| Władysław I Herman | |
|---|---|
 Władysław's effigy on adenar coin (left) | |
| Duke of Poland | |
| Reign | 1079–1102 |
| Predecessor | Bolesław II the Generous |
| Successor | Zbigniew of Poland andBolesław III Wrymouth |
| Born | c. 1044 Poland |
| Died | 4 June 1102 (aged 58) Płock,Poland |
| Burial | |
| Spouses | Przecława (Prawdzic?) Judith of Bohemia Judith of Swabia |
| Issue more... | Zbigniew Bolesław III Wrymouth Agnes I, Abbess of Quedlinburg |
| House | Piast |
| Father | Casimir I the Restorer |
| Mother | Maria Dobroniega of Kiev |
Władysław I Herman (c. 1044 – 4 June 1102) was theduke of Poland from 1079 until his death.
Władysław was the second son of the Polish dukeCasimir the Restorer andMaria Dobroniega of Kiev.[1] As the second son, Władysław was not destined for the throne. However, due to the flight from Poland of his older brotherBolesław the Bold in 1079, he becameduke of Poland. Opinions vary on whether Władysław played an active role in the plot to depose his brother or whether he was handed the authority simply because he was the best candidate to replace Bolesław.[citation needed]
In 1080, in order to improve the relations between Poland and Bohemia, Władysław marriedJudith, the daughter of DukeVratislaus II of Bohemia, a vassal of theHoly Roman Empire. After this, Władysław's foreign policy gravitated strongly towards appeasing the Holy Roman Empire, and he accepted the overlordship ofEmperor Henry IV. While Vratislaus was declared a king in 1085 by Emperor Henry, Władysław never pursued kingship. Soon after, he was forced by the barons of Poland to recall his nephewMieszko Bolesławowic from exile in Hungary. Mieszko accepted the overlordship of his uncle and gave up his claim to Poland in exchange for becoming first in the line of succession. Władysław was forced to accept the terms of his nephew, because his eldest and only son at that time,Zbigniew, was born from a union not recognized by the church. Władysław's relations with Henry considerably improved after Judith of Bohemia died and Władysław married Henry's sisterJudith, dowager queen of Hungary, in 1089.[citation needed]
Władysław abandoned the alliance withHungary favored by his deposed brother, and joined the anti-papal camp. He also resumed payingtribute forSilesia to Bohemia. In addition,Kraków andCieszyn were ceded to Bohemia, andLubusz Land was lost to Germany, whilePrzemyśl Land in the east was lost to Halych-Ruthenia. Władysław did make attempts to regain control ofPomerania, and through numerous expeditions was temporarily (1090–1091) able to do so.[citation needed]
Although Władysław was formally duke of Poland, in reality the barons who banished his brother used this victory to strengthen their position. It is not surprising, therefore, that within a short time Władysław was forced to give up the government to hiscount palatine (Polish:wojewoda), a nobleman namedSieciech. Sieciech's administration of the realm was negatively perceived by those of the barons who were not the beneficiaries of the power shift.[citation needed]
The birth ofBolesław Wrymouth to Władysław and Judith of Bohemia changed the political situation in Poland. Władysław's nephew Mieszko was already seventeen at that time and was, by the previous agreement made after his return, the first in line to succeed. In 1089 Mieszko died under mysterious circumstances, probably poisoned on the orders of Sieciech and Judith of Swabia. Almost immediately, Zbigniew was sent to Germany and placed in theQuedlinburg Abbey. With the idea of forcing his first-born son to takeholy vows, Władysław intended to deprive him of any chance of succession.[citation needed]
In 1090 Sieciech, with help of Polish forces under his command, managed to gain control ofGdańsk Pomerania, albeit for a short time. Major towns were garrisoned by Polish troops, the rest were burned, in order to thwart any future resistance. Several months later, however, a rebellion of native elites led to the restoration of the region's independence from Poland. Sieciech's tyrannical rule reflected negatively on Władysław, causing a massive political migration out of Poland. In 1093 Silesia rebelled, and thecomes Magnus, with the assistance of the Bohemian and Polish knights, welcomed Zbigniew after he escaped from Germany; however, soon Sieciech captured the prince and imprisoned him. The increasing dissatisfaction in the country forced the release of Zbigniew in 1097. Immediately after this Władysław (after an unsuccessful retaliatory expedition against Silesia and being forced to recognize Zbigniew as the legitimate heir) appointed his sons as commanders of the army which was formed in order to recapture Gdańsk Pomerania.[citation needed]
