Congress of Gniezno: Difference between revisions
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
|||
| (45 intermediate revisions by 31 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{morefootnotes|date=September 2015}} |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
[[File:Polska 992 - 1025.png|thumb|[[Poland]] during the reign of [[Bolesław the Brave]] and [[Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Otto]]'s route to [[Gniezno]].]] |
|||
| ⚫ | The '''Congress of Gniezno''' ({{lang-de|Akt von Gnesen}} or ''Gnesener Übereinkunft'' |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | The '''Congress of Gniezno''' ({{lang-pl|Zjazd gnieźnieński|link=no}}, {{lang-de|Akt von Gnesen|link=no}} or ''Gnesener Übereinkunft'') was an amicable meeting between the [[Kingdom of Poland|Polish]] Duke [[Bolesław I the Brave]] and Emperor [[Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto III]], which took place at [[Gniezno]] in Poland on 11 March 1000. Scholars disagree over the details of the decisions made at the convention, especially whether the ruler of Poland was pledged the king's crown or not. |
||
==Background== |
==Background== |
||
| Line 6: | Line 10: | ||
After his death in 997 during a mission among the pagan [[Old Prussian|Prussian]] tribes, Bishop [[Adalbert of Prague]] was quickly [[Canonization|canonized]] by the common effort of Duke Bolesław I and Emperor Otto III. Thus, Adalbert became the first [[Slavs|Slavic]] bishop to become a saint.<ref name="Boßmann_2007"/> His body, bought back by Bolesław from the Prussians for its weight in gold, was put into a tomb at [[Gniezno Cathedral]], which became the ecclesiastical center of Poland. |
After his death in 997 during a mission among the pagan [[Old Prussian|Prussian]] tribes, Bishop [[Adalbert of Prague]] was quickly [[Canonization|canonized]] by the common effort of Duke Bolesław I and Emperor Otto III. Thus, Adalbert became the first [[Slavs|Slavic]] bishop to become a saint.<ref name="Boßmann_2007"/> His body, bought back by Bolesław from the Prussians for its weight in gold, was put into a tomb at [[Gniezno Cathedral]], which became the ecclesiastical center of Poland. |
||
According to the chronicles of [[Thietmar of Merseburg]], Otto III, who had been a friend of Adalbert,<ref name="Boßmann_2007"/> committed to a [[pilgrimage]] from [[Kingdom of Italy ( |
According to the chronicles of [[Thietmar of Merseburg]], Otto III, who had been a friend and pupil of Adalbert,<ref name="Boßmann_2007"/> committed to a [[pilgrimage]] from [[Kingdom of Italy (Holy Roman Empire)|Italy]] to St. Adalbert's tomb in Gniezno; in his attempt to extend the influence of Christianity in Central and Eastern Europe, and to renew the [[Holy Roman Empire]] based on a federal concept ("''[[renovatio imperii Romanorum]]''") with the Polish and [[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungarian]] duchies upgraded to eastern ''federati'' of the empire.<ref name="Lawaty">Andreas Lawaty, Hubert Orłowski, ''Deutsche und Polen: Geschichte, Kultur, Politik'', 2003, p. 24, {{ISBN|3-406-49436-6}}, {{ISBN|978-3-406-49436-9}}</ref> As part of this policy he also invested Grand Prince [[Stephen I of Hungary]] with the king's crown (the [[Holy Crown of Hungary|Crown of Saint Stephen]]). |
||
The Polish [[Piast dynasty]] under [[Mieszko |
The Polish [[Piast dynasty]] under [[Mieszko I]] had extended their domains beyond the [[Oder]] river, where their claims to power collided with the interests of the [[Duchy of Saxony|Saxon]] margrave [[Gero]]. After his defeat by Gero's troops in 963, Mieszko I decided to come to terms with Emperor [[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto I]] and agreed to pay tribute for this part of his lands. In turn he gained the title of ''amicus imperatoris'' ("Friend of the Emperor") and the acknowledgment of his position as a ''[[Dux]]'' of Poland. He continued his policy of convergence with the Empire by marrying [[Oda of Haldensleben|Oda]], the daughter of the Saxon margrave [[Dietrich of Haldensleben]], in 978 and by marrying his son Bolesław I to a daughter of Margrave [[Rikdag]] of Meissen. As a precaution however, shortly before his death in 992 he placed his realm ([[Civitas Schinesghe]]) under the protection of [[Pope John XV]] according to the ''[[dagome iudex]]'' regest. |
