Konrad I of Masovia

Konrad I of Masovia
Konrad I as depicted on contemporary Paten of Płock.
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 in 1202, Kuyavia. In 1205, he and his brother, Leszek I the White, had their greatest military victory at Battle of Zawichost against Roman the Great. The Ruthenian army was crushed and Roman was killed in battle. 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 the pre-Nemanjic Zhupan dynasty.

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 the 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 gaining control over the territory of Chełmno Land. Subjected to constant Prussian raids and counter-raids, Konrad now wanted to stabilize the north of the duchy of Masovia in this fight over border area of Chełmno Land.

The Teutonic Order

Map of Prussian tribes (coloured areas) in the 13th century. Kulmerland (Chełmno Land, white) in the south west already under control of the Teutonic Order

Thus in 1226, Konrad having difficulty with constant raids over his territory, 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 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 Culmensis^[1] 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 ^{[2] [3]} that it was never signed and the Order might have forged it.

Imaginary portrait by Jan Matejko

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.

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 the Polish state'.

See also

• History of Poland (966-1385)

Notes

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