5%82aw I
2783-516: The Eastern March and was defeated twice by Henry the Strong and his forces. Later that year, Bolesław's son Mieszko was sent to plunder Meissen . His attempt at conquering the city, however, failed. In 1017, Bolesław defeated Duke Henry V of Bavaria . In that same year, supported by his Slavic allies, Emperor Henry once again invaded Poland, albeit once again to very little effect. He did besiege
2904-596: The Havel , Spree , Vistula system and Kłodnica . It flows through Silesian , Opole , Lower Silesian , Lubusz , and West Pomeranian voivodeships of Poland and the states of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany. The main branch empties into the Szczecin Lagoon near Police, Poland . The Szczecin Lagoon is bordered on the north by the islands of Usedom (west) and Wolin (east). Between these two islands, there
3025-534: The Leitha and Fischa Rivers. Now that the Emperor was less concerned about an attack from the south, in the autumn of 1031, he went on the offensive against Poland and besieged Milsko. The offensive ended with a complete success, and Mieszko II was forced to surrender some lands. As a result, the Polish King lost portions of the lands taken by his father, who warred often against Emperor Henry II. Historians estimate that
3146-522: The Lutici tribe. In October 1028, the Emperor's opportunity came as the Lutici district of Pöhlde asked the Emperor to defend against the attacks of Mieszko II, promising support in the fight against the Polish ruler. Despite the treaty which secured peace between Poland and Germany, the Emperor soon armed a retaliatory expedition against Mieszko II. Conrad II's army arrived to Lusatia in the autumn of 1029 and began
3267-541: The Papal States from the south. Stanisław Zakrzewski put forward the theory that the coronation had the tacit consent of Conrad II and that the pope only confirmed that fact. That is corroborated by Conrad's confirmation of the royal title to Mieszko II, his agreement with the counts of Tusculum and the papal interactions with Conrad and Bolesław. According to Cosmas of Prague , Bolesław I died shortly after his coronation on 17 June 1025. Already in advanced age for
3388-536: The Red Strongholds , later called Red Ruthenia , lost by Bolesław's father in 981. Historians dispute the exact date of Bolesław's coronation . The year 1025 is most widely accepted by scholars, though the year 1000 is also likely. According to an epitaph , the crowning took place when Otto bestowed upon Bolesław royal regalia at the Congress of Gniezno . However, independent German sources confirmed that after Henry II's death in 1024, Bolesław took advantage of
3509-685: The Szczecin Lagoon north of Szczecin and then into three branches (the Dziwna , Świna and Peene ) that empty into the Bay of Pomerania of the Baltic Sea . The Oder is known by several names in different languages, but the modern ones are very similar: English and German: Oder ; Czech, Polish, and Lower Sorbian : Odra , Upper Sorbian : Wódra ; Kashubian : Òdra ( pronounced [ˈwɛdra] ); Medieval Latin : Od(d)era ; Renaissance Latin : Viadrus (invented in 1534). Ptolemy knew
3630-422: The interregnum in Germany and crowned himself king in 1025. It is generally assumed that the coronation took place on Easter Sunday although Tadeusz Wojciechowski believes that the coronation took place prior to that, on 24 December 1024. The basis for this assertion is that the coronations of kings were usually held during religious festivities. The exact place of the coronation is also highly debated, with
3751-456: The rank of a kingdom , thus becoming the first Polish ruler to hold the title of rex , Latin for king. The son of Mieszko I of Poland by his first wife Dobrawa of Bohemia , Bolesław ruled Lesser Poland already during the final years of Mieszko's reign. When the country became divided in 992, he banished his father's widow, Oda of Haldensleben , purged his half-brothers along with their adherents and successfully reunified Poland by 995. As
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3872-507: The traditional hair-cutting ceremony at the age of seven and a lock of his hair was sent to Rome . The latter act suggests that Mieszko wanted to place his son under the protection of the Holy See . Historian Tadeusz Manteuffel says that Bolesław needed that protection because his father had sent him to the court of Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor in token of his allegiance to the emperor. However, historian Marek Kazimierz Barański notes that
3993-480: The "Prince's Law" and sponsored the construction of churches, monasteries, military forts as well as waterway infrastructure. He also introduced the first Polish monetary unit , the grzywna , divided into 240 denarii , and minted his own coinage. Bolesław was born in 966 or 967, the first child of Mieszko I of Poland and his wife, the Bohemian princess Dobrawa , known in Czech as Doubravka. His Epitaph , which
4114-473: The 10th century, almost the entire course of the Oder River found itself within the borders of the newly formed Polish state, with the exception of the area around the source of the river, which was under Bohemian rule. Several important cities of medieval Poland developed along the Oder, including Opole which became the capital of Upper Silesia , Wrocław which became the capital of Lower Silesia and one of