||
When his son Bolesław succeeded him, Poland remained an ally of the Empire in the campaigns against the Polabian [[Lutici]] tribes. Emperor Otto II |
When his son Bolesław succeeded him, Poland remained an ally of the Empire in the campaigns against the Polabian [[Lutici]] tribes. Emperor Otto II died at the age of 28 in 983. His widow [[Theophanu]] acted as regent for her son, also called Otto. In 996 Otto III was crowned as [[Holy Roman Emperor]] at [[Rome]]. By the time of the congress at Gniezno in AD 1000, he was 20 years old. |
||
==The act== |
==The act== |
||
[[File:Boleslaus I.jpg|thumb|left|Portrait of Bolesław with the replica of the Holy Lance, [[Jan Matejko]] (1838–1893)]] |
|||
On the pilgrimage to Gniezno, Emperor Otto III was received by Bolesław at the Polish border on the [[Bóbr]] river near [[Małomice]]. Bishop [[Unger (Bishop of Poland)|Unger of Poznań]] escorted him to Gniezno. Between the 7th and 15th of March Otto invested Bolesław with the titles ''frater et cooperator Imperii'' ("Brother and Partner of the Empire") and ''populi Romani amicus et socius''<ref name="Lawaty"/> as rendered in the 1115 ''[[Gesta principum Polonorum]]'' by the [[Kraków]] chronicler [[Gallus Anonymus]], the first author of Polish history. Whether the act implemented an elevation of Bolesław to the status of "king" has not been conclusively established. In any case, Bolesław had himself crowned King of Poland at Gniezno Cathedral in 1025. |
On the pilgrimage to Gniezno, Emperor Otto III was received by Bolesław at the Polish border on the [[Bóbr]] river near [[Małomice]]. Bishop [[Unger (Bishop of Poland)|Unger of Poznań]] escorted him to Gniezno. Between the 7th and 15th of March Otto invested Bolesław with the titles ''frater et cooperator Imperii'' ("Brother and Partner of the Empire") and ''populi Romani amicus et socius''<ref name="Lawaty"/> as rendered in the 1115 ''[[Gesta principum Polonorum]]'' by the [[Kraków]] chronicler [[Gallus Anonymus]], the first author of Polish history. Whether the act implemented an elevation of Bolesław to the status of "king" has not been conclusively established. In any case, Bolesław had himself crowned King of Poland at Gniezno Cathedral in 1025. |
||
| ⚫ | On the same visit, Otto III raised Gniezno to the rank of an [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gniezno|archbishopric]]. Three new dioceses subordinate to Gniezno were created: the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kraków|Bishopric of Kraków]] (assigned to Bishop [[Poppo (bishop of Kraków)|Poppo]]), the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wrocław|Bishopric]] of [[Wrocław]] (assigned to Bishop [[Jan (bishop of Wrocław)|Jan]]) and the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Koszalin-Kołobrzeg|Bishopric of Kołobrzeg]] in [[Pomerania]] (assigned to bishop [[Reinbern]]).<ref name="Boßmann_2007">Janine Boßmann, ''Otto III. Und der Akt von Gnesen'', 2007, pp.9-10, {{ISBN|3-638-85343-8}}, {{ISBN|978-3-638-85343-9}}</ref> St. Adalbert's brother [[Radzim Gaudenty]] became the first archbishop of Gniezno.<ref name="Boßmann_2007"/> Otto III gave Bolesław a replica of his [[Holy Lance]], part of the [[Imperial Regalia]], and Bolesław presented the Emperor with a [[relic]], an arm of St. Adalbert in exchange. |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | On the same visit, Otto III raised Gniezno to the rank of an [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Gniezno|archbishopric]]. Three new dioceses subordinate to Gniezno were created: the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kraków|Bishopric of Kraków]] (assigned to Bishop [[Poppo]]), the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wrocław|Bishopric of Wrocław]] (assigned to Bishop [[Jan (bishop of Wrocław)|Jan]]) and the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Koszalin-Kołobrzeg|Bishopric of Kołobrzeg]] in [[Pomerania]] (assigned to bishop [[Reinbern]]).<ref name="Boßmann_2007">Janine Boßmann, ''Otto III. Und der Akt von Gnesen'', 2007, pp.9-10, ISBN |
