On February 8, 1296, in Rogoźno, King Przemysł II of Poland, the last ruler from the Greater Poland line of the Piast dynasty, was murdered. The assassination was carried out as a result of a conspiracy involving the Margraves of Brandenburg and members of the Nałęcz and Zaremba noble families. This event ended the attempt to unify the Polish state and initiated a long-lasting political crisis.
The Death of Przemysł II is one of the most mysterious events in medieval Polish history. This ruler, who was the first since Bolesław the Bold to be crowned King of Poland, fell victim to a brutal assassination on February 8, 1296, in Rogoźno.
The circumstances surrounding the murder of the last Piast on the Greater Poland throne have sparked controversy among historians for years. Behind the scenes of this event was likely a complicated political game involving both the Brandenburgers and parts of the Polish noble opposition. The death of Przemysł II significantly influenced the fate of the Polish state, paving the way for representatives of other dynasties to claim the throne.
Who Was Przemysł II - The Last Polish King from the Piast Dynasty
#Przemysł II served as the Duke of Greater Poland from 1279 and subsequently as the Duke of Kraków and King of Poland from 1295-1296. He came from the Greater Poland line of the Piast dynasty as the son of Przemysł I and Elizabeth, daughter of Henry the Pious.
Path to Power
#- Assumed power in Greater Poland at age 22 after the death of his uncle Bolesław the Pious
- United Greater Poland with Pomerelia in 1294
- Was crowned King of Poland on June 26, 1295, in Gniezno
- Held actual power over Greater Poland, Pomerelia, and parts of Lesser Poland
Political Achievements
#| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1290 | Taking control of Kraków |
| 1294 | Unification with Pomerelia |
| 1295 | Royal coronation in Gniezno |
Private Life
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Had three marriages:
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To Ludgarda of Mecklenburg (1273-1283)
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To Richeza of Sweden (1285-1292)
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To Margaret of Brandenburg (1293-1296)
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Had only one daughter, Richeza Elizabeth, from his second marriage
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Resided mainly in Poznań and Gniezno
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First crowned ruler after a 219-year break since Bolesław the Bold
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Creator of the state emblem featuring a white eagle with a crown
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Initiator of the process of unifying Polish lands
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Last male representative of the Greater Poland Piast line on the royal throne
Political Background of Events in the 13th Century
#The political situation in the 13th century was characterized by the feudal fragmentation of Poland into smaller duchies and growing conflicts with neighboring states. This period was marked by intense rivalry between local rulers for dominance over particular territories.
Situation in Greater Poland
#Greater Poland in the second half of the 13th century was under the rule of two Piast lines: the Poznań line with Przemysł I and the Kalisz line with Bolesław the Pious. These dukes pursued the following policies:
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Forming alliances with Silesian dukes against Brandenburg expansion
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Developing the economy through the establishment of new towns under German law
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Building defensive systems through the construction of brick castles
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Establishing trade relations with Western Pomerania
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Brandenburg pursued an aggressive policy of eastward expansion
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Brandenburg margraves claimed rights to Gdańsk Pomerania
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Gdańsk Pomerania maintained close economic ties with Greater Poland
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Mściwoj II concluded the Treaty of Kępno with Przemysł II in 1282
| Year | Event | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| 1250 | Beginning of Brandenburg expansion | Threat to western borders of Greater Poland |
| 1282 | Treaty of Kępno | Incorporation of Gdańsk Pomerania into Greater Poland |
| 1284 | Greater Poland-Pomeranian alliance | Strengthening position against Brandenburg |
| 1290 | Przemysł II's occupation of Pomerania | Unification of Greater Poland and Pomeranian lands |
Circumstances of Przemysł II's Death
#Circumstances of Przemysł II's Death
#Przemysł II died as a result of a brutal assault during his stay in Rogoźno. The king's murder was the culmination of political tensions between Greater Poland and Brandenburg, as well as internal opponents of the ruler.
Location of the Murder in Rogoźno
#The king's murder took place in a wooden manor located in Rogoźno. The attackers stormed the residence at dawn when most of the royal court was still asleep. The crime scene was situated along a trade route connecting Poznań with Pomerania, which facilitated the perpetrators' quick escape. Chronicles note that the manor lacked proper defensive fortifications, and the number of guards was limited due to the carnival period.