4235-538: The 22-year-old emperor's "death with greater grief than Bolesław". In 1000 Bolesław issued a law prohibiting hunting beavers and created a office called "Bobrowniczy" whose task was to enforce prince's ordinances. Three candidates were competing with each other for the German crown after Otto III's death. One of them, Duke Henry IV of Bavaria , promised the Margraviate of Meissen to Bolesław in exchange for his assistance against Eckard I, Margrave of Meissen who
4356-765: The Berlin waterways again. Near its mouth the Oder reaches the city of Szczecin , a major maritime port. The river finally reaches the Baltic Sea through the Szczecin Lagoon and the river mouth at Świnoujście . Under Germania Magna , the river was known to the Romans as the Viadrus or Viadua in Classical Latin , as it was a branch of the Amber Road from the Baltic Sea to the Roman Empire . In Germanic languages, including English, it
4477-702: The Brave Bolesław I the Brave ( c. 967 – 17 June 1025), less often known as Bolesław the Great , was Duke of Poland from 992 to 1025, and the first King of Poland in 1025. He was also Duke of Bohemia between 1003 and 1004 as Boleslaus IV . A member of the Piast dynasty , Bolesław was a capable monarch and a strong mediator in Central European affairs. He continued to proselytise Western Christianity among his subjects and raised Poland to
4598-553: The Duchess presenting the Book to Mieszko II while sitting on a throne. The gift was accompanied by a letter, wherein Matilda named him a distinguished king and a model for the spread of Christianity . Also written was praise of the merits of Mieszko II in the building of new churches, as well his knowledge of Latin , very unusual in those times when Greek was more widely used. In this book are found
4719-452: The Emperor organized another expedition against the Polish king, this time by organizing a coalition against Mieszko II. Already in 1030, Yaroslav I the Wise began the offensive and conquered Red Ruthenia and some Bełz castles. In 1031, the Emperor concluded a peace with the Kingdom of Hungary . Probably in exchange for Stephen I 's support, Conrad II ceded to Hungary the territories between
4840-468: The Emperor's visit in Gniezno, Poland started to develop into a sovereign state, in contrast with Bohemia, which remained a vassal state, incorporated in the Kingdom of Germany . Thietmar of Merseburg condemned Otto III for "making a lord out of a tributary" in reference to the relationship between the Emperor and Bolesław. Gallus Anonymus emphasised that Otto III declared Bolesław "his brother and partner" in
4961-405: The German army. When the Polish army advanced to Meissen , Mieszko II unsuccessfully tried to besiege the castle of his brother-in-law, Margrave Herman I (husband of his sister Regelinda). The fighting stopped in autumn and was resumed only in 1017 after the failure of peace talks. Imperial forces bypassed the main defensive site near Krosno Odrzańskie and besieged Niemcza . At the same time, at
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5082-465: The Holy Roman Empire, also calling Bolesław "a friend and ally of the Roman people". The same chronicler mentioned that Otto III "took the imperial diadem from his own head and laid it upon the head of Bolesław in pledge of friendship" in Gniezno. Bolesław also received "one of the nails from the cross of our Lord with the lance of St. Maurice " from the Emperor. Gallus Anonymus claimed that Bolesław
5203-568: The Holy See to obtain the pope's sanction to the establishment of the new archdiocese. Unger , who had been the only prelate in Poland and was opposed to the creation of the archdiocese of Gniezno, was made bishop of Poznań , directly subordinated to the Holy See. However, Polish commoners only slowly adopted Christianity: Thietmar of Merseburg recorded that Bolesław forced his subjects with severe punishments to observe fasts and to refrain from adultery: If anyone in this land should presume to abuse
5324-558: The Hungarian territories is 1003 or 1015 and this area stayed a part of Poland until 1018. King Henry allied himself with the pagan Lutici , and broke into Lusatia in February 1004, but heavy snows forced him to withdraw. He invaded Bohemia in August 1004, taking the oldest brother of the blinded Boleslaus III of Bohemia, Jaromír , with him. The Bohemians rose up in open rebellion and murdered
5445-409: The Oder and Havel. After completion of the more straight Oder–Havel Canal in 1914, its economic relevance decreased. The earliest important undertaking to modify the river to improve navigation was initiated by Frederick the Great , who recommended diverting the river into a new and straight channel in the swampy tract known as Oderbruch near Küstrin ( Kostrzyn nad Odrą ). The work was carried out in
5566-472: The Polish garrisons in the major towns. Bolesław left Prague without resistance, and King Henry made Jaromír duke of Bohemia on 8 September. Bolesław's ally Soběslav died in this campaign. During the next part of the offensive King Henry retook Meissen and in 1005, his army advanced as far into Poland as the city of Poznań where a peace treaty was signed. According to the peace treaty Bolesław lost Lusatia and Meissen and likely gave up his claim to
5687-465: The Polish throne remained vacant. Mieszko II was still imprisoned in Bohemia and Otto probably in Germany. German sources report that the Emperor organized an expedition in order to invade Poland. It is unknown what happened after this, but certainly Mieszko II was released by Duke Oldřich and he could return to the country. After his recent opponent had regained power, the Emperor immediately reacted and began
