The Forgotten Crusaders; Poland And The Crusader Movement In The Twelfth And Thirteenth Centuries (2012)

The Forgotten Crusaders

The Northern World North Europe and the Baltic c. 400–1700 A.D. Peoples, Economies and Cultures

Editors

Barbara Crawford (St. Andrews) David Kirby (London) Jón Viðar Sigurðsson (Oslo) Ingvild Øye (Bergen) Piotr Gorecki (University of California at Riverside)

VoluMe 56

The titles published in this series are listed at brill.nl/nw

The Forgotten Crusaders Poland and the Crusader Movement in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries

By

Mikołaj Gładysz

Leiden • boston 2012

Cover illustration: Drawing after a crusading seal of Konrad of Mazovia. With kind permission of Błażej Poltrok. Translator: Paul Barford Language editor: Peter Barnes The translation of the book was funded by The Foundation for Polish Science. This book is printed on acid-free paper. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Gladysz, Mikolaj.  [Zapomniani krzyzowcy. English]  The forgotten crusaders : Poland and the crusader movement in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries / by Mikolaj Gladysz.   p. cm. — (The northern world : North Europe and the Baltic c. 400–1700 A.D. peoples, economies and cultures; ISSN 1569-1462 ; v. 56)  Includes bibliographical references and index.  Translation of: Zapomniani krzyzowcy.  ISBN 978-90-04-18551-7 (hardback : alk. paper) 1. Poland—History—Piast period, 960-1386. 2. Crusades—Participation, Polish. 3. Crusades—13th–15th centuries. 4. Europe, Eastern— History—To 1500. I. Title.  DK4212.G5813 2012  909.07—dc23

2011044660

This publication has been typeset in the multilingual “Brill” typeface. With over 5,100 characters covering Latin, IPA, Greek, and Cyrillic, this typeface is especially suitable for use in the humanities. For more information, please see www.brill.nl/brill-typeface. ISSN 1569-1462 ISBN 978 90 04 18551 7 (hardback) ISBN 978 90 04 22336 3 (e-book) Copyright 2012 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands. Koninklijke Brill NV incorporates the imprints Brill, Global Oriental, Hotei Publishing, IDC Publishers, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers and VSP. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use is granted by Koninklijke Brill NV provided that the appropriate fees are paid dire ctly to The Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Suite 910, Danvers, MA 01923, USA. Fees are subject to change.

cOntents Preface to the English Translation .............................................................. vii Timeline ............................................................................................................... xi Genealogical Tree ............................................................................................. xv Maps  ..................................................................................................................... xvii Abbreviations ..................................................................................................... xxiii Introduction . .......................................................................................................

1

I

The Echo of Clermont: 1095–1141 .....................................................

15

II

The Second Crusade: 1146–49 ...........................................................

39

III

The Northern Crusades: 1147 .............................................................

67

IV

Crusaders—Pilgrims—Founders: 1153–87 ....................................

97

V

The Third Crusade: 1187–93 ...............................................................

121

VI

The Fifth Crusade: 1213–21 ................................................................. 147

VII

Arms to the Aid of the Prussian Mission: 1217–25 ......................

175

VIII Supporting the Crusading Orders: 1225–35 ...................................

213

IX

Crusading on All Fronts: 1240–48 .................................................... 253

X

Unrealised Plans: 1248–60 .................................................................. 297

XI

Attempts to Reverse the Trend: 1261–73 ....................................... 333

XII

A Final Change of Formula: 1274–91 ............................................... 359

Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 385 Bibliography . ....................................................................................................... 395 Index  . ................................................................................................................... 427

Preface to the English translation This book has been translated from a work which was the fruit of research carried out in 1994–2000 during my studies, first as an undergraduate and then as a doctoral student, in the Institute of History at the University of Gdańsk. The Polish version appeared in print in 2002. Six years later, mainly as a result of the interest expressed by Professor Piotr Górecki of the University of California and of financial support from the Foundation for Polish Science, work began on the present translation. Over ten years have passed since the end of the research which produced the results presented here, and it therefore needs to be said that to a large extent the text of the The Forgotten Crusaders reflects the state of research, on the range of topics considered, in about the year 2000. This has been supplemented here only by a few additions of later works to the bibliography. Many topics which the book touches upon have been considered in later publications, but—as far as the author is aware—none of these works has required a serious revision of the conclusions presented in this book. Things would perhaps have been different if the Polish version of The Forgotten Crusaders had met with a more lively reception. While it is true there were a couple of reviews, it did not provoke a wider discussion, nor did it lead to increased interest in the subject. The question of Polish involvement in the crusading movement remains a topic of marginal significance for Polish medieval studies. This is all the more reason then for the subject of the book to appear even more exotic to the foreign reader, even to one who is familiar with the topic of the Crusades. What can the analysis of the involvement of a country lying on the peripheries of Latin Europe, far from the main centres of the crusading movement, offer to our knowledge of the crusading expeditions? The answer to that question directly depends on the perspective from which we look at the history of the Crusades. If we narrow our field of interest to the struggle of European knights for the Holy Land and the history of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, then the effect of investigations into Polish participation in the Crusades is limited to the discussion of a few poorly-documented episodes. If however we take an interest also in the organisation of the campaign of preaching of the Cross and the collection of resources for the support of the Crusades by the Church, an analysis

