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101-544: The region became part of the emerging Polish state under duke Mieszko I of Poland (960–992). Upon the death of his descendant Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth in 1138, it was allocated to the newly established Duchy of Masovia , a provincial duchy of Poland. In his Prussian Crusade , Duke Konrad I of Masovia in 1228 established the Order of Dobrzyń of German knights ( fratribus militiae Christi in Prussia ), whom he vested with

202-653: A Slavic land, which "together they wholly devastated (...) with fire and tremendous depopulation". It is not clear which Slavic territory was invaded. Perhaps another raid against the Polabians took place. However, there are indications that it was an expedition against the Czechs, Mieszko's first against his southern neighbors. Possibly on this occasion the Duke of the Polans accomplished the most significant expansion of his state,

303-493: A document called Dagome iudex , where the Polish ruler placed his lands under the protection of the pope and described their borders. Only a later imprecise summary of the document has been preserved. There are two main theories concerning reasons behind the issuing of Dagome iudex : Dagome iudex is of capital importance for Polish history because it gives a general description of the Polish state's geographical location at

404-506: A hostage. Mieszko's conflict with Odo I was a surprising event because, according to Thietmar, Mieszko respected the Margrave highly. Thietmar wrote that "Mieszko would never wear his outdoor garment in a house where Odo was present, or remain seated after Odo had gotten up." It is believed that in practical terms the victory at Cedynia sealed Western Pomerania 's fate as Mieszko's dependency. According to archaeological research, during

505-659: A radical expansion of the fortifications at Gniezno and Ostrów Lednicki , which may be associated with the Polish-German war, or the expectation of such. The duration of the expedition suggests that it may have reached as far east as the vicinity of Poznań . The Polish-German agreement was concluded in the spring or possibly summer of 980, because in November of that year Otto II left his country and went to Italy . It appears that during this time Mieszko I married Oda , daughter of Dietrich of Haldensleben , Margrave of

606-530: A result of the fragmentation of Poland after the death of Polish monarch Bolesław III Wrymouth , in 1138 the Duchy of Mazovia was established, and during the 12th and 13th centuries it joined temporarily various adjacent lands and endured invasions of Prussians , Yotvingians , and Ruthenians . To protect its northern section Conrad I of Mazovia called in the Teutonic Knights in 1226 and granted them

707-465: A result, in 965 Mieszko married his daughter Dobrawa (also named Dobrava , Doubravka or Dąbrówka ). This political Polish-Bohemian alliance is likely to have been initiated by the Polish ruler. It is probable that the marriage was officially arranged in February 965. The next step was the baptism of Mieszko. There are different hypotheses concerning this event. Most often it is assumed that it

808-489: A similar level of economic and general development, they were socially connected primarily by tribal structures. It appears that the elders cooperating with the Duke first felt the need for super-tribal unity, as expansion allowed them to broaden their influence. Mieszko and his people were described around 966 by Abraham ben Jacob , a Sephardi Jewish traveller, who at that time visited the Prague court of Duke Boleslaus I

909-433: A talented military leader and a charismatic ruler. Through both alliances and military force, he extended ongoing Polish conquests and early in his reign subjugated Kuyavia and likely Gdańsk Pomerania and Masovia . For most of his reign, Mieszko I was involved in warfare for the control of Western Pomerania and annexed it to the vicinity of the lower Oder River . His internal reforms were aimed at expanding and improving

1010-552: Is Pałac Kultury i Nauki . Masovia also boasts 11 Historic Monuments of Poland : Historical monuments elsewhere include the manor house in Żelazowa Wola where composer Frédéric Chopin was born and his museum is located nowadays. Płock, once the seat of the Mazovian princes, and Łowicz , the residence of the archbishops of Gniezno , are noted for their cathedrals . There are also palaces and parks in Nieborów and Arkadia,

1111-460: Is Płock , where large petrochemical plants PKN Orlen operate. The rest of Mazovia belongs to the poorest parts of Poland. In agriculture the most typical Mazovian crops are potatoes and rye , but the most popular (as in the whole of Poland) is wheat. Others are barley , sugar beets , fruits (with their biggest Polish basin in the south of the region), and vegetables. Pigs are commonly bred, often also cows and chickens. Kampinos National Park

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1212-574: Is Skępe ; another is Obory . Ecclesiastically, it is divided between the dioceses of Włocławek and Płock. After 1793, it has been part of administrative units with the capital in Płock and Warsaw; since 1938 it belonged to Toruń and Włocławek. Dialectologically , it is usually adjoined to Chełmno Land . Therefore, it is considered as the transitory subregion between three neighbouring regions of Kuyavia , Mazovia and Chełmno Land, with which it had close historical ties at various times. In Szafarnia , there

1313-585: Is Thietmar's claim that Mieszko "subordinated himself to the King". Most historians believe that it was only a matter of recognition of Otto's royal authority. Some suggest that a fealty relationship could have been involved. Whether or not the German-Polish invasion of Bohemia actually happened, the friendly relations between the Czechs and the Poles came to an end. Bohemia resumed its earlier alliance with