5808-557: The Polish throne. Mieszko II took refuge in Bohemia, where he was imprisoned by the Duke Oldrich . In 1032 he regained power in one of the three districts, then united the country, making good use of the remaining power structures. At this time, several Polish territorial acquisitions of his father were lost: Upper Lusatia (also known as Milsko ), part of Lower Lusatia , Red Ruthenia , the western and central parts of Upper Hungary (now Slovakia ), and probably Moravia . Mieszko II
5929-405: The activity of the opposition centered around Dukes Ernest II of Swabia and Frederick II of Upper Lorraine . Conrad II's opponents conspired to acquire Mieszko's favor. Historical evidence of these efforts is in the prayer book sent to Mieszko by Frederick's wife, Matilda of Swabia , around 1027. The volume is entitled: officiorum Liber quem ordinem Romanum apellant . In it, a miniature showed
6050-424: The bishops During the time the Emperor spent in Poland, Bolesław also showed off his affluence. At the end of the banquets, he "ordered the waiters and the cupbearers to gather the gold and silver vessels ... from all three days' coursis, that is, the cups and goblets, the bowls and plates and the drinking-horns , and he presented them to the emperor as a toke of honor ... [h]is servants were likewise told to collect
6171-628: The bone fragments in his ancestral mausoleum in Poryck (now Pavlivka ) in the Volhynia region; the other two were given to Princess Izabela Flemming Czartoryska , who placed them in her recently founded Czartoryski Museum in Puławy . After many historical twists, the burial place of Bolesław I ultimately remained at Poznań Cathedral, in the Golden Chapel. The content of his epitaph is known to historians. It
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#17328545593136292-688: The border in July and on 23 July at the banks of the Bug River , near Wołyń , he defeated the forces of Yaroslav the Wise , Prince of Kiev , in what became known as the Battle of the River Bug . All primary sources agree that the Polish prince was victorious in battle. Yaroslav retreated north to Novgorod , opening the road to Kiev . The city, which suffered from fires caused by the Pecheneg siege, surrendered upon seeing
6413-504: The cathedrals of Gniezno or Poznań being the most probable locations. Poland was thereafter raised to the rank of a kingdom before its neighbour, Bohemia . Wipo of Burgundy in his chronicle describes the event: [In 1025] Boleslaus [of the Slavic nation], duke of the Poles, took for himself in injury to King Conrad the regal insignia and the royal name. Death swiftly killed his temerity. It
6534-514: The chronicle of Adémar de Chabannes recorded, decades after the events, that Bolesław also accompanied Emperor Otto from Magdeburg to Aachen where Otto III had Charlemagne 's tomb reopened and gave Charlemagne's golden throne to Bolesław. An illustrated Gospel, made for Otto III around 1000, depicted four women symbolising Roma, Gallia, Germania and Sclavinia as doing homage to the Emperor who sat on his throne. Historian Alexis P. Vlasto writes that "Sclavinia" referred to Poland, proving that it
6655-469: The cities of Głogów and Niemcza , but was unable to conquer them. The imperial forces once again were forced to retreat, suffering significant losses. Taking advantage of the involvement of Czech troops, Bolesław ordered his son to invade Bohemia , where Mieszko met very little resistance. On 30 January 1018, the Peace of Bautzen was signed. The Polish ruler was able to keep the contested marches of Lusatia and Sorbian Meissen not as fiefs , but as
6776-401: The city of Lubusz (Lebus). In 1013, a peace accord was signed at Merseburg . As part of the treaty, Bolesław paid homage to King Henry for the March of Lusatia (including the town of Bautzen) and Sorbian Meissen as fiefs . A marriage of Bolesław's son Mieszko with Richeza of Lotharingia , daughter of the Count Palatine Ezzo of Lotharingia and granddaughter of Emperor Otto II ,
6897-441: The claim that Bolesław was sent as a hostage to the imperial court is disputed. Bolesław's mother, Dobrawa, died in 977; his widowed father married Oda of Haldensleben who had already been a nun. Around that time, Bolesław became the ruler of Lesser Poland , through it is not exactly clear in what circumstances. Jerzy Strzelczyk says that Bolesław received Lesser Poland from his father; Tadeusz Manteuffel states that he seized
7018-465: The decisive engagements were to take place in 1018 after the Peace of Bautzen was already signed. At the request of Sviatopolk I, in what became known as the Kiev Expedition of 1018, the Polish duke sent an expedition to Kievan Rus' with an army of 2,000–5,000 Polish warriors, in addition to Thietmar 's reported 1,000 Pechenegs , 300 German knights, and 500 Hungarian mercenaries . After collecting his forces during June, Bolesław led his troops to
7139-432: The distribution was uncertain, this division was short-lived: in 1033, Otto was killed by one of his own men, and Mieszko II took his domains. Shortly afterwards, he likely had Dytryk expelled and thus was able to reunite the whole country in his hands. Mieszko II regained full power, but he still had to fight against the nobility and his own subjects. In Poland, his renunciation of the crown was disregarded, and after 1032, he
7260-417: The earliest records of the Kingdom of Poland: neumes at the margins of the sequence Ad célèbres rex celica . The gift caused the expected effect, and Mieszko II promised to take military action. The preparations for the war began in the autumn of 1027. In the middle of that year, Conrad II returned to Germany and began to fight the rebels. Soon, he defeated Duke Ernest II, depriving him of his lands. Only when