Simultaneously a great migration of Jews from Western Europe to Poland began circa 1096, around the time of theFirst Crusade. Władysław, a tolerant ruler, attracted the Jews to his domains, and permitted them to settle throughout the entire country without restriction.[citation needed]
Soon Zbigniew and Bolesław decided to join forces and demanded that the reins of government should be handed over to them. Władysław agreed to divide the realm between the brothers, each to be granted his own province while he himself kept control ofMazovia and its capital at Płock. Władysław also retained control of the most important cities--i.e.,Wrocław,Kraków andSandomierz. Zbigniew's province encompassedGreater Poland includingGniezno,Kuyavia,Łęczyca andSieradz. Bolesław's territory includedLesser Poland,Silesia andLubusz Land. However, Sieciech, alarmed by the evident diminution of his power, began to intrigue against the brothers. Władysław decided to support him against his own sons. Defeated, and after the mediation of Martin, Archbishop of Gniezno, the Duke was forced to confiscate Sieciech's properties and exiled him in 1101.[citation needed]
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Władysław founded several churches in Poland. Most notably he was the founder of theRomanesqueWawel Cathedral of which the Silver Bells Tower still remains standing. He was also very fond of Saint Giles (Polish: Idzi) to whom he founded no less than three churches: inKraków,Inowłódz and Giebułtów. This is attributed to the fact that while his first wife was finally pregnant after six years of childless marriage, the Duke sent rich gifts to theBenedictine monastery ofSaint Gilles in southern France, begging for a healthy child. When a son was born, Wladyslaw began building churches in his honor. According to legend, he also founded achurch "on the sand" dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which was later granted to theCarmelites.[citation needed]
According toGallus Anonymus, Władysław long suffered from a debilitating ailment that affected his legs. There is also a legend which states that in 1086 Władysław was affected by a terrible pox, with abscesses that affected his nose and face. According to the legend, the Holy Virgin appeared in the duke's dream and led him to find the cure in the sandy area outside the city. Once healed Władysław founded aChurch of the HoliestVirgin Mary "on the sand" in the spot where he found the cure.
Władysław died on 4 June 1102, without resolving the issue of succession, leaving his sons to struggle for supremacy. His body was interred in thePłock Cathedral.[2][3][4][5]
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Before Władysław became duke of Poland, probably during the 1070s, he had a relationship with a woman named Przecława, whose exact origins are unknown, although some sources stated that she belonged to thePrawdzic clan.[6] Her status is also a matter of dispute among the historians: some believed that she was only Władysław's mistress and others asserted that she was his wife, but this union was performed under pagan rituals and in consequence not recognized by the Church as a valid marriage. By 1080, one year after Władysław ascended to the Polish throne, Przecława either died or was sent away; it is believed by some sources that after she was dismissed by Władysław, Przecława took the veil under the name Christina (Polish:Krystyna) and died around 1092.[7] This union produced a son,Zbigniew (b. c. 1070/73 – d. c. 1112/14), who was considered illegitimate.
In 1080, Władysław marriedJudith (c. 1056 – 1086),[1] daughter ofVratislaus II of Bohemia. They had a son,Bolesław Wrymouth (1086 – 1138).[1] In 1089 Władysław marriedJudith (1054 – 1105),[1] daughter ofEmperor Henry III and widow of KingSolomon of Hungary. Their daughters were:
Władysław I Herman Piast Dynasty Born: c. 1044 Died: 4 June 1102 | ||
| Preceded by | Duke of Poland 1079–1102 | Succeeded by |
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