1414-479: Is a historic manor house, place of stay of Fryderyk Chopin during his 1824 and 1825 summer vacations, which now hosts a museum dedicated to the composer. There are ruins of medieval castles in Złotoria and Bobrowniki . Mieszko I of Poland Mieszko I ( Polish pronunciation: [ˈmjɛʂkɔ ˈpjɛrfʂɨ] ; c.  930 – 25 May 992) was Duke of Poland from 960 until his death in 992 and

1515-579: Is no specific regional cuisine of Mazovia. Formerly, dairy foods dominated the peasant cuisine. Nobles used poultry, geese, chickens and ducks. The most separate Mazovian culinary regions are Kurpie and Łowicz , where traditional dishes survive to the present day. In Kurpie, traditional dishes are prepared with ingredients collected in the forest: berries, honey and mushrooms. There are several traditional Polish dishes like flaki (tripes), kluski (noodles and dumplings), which are prepared in different way than in other parts of Poland. Mazovian Voivodeship

1616-768: Is one of Poland's largest national parks and is popular with tourists making day trips from Warsaw to hike among the park's primeval forests, sand dunes, and marshland. The main cultural centre of the region, and, alongside Kraków , in all of Poland, is Warsaw, which is home to dozens of theatres, the National Philharmonic, the National Opera House, the National Library, the National Museum, Centrum Nauki Kopernik , Muzeum Powstania Warszawskiego , Temple of Divine Providence , and

1717-670: Is ranked decidedly first in Poland according to the Gross Domestic Product . This is thanks to Warsaw, which is a financial centre of East-Central Europe . The majority of state enterprises are headquartered in this metropolis . It is a hub for both rail and vehicular traffic, with access throughout Poland and across Europe. Warsaw Chopin Airport is the nation's busiest. There are many branches of industry and services well developed in this city. The other economical center

1818-580: Is suspected that the Emperor did not succeed. Due to bad weather, the Emperor was back at the border of Thuringia and Saxony in December of that year. It is uncertain whether the invasion actually took place. The chronicle only stated that it was an expedition "against the Slavs". Archaeological discoveries appear to support the thesis of Otto's invasion. In the last quarter of the 10th century there had been

1919-521: The Dagome iudex document, though its origin is uncertain. Historians speculate that it was derived from Mieszko's adopted Christian name Dagobert or an abbreviation of the two names – "Dago" for Dagobert and "me" for Mieszko. Mieszko I took over the rule after his father's death c.  950 –960, probably closer to the latter date. Due to the lack of sources it is not possible to determine exactly which lands he inherited. Certainly among them were

2020-540: The Chełmno Land as a fief. After the reunification of the Polish state by Władysław I in the early 14th century, Mazovia became its fief in 1351. In the second half of 15th century western Mazovia and in 1526/1529 the main part (with its capital in Warsaw) was incorporated into the Polish state. In the 15th century the eastern part of the region ( Łomża ) was settled, mainly by the yeomanry ( drobna szlachta ). Mazovia

2121-628: The Czech language and had to come from Dobrawa's entourage and the church elements that arrived with her. Perhaps with her also came the first Polish bishop, Jordan . It could be that the reason for the Czech preference of Mieszko was the existence in Bohemia of a mission which followed the precepts of the Byzantine Greek brothers and later saints Cyril and Methodius , who developed and performed

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2222-659: The Far North . Numerous sites were looted . The Palmiry massacres carried out by Nazi Germany in the village of Palmiry near Warsaw, were one of the largest massacres of Poles committed during the Intelligenzaktion and AB-Aktion , whereas many Poles from north-eastern Mazovia were among the victims of the Soviet-perpetrated Katyn massacre . Despite such circumstances, the Polish resistance

2323-873: The Greater Poland Province of the Polish Crown and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth . Nevertheless, it has been still in the Mazovian Diocese of Płock (and not in the Greater Polish Diocese of Włocławek ). Dobrzyń Land was annexed by Prussia during the Second Partition in 1793, and included within the newly formed province of South Prussia . It was administered with New East Prussia from 1795 onwards, until in 1807 it became part of

2424-621: The Masurians , who since the Late Middle Ages settled in neighboring southern Prussia , a region later called Masuria , where they converted to Protestantism in the Reformation era, thus leaving Catholicism , to which their relatives from Mazovia still adhered. The borders of contemporary Mazovian Voivodeship (province), which was created in 1999, do not exactly reflect the original size of Mazovia, as they do not include

2525-653: The Middle Ages until the partitions of Poland and consisted of three voivodeships with the capitals in Warsaw , Płock and Rawa . The main city of the region was Płock , which was even capital of Poland from 1079 to 1138; however, in Early Modern Times Płock lost its importance to Warsaw, which became the capital of Poland. From 1138, Mazovia was governed by a separate branch of the Piast dynasty and when