Date of February 8, 1296
#The murder occurred on Tuesday, February 8, 1296, during the carnival period before Lent. Historical sources indicate earlier celebrations in Rogoźno related to the end of carnival, which the assassins took advantage of. Chronicler Jan Długosz recorded that the attack was carried out at dawn between 5 and 6 AM. The killers abducted the king from his chamber, inflicting numerous wounds that led to his death on the way to Brandenburg.
| Murder Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | February 8, 1296 |
| Day of the week | Tuesday |
| Time of attack | Dawn (5-6 AM) |
| Location | Manor in Rogoźno |
| Perpetrators | Brandenburg detachment with help from Greater Poland conspirators |
Conspiracy and Assassins
#The murder of Przemysł II was the result of a carefully planned conspiracy involving both representatives of the Brandenburg margraves and some Polish opposition members. Historical documents indicate the complex nature of the plot combining the interests of external aggressors with the king's internal opponents.
Role of Brandenburg Margraves
#The main organizer of the assassination was Brandenburg Margrave Otto V the Tall along with his brothers Otto IV with the Arrow and John IV. The margraves commanded a unit of 40 armed men under the leadership of Jacob Kaszuba. The Brandenburgers acted from territorial motives, seeking to take control of Pomerelia and weaken the position of the unified Polish kingdom. Contemporary documents confirm the direct involvement of the Ascanian dynasty in organizing the attack through:
- Financing the armed group
- Providing shelter to the assassins after the murder
- Coordinating actions with Greater Polish conspirators
- Providing information about the king's travel route
Involvement of Polish Opposition
#Greater Polish nobles from the Nałęcz and Zaremba families actively cooperated with the Brandenburgers in carrying out the assassination. The involvement of local opposition included:
- Sharing information about the king's travel plans
- Facilitating the entry of Brandenburg armed men into Rogoźno
- Indicating the king's lodging place
- Weakening royal protection by dismissing part of the guard
Brothers Tomisław and Jan Zaremba, along with representatives of the Nałęcz family, played key roles as they felt threatened by Przemysł II's centralizing policies. Jan Długosz's chronicles name them as direct participants in the murder, pointing to revenge as their motive for limiting aristocratic privileges.
Consequences of Przemysł II's Death
#The death of Przemysł II in 1296 caused a deep political crisis in Poland. The assassination of the first king after the period of feudal fragmentation led to significant changes in the power structure and influenced the direction of Polish state development.
Dissolution of the Unified Kingdom
#Dissolution of the Unified Kingdom
#The assassination of Przemysł II caused the immediate dissolution of the newly unified state into three main regions: Greater Poland, Gdańsk Pomerania, and Lesser Poland. Greater Poland was ruled by representatives of local noble families, while Gdańsk Pomerania became the target of Brandenburg expansion. In Lesser Poland, Władysław the Elbow-high took power and began the process of reunifying Polish lands from scratch.
- Strengthening of Greater Poland's nobility position
- Transfer of throne rights to Przemysł II's daughter, Ryksa Elizabeth
- Loss of control over Gdańsk Pomerania to Brandenburg
- Formation of new political alliances between noble families
- Weakening of royal power centralization for 20 years
| Political Consequences | Period |
|---|---|
| Reign of Wenceslaus II | 1300-1305 |
| Period of throne struggles | 1296-1300 |
| Recovery of the crown by Piasts (Łokietek) | 1320 |
Key Findings
#- Przemysł II was murdered on February 8, 1296, in Rogoźno, during an attack organized by Brandenburg margraves and Greater Poland nobles
- He was the first crowned ruler of Poland since Bolesław the Bold (after 219 years) and the last king from the Greater Poland line of the Piast dynasty
- The assassination was carried out by Brandenburg margraves (mainly Otto V the Tall) and representatives of the Nałęcz and Zaremba families, who collaborated in organizing the attack
- Przemysł II's death led to the dissolution of the newly unified state into three parts: Greater Poland, Gdańsk Pomerania, and Lesser Poland
- The king's assassination caused a serious political crisis, which ended only with the coronation of Władysław the Elbow-high in 1320
Summary
#The assassination of Przemysł II on February 8, 1296, in Rogoźno marked a turning point in medieval Polish history. The murder of the first king of Poland since Bolesław the Bold was the result of a complex conspiracy involving Brandenburg margraves and representatives of Greater Polish noble families.
The consequences of this event were far-reaching. The disintegration of the newly unified state hindered the process of unifying Polish lands for another two decades. Greater Poland plunged into power struggles while Gdańsk Pomerania became a target of Brandenburg's expansion.
The death of Przemysł II ended the reign of the Greater Polish line of the Piast dynasty and opened the path to the throne for representatives of other dynasties. Only when Władysław the Elbow-high took power in 1320 did the royal crown return to the Piast dynasty.