7381-465: The eastern borderlands of Bolesław's realm. However, the pagans murdered him on 23 April 997. Bolesław ransomed Adalbert's remains, paying its weight in gold, and buried it in Gniezno . He sent parts of the martyr bishop's corpse to Emperor Otto III who had been Adalbert's friend. Emperor Otto III held a synod in Rome where Adalbert was canonised on the emperor's request on 29 June 999. Before 2 December 999, Adalbert's brother, Radim Gaudentius ,
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#17328545593137502-537: The emperor bore the inscription Gnezdun Civitas, showing that he regarded Gniezno as his capital. The name of Poland was also recorded on the same coins referring to the Princes Polonie [ sic ]. The title princeps was almost exclusively used in Italy around that time, suggesting that it also represented the Emperor's idea of the renewal of the Roman Empire. However, Otto's premature death on 23 January 1002 put an end to his ambitious plans. The contemporaneous Bruno of Querfurt stated that "nobody lamented"
7623-399: The emperor when he arrived: the ranks first of the knights in all their variety, and then of the princes, lined up on a spacious plain like choirs, each separate unit set apart by the distinct and varied colors of its apparel, and no garment there was of inferior quality, but of the most precious stuff that might anywhere be found." Bolesław took advantage of the emperor's pilgrimage. After
7744-416: The existing political situation. After his father's death, Mieszko II inherited a vast territory, which in addition to Greater Poland , Lesser Poland , Silesia and Gdańsk Pomerania , also included Lusatia, Red Ruthenia and the territory of present-day Slovakia. Whether Moravia was still under his reign or was lost earlier is disputed. Once his solo reign had begun, as an important Central European ruler, he
7865-416: The final loss of the war against the Holy Roman Empire weakened the position of the King, who had to face several rebellions from the opposition, who claimed that the previous war did not produce the expected benefits. An additional problem was a dynastic crisis: Mieszko II's brothers continued their attempts to gain power with the help of foreign forces. The brother who caused the first problems to Mieszko II
7986-407: The followers of Mieszko II. At the time, power was exercised in the face of mutiny by the people, an event known as the "Pagan Reaction". Having degraded the structure of power, the Duke's authority collapsed, and he was forced to send the Polish regalia to the Emperor. After only one year of reign, Bezprym was murdered (1032), probably at the instigation of his brothers. After the death of Bezprym,
8107-433: The government of Poland. Only Gallus Anonymus mentions the then Prince on the occasion of the description of his father's trip to Rus in 1018: "due to the fact that his son (...) Mieszko wasn't considered yet capable of taking the government by himself, he established a regent among his family during his trip to Rus". This statement was probably the result of the complete ignorance of the chronicler since in 1018, Mieszko II
8228-408: The head of ten legions, Mieszko II went to Moravia and planned an allied attack together with Bohemia against the Emperor. This action forced the Emperor to give up on any plan of a frontal attack. A year later, the Peace of Bautzen (30 January 1018) was concluded, with terms extremely favorable to the Polish side. Beginning in 1028, Mieszko II successfully waged war against the Holy Roman Empire. He
8349-413: The industrial sites around the Wrocław area. Further downstream the river is free-flowing, passing the towns of Eisenhüttenstadt (where the Oder–Spree Canal connects the river to the Spree in Berlin) and Frankfurt upon the Oder . Downstream of Frankfurt the river Warta forms a navigable connection with Poznań and Bydgoszcz for smaller vessels. At Hohensaaten the Oder–Havel Canal connects with
8470-540: The king of conspiracy against him. In retaliation, he seized and burned Strehla and took the inhabitants of the town into captivity. Duke Boleslaus III of Bohemia was dethroned and the Bohemian lords made Vladivoj , who had earlier fled to Poland, duke in 1002. The Czech historian Dušan Třeštík writes that Vladivoj seized the Bohemian throne with Bolesław's assistance. After Vladivoj died in 1003, Bolesław invaded Bohemia and restored Boleslaus III who had many Bohemian noblemen murdered. The Bohemian lords who survived
8591-466: The king's opponents, including Henry of Schweinfurt to whom he sent reinforcements. King Henry defeated Henry of Schweinfurt, forcing him to flee to Bohemia in August 1003. Bolesław invaded the Margraviate of Meissen, but Margrave Gunzelin refused to surrender his capital. It is also likely that Polish forces took control of Moravia and the northern parts of the Kingdom of Hungary (present-day mostly Slovakia) in 1003 as well. The proper conquest date of
8712-509: The kingdom, Mieszko II's brothers received nothing from their father's legacy. As Bezprym was the oldest son, there were some who felt that he should have succeeded his father as king. Bezprym had, however, always been disliked by his father, as indicated by his name (the Piasts tended to give names such as Bolesław , Mieszko and later Kazimierz , Władysław and emperors' names, such as Otto , Konrad (Conrad), and Henryk (Heinrich). Bezprym