2626-1043: The Modlin Fortress , castles in Czersk , Pułtusk , Ciechanów , Opinogóra , Rawa Mazowiecka , Sochaczew and Liw , as well as churches in Niepokalanów , Góra Kalwaria , Warka , Skierniewice , Czerwińsk , Wyszogród , Zakroczym , Szreńsk , Przasnysz , Ostrołęka , Łomża , Szczuczyn , Wizna , Brok , Zuzela , Rostkowo , and Boguszyce . Interesting folklore is found in the subregion of Kurpie ; another skansen has been established in Sierpc . Successful sports teams in Masovia include association football teams Legia Warsaw , Polonia Warsaw and Wisła Płock , basketball teams Polonia Warsaw , Legia Warsaw and Znicz Pruszków , and handball teams Wisła Płock and KS Warszawianka . The following table lists

2727-475: The Northern March , after abducting her from the monastery of Kalbe . Chronicler Thietmar described the event as follows: Although Thietmar made no mention of warfare that possibly took place on this occasion, the information on the return of the accord, acting for the good of the country and release of prisoners indicate that a conflict actually did occur. The marriage with Oda considerably affected

2828-673: The Rurik Dynasty "went towards the Lachy and took their towns: Przemyśl, Czerwień and other strongholds (...)". The exact interpretation of this passage is uncertain, because the Ruthenian word "Lachy" meant both the Poles in general and the southeastern Lendians. Mieszko's conquest of Sandomierz could also have taken place later, together with the takeover of the Vistulans (western and central Lesser Poland ). However, Widukind in

2929-694: The Sanctuary of Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko . Warsaw has many magnificent historic buildings and monuments, including those in the Old Town and the New Town, both of which were almost completely demolished during World War II but were meticulously restored and were designated UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1980. Several important edifices has been built at the adjacent street Krakowskie Przedmieście . There are also royal palaces and gardens of Łazienki and Wilanów . The most interesting building from post-war period

3030-468: The metropolis of Warsaw ). Inhabited by the various Lechitic West Slavic tribes, Vistula Veneti and with other people who had settled here such as the Wielbark people. The historical region of Mazovia ( Mazowsze ) in the beginning encompassed only the territories on the right bank of Vistula near Płock and had strong connections with Greater Poland (through Włocławek and Kruszwica ). In

3131-542: The (presumably) negative verdict of the Quedlinburg summit, but, more importantly, he may have wanted more favorable terms for his cooperation with Germany. The participation of Mieszko in the conspiracy against Otto II was documented in only one source, the chronicles of the monastery in Altaich in its entry for the year 974. The Duke of Bavaria was defeated, and Emperor Otto II regained full power. Shortly afterwards,

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3232-520: The 10th century mentions Mieszko ruled over the Sclavi tribe of Licicaviki , which is identified with the Lendians. Some historians suggest that the regions of Sandomierz, Lublin and Czerwień (western Red Ruthenia ) were indeed annexed by Mieszko's state in the 970s, as lands valuable for trade reasons and as a starting point for a future attack against what was to become Lesser Poland, then in

3333-756: The 970s the Sandomierz region and the Przemyśl area inhabited by the Lendians became incorporated into the Polish state. None of it is certain for the lack of written sources. It is possible that especially the Przemyśl area, also inhabited the White Croats , belonged at that time to Bohemia, which supposedly extended up to the Bug River and Styr River . The Primary Chronicle states that in 981 Vladimir of

3434-632: The Brave , a country with greatly expanded territories and a well-established position in Europe. Mieszko I also enigmatically appeared as "Dagome" in a papal document dating to about 1085, called Dagome iudex , which mentions a gift or dedication of Mieszko's land to the Pope almost a hundred years earlier. The term possibly refers to Mieszko's adopted Christian name, Dagobert , which often features in historical writing. Most sources also identify Mieszko I as

3535-626: The Cruel . Abraham presented Mieszko I as one of the four Slavic "kings", reigning over a vast "northern" area, with a highly regarded and substantial military force at his disposal. More precise contemporary records regarding Mieszko were compiled by Widukind of Corvey , and, half a century later, by Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg . By the time Mieszko I took over from his father, the Polans ' tribal federation of Greater Poland had for some time been actively expanding. Continuing this process, perhaps in

3636-549: The Czech prince Boleslaus the Cruel was strengthened by his marriage in 965 to the Přemyslid princess Dobrawa , who is said to have brought the Christian faith. Mieszko's baptism in 966 placed him and his country in the cultural sphere of Western Christianity ; he is sometimes called the " Clovis of Poland" for his role in laying the foundations for a Christian Poland. On his death, he left to his son and successor, Bolesław I

3737-615: The Danish King Harald Bluetooth and his son Sweyn . They may have acted in cooperation with the Wolinian autonomous entity. The Danish were defeated c. 991 and their ruler was expelled. The dynastic alliance with Sweden had probably affected the equipment and composition of Mieszko's troops. Perhaps at that time the Varangian warriors were recruited; their presence is indicated by archaeological excavations in