||
The status of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Poznań|Bishopric of Poznań]] of Bishop Unger, whose diocese had also comprised Gniezno before and who had not supported the creation of a separate archdiocese in Gniezno, is also subject to historical debate. One view holds that it stayed independent and with Unger as a missionary bishop directly subordinate to the pope while another one holds that it was attached to the [[Archbishopric of Magdeburg]], the nearest German ecclesiastical province.<ref name="Boßmann_2007"/><ref>Nora Berend, ''Christianization and the Rise of Christian Monarchy: Scandinavia, Central Europe and Rus' C. |
The status of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Poznań|Bishopric of Poznań]] of Bishop Unger, whose diocese had also comprised Gniezno before and who had not supported the creation of a separate archdiocese in Gniezno, is also subject to historical debate. One view holds that it stayed independent and with Unger as a missionary bishop directly subordinate to the pope while another one holds that it was attached to the [[Archbishopric of Magdeburg]], the nearest German ecclesiastical province.<ref name="Boßmann_2007"/><ref>Nora Berend, ''Christianization and the Rise of Christian Monarchy: Scandinavia, Central Europe and Rus' C. 900–1200'', 2007, pp.281-182, {{ISBN|0-521-87616-8}}, {{ISBN|978-0-521-87616-2}}</ref> However, generally, the congress is seen as having established complete ecclesiastical independence of the Polish church from Magdeburg.<ref>[[Uta-Renate Blumenthal]], ''The Investiture Controversy: Church and Monarchy from the Ninth to the Twelfth Century'', University f Pennsylvania Press, 1991, pg. 38</ref> |
||
Bolesław subsequently accompanied Otto III on his way back to Germany. Both proceeded to the grave of [[Charlemagne]] at [[Aachen Cathedral]], where Bolesław received |
Bolesław subsequently accompanied Otto III on his way back to Germany. Both proceeded to the grave of [[Charlemagne]] at [[Aachen Cathedral]], where Bolesław received Charlemagne's throne as a gift. Both arranged the betrothal of Bolesław's son [[Mieszko II Lambert]] with the Emperor's niece [[Richeza of Lotharingia]]. |
||
==Aftermath== |
==Aftermath== |
||
Due to Otto's early death in 1002, his ''renovatio'' policies were not fully realized. King [[Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry II]], Otto's successor, changed the empire's policies |
Due to Otto's early death in 1002, his ''renovatio'' policies were not fully realized. King [[Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry II]], Otto's successor, changed the empire's policies. Bolesław supported Henry's rival, Margrave [[Eckard I, Margrave of Meissen|Eckard I of Meissen]], expanded the Polish realm into the [[March of Lusatia]] and the [[Milceni]] lands, and also took the [[Duchy of Bohemia|Bohemian]] throne at [[Prague]], interfering with Henry's interests. During a meeting with Henry II in [[Merseburg]], Bolesław was attacked by Henry's men and narrowly escaped with his life. As a consequence, the excellent relations between the Empire and Poland marked by the Congress of Gniezno turned into a state of hostility that soon emerged into a [[German–Polish War (1003–1018)|German–Polish War]] which finally ended with the 1018 [[Peace of Bautzen]]. |
||
[[File:Kolobrzeg 2000 Gniezno 1000.jpg|thumb|Memorial erected in 2000 at [[Kołobrzeg]]]] |
