At the end of the IX century an unknown historian, named after the Bavarian geographer, reported Slavic tribal groups who lived on the banks of the Vistula, Warta and Oder, and is engaged in a vast plain land in Central Europe.Initially different Slavic tribes in the western sources to name lechites later they were called as glades, the title of one of the strongest tribes;it came out of the founder of the Polish state Mieszko I.
Ancestors
individual disparate tribes lechites ruled by princes whose names history has not preserved.Modern historians have known only one message, which concerns the pedigree of the rulers of the tribe of the field.This is due to the fact that the clearing with a series of successful military operations and subjugated neighboring tribes chose the defeated dislodge from memory the names of their rulers, and keep in the history of their tradition.In the XII century chronicler Gallus Anonymus recorded the oral legends of the rulers field, as they were in medieval chronicles.According to the anonymous, in Gniezno rules Prince Popiel, who was banished.His place was taken Semov, who held a high social status, and was the son of a simple plowman Piast.Semov and started Pyastovichey dynasty that ruled in the strengthening of Gniezno.It was this prince and his heirs, Lestko Semomysl and became the ancestors of Mieszko I.
Background
likely Mieszko of I formed a power for good reason.You can be sure that the history of the Polish state began long before the birth of the prince and the former princely dynasty has already taken significant steps to centralize power.The ancestors of the I Mieszko annexed to the possessions of the earth's field of neighboring tribes kuvyan, mazovshan, lendzyan.In the occupied territories were built fortifications - Grod.In some lands Grod located at a distance of 20-25 km from each other, that is, for a day's fighting group.Strong army and centralized management were decisive factors in expanding and strengthening the power of the field.But large areas, wetlands and impenetrable jungle forest allowed the conquered tribes retain considerable autonomy.The invaders did not change the way of life captured by tribes, and imposed taxes on the community of peasants, who collected the servants of the prince.Thus, the founder of the Polish state was much indebted to his predecessors, who in two previous century created a management system.
Home Board
Semomysla Mieszko was the son, his mother's name remains unknown.Start dates back to the board 960g, when the future founder of the Polish state began to rule in the principality of Great Poland in the center of Gniezno.Ten years later, he almost doubled the area of land under its control, annexing the territory of Mazovia, Kujawy Pomerania and Gdansk.982 year was the date of the conquest of Silesia, and 990 g attached vislyanskie clearing land.The conquest of the Poles started taking a threatening nature.The Western European and Arab sources there were reports of a mighty Slavic state with a strong power, and well-trained army.Therefore, it is assumed that the Polish state was founded in the X century, when Polish holdings were greatly expanded and strengthened, and the prince and his retinue took Christianity.
adoption of Christianity
Without taking the I Mieszko Christianity in the year 966 it would be impossible the formation of the Polish state.The expansive foreign policy Prince led to strained relations with neighboring states.Emperor Otto the I fought off attempts to conquer the land clearings lyubushan and Mieszko the I agreed to pay tribute to this ruler.At the same time the prince develops and Polish-Czech relations.To consolidate relations with the Czech kingdom, Mieszko married the daughter of King of Bohemia, Princess Dubravka.The two powerful neighbors - the Holy Roman Empire and the Czech Republic, led Duke to the decision to convert to Christianity.The baptism of Prince Mieszko Latin rite took in 966 Adoption of Christianity gave rise to the fact that the first Polish state was recognized by his contemporaries at European level.
The way the Polish state
At the initial stage of the Polish-Lithuanian state occupied an area of about 250 sq. M.km.More precisely it is impossible, since the borders of the newly formed country is constantly changing.Most of the population is engaged in agriculture.The most numerous segment of the population accounted for Kmet, free peasants.Kmet live in large family and neighborhood communities.After the unification of tribal differences between the communities are preserved, and that gave rise to the administrative division of the Polish lands, and later the adoption of Christianity, this same principle is laid down in the division of the territory into dioceses.
Administrative division
lesser extent the administrative division was Grodsky District.He was under the control of representatives of the Prince, who have full administrative, military and judiciary.Preserved mention of four such centers in the city of Gniezno, Poznan, Geche and Wloclawek.It is here that military training shield-bearers and men at arms, which are the backbone of the Polish army.If necessary, troops going to and from all the free peasants.According to its armament and military training teams are inferior warriors princely, but have been used successfully in the exploration and guerrilla attacks.Historians estimate that at the beginning of the XI century, the total number of troops of I Mieszko was over 20 thousand. Man.
Economy ancient Polish
Contents large and efficient army demanded a constant inflow of funds.In order to ensure the country's defense and keep the occupied lands, Prince Mieszko created the I-established fiscal apparatus, which was engaged in the collection and distribution of taxes.The tax is paid to all of the rural population in the form of livestock production and agriculture.Another was the distribution of financial leverage "jewels" - a variety of rights to particularly profitable sectors of economic activity.Regalia were: coinage, mining precious metals, the unit markets and inns, some types of hunting.The main export items were furs, amber, and slaves.But by the end of XI century the development of agriculture was to require a constant inflow of labor force, and the growing influence of the church prohibits trafficking in persons.Therefore, after the slave XI ceased to be part of exports, and eventually stopped altogether.
end of the reign of Mieszko the I
As in other European countries, the right to the throne of the prince inherited.However, the right of primogeniture has not stuck on Polish territory, because were frequent feuds between the possible contenders to the throne.The founder of the Polish state had two brothers, one of whom died in battle, and the second, Chtibor, held a senior post.Dying, Mieszko I left a part of the state in the hands of the first-born son Boleslav.This son went down in history as Boleslaw the Brave.The legacy of his father, he was developed, rich, vast country with great international influence.And after a long series of victories and defeats, Boleslaw the Brave became the first king of the Polish state.