3838-525: The Diet of Quedlinburg ] also, among many other princes: Mieszko, Mściwoj and Boleslaus and promised to support him under oath as the king and ruler". In 984 the Czechs took over Meissen , but in the same year Henry II gave up his pretension to the German throne. The role played by Mieszko I in the subsequent struggles is unclear because the contemporary sources are scarce and not in agreement. Probably in 985

3939-533: The Dobrzyń estates. Soon after however, this order was absorbed by the Teutonic Knights , who had established the Order's State in the adjacent Chełmno Land . During the whole second half of 13th century it belonged to Kuyavian Piasts , the new branch of Mazovian dynasty. Finally, along with their other states, it became a part of reunited Kingdom of Poland . During the Polish–Teutonic War of 1326–1332,

4040-652: The Emperor (for the lands) up the Warta river." There are different hypotheses concerning the reasons for this invasion. Possibly Margrave Odo wanted to stop the growing power of the Polish state. Very likely Odo wanted to protect the Wolinian state, which he considered his zone of influence, from the Polish take-over. Possibly the Wolinians themselves called the Margrave and asked his help. In any event, Odo's forces moved in and on 24 June 972 twice engaged Mieszko's army at

4141-587: The German Church is incorrect , because Bohemia would not have its own church organization until 973. At the time of the baptism of Mieszko the existing Bohemian church establishment was a part of the Regensburg diocese. Thus, if the Polish ruler accepted the baptism through Prague's mediation, it had to be sanctioned in Regensburg. However, the religious vocabulary (words like baptism, sermon, prayer, church, apostle, bishop or confirmation) were adopted from

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4242-541: The German Church. The thesis that proposes the introduction of Catholicism as a result of this war finds no confirmation in German sources. The homage is then a separate issue, since, according to the chronicle of Thietmar, Mieszko actually paid tribute to the Emperor from the lands usque in Vurta fluvium (up to the Warta River). In all probability Mieszko decided to pay tribute in order to avoid an invasion similar to

4343-570: The German occupation ended and the region was restored to Poland. The region has numerous lakes and descendants of yeomanry ( drobna szlachta , similar as Mazovia ), thus there are multiple palaces and historic manor houses in the region. There are eight towns in the region: Bobrowniki , Golub-Dobrzyń , Górzno , Kikół , Lipno , Skępe , Rypin and the historic capital Dobrzyń nad Wisłą . Cities of Toruń and Włocławek , as well as towns of Ciechocinek and Sierpc , lie just besides its border. Its oldest officially crowned sanctuary of Our Lady

4444-476: The Germans handed over north-eastern Mazovia with Łomża and Zambrów to the Soviet Union in accordance with the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact . Under German occupation , the population was subjected to mass arrests, executions, expulsions and deportations to forced labour , concentration camps and Nazi ghettos , whereas under Soviet occupation the population was subjected to mass arrests, executions, deportation to forced labour in Siberia , Central Asia and

4545-577: The Holocaust . In the winter of 1942–1943, the Germans buried some 300 kidnapped Polish children from another region of occupied Poland in the Łąck forests, after the children froze to death in a freight train . Since 1943, the Sicherheitspolizei also carried out deportations of Poles including teenage boys from Płock and Łomża to the Stutthof concentration camp . Germany operated several prisoner-of-war camps , including Oflag 73, Stalag 319, Stalag 324, Stalag 333 and Stalag 368 with several subcamps, for Polish, Italian , Soviet and Romanian POWs in

4646-449: The Imperial Diet in Quedlinburg in 973 to explain and justify their conduct. The exact judgment of the Emperor is unknown, but it is certain that the sentence was not carried out because he died a few weeks after the Diet. It is commonly assumed that the sentence was unfavorable to the Polish ruler. The Annals of Altaich indicates that Mieszko was not present in Quedlinburg during the gathering; instead, he had to send his son Bolesław as

4747-420: The Lutici, which, in 990, resulted in a war with Mieszko, who was supported by Empress Theophanu . Duke Boleslaus II was probably the first one to attack. As a result of the conflict Silesia was taken over by Poland. However, the annexation of Silesia possibly took place around 985, because during this year the major Piast strongholds in Wrocław , Opole and Głogów were already being built. The issue of

4848-477: The Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw according to the Treaties of Tilsit . In 1815 however, following the duchy's dissolution, it was attached to so-called Congress Poland under the Russian Empire . After World War I , in 1918, Dobrzyń Land passed to the re-established independent Second Polish Republic . In 1920, Poland repulsed a Soviet invasion of the region. Following the joint German-Soviet invasion of Poland , which started World War II in September 1939, it

4949-418: The Polabian Lusatian and Słupian tribes, and as a result came into direct contact with the Polish state. At the same time (about 960) Mieszko I began his expansion against the Velunzani and Lutici tribes. The war was recorded by the traveller Abraham ben Jacob . According to him, Mieszko I had fought against the Weltaba tribe, commonly identified with the Veleti. Wichmann the Younger , a Saxon nobleman who