viii

preface to the english translation

of the place of Poland in these phenomena may be cognitively valuable. The further widening of the scope of enquiry, to consider the application of the motifs of crusading against Poland’s pagan neighbours, local heretics or political opponents of the Church provides even more conclusions which may interest the international reader. Finally, the wider context of the Crusades, looking at the influence of the crusading ideology on different areas of life in medieval Poland—one of the countries of ‘young Europe’ (to use J. Kłoczowski’s term)—would form an interesting contribution to our knowledge of European culture in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Forgotten Crusaders, being an attempt to take a wider look at the relationships between Poland and the crusading movement, therefore has the potential to make a contribution to the state of our knowledge of medieval history as a whole. Another feature of the book ought to be pointed out to the foreign reader; this concerns the research methodology adopted, which has had a decisive effect on the form of the narrative. The work considers a period in Poland’s history which is very poorly reflected in the written sources. This means that a significant portion of the discussion necessarily has more the character of a hypothetical reconstruction of events, created on the basis of analysing the fragmentarily preserved information. The reader must therefore be prepared for detailed discussions of the contents of single documents, sentences or even phrases, the laborious determination of chronological facts or the identification of individuals, and sometimes—when the state of the sources gives too few indications—the discussion of parallel alternative hypotheses. It cannot be denied that this method, similar to the gathering of circumstantial evidence in criminal investigations, makes The Forgotten Crusaders a work which in places is not easy to read, and requires familiarity with the scientific methodology of the medievalist. At the same time, however, it allows a full view of the manner in which the reasoning is constructed, and thus facilitates the evaluation of the conclusions presented. I hope that among the readers of this English version will be researchers ready to enter into a discussion of these Â�conclusions. Finally, this book is based on a doctoral thesis defended in December 2000 In the Institute of History at the University of Gdańsk. The author would like to thank all those who, through their comments, their help in identifying sources and the giving of their time to discussing the work and facilitating access to their own libraries, greatly aided in the completion of this study. Thanks are due especially to the founder, now no longer



preface to the english translation

ix

with us, of the Gdańsk medieval school, Professor Dr. hab. Jan Powierski, without whose good will this work would never have been undertaken. Special thanks are also due to Dr. hab. Wiesław Długokęcki, who took over the promotion of the work after the death of Professor Powierski, and to whom its completion owes a great deal. Mikołaj Gładysz Gdańsk, June, 2010

TiMeline DATE

EVENT

PARTICIPANTS

1141

Prussian expedition of Henry Zdik

1144–47

Legation of Cardinal Humbald

1144–53

Correspondence of Bishop Mateusz and Piotr Włostowic with St Bernard

1147

Second Crusade

a Piast duke (Henryk of Sandomierz*) at the head of a numerous corps ( Jaksa of Miechow*)

1147

Polabian crusade

Mieszko the Old at the head of a large troop of men

1147

Prussian expedition

Bolesław the Curly

1153–54

Expedition to Jerusalem

Henryk of Sandomierz

1162–63

Expedition to Jerusalem

Jaksa of Miechow, Presbyter Otto*, Wojsław Trojanowic*

1189

Legation of Cardinal John Malabranca

1192 or 1193

Expedition of Kazimierz the Just against the Jatving

Bishop Wit of Płock, his brother Dzierżko*

Second half of twelfth century.

Expedition to Jerusalem

Wielisław of Jerusalem (Third Crusade*), Brother B., Voivode Krystyn* (Third Crusade*)

1217–21

Fifth Crusade

Piast duke (Kazimierz of Opole*), Sieciech Konradowic

xii DATE

timeline EVENT

PARTICIPANTS

1218

Prussian crusade

Wawrzyniec bishop of Wrocław

1223

Prussian crusade

Henryk the Bearded, Leszek the White, Konrad of Mazovia—at the head of a large body of knights

1222–25

Prussian guard-post �system

Silesian and Małopolska knighthood. (Castellan of Chełmno Stefan, Jan Klementowic, Dziersław Abrahamowic, Budzisław Krzesławic)

1229

Prussian crusade

Albert Łyka

Before 1232

Levantine crusade, oath of Pakosław

1234

Prussian crusade

Konrad of Mazovia (Kazimierz of Kuyavia*)

1235

Prussian crusade

Henryk the Bearded, Konrad of Mazovia, Władysław Odonic, Henryk the Pious, Kazimierz of Kuyavia, (Archbishop Pełka*)—at the head of numerous knights

1239–41

Attempt by Pope Gregory IX to mount crusade against the Emperor

1241

First Mongol attack defensive crusade authorised by the papacy (self-declared “crusade” in Germany and Bohemia).