[[File:Kolobrzeg 2000 Gniezno 1000.jpg|thumb|Memorial erected in 2000 at [[Kołobrzeg]]]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | It was not until Henry's death in 1024, that Bolesław was able to acquire the papal consent for his coronation as Polish king. The Pomeranian diocese of Kołobrzeg, founded as a consequence of the Congress of Gniezno, was overthrown by a pagan resurgence of the [[Pomeranians (tribe)|Pomeranians]] around 1007, and bishop [[Reinbern]] was forced to return to Boleslaw's court. |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | The creation of the separate Archdiocese of Gniezno, as directly subordinate to the [[Holy See]] rather than a German archdiocese, kept Poland independent from the Holy Roman Empire throughout the [[Middle Ages]]. Around 1075 the Bishopric of Poznań became a [[suffragan diocese]] of Gniezno. The archdiocese then controlled the whole Piast realm, as confirmed by the papal [[Bull of Gniezno]] in 1136. |
||
==See also== |
==See also== |
||
*[[ |
*[[Germany–Poland relations]] |
||
==References== |
==References== |
||
| Line 38: | Line 44: | ||
[[Category:1000 in Europe]] |
[[Category:1000 in Europe]] |
||
[[Category:10th century in Poland]] |
[[Category:10th century in Poland]] |
||
[[Category:Gniezno]] |
[[Category:History of Gniezno]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:1000s in the Holy Roman Empire]] |
||
[[Category:History of Poland (966–1385)]] |
|||
[[Category:History of Catholicism in Poland]] |
|||
[[Category:Germany–Poland relations]] |
[[Category:Germany–Poland relations]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:Diplomatic conferences in Poland|Gniezno]] |
||
[[Category:Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor]] |
|||
[[ |
[[Category:Holy Lance]] |
||
[[es:Congreso de Gniezno]] |
|||
[[pl:I zjazd gnieźnieński]] |
|||
Revision as of 06:48, 22 September 2024
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2015) |
The Congress of Gniezno (Template:Lang-pl, German: Akt von Gnesen or Gnesener Übereinkunft) was an amicable meeting between the Polish Duke Bolesław I the Brave and Emperor Otto III, which took place at Gniezno in Poland on 11 March 1000. Scholars disagree over the details of the decisions made at the convention, especially whether the ruler of Poland was pledged the king's crown or not.
Background
After his death in 997 during a mission among the pagan Prussian tribes, Bishop Adalbert of Prague was quickly canonized by the common effort of Duke Bolesław I and Emperor Otto III. Thus, Adalbert became the first Slavic bishop to become a saint.[1] His body, bought back by Bolesław from the Prussians for its weight in gold, was put into a tomb at Gniezno Cathedral, which became the ecclesiastical center of Poland.
According to the chronicles of Thietmar of Merseburg, Otto III, who had been a friend and pupil of Adalbert,[1] committed to a pilgrimage from Italy to St. Adalbert's tomb in Gniezno; in his attempt to extend the influence of Christianity in Central and Eastern Europe, and to renew the Holy Roman Empire based on a federal concept ("renovatio imperii Romanorum") with the Polish and Hungarian duchies upgraded to eastern federati of the empire.[2] As part of this policy he also invested Grand Prince Stephen I of Hungary with the king's crown (the Crown of Saint Stephen).
The Polish Piast dynasty under Mieszko I had extended their domains beyond the Oder river, where their claims to power collided with the interests of the Saxon margrave Gero. After his defeat by Gero's troops in 963, Mieszko I decided to come to terms with Emperor Otto I and agreed to pay tribute for this part of his lands. In turn he gained the title of amicus imperatoris ("Friend of the Emperor") and the acknowledgment of his position as a Dux of Poland. He continued his policy of convergence with the Empire by marrying Oda, the daughter of the Saxon margrave Dietrich of Haldensleben, in 978 and by marrying his son Bolesław I to a daughter of Margrave Rikdag of Meissen. As a precaution however, shortly before his death in 992 he placed his realm (Civitas Schinesghe) under the protection of Pope John XV according to the dagome iudex regest.
When his son Bolesław succeeded him, Poland remained an ally of the Empire in the campaigns against the Polabian Lutici tribes. Emperor Otto II died at the age of 28 in 983. His widow Theophanu acted as regent for her son, also called Otto. In 996 Otto III was crowned as Holy Roman Emperor at Rome. By the time of the congress at Gniezno in AD 1000, he was 20 years old.