5050-451: The Polabians. One year later, the Polish ruler had a personal meeting with the Emperor, an event mentioned in the Annals of Hersfeld , which reported that "Otto the boy-king ravaged Bohemia, but received Mieszko who arrived with gifts". According to Thietmar and other contemporary chronicles the gift given by Mieszko to the Emperor was a camel. The meeting cemented the Polish-German alliance, with Mieszko joining Otto's expedition against

5151-458: The Polish duke sought salvation in baptism, as soon as they regained their strength, they repudiated the Christian faith and started the war against Christian anew". In 972 Poland was attacked by Odo I, Margrave of the Saxon Ostmark . According to the chronicles of Thietmar, Odo acted unilaterally, without the Emperor's consent: "Meanwhile, the noble Margrave Hodo, having collected his army attacked Mieszko, who has been faithfully paying tribute to

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5252-451: The Polish ruler ended his support for the Bavarian duke and moved to the side of the Emperor. It is believed that Mieszko's motivation was the threat posed to his interests by the Polabian Slavs uprising. The upheaval was a problem for both Poland and Germany, but not for Bohemia. In the Chronicle of Hildesheim , in the entry for the year 985 it is noted that Mieszko came to help the Saxons in their fight against some Slavic forces, presumably

5353-426: The Pope. Still other motives were responsible according to Gallus Anonymus , who claimed that it was Dobrawa who convinced her husband to change his religion. Likewise chronicler Thietmar attributes Mieszko's conversion to Dobrawa's influence. There are no reasons to negate Dobrawa's role in Mieszko's acceptance of Roman Catholicism; however, crediting rulers' wives with positive influence over their husbands' actions

5454-399: The Younger. Other sources make no mention of such conquest and of putting the Polans state on the same footing with the Polabian Slavs. On the other hand, the supporters of the Gero's invasion theory believe that the Margrave did actually carry out a successful invasion, as a result of which Mieszko I was forced to pay tribute to the Emperor and also was compelled to adopt Catholicism through

5555-424: The areas inhabited by the Polans and Goplans , as well as the Sieradz - Łęczyca lands and Kuyavia . It is possible that this state included also Masovia and Gdańsk Pomerania . Soon the new ruler faced the task of integrating the relatively large, ethnically and culturally heterogeneous territory. Although the residents of areas controlled by Mieszko spoke mostly one language, had similar beliefs and reached

5656-403: The baptism" in Poland. The above information, as well as the fact that Bolesław lost Western Pomerania, suggest that the region was not truly incorporated into the Polish state, but only became a fief . This conjecture seems to be confirmed in the introduction of the first volume of the chronicles of Gallus Anonymus concerning the Pomeranians: "Although often the leaders of the forces defeated by

5757-447: The basis of the chronicle of Cosmas of Prague , believe that the conquest of the lands around the lower Vistula River took place after Mieszko's death, specifically in 999. There is also a theory according to which during this transition period Lesser Poland was governed by Bolesław, whose authority was granted to him by the Bohemian duke. At the end of his life (c. 991–992), Mieszko I, together with his wife Oda and their sons, issued

5858-428: The battle, a testimony to Mieszko's high standing among the Empire's dignitaries, just one year after his baptism: Widukind of Corvey reported that the dying Wichmann asked Mieszko to hand over Wichmann's weapons to Emperor Otto I, to whom Wichmann was related. For Mieszko the victory had to be a satisfying experience, especially in light of his past defeats inflicted by Wichmann. The exact result of Mieszko's fighting in

5959-402: The date of his birth as somewhere between the years 920–931 (depending on the version of the manuscript); however, modern researchers do not recognize the chronicle as a reliable source. Several historians on the basis of their investigations postulated the date of Mieszko's birth to have been between 922–945; the activity of the Duke in his final years of life puts the date of his birth closer to

6060-406: The decisive battle against the Wolinians led by Wichmann the Younger , which gave Mieszko control over the mouth of the Odra River. The German margraves had not opposed Mieszko's activities in Pomerania, perhaps even supported them; the death of the rebellious Wichmann, who succumbed to his wounds soon after the battle, may have been in line with their interests. A telling incident took place after

6161-526: The end of Mieszko's reign. Mazovia Mazovia or Masovia ( Polish : Mazowsze [maˈzɔfʂɛ] ) is a historical region in mid-north-eastern Poland . It spans the North European Plain , roughly between Łódź and Białystok , with Warsaw being the unofficial capital and largest city. Throughout the centuries, Mazovia developed a separate sub-culture featuring diverse folk songs, architecture, dress and traditions different from those of other Poles . Historical Mazovia existed from

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6262-420: The father of Sigrid the Haughty , a Scandinavian queen, the grandfather of Canute the Great and the great-grandfather of Gunhilda of Denmark , Canute the Great 's daughter and wife of Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor . It is roughly to his borders that Poland was returned in 1945. There is no certain information on Mieszko's life before he took control over his lands. Only the Lesser Poland Chronicle gives

