Kingdom of Poland (1025–1385)

The Kingdom of Poland (Polish: Królestwo Polskie [kruˈlɛstfɔ ˈpɔlskʲɛ]; Latin: Regnum Poloniae) was the Polish state from the coronation of the first King Bolesław I the Brave in 1025[2] to the union with Lithuania and the rule of the Jagiellon dynasty in 1385.[3]

Kingdom of Poland Królestwo Polskie (pl) Regnum Poloniae (la)
1025–1385
Royal Banner Coat of arms
Anthem: "Bogurodzica" "Mother of God" "Gaude Mater Polonia"[1][note 1] "Rejoice, oh Mother Poland"
Widest span of the Kingdom of Poland before the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, during the years of expansion in 1002–1005.
Capital	Gniezno, Poznań, Płock, Kraków
Common languages	Old Polish, Latin
Religion	Roman Catholic (official) Slavic paganism (widely practiced)
Government	Monarchy
Monarch
• 1025	Bolesław I the Brave first
• 1384–1385	Jadwiga last
History
• Coronation of Bolesław I the Brave	1025
• Union of Krewo	1385
ISO 3166 code	PL
Preceded by Succeeded by Duchy of Poland (966–1025) Civitas Schinesghe Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)

History

Early Kingdom

Coronation of the First King, Jan Matejko; depicts the coronation of Boleslaus I the Brave

The basis for the development of a Polish state was laid by the Piast dynasty, which had been preeminent since the 10th century. The conversion of Duke Mieszko I to Christianity paved the way for Poland to become a member of the family of Christian kingdoms. In 1000, during the Congress of Gniezno, Poland was recognized as a state by the Holy Roman Empire and the Pope. In 1025, Duke Boleslaus I the Brave was crowned King of Poland, marking the starting date for a Polish Kingdom, though for long years the Poles were ruled not by Kings but by Dukes.

The King ruled the country in his own responsibility but was expected to respect traditional customs of the people. The succession to the rule was not legally restricted by primogeniture. All sons of the King or Duke had the same rights of inheritance, and the one that in some way proved the strongest succeeded to the throne.

Period of fragmentation

Duke Bolesław III the Wrymouth, who reigned from 1102 to 1138, tried to end the repeated struggles between various claimants by setting the government of Poland on a more formal footing. In his testament, he divided his lands into five Duchies and distributed them among his sons.

To ensure unity, he established the senioral principle, which stated that the eldest member of the dynasty should be High Duke and have supreme power over the other Dukes. The High Duke ruled, in addition to the Duchy he inherited, over the indivisible senioral part, a vast strip of land running north-south down the middle of Poland, with Kraków as the chief city. The High Duke's prerogatives also included control over Pomerania, a fief of the Holy Roman Empire.

Church in Poland, 12th–13th century.

While the senorial part always fell to that member of the Dynasty that happened to be senior, the other four Duchies were inherited in the usual way among the descendants of Boleslaw's sons. These provisions were soon broken, however, with the various Dukes trying to gain the position of High Duke for themselves, regardless of actual seniority. The provisions, meant to ensure unity fragmented the country even further and resulted in a decline of monarchical power. Poland even came under the influence of the Přemyslid kings of Bohemia, whose dynasty died out before they could gain a stable foothold in Poland.

The accession of the Piast Duke Władysław I the Elbow-high ended the power struggle amongst the Polish nobility. He united the various principalities of the Kingdom of Poland, and in 1320 he was crowned King. His son Casimir III the Great greatly strengthened the Polish state in both foreign and domestic affairs.

Dynastic change and union with Lithuania

Equestrian heraldic of king Władysław III of Poland in the "Equestrian armorial of the Golden Fleece" 1433–1435. Collection Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal.

Casimir was the last male member of the Piast dynasty and was succeeded by his nephew, Louis I of Hungary of the Angevin dynasty. The upsurge of the monarchy continued under Louis, during the union of Hungary and Poland.

Since Louis had no son either, his daughter Jadwiga became the heir of the Polish monarchy. Under the terms of the Union of Krewo, she married Jogaila, Grand Duke of Lithuania, who converted to Christianity. This marriage created not only a dynastic union between Poland and Lithuania but also bound the two countries together for the next four centuries.

Economy

The economy of medieval Poland was dominated by feudal agriculture.

Military

Culture

The culture of medieval Poland was closely linked to the Catholic Church and its involvement in the country's affairs, especially during the first centuries of the Polish state's history. Many of the oldest Polish customs and artifacts date from the Middle Ages, which in Poland lasted from the late 10th to late 15th century, and were followed by the Polish Renaissance.

Geography and administrative divisions

See also

• List of Polish monarchs

Notes

1. Gaude Mater Polonia was the second national anthem; although, Bogurodzica was still the main national anthem. Gaude Mater Polonia was created in either the 13th or 14th century.

References

1. "Gaude Mater Polonia Creation and History". Retrieved November 14, 2017.
2. McKitterick, Rosamond (1995). The New Cambridge Medieval History. Cambridge University Press. p. 244. ISBN 9780521414104.
3. DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Poland. Dorling Kindersley Limited. 2010-05-03. p. 40. ISBN 9781405356121.