Bolesław

After a struggle for power between Bolesław I and Oda with her minor sons (Bolesław's half-brothers), the eldest son of Mieszko I took control over all of his father's state and expelled his stepmother and her sons from Poland.

In this text, probably as a result of confusion, he gives instead of Mieszko's name the name of his son Bolesław: ::The King of the Swedes, Erik, entered into an alliance with the very powerful King of the Polans, Bolesław.

It is Bolesław's epitaph, which, in part, came from the original tombstone, that is one of the first sources (dated to the period immediately after Bolesław's death, probably during the reign of Mieszko II Przemysław Wiszniewski: Domus Bolezlai.

According to a scholarly theory, Bolesław ruled Lesser Poland already during the last years of his father's reign.

According to some historians, the war lasted only a few weeks, and according to others, only finished around 995, when Bolesław I expelled his stepmother and half-brothers from Poland and took control over all Mieszko I's domains.

A few months later Bolesław I paid homage in person.

After many historical twists, the burial place of Bolesław I ultimately remained at Poznań Cathedral, in the Golden Chapel.

Another hypothesis assumes that the territories were transferred by Bolesław to him, and as a result made Mieszko a vassal of the Empire.

Bezprym had, however, always been disliked by his father, as indicated by his name (the Piasts tended to give names such as Bolesław, Mieszko and later Kazimierz, Władysław and emperors' names, such as Otto, Konrad (Conrad), and Henryk (Heinrich).

Bezprym was rather a commoner's name, which implied that Bolesław did not wish Bezprym to succeed him).

Bolesław conducted successful military campaigns in the west, south and east.

Bolesław gave Erik his daughter or sister.

Bolesław I is widely considered one of Poland's most capable and accomplished Piast rulers.

Bolesław left to his son an unstable Kingdom, who had to defend his autonomy and position amongst neighboring rulers.

Bolesław was thus the first Polish king as his predecessors had been considered mere "dukes" by both the Empire and the Pope in Rome.

Casimir is the only king in Polish history to both receive and retain the title of "Great" ( Bolesław I Chrobry is also called "Great", but more commonly "Valiant").

Chronicler Thietmar described the event as follows: ::When Bolesław 's mother died his father married, without permission from the Church, a nun from the monastery in Kalbe, daughter of Margrave Dietrich.

Dark pink area represents Poland at end of rule of Mieszko I (992); light pink area added (northwest lost) during reign of Bolesław I (died 1025).

Despite this success, Duke Bolesław II of Płock unexpectedly resigned his pretensions, leaving all the Kraków inheritance to Wladyslaw I the Elbow-high.

Gallus was a foreign monk who accompanied King Bolesław III Wrymouth in his return from Hungary to Poland.