6363-428: The first years of Mieszko's reign, if it had not been done already by his father, Mieszko I conquered Masovia . Likely also during that period or earlier, at least part of Gdańsk Pomerania was obtained. Mieszko's interests were then concentrated mainly on areas occupied by the eastern ( i.e. , near the Oder River ) branches of the Polabian Slavs . In 963 Margrave Gero of Meissen conquered territories occupied by

6464-405: The forces of the Order's State occupied Dobrzyń Land, which however was relinquished to the Kingdom of Poland in the 1343 Treaty of Kalisz . The Knights temporarily regained control in the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War of 1409–1411, but after their defeat at the Battle of Grunwald had to return it again according to the Peace of Thorn . It was incorporated into the Inowrocław Voivodeship of

6565-404: The founder of the first unified Polish state , the Civitas Schinesghe . A member of the Piast dynasty , he was the first Christian ruler of Poland and continued the policies of both his father Siemomysł and grandfather Lestek , who initiated a process of unification among the Polish tribes and the creation of statehood. According to existing sources, Mieszko I was a potent politician,

6666-453: The hands of Bohemia. Sandomierz under this scenario was the central hub of the area, with Czerwień, Przemyśl and Chełm assuming the function of defensive borderland strongholds. After the death of Emperor Otto I in 973 Mieszko, like his brother-in-law, Duke Boleslaus II of Bohemia , joined the German opposition in support of the attempted imperial succession of Henry II, Duke of Bavaria . Mieszko may have been motivated by revenge because of

6767-428: The historically Mazovian cities of Łomża and Łowicz , but include the historically Lesser Polish cities of Radom and Siedlce . Mazovia has a landscape without hills (in contrast to Lesser Poland ) and without lakes (in contrast to Greater Poland ). It is spread over the Mazovian Lowland , on both sides of the Vistula river and its confluence with Narew and Bug . Forests (mainly coniferous) cover one-fifth of

6868-434: The incorporation of Lesser Poland is also not completely resolved. Possibly Mieszko took the region before 990, which is indicated by the vague remark of Thietmar, who wrote of a country taken by Mieszko from Boleslaus. In light of this theory, the conquest of Lesser Poland could be a reason for the war, or its first stage. Many historians suggested that the Czech rule over Lesser Poland was only nominal and likely limited to

6969-433: The indirect control of Kraków and perhaps a few other important centers. This theory is based on the lack of archaeological discoveries, which would indicate major building investments undertaken by the Bohemian state. After its incorporation, Lesser Poland supposedly became the part of the country assigned to Mieszko's oldest son, Bolesław , which is indirectly indicated in the chronicle of Thietmar. Some historians, on

7070-402: The influential pagan priest class, which may have been blocking his efforts to establish a more centralized rule. A different hypothesis is linked with the above-mentioned acceptance of the veracity of Gero's invasion of Poland. According to it, it was the attack of the Margrave that forced the Catholicization, which was to be an act of subordination to the Emperor, done without the mediation of

7171-463: The information regarding the attack of Margrave Gero on the Slavic tribes, as a result of which he purportedly "subordinated to the authority of the Emperor Lusatia and the Selpuli [ viz. , the Słupian tribes] and also Mieszko with his subjects". According to the majority of modern historians, Thietmar made an error summarizing the chronicle of Widukind, placing the Gero raid there instead of the fighting that Mieszko conducted at that time against Wichmann

7272-444: The larger Greater Poland Province . The Polish- Lithuanian Union of Lublin (1569) established Mazovia as the central region of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth , with Warsaw rising to prominence as the seat of the state legislature ( sejm ). In 1596 King Sigismund III Vasa moved the Polish capital from Kraków to Warsaw . During the 17th and 18th centuries Swedish, Transylvanian, Saxon, and Russian invasions wreaked havoc on

7373-706: The last Polish anti-communist partisans, Stanisław Marchewka  [ pl ] , killed by the communists in Jeziorko in 1957. Particularly large anti-communist protest occurred in the region in 1976 . During and following the Korean War , in 1951–1959, Poland admitted 200 North Korean orphans in Gołotczyzna and Otwock in Mazovia. Those times Warsaw Voivodeship was still roughly similar to historical Mazovia and used to be informally called so, but in 1975 it

7474-500: The last ruler of the independent Duchy of Mazovia died, it was fully incorporated to the Polish Crown in 1526. During the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth over 20% of Mazovian population was categorized as petty nobility . Between 1816 and 1844, the Mazovian Governorate was established, which encompassed the south of the region along with Łęczyca Land and south-eastern Kuyavia . The former inhabitants of Mazovia are

7575-415: The latter year. Mieszko's name has traditionally been thought to be a diminutive of Mieczysław but this is refuted by the majority of modern historians. According to a legend first described by Gallus Anonymus , Mieszko was blind during his first seven years of life. This typical medieval allegory referred to his paganism rather than an actual disability. Another name of Mieszko, "Dagome", appears in

