Peace of Bautzen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Peace of Bautzen (German: Frieden von Bautzen; Polish: Pokój w Budziszynie) was a peace treaty signed by Emperor Henry II and Duke Bolesław I the Brave of Poland on 30 January 1018. The peace, achieved at the Ortenburg castle in Bautzen, ended 15 years of warfare between the two rulers, as well as ending negotiations Henry had begun in 1003 with the heathen Liutizians. Because of the recurring warfare since the Peace of Merseburg in 1013, Henry desired peace with Poland. This would allow him to focus on reunifying the Roman Empire, since divided into the western Holy Roman Empire and the eastern Byzantine Empire, with himself as universal Roman Emperor, a goal desired by his predecessor Otto III. Bolesław received the disputed Marches of Lusatia and Milzenerland until 1031 and strengthened dynastic bonds through his marriage with Oda, first daughter of Margrave Ekkehard I of Meißen. With the help of contingents of German and Hungarian troops, he was then able to capture Kiev in the summer of 1018 and hold it for six months. As the partner of the western Emperor, Bolesław was able to threaten the Byzantine Emperor Basil II from Kiev.

[edit] See also

• List of treaties