The act
On the pilgrimage to Gniezno, Emperor Otto III was received by Bolesław at the Polish border on the Bóbr river near Małomice. Bishop Unger of Poznań escorted him to Gniezno. Between the 7th and 15th of March Otto invested Bolesław with the titles frater et cooperator Imperii ("Brother and Partner of the Empire") and populi Romani amicus et socius[2] as rendered in the 1115 Gesta principum Polonorum by the Kraków chronicler Gallus Anonymus, the first author of Polish history. Whether the act implemented an elevation of Bolesław to the status of "king" has not been conclusively established. In any case, Bolesław had himself crowned King of Poland at Gniezno Cathedral in 1025.
On the same visit, Otto III raised Gniezno to the rank of an archbishopric. Three new dioceses subordinate to Gniezno were created: the Bishopric of Kraków (assigned to Bishop Poppo), the Bishopric of Wrocław (assigned to Bishop Jan) and the Bishopric of Kołobrzeg in Pomerania (assigned to bishop Reinbern).[1] St. Adalbert's brother Radzim Gaudenty became the first archbishop of Gniezno.[1] Otto III gave Bolesław a replica of his Holy Lance, part of the Imperial Regalia, and Bolesław presented the Emperor with a relic, an arm of St. Adalbert in exchange.
The status of the Bishopric of Poznań of Bishop Unger, whose diocese had also comprised Gniezno before and who had not supported the creation of a separate archdiocese in Gniezno, is also subject to historical debate. One view holds that it stayed independent and with Unger as a missionary bishop directly subordinate to the pope while another one holds that it was attached to the Archbishopric of Magdeburg, the nearest German ecclesiastical province.[1][3] However, generally, the congress is seen as having established complete ecclesiastical independence of the Polish church from Magdeburg.[4]
Bolesław subsequently accompanied Otto III on his way back to Germany. Both proceeded to the grave of Charlemagne at Aachen Cathedral, where Bolesław received Charlemagne's throne as a gift. Both arranged the betrothal of Bolesław's son Mieszko II Lambert with the Emperor's niece Richeza of Lotharingia.
Aftermath
Due to Otto's early death in 1002, his renovatio policies were not fully realized. King Henry II, Otto's successor, changed the empire's policies. Bolesław supported Henry's rival, Margrave Eckard I of Meissen, expanded the Polish realm into the March of Lusatia and the Milceni lands, and also took the Bohemian throne at Prague, interfering with Henry's interests. During a meeting with Henry II in Merseburg, Bolesław was attacked by Henry's men and narrowly escaped with his life. As a consequence, the excellent relations between the Empire and Poland marked by the Congress of Gniezno turned into a state of hostility that soon emerged into a German–Polish War which finally ended with the 1018 Peace of Bautzen.
It was not until Henry's death in 1024, that Bolesław was able to acquire the papal consent for his coronation as Polish king. The Pomeranian diocese of Kołobrzeg, founded as a consequence of the Congress of Gniezno, was overthrown by a pagan resurgence of the Pomeranians around 1007, and bishop Reinbern was forced to return to Boleslaw's court.
The creation of the separate Archdiocese of Gniezno, as directly subordinate to the Holy See rather than a German archdiocese, kept Poland independent from the Holy Roman Empire throughout the Middle Ages. Around 1075 the Bishopric of Poznań became a suffragan diocese of Gniezno. The archdiocese then controlled the whole Piast realm, as confirmed by the papal Bull of Gniezno in 1136.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Janine Boßmann, Otto III. Und der Akt von Gnesen, 2007, pp.9-10, ISBN 3-638-85343-8, ISBN 978-3-638-85343-9
- ^ a b Andreas Lawaty, Hubert Orłowski, Deutsche und Polen: Geschichte, Kultur, Politik, 2003, p. 24, ISBN 3-406-49436-6, ISBN 978-3-406-49436-9
- ^ Nora Berend, Christianization and the Rise of Christian Monarchy: Scandinavia, Central Europe and Rus' C. 900–1200, 2007, pp.281-182, ISBN 0-521-87616-8, ISBN 978-0-521-87616-2
- ^ Uta-Renate Blumenthal, The Investiture Controversy: Church and Monarchy from the Ninth to the Twelfth Century, University f Pennsylvania Press, 1991, pg. 38