7676-590: The liturgy in the Slavic rite, more readily understood by Mieszko and his subjects. The Slavic rite church branch had survived in Bohemia for another hundred years after Mieszko's baptism. After the normalization of relations with the Holy Roman Empire and Bohemia, Mieszko I returned to his plans to conquer the western part of Pomerania . On 21 September 967 the Polish-Bohemian troops prevailed in

7777-583: The one that Lusatia had suffered. This homage would take place in 965, or in 966 at the latest. Very likely the tribute applied only to the Lubusz land, which was in the German sphere of influence. This understanding of the tribute issue explains why already in 967 Mieszko I was described in the Saxon chronicles as the Emperor's friend (or ally, supporter, Latin : amicus imperatoris ). Probably in 964 Mieszko began negotiations with Boleslaus I, Duke of Bohemia . As

7878-543: The period of the rule of the first Polish monarchs of the Piast dynasty , Płock was one of their seats, and on the Cathedral Hill (Wzgórze Tumskie) they raised palatium . In the period 1037–1047 it was the capital of the independent, Mazovian state of Masław . Between 1079 and 1138 this city was de facto the capital of Poland . Since 1075 it has been the seat of the Diocese of Płock encompassing northern Mazovia;

7979-445: The position and prestige of Mieszko, who entered the world of Saxon aristocracy. As a son-in-law of Margrave Dietrich, he gained an ally in one of the most influential politicians of the Holy Roman Empire. As the Margrave was a distant relative of the Emperor, Mieszko became a member of the circle connected to the imperial ruling house . Probably in the early 980s Mieszko allied his country with Sweden against Denmark . The alliance

8080-484: The region, with the large Kampinos Forest , Puszcza Biała and Puszcza Zielona . In the north Mazovia borders on the Masurian subregion of former Prussia , in the east on Podlachia , in the south on Lesser Poland and in the west on Greater Poland (subregions of Łęczyca Land , Kujawy and Dobrzyń Land ). The area of Mazovia is 33,500 km . It has population of 5 million (3 million of them inhabit

8181-514: The region. The population of Warsaw decreased sharply as a result of executions, the extermination of the city's Jews, the deaths of some 200,000 inhabitants during the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, and the deportation of the city's left-bank population following the uprising. Some 40,000–50,000 Poles were murdered in the Wola massacre alone, one of the largest massacres of Poles. Shortly after

8282-587: The region. In 1793 western Mazovia, and two years later the rest of the region were annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia in the Second and Third Partitions of Poland, while the south-eastern portion was annexed by Austria . In 1807 it became part of the Duchy of Warsaw . In 1815 the region was incorporated into the Congress Kingdom of Poland , which was dependent on Russia . In the 19th century Mazovia

8383-551: The so-called war monarchy system. During the last years of his life, he fought the Bohemian state and captured Silesia and lands now constituting Lesser Poland . In foreign policy, Mieszko I placed the interests of his country foremost and entered into agreements with his former foes. He successfully used diplomacy by concluding alliances with Bohemia , Sweden and the Holy Roman Empire . Mieszko's alliance with

8484-578: The south formed the archdeaconate of Czersk belonging to Poznań , and the Duchy of Łowicz was part of the Archdiocese of Gniezno (this division remained as long as until the Partitions of Poland ). During the 9th century Mazovia was perhaps inhabited by the tribe of Mazovians , and it was incorporated into the Polish state in the second half of 10th century under the Piast ruler Mieszko I . As

8585-522: The takeover of Lesser Poland . Thietmar's narrative, however, raises doubts as to whether the joined military operation actually happened. The chronicler claims that a settlement was then concluded between the Emperor and the Bohemian ruler Boleslaus II the Pious , which is not mentioned in any other source and is contrary to the realities of the political situation at that time. Another debatable point

8686-575: The unrest. Ultimately the Lutici and the Obotrites were able to liberate themselves from German rule for the next two centuries. The Emperor left a minor successor, Otto III . His regency was claimed by Henry II of Bavaria . Like in 973, Mieszko and the Czech duke Boleslaus II took the side of the Bavarian duke. This fact is confirmed in the chronicle of Thietmar, which noted that "There arrived [at

8787-546: The uprising, Adolf Hitler ordered German troops to destroy the city . In 1944–1945, the region was occupied by the Soviet Red Army , and gradually restored to Poland, although with a Soviet-installed communist regime, which then stayed in power until the Fall of Communism in the 1980s. The rebuilding of the Polish capital was the main task of the postwar period. The Polish resistance remained active, with one of

8888-649: The vicinity of Poznań . In 982 Emperor Otto II suffered a disastrous defeat against the Emirate of Sicily . The resulting weakness of the imperial power was exploited by the Lutici , who initiated a great uprising of the Polabian Slavs in 983. German authority in the area ceased to exist and the Polabian tribes began to threaten the Empire. The death of Otto II at the end of that year contributed further to