8833-481: The line of the Oder River , and once there, his troops encountered strong resistance led by Mieszko II and his father. Henry II sent a delegation to the Polish rulers, in an effort to induce them to conclude a peace settlement. Mieszko II refused, and after the Emperor's failure to defeat his troops in battle, Henry decided to begin retreating to Dziadoszyce . The Polish prince went in pursuit and inflicted heavy losses on
8954-453: The main Polish force on 14 August. The entering army, led by Bolesław, was ceremonially welcomed by the local archbishop and the family of Vladimir I of Kiev . According to popular legend Bolesław notched his sword ( Szczerbiec ) hitting the Golden Gate of Kiev. Although Sviatopolk lost the throne soon afterwards and lost his life the following year, during this campaign Poland re-annexed
9075-531: The main cities and ports of the Pomerania region and the entire southern coast of the Baltic Sea. From the 13th century on, the Oder valley was central to German Ostsiedlung , making the towns on its banks German-speaking over the following centuries. Over time, control over parts of the river was taken from Poland by other countries, including the Margraviate of Brandenburg and the Kingdom of Bohemia , and later also by Hungary , Sweden , Prussia and Germany . The Finow Canal , first built in 1605, connects
9196-521: The main cities of the entire Kingdom of Poland (Latin: sedes regni principales ), and Lubusz (now Lebus) which became the capital of the Lubusz Land , nicknamed "the key to the Kingdom of Poland" in medieval chronicles. Wrocław and Lubusz became seats of some of the oldest Catholic bishoprics of Poland, founded in 1000 ( Wrocław ) and 1125 ( Lubusz ). Located near the mouth of the river, Szczecin became one of
9317-438: The marriage without any political value. Bolesław "took a Hungarian woman" as his second wife. Most historians identify her as a daughter of the Hungarian ruler Géza , but this theory has not been universally accepted. She gave birth to a son, Bezprym , but Bolesław repudiated her. Bolesław's third wife, Emnilda , was "a daughter of the venerable lord, Dobromir ". Her father was a West Slavic or Lechitic prince, either
9438-554: The massacre "secretly sent representatives" to Bolesław, asking "him to rescue them from fear of the future", according to Thietmar of Merseburg. Bolesław invaded Bohemia and had Boleslaus III blinded. He entered Prague in March 1003 where the Bohemian lords proclaimed him duke. King Henry sent his envoys to Prague, demanding that Bolesław take an oath of loyalty and pay tribute to him, but Bolesław refused to obey. He also allied himself with
9559-603: The modern Oder as the Συήβος ( Suebos ; Latin Suevus ), a name apparently derived from the Suebi , a Germanic people. While he also refers to an outlet in the area as the Οὐιαδούα Ouiadoua (or Οὐιλδούα Ouildoua ; Latin Viadua or Vildua ), this was apparently the modern Wieprza , as it was said to be a third of the distance between the Suebos and Vistula . The name Suebos may be preserved in
9680-505: The modern name of the Świna river (German Swine ), an outlet from the Szczecin Lagoon to the Baltic. The Oder is 840 kilometres (522 miles) long: 112 km (70 miles) in the Czech Republic, 726 km (451 miles) in Poland (including 187 km (116 miles) on the border between Germany and Poland). It is the third longest river located within Poland (after the Vistula and Warta); however, it
9801-471: The other two competitors: his brother Otto and a certain Dytryk ( German : Thiedric ) —his cousin, grandson of Duke Mieszko I and his third wife, Oda von Haldensleben . Mieszko II probably received Lesser Poland and Masovia , Otto obtained Silesia, and Dytryk took Greater Poland. According to another hypothesis, Mieszko II received Greater Poland, and other neighborhoods were given to Otto and Dytryk. Although
9922-473: The preparations for the expedition against Poland. Mieszko II was not prepared for the confrontation, so he used his influence in the German court in order to resolve the conflict. On 7 July 1032, in Merseburg , a meeting took place between Conrad II and the surviving heirs of the Piast dynasty . Without alternatives, Mieszko II was forced to surrender the crown and agreed to the division of Poland between him and
10043-627: The province from his father with the local lords' support; and Henryk Łowmiański writes that his uncle, Boleslav II of Bohemia , granted the region to him. Mieszko I died on 25 May 992. The contemporaneous Thietmar of Merseburg recorded that Mieszko left "his kingdom to be divided among many claimants", but Bolesław unified the country "with fox-like cunning" and expelled his stepmother and half-brothers from Poland. Two Polish lords Odilien and Przibiwoj, who had supported Oda and her sons, were blinded on Bolesław's order. Historian Przemysław Wiszewski says that Bolesław had already taken control of
10164-570: The re-occupation of the marches of Lusatia, though he stopped short of retaking Meissen. The German counter-offensive began three years later (previously, Henry was occupied with rebellion in Flanders), in 1010, but it was of no significant consequence. In 1012, another ineffective campaign by archbishop Walthard of Magdeburg was launched, as he died during that campaign and, consequently, his forces returned home. Later that year, Bolesław once again invaded Lusatia . Bolesław's forces pillaged and burned
10285-445: The reason for the rapid capitulation of Mieszko II was the bad internal situation in the country. Bolesław left an unstable kingdom to his son, who had to defend his autonomy and position amongst neighboring rulers. Also, the cost of Mieszko II's extensive war against Emperor Conrad II caused his popularity to decline among his subjects, despite the fact that during the invasion of Saxony the King only defended their territory. Furthermore,
