Leszek I the White

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Drawing by Jan Matejko
Drawing by Jan Matejko

Leszek I the White (Polish: Leszek Biały; c.11861227) was Prince of Sandomierz and (from 1202 or 1206) of Cracow.

Death of Leszek the White, by Jan Matejko
Death of Leszek the White, by Jan Matejko

In 1205 he defeated the Ruthenian army of Prince Roman the Great at the Battle of Zawichost in Lesser Poland.

In 1227, during a diet of Polish barons at Gąsawa, he was assassinated (probably on orders from Duke Świętopełk II of Pomerania).


In a rather famous anecdote, Leszek once explained to the Pope that Polish knights could not participate in his Crusade because there was no mead to be had in Palestine.

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