8989-713: The victorious Battle of Warsaw . During the joint German-Soviet invasion of Poland , which started World War II in September 1939, Mazovia was invaded by the German Army, and the Einsatzgruppen IV and V followed to commit various crimes against Poles . The largest massacres were committed in Zambrów , Śladów and Zakroczym , in which over 200, over 300 and around 600 Polish prisoners of war and civilians were murdered, respectively. On 25–29 September,

9090-487: The village of Cidini , commonly identified with Cedynia . At first, the Margrave defeated Mieszko's forces; subsequently the Duke's brother Czcibor defeated the Germans in the decisive stage, inflicting great losses among their troops. It may be that Mieszko intentionally staged the retreat, which was followed by a surprise attack on the flank of the German pursuing troops. After this battle, Mieszko and Odo were called to

9191-414: The west of Pomerania is not known. Subsequent loss of the region by Mieszko's son Bolesław suggests that the conquest was difficult and the hold over that territory rather tenuous. In one version of the legend of Saint Adalbert of Prague (known in Polish as Wojciech ) it is written that Mieszko I had his daughter married to a Pomeranian prince, who previously voluntarily "was washed with the holy water of

9292-573: The young emperor waged a retaliatory expedition against Bohemia, in 978 forcing Duke Boleslaus into submission. In 977 Mieszko's wife, Dobrawa, died. At first there were no apparent repercussions, as the Polish ruler had maintained his alliance with Bohemia. In 979 Otto II supposedly attacked Poland. Mention of this event can be found in the Chronicle of the Bishops of Cambrai from the 11th century. The effects of this expedition are unknown, but it

9393-465: Was a common convention at that time. It is generally recognized that the baptism of Mieszko I took place in 966. The place is unknown; it could have had happened in any of the cities of the Empire (possibly Regensburg ), but also in one of the Polish towns like Gniezno or Ostrów Lednicki . The belief that the baptism was accomplished through the Czechs in order to avoid the dependence on Germany and

9494-452: Was a political decision, intended to bring Mieszko's state closer to the Czechs and to facilitate his activities in the Polabian Slavs area. At the same time, the baptism decreased the likelihood of future attacks by German margraves and deprived them of the opportunity to attempt Christianization of Mieszko's lands by force. An additional reason could be Mieszko's desire to remove from power

9595-595: Was considered underdeveloped in comparison with Greater Poland and Lesser Poland , with the lowest urban population. In the Early Modern Times Mazovia was known for exporting grain, timber, and fur. It was also distinct because there was no reformation here. Mazovia was divided into three voivodeships, each of them divided into lands ( Polish : ziemie , Latin : terrae ), each of them divided into counties ( Polish : powiaty , Latin : districtus ) and all three voivodeships formed part of

9696-462: Was divided into several little voivodeships. However, in 1999 Mazovian Voivodeship was created as one of 16 administrative regions of Poland . The Mazovian language probably existed as a separate dialect until the 20th century. The ethnonym Mazur has given the name for a phonetic phenomenon known as mazurzenie (although it is common in the Lesser Polish dialect as well). There

9797-401: Was occupied by Nazi Germany . During the occupation , the Polish population was subjected to various crimes , such as mass arrests, imprisonment, slave labor , kidnapping of children , deportations to Nazi concentration camps and extermination, incl. the Intelligenzaktion . Major sites of massacres of Poles in the region included Skrwilno , Rusinowo , Karnkowo and Rypin . In 1945,

9898-632: Was organized and active in the region. Following the Operation Barbarossa in 1941, Germany also occupied north-eastern Mazovia. The Warsaw Ghetto was the largest German-established Jewish ghetto in occupied Europe, and other sizeable ghettos in the region were located in Otwock , Płońsk , Łomża and Płock , with the surviving Jews eventually deported by the occupiers to the Treblinka , Auschwitz and other extermination camps during

9999-649: Was sealed with the marriage of Mieszko's daughter Świętosława with the Swedish king Erik . The content of the treaty is known from the traditional account—not entirely reliable, but originating directly from the Danish court—given by Adam of Bremen . In this text, probably as a result of confusion, he gives instead of Mieszko's name the name of his son Bolesław: Mieszko decided on the alliance with Sweden probably in order to help protect his possessions in Pomerania from

10100-501: Was the site of large Polish uprisings ( November Uprising and January Uprising ) against Russian rule. In that era pre-partition Mazovia was divided among Warsaw , Płock and Augustów (the last one replaced later by Łomża ). Since 1918 Mazovia has been a part of the resurrected Poland, being roughly equivalent to the Warsaw Voivodeship . In 1920, Mazovia was invaded by Soviet Russia , but Poland secured its freedom in

10201-596: Was then a leader of a band of Polabian Slavs, defeated Mieszko twice, and around 963 a brother of Mieszko, whose name is unknown, was killed in the fighting. The frontiers at the mouth of the Oder River were also desired by the German margraves. In addition, the Veleti Bohemia, which at that time possessed Silesia and Lesser Poland regions, constituted a danger for the young state of the Polans. The chronicle of Thietmar poses some problems of interpretation of

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