10406-404: The rebel fight was nearly lost did Mieszko II arrive to their aid. In 1028, Polish troops invaded Saxony and took a number of prisoners. The devastation was so great that, according to Saxon sources, "where Mieszko II's troops put their feet grass never thence grew". The Emperor accused the Polish ruler of an illegal coronation as King and declared him a usurper. This invasion involved the lands of
10527-546: The river Elbe", and also Bautzen , Strehla and Meissen . At the end of July, he participated at a meeting of the Saxon lords where Henry of Bavaria, who had meanwhile been crowned king of Germany, only confirmed Bolesław's possession of Lusatia, and granted Meissen to Margrave Eckard's brother, Gunzelin , and Strehla to Eckard's oldest son, Herman . The relationship between King Henry and Bolesław became tense after assassins tried to murder Bolesław in Merseburg, because he accused
10648-687: The rivers Albis (Elbe) , Oder, and Vistula . Centuries later, after Germanic tribes, the Bavarian Geographer (ca. 845) specified the following West Slavic peoples: Sleenzane , Dadosesani, Opolanie , Lupiglaa, and Golensizi in Silesia and Wolinians with Pyrzycans in Western Pomerania . A document of the Bishopric of Prague (1086) mentions Zlasane, Trebovyane, Poborane, and Dedositze in Silesia. In
10769-482: The sake of [Soběslav's] holy brother", Bishop Adalbert of Prague , according to the latter's hagiographies. Adalbert (known as Wojciech before his consecration) also came to Poland in 996, because Bolesław "was quite amicably disposed towards him". Adalbert's hagiographies suggest that the bishop and Bolesław closely cooperated. In early 997 Adalbert left Poland to proselytise among the Prussians, who had been invading
10890-535: The siege of Bautzen , but the German troops did not receive the promised support of the Lutici tribe and the expedition failed. Threatened by the Hungarians, the Emperor was forced to retreat. Probably in this same year, the son of Oldřich, Bretislaus I , attacked and took Moravia. In 1030, Mieszko II secured an alliance with Hungary and once again invaded Saxony . In the meanwhile, his southern ally attacked Bavaria and temporarily occupied Vienna . In response,
11011-476: The summer of 1018, in one of his expeditions, Bolesław I captured Kiev , where he installed his son-in-law Sviatopolk I as ruler. According to legend, Bolesław chipped his blade when striking Kiev's Golden Gate . In honour of this legend, the Szczerbiec ("Jagged Sword") would later become the coronation sword of Polish kings. Bolesław is widely considered one of Poland's most accomplished Piast monarchs; he
11132-580: The time, the true cause of death is unknown and remains a matter of speculation. Chronicler Jan Długosz (and followed by modern historians and archaeologists) writes that Bolesław was laid to rest at the Archcathedral Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul in Poznań. In the 14th century, Casimir III the Great reportedly ordered the construction of a new, presumably Gothic , sarcophagus to which he transferred Bolesław's remains. The medieval sarcophagus
11253-485: The toxin was not present in samples taken after 1 August. Main section: Szczecin Lagoon : east: Dziwna (German: Dievenow ) branch (between Wolin Island and mainland Poland): middle: Świna (German: Swine ) branch (between Wolin and Usedom islands): west: Peenestrom ( Peene ) (Polish: Piana ) branch (between Usedom Island and mainland Germany): [REDACTED] This article incorporates text from
11374-546: The wall-hangings and the coverlets, the carpets and tablecloths and napkins and everything that had been provided for their needs and take them to the emperor's quarters", according to Gallus Anonymus. Thietmar of Merseburg recorded that Bolesław presented Otto III with a troop of "three hundred armoured warriors". Bolesław also gave Saint Adalbert's arm to the Emperor. After the meeting, Bolesław escorted Otto III to Magdeburg in Germany where "they celebrated Palm Sunday with great festivity" on 25 March 1000. A continuator of
11495-493: The whole of Poland by 992; Pleszczyński writes that this only happened in the last months of 995. Bolesław's first coins were issued around 995. One of them bore the inscription Vencievlavus, showing that he regarded his mother's uncle Duke Wenceslaus I of Bohemia as the patron saint of Poland. Bolesław sent reinforcements to the Holy Roman Empire to fight against the Polabian Slavs in summer 992. Bolesław personally led
11616-480: The year 1014, Mieszko II was sent by his father to Bohemia as an emissary. He had to persuade Duke Oldřich to make an alliance against Emperor Henry II. The mission failed as Oldřich imprisoned Mieszko II. He was released only after the intervention of the Emperor, who, despite the planned betrayal of Bolesław I, loyally acted on behalf of his vassal. As a result, Mieszko II was sent to the Imperial court in Merseburg as
11737-487: The years 1746–53, a large tract of marshland being brought under cultivation, a considerable detour cut off and the mainstream successfully confined to a canal. In the late 19th century, three additional alterations were made to the waterway: By the Treaty of Versailles , navigation on the Oder became subject to International Commission of the Oder. Following the articles 363 and 364 of the Treaty Czechoslovakia
