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The treaty of Merseburg of 1033 concluded a power struggle between the Salian Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II on one side, and the Piast king of Poland . The treaty settled the question of Polish succession which had been contested between Mieszko and his half-brothers Bezprym, Otto, and Dietric, ever since the death of Bolesław I Chrobry. Poland was divided into three parts with Mieszko designated as the supreme ruler. In exchange for the Emperor's support however, Mieszko was forced to renounce the title of king, which had been acquired in 1025 by his father and give up control over Lusatia and Upper Lusatia.

Background

The Emperor Henry II was succeeded by Conrad II, while Boleslaw I, who had crowned himself King of Poland two months before Henry's death (1025), was succeeded by Mieszko II. In 1028, Mieszko II attacked the eastern marches of Saxony. As a consequence, the see of the Bishopric of Zeitz was relocated to the more secure Naumburg, and Conrad II launched several counter-attacks. Mieszko II avoided open battle and withdrew into difficult terrain, namely forrests nearly impassable for the heavy German cavalry. Conrad II was supported by Olrich (Udalrich) of Bohemia, who in the course of the 1029 campaign gained Moravia.

In 1030, Mieszko II again raided the eastern marches, but in 1031 was repulsed by Conrad II and forced to make peace. In the agreement, Mieszko II renounced his claims to the Lusatian march and Upper Lusatia.

Merseburg (1033)

After the peace of Bautzen (1031), Yaroslav I of Kiev attacked Miesko II from the east. Yaroslav I had supported Mieszko II's older half-brother Bezprym in the succession of Boleslaw I, and granted him refuge at his court when Mieszko II had assumed power. With Yaroslav I's support, Bezprym ousted Miesko II, but was murdered in 1032. In contrast to his half-brother, Bezprym had not taken on the title of a Polish king in order to gain support from Conrad II. After Bezprym's death, Mieszko II returned to power, and attended a Hoftag in Merseburg in 1033.

There, Mieszko II renounced claims to the Lusatian march and Upper Lusatia (Milzenerland), and renounced claims to the title of a king. Henry II divided Poland into three parts, but confirmed Miezko II’s superiority over these. Mieszko II died in 1034, subsequently, his wife Richeza as well as his son Casimir I fled to Germany.

Sources

References

1. ^ Knefelkamp (2002), p. 137
2. ^ Boshof (2008), p. 71
3. ^ Boshof (2008), p. 72

Bibliography

• Berger, Sabine (2002). "Karte der Polenzüge Heinrichs II gegen Boleslaw Chrobry". In Kirmeier, Josef; Schneidmüller, Bernd; Weinfurter, Stefan; Brockhoff, Evamaria (eds.). Kaiser Heinrich II. 1002-1024. Veröffentlichungen zur Bayerischen Geschichte und Kultur (in German). Vol. 44. Theiss. pp. 224–226. ISBN 3806217122.
• Bernhardt, John W (1993). Itinerant Kingship and Royal Monasteries in Early Medieval Germany, c. 936–1075. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521521831.
• Boshof, Egon (2008). Die Salier (in German) (5 ed.). Kohlhammer. ISBN 3170201832.
• Herbers, Klaus; Neuhaus, Helmut (2005). Das Heilige Römische Reich (in German). Böhlau. ISBN 3412234052.
• Keller, Hagen (2001). Die Ottonen (in German) (3 ed.). Beck. ISBN 3406447465.
• Knefelkamp, Ulrich (2002). Das Mittelalter. UTB M (in German). Vol. 2105 (2 ed.). UTB. ISBN 3825221059.
• Röckelein, Hedwig (2006). "Heiraten - ein Instrument hochmittelalterlicher Politik". In Ranft, Andreas (ed.). Der Hoftag in Quedlinburg 973. Von den historischen Wurzeln zum Neuen Europa (in German). Akademie Verlag. pp. 99–136. ISBN 3050041137.
• Schneidmüller, Bernd (2003). Die deutschen Herrscher des Mittelalters. Historische Portraits von Heinrich I. bis Maximilian I. (919-1519) (in German). Beck. ISBN 3406509584.
• Schwarz, Jörg (2006). Herrschaftsbildungen und Reiche 900-1500. Das europäische Mittelalter (in German). Vol. 2. Kohlhammer. ISBN 3170197193.

• Treaties of the Holy Roman Empire
• Treaties of Poland
• 11th-century treaties