Konrad I of Masovia

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Konrad I of Masovia
Noble Family or Dynasty Piast dynasty
Coat of Arms


Orzeł Piastowski
Parents Casimir II, Helen of Moravia
Consorts Agafia of Rus
Children Bolesław I, Siemowit I
Date of Birth 1187
Place of Birth -
Date of Death 1247
Place of Death -

Konrad I of Masovia (Polish: Konrad I Mazowiecki; 1187? – 1247), son of Casimir II and Helen of Moravia, was the 6th Duke of Masovia.

After his father's death in 1194, Konrad was brought up by his mother. In 1199 he received Masovia and 1202 Kuyavia. The Russian princess Agafia became his wife. His maternal grandmother (the princess-consort of Moravia, Znaim (part of Holy Roman Empire) was one Maria of Serbia, apparently a daughter of pre-Nemanjic Zhupan dynasty.

Contents

[edit] Attempted conquests of Prussia

Konrad unsuccessfully attempted to conquer pagan Prussia in a 1209 crusade and several times after [1], 1219, 1222 Pg 45. On advise of the first bishop Christian of Prussia, Christian of Oliva, in 1220 he founded the Order of Dobrin (Order of Dobrzyń) and was again defeated. Ongoing attempts on Prussia were answered by incursions across the borders of his lands, while Prussians were in the process of regaining control over their territory of Culmerland Chełmno Land. Subjected to constant Prussian counter-raids, Konrad now wanted to stabilize the north of the duchy of Masovia in this fight over border area of Chełmno Land. Masovia had only been conquered in the XI century and native Prussians, Yotvingians and Lithuanians were still living in the territory, where no settled borders existed.

[edit] The Teutonic Order

Thus in 1226, Konrad having difficulty holding on to land conquered, invited the religious military order of Teutonic Knights to fight the Prussians, as they already had supported Hungary from 1211 to 1225. When the Order notified Hungary that they are firstly responsible to the pope, the Order was expelled by the Hungarian king though. Thus, in turn for its service, the Order wanted to have its rights documented beforehand, by a deal with Konrad that was to be confirmed by the Emperor and the Pope.

Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II issued in March of 1226 the Golden Bull of Rimini, stating [2] that:

"brother Konrad had offered and promised to furnish brother Herrmann, Honorable Master of the Holy Hospital of St. Mary of the Germans in Jerusalem (Teutonic Order).. with the Kulmer Land between his march and the Prussians and equip them (T.O.) well, so they may take Preussenland (Terra Prussiae) in possession... we recognize the fact, that this land is included in the realm of the empire, we trust the judgement of the Master... we recognize all land in Prussia as an ancient right of the empire ...".

In 1230, the Treaty of Kruszwica was supposedly signed, according to which Konrad granted Chełmno Land to them, and to the Order of Dobrzyń. This document does not exist however, and it is believed [3] [4] that it was never signed and the Order might have forged it.

In 1234, the pope issued the Golden Bull of Rieti, confirming the prior deals, stating that the land of the Order was only subject to the Pope, not a fief of anybody[citation needed].

[edit] Konrad's legacy

Konrad is blamed by Poles, that 'his actions began the process whereby the Teutonic Knights came to control much of the Baltic coastline through their monastic state, that had ultimately dire consequences for Polish state'.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  • ^  Boockmann, p. 97
  • ^  Bernd Martin, p. 24

[edit] References

  • Altes Preussenland before 1200
  • (German) Hartmut Boockmann, "Deutsche Geschichte im Osten Europas. Ostpreußen und Westpreußen", Berlin 1992
  • (German) Bernd Martin, "Masuren, Mythos und Geschichte", Evangelische Akademie Baden, Karlsruhe 1998
  • Catholic Encyclopedia Innocent III resolved (1207) to organize a new crusade...Instead of concentrating the forces of Christendom against the Mohammedans, the pope himself disbanded them by proclaiming (1209) a crusade against the Albigenses in the south of France, and against the Almohades of Spain (1213), the pagans of Prussia, and John Lackland of England.
  • Konrad of Masovia sent Polish crusaders against Prussian after 1209
Preceded by
Henry the Pious		 Duke of Wroclaw
1241-1243		 Succeeded by
Boleslaus the Bashful
v • d • e
Monarchs of Poland
Piast Siemowit · Lestko · Siemomysł · Mieszko I · Boleslaw I the Brave · Mieszko II Lambert · Bezprym · Mieszko II Lambert · Casimir I the Restorer · Boleslav II the Bold · Władysław I Herman · Zbigniew of Poland · Bolesław III Wrymouth · Władysław II the Exile · Bolesław IV the Curly · Mieszko III the Old · Casimir II the Just · Leszek I the White · Władysław III Spindleshanks · Władysław Odonic · Mieszko IV Tanglefoot · Konrad I of Masovia · Henry I the Bearded · Henry II the Pious · Konrad I of Masovia · Bolesław V the Chaste · Leszek II the Black · Henryk IV Probus · Premislas II
Přemyslid Venceslaus II · Wenceslaus III
Piast Władysław I the Elbow-high · Casimir III the Great
Angevin Ludwik the Hungarian · Jadwiga Angevin
Jagiellon Władysław II Jagiełło · Władysław III of Varna · Casimir IV Jagiellon · John I Albert · Alexander Jagiellon · Sigismund I the Old · Sigismund II Augustus
Elected Henry III of France · Anna Jagiellon · Stefan Batory · Sigismund III Vasa · Władysław IV Vasa · John II Casimir · Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki · John III Sobieski · Augustus II the Strong · Stanisław Leszczyński · Augustus II the Strong · Stanisław Leszczyński · August III the Saxon · Stanisław August Poniatowski
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