11858-541: Was "gloriously raised to kingship by the emperor" through these acts, but the Emperor's acts in Gniezno only symbolised that Bolesław received royal prerogatives, including the control of the Church in his realm. Radim Gaudentius was installed as the archbishop of the newly established Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gniezno . At the same time, three suffragan bishoprics, subordinated to the see of Gniezno—the dioceses of Kołobrzeg , Kraków and Wrocław —were set up. Bolesław had promised that Poland would pay Peter's Pence to
11979-511: Was 28 years old and was already fully able to exercise power by himself. King Bolesław died on 17 June 1025. Six months later, on Christmas Day , Mieszko II Lambert was crowned king of Poland by the archbishop of Gniezno , Hipolit , in the Gniezno Cathedral . Contemporary German chroniclers considered this to be an abuse of power on the part of the Archbishop, which was made necessary by
12100-499: Was a daughter of Rikdag , Margrave of Meissen . Historian Manteuffel says that the marriage was arranged in the early 980s by Mieszko I who wanted to strengthen his links with the Saxon lords and to enable his son to succeed Rikdag in Meissen. Bolesław "later sent her away", according to Thietmar's Chronicon . Historian Marek Kazimierz Barański writes that Bolesław repudiated his first wife after her father's death in 985 which left
12221-429: Was a prince of considerable influence as a great leader of the opposition against Henry II. Through marriage with his daughter, Mieszko II entered the circle of the Imperial family. Probably after the wedding, and in accordance with prevailing custom, Bolesław I the Brave gave a separate district to Mieszko II to rule: Kraków . One of his towns, Wawel (now part of the city), was chosen by the prince as his residence. In
12342-462: Was able to repel its invading army, and later even invaded Saxony . He allied Poland with Hungary , resulting in a temporary Hungarian occupation of Vienna . This war was probably prompted by family connections of Mieszko II's in Germany who opposed Emperor Conrad II . Due to the death of Thietmar of Merseburg , the principal chronicler of that period, there is little information about Mieszko II's life from 1018 until 1025, when he finally took over
12463-467: Was also performed. During the brief period of peace on the western frontier that followed, Bolesław took part in a short campaign in the east, towards the Kievan Rus' territories. In 1014, Bolesław sent his son Mieszko to Bohemia in order to form an alliance with Duke Oldrich against Henry, by then crowned emperor . Oldrich imprisoned Mieszko and turned him over to Henry, who, however, released him in
12584-401: Was an able strategist and statesman , who transformed Poland into an entity comparable to older Western monarchies and arguably raised it to the front rank of European states. Bolesław conducted successful military campaigns to the west, south and east of his realm, and conquered territories in modern-day Slovakia , Moravia , Red Ruthenia , Meissen , Lusatia , and Bohemia . He established
12705-685: Was and still is called the Oder , written in medieval Latin documents as Odera or Oddera . Most notably, it was mentioned in the Dagome iudex , which described territory of the Duchy of Poland under Duke Mieszko I in A.D. 990, as a part of Poland's western frontier, however, in most sections the border ran west of the river. Before Slavs settled along its banks, the Oder was an important trade route, and towns in Germania were documented along with many tribes living between
12826-431: Was born in 989, was given in marriage to Herman I, Margrave of Meissen in 1002 or 1003. Mieszko II Lambert who was born in 990 was Bolesław's favorite son and successor. The name of Bolesław's and Emnilda's third daughter, who was born in 995, is unknown; she married Sviatopolk I of Kiev between 1005 and 1012. Bolesław's youngest son, Otto , was born in 1000. Bolesław's fourth marriage, from 1018 until his death,
12947-435: Was consecrated "Saint Adalbert's archbishop". Otto III made a pilgrimage to Saint Adalbert's tomb in Gniezno, accompanied by Pope Sylvester II 's legate , Robert, in early 1000. Thietmar of Merseburg mentioned that it "would be impossible to believe or describe" how Bolesław received the emperor and conducted him to Gniezno. A century later, Gallus Anonymus added that "[m]arvelous and wonderful sights Bolesław set before
13068-532: Was entitled to lease in Stettin (now Szczecin) its own section in the harbor, then called Tschechoslowakische Zone im Hafen Stettin . The contract of lease between Czechoslovakia and Germany , and supervised by the United Kingdom , was signed on 16 February 1929, and would end in 2028, however, after 1945 Czechoslovakia did not regain this legal position, de facto abolished in 1938–39. At the 1943 Tehran Conference
13189-576: Was most likely Bezprym , who allegedly won the alliance of Kiev in order to take power with the support of Otto. When Mieszko II was busy defending Lusatia from the troops of Conrad II, the Kievan expedition came from the east with Yaroslav I the Wise as the leader. In 1031, Poland was invaded and then Bezprym was settled on the throne. Mieszko II and his family were forced to flee the country. Queen Richeza and her children found refuge in Germany. The King could not escape to Hungary because, during his travel, he
