Poland soon stretched from the Baltic to the Carpathians, loosely establishing its historical borders by 1100. This led to Boleslaw’s coronation in 1025, making him the first "King of Poland." Mieszko's son Boleslaw established a purely Polish-Catholic ecclesiastical organization, and his secular authority was recognized by the Germanic Holy Roman Emperor. Despite some debate, even most skeptical scholars now accept this date as the beginning of Poland.Ī series of strong (or strong-arm) successors to Mieszko slowly converted the pagan Poles, established a firm dynastic grip, and dragged reluctant Poland into the broader European culture. Mieszko converted to Christianity after Roman Catholic missionaries from Bohemia preached the spiritual and practical benefits, and was baptized in 966.
When marauding Magyars threatened the Wislanie tribe of Krakow, with whom Mieszko had close ties, he united both tribes-and in doing so, founded the Piast Dynasty. Despite this, Poland managed to hold its own, and was once itself the biggest bully on the block.Īccording to semi-legendary accounts, Mieszko ruled the Polanie tribe from the fortified settlement of Gniezno. Poland also had the inconvenience to lie between Germany and Russia, who (for more than a millennium) cast covetous eyes on its rich lands and resources.
Unfortunately for Poland, that plain served as the gateway for invasion-from Europe at the western borders and from Asia to the east. The most salient feature of Poland's topography is the extensive plain that stretches from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Carpathian Mountains to the south.
0 kommentar(er)