1243–44

Prussian crusade

Kazimierz of Kuyavia

DATE

timeline EVENT

1244

Prussian crusade—entry of an anonymous member of the Małopolska elite into the Teutonic Knights

First half of thirteenth century

Prussian crusade

1253

Legation of Abbot Opizo of Mezzano—proposal for anti-Mongol crusade

1255–57

Polish-Czech proposal for Baltic crusade

1257

Proclamation of crusade against Bolesław II the Bald

1259–60

Second Mongol invasion Proposal for relief crusade by the Czechs, Brandenburgians and the Teutonic Knights

1261

Prussian crusade

Before 1286 (1274)

Levantine crusade, oath of Henryk IV Probus

1284 or 1285

Taking-up of the cross against the Mongols by Leszek the White and the Małopolska knighthood

1287

Proposal for crusade against Henryk IV Probus

1287–88

Third Mongol invasion

* entries in italics are based on hypotheses

xiii PARTICIPANTS

Andrzej of Morawica

Kazimierz of Kuyavia

the Wielkopolska knighthood

—defensive crusade (Leszek the Black*)

Mieszko III the Old* (1122–1202)

Władysław the Spindleshanks (c.1165–1231)*

Władysław Odonic (c.1190–1239)

Przemysl I (1220 or 1221–1257)

Bolesław the Pious (before 1227–1279)

Przemysł II (1257–1296)*

Henryk the Bearded (c.1168–1238)*

Henryk the Pious (before 1207–1241)*

Bolesław the Bald (before 1225–1279)

Henryk Probus (c.1258–1291)*

PIASTS OF WIELKOPOLSKA

Bolesław IV the Curly* (1121–1173)

Bolesław III the Wrymouth* (1086–1138)

Bolesław the Tall (1227–1201)

PIASTS OF SILESIA

Władysław II the Exile* (1105–1159)

SIMPLIFIED GENEALOGICAL TREE OF THE PIAST DYNASTY IN 12th AND 13th CENTURY

Bolesław the Chaste (1226–1279)* Leszek the Black (c.1241–1288)*

Kazimierz of Kuyavia Siemowit of Mazovia (c.1211–1267) (c.1215–1262)

PIASTS OF MAZOVIA AND KUYAVIA

Konrad of Mazovia* (c.1187–1247)

Kazimierz II the Just* (1138–1194)

Leszek the White* (c.1186–1227)

Henryk of Sandomierz (1130–1166)

Genealogical Tree

Maps

Gdansk

Gdansk Pomerania

in ec ia n cz Sz era m o P

s

u

r

P

s

a

i

R

S zc zec i n

M

Wi K o p an i c a

elk

op

ols

Po z n a n

province of the Grand Duke province of the Władyslaw III province of the Bolesław the Curly province of the Mieszko the Old

ka

i

district of the Duchess Salomea Duchies of Pomerania province bestomed on Duke Henryk in 1146 boundaries of Brandenburg under Albert the Bear (1170) boundaries of Western Pomerania c. 1180 boundaries of the State under Casimir the just in 1194 castellanies

v

i

a

l

(G

re

at

e

P l oc k

Po

la

nd

)

W ro c l a w

s

i

M (L a ł o es se p o S a n d om i e r z r P l s ola k a nd )

a

S

boundaries of the state under Boleslaw the Wrymouth in 1138 boundaries of dioceses

o

Gniezno

DOM OF BOHEM KING IA P r ag ue

Boleslaw the Wrymouth’s Statule of 1138

zs

U

S Mai s s en

a

W l oc l a w e k

C r a c ow

P r z e my s l Olomouc

K

I N D O M

O F

N G H U

A

R

Y

After map The Beginning of the Feudal Fragmentation of Poland from “The Historical Atlas of Poland” (English edition).

1. Poland in the second half of the 12th century.

xviii

maps

L I T H

D F O OR TE IC A N ST TO U E T

M

Sz

cz

arc

eci n Pomerania Chełmno

z Co C S a n d o m i e rSandomierz uKopanica ra nt co y w C o

vin

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IN

Pro

Vladimir

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ce

G

O

of

D

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Cracow

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POLAND IN THE 13TH CENTURY (c. 1250) 1 : 5,000.000 boundary of Poland in 1250

main roads

boundaries of provinces and duchies

routes of Tartar invasions (1241)

boundaries of countries capital cities of states. provinces, duchies and countries main lowns and castle-towns

battle ��elds

O

K F

I

M O R D A G G N N U H

Z – V L A D I M I R L I C H A

Po

Opole

B

O F

K Prague

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Wroclaw

t oun z C

is

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Cou

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Sieradz

al

w ocla Wr

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Province of Legnica

Si

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Legnica

Maissen

Łęczyca Kalisz

cz

an Głowgów

Plock

Wloclawek

Lę

zn Province of Głowgów

E Hu n t y

T o oC

Drohiczyn

Gniezno

Poznan

ER

Y C H D U

Lubusz

Ch eł mn

i Gn Province of

rg

o Province of P

h of Brandenbu

Szczecin

N I A U A

Gdansk

Gdánsk Pomerania

Y

lands lost up to the mid-13th century

After map Poland in the 13th Century (c. 1250) from “The Historical Atlas of Poland” (English edition).

2. Poland in the first half of the 13th century.