13310-435: Was now very important to the Holy Roman Empire. Later developments during his reign had their source in dynastic and familial issues. His older half-brother Bezprym was the son of the Hungarian princess Judith, Bolesław's second wife. Mieszko II also had a younger full-brother, Otto . According to Slavonic custom, a father was expected to divide his legacy among all his sons. However, since Bolesław I did not wish to break up
13431-422: Was only a personal tribute, not entailing any legal obligations. Another hypothesis assumes that the territories were transferred by Bolesław to him, and as a result made Mieszko II a vassal of the Empire. The position of the young prince, at both the Polish and Imperial courts, became stronger in 1013 when he married Richeza , daughter of Count Palatine Ezzo of Lotharingia and niece of Emperor Otto III . Ezzo
13552-402: Was partially damaged on 30 September 1772 during a fire, and completely destroyed in 1790 due to the collapse of the southern tower. Bolesław's remains were subsequently excavated from the rubble and moved to the cathedral's chapter house . Three bone fragments were donated to Tadeusz Czacki in 1801, at his request. Czacki, a notable Polish historian, pedagogue, and numismatist, placed one of
13673-461: Was rather a commoner's name, which implied that Bolesław did not wish Bezprym to succeed him). For that reason, Bezprym was sent to a monastery. According to some chroniclers, Mieszko II expelled his two brothers from the country. Otto took refuge in Germany and Bezprym escaped to the Kievan Rus . In 1026, King Conrad II of Germany went to Italy for his Imperial coronation. His absence increased
13794-527: Was regarded as one of the Christian realms subjected to the Holy Roman Empire in accordance with Otto III's idea of Renovatio imperii —the renewal of the Roman Empire based on a federal concept. Within that framework, Poland, along with Hungary, was upgraded to an eastern foederatus of the Holy Roman Empire, according to historian Jerzy Strzelczyk . Coins struck for Bolesław shortly after his meeting with
13915-548: Was still called king in the chronicles. Mieszko II died suddenly on either 10 or 11 May 1034, probably in Poznań . The Polish chronicles clearly stated that he died of natural causes; the information given by the chronicles of Gottfried of Viterbo that he was murdered by the sword-bearer ( Miecznik ) refers in fact to Bezprym. He was buried in the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul . After Mieszko II's death, Poland's peasants revolted in
14036-672: Was stopped by Rus' troops. King Stephen I of Hungary was not favorable to accepting him in his country. Without alternatives, Mieszko II went to Bohemia . Duke Oldřich once again imprisoned him. This time, the King could not count on Imperial support. Mieszko II was not only imprisoned but also castrated, which was to be a punishment to Bolesław I the Brave, who blinded Duke Boleslaus III the Red (Oldřich's brother) thirty years before. Mieszko II and his wife never reunited again; according to some sources, they were either officially divorced, or only separated. Bezprym probably made bloody persecutions against
14157-564: Was the most powerful contender. However, Eckard was murdered on 30 April 1002, which enabled Henry of Bavaria to defeat his last opponent, Herman II, Duke of Swabia . Fearing that Henry II would side with elements in the German Church hierarchy which were unfavorable towards Poland, and taking advantage of the chaos that followed Margrave Eckard's death and Henry of Bavaria's conflict with Henry of Schweinfurt , Bolesław invaded Lusatia and Meissen. He "seized Margrave Gero's march as far as
14278-745: Was to Oda ( c. 995–1025), daughter of Margrave Eckard I of Meissen . They had a daughter, Matilda ( c. 1018–1036), betrothed (or married) on 18 May 1035 to Otto of Schweinfurt . Predslava, a daughter of Vladimir the Great and Rogneda , whom, along with her sister Mstislava, he had taken from Kiev in 1018, was his concubine. Marriages and Issue: Oda/Hunilda?, daughter of Rikdag Unknown Hungarian woman (sometimes identified as Judith of Hungary ): Emnilda , daughter of Dobromir: Oda of Meissen Oder River The Oder ( / ˈ oʊ d ər / OH -dər , German: [ˈoːdɐ] ; Czech , Lower Sorbian and Polish : Odra ; Upper Sorbian : Wódra [ˈwʊtʁa] )
14399-496: Was to be determined at a future peace conference. A part of the German population east of these two rivers was evacuated by the Nazis during the war or fled from the approaching Red Army . After the war, the remaining 8 million Germans were expelled from these territories by the Polish and Soviet administrations. East Germany confirmed the border with Poland under Soviet pressure in the Treaty of Zgorzelec in 1950. West Germany , after
14520-509: Was very well educated for the period. He was able to read and write, and knew both Greek and Latin . He is unjustly known as Mieszko II Gnuśny (the "Lazy", "Stagnant" or "Slothful"). He received that epithet due to the unfortunate way his reign ended; but in the beginning he acted as a skillful and talented ruler. Mieszko was a son of King Bolesław the Brave . He was probably named after his paternal grandfather, Mieszko I . His second name, Lambert, sometimes erroneously considered to be
14641-416: Was written in the middle of the 11th century , emphasised that Bolesław had been born to a "faithless" father and a "true-believing" mother, suggesting that he was born before his father's baptism . Bolesław was baptised shortly after his birth. He was named after his maternal grandfather, Boleslaus I, Duke of Bohemia . Not much is known about Bolesław's childhood. His Epitaph recorded that he underwent
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