Editing Bolesław III Wrymouth (section)

===Sole Ruler of Poland===

====First Expedition to Bohemia and exile of Zbigniew====
In 1107 Bolesław III along with his ally King Coloman of Hungary invaded Bohemia in order to aid Svatopluk in gaining the Czech throne and to secure Polish interests to the south.<ref>R. Grodecki, S. Zachorowski, J. Dąbrowski: ''Dzieje Polski średniowiecznej'', vol. I, pp. 136–137.</ref> The expedition was a complete success: on 14 May 1107 Svatopluk was made Duke of Bohemia in [[Prague]].<ref>The date was given by Cosmas of Prague. At the news of the rebellion Bořivoj II (who was in the Congress of Merseburg) complained to Emperor Henry V and request his intervention. Z. S. Pietras: Bolesław Krzywousty. Cieszyn, 1978, pp. 90–91</ref>

In the winter of 1107–08, with the help of Kievan and Hungarian allies, Bolesław undertook a punitive expedition against his brother Zbigniew. One reason for this was that Zbigniew had not followed his orders and had refused to burn down one of the fortresses of [[Kurów]] near [[Puławy]].<ref>K. Maleczyński: ''Bolesław III Krzywousty'', p. 68.</ref> Another reason was that Zbigniew had not performed his duties as a vassal by failing to provide military aid to Bolesław for a campaign against the Pomeranians.  Bolesław's forces attacked Mazovia and quickly forced Zbigniew to surrender. Following this, Zbigniew was banished from the country and, with his followers, took refuge in Prague, where he gained the support of Svatopluk.<ref name="Barański, p. 201">M. K. Barański: ''Dynastia Piastów w Polsce'', p. 201.</ref> From then Bolesław was the sole lord of the Polish lands,<ref name="Grodecki, p. 137"/><ref>M. Spórna, P. Wierzbicki: ''Słownik władców Polski i pretendentów do tronu polskiego'', p. 63.</ref> though in fact his over-lordship began in 1107 when Zbigniew paid him homage as his feudal lord.<ref name="Szczur, p. 122"/>

In 1108 the balance of power in Europe changed. Svatopluk decided to pay homage to Emperor Henry V and in exchange received from him the formal investiture of Bohemia. At the same time King Coloman of Hungary was under attack from the combined forces of the Holy Roman Empire and Bohemia. Svatopluk, joined by Zbigniew and his followers, also attacked Poland. Bolesław avoided a direct confrontation because he was busy fighting Pomerania. The Polish-Hungarian coalition gave aid and shelter to Bořivoj II.<ref name="Barański, p. 201"/> Later that year, Bolesław and Coloman sent a new expedition to Bohemia, prompted by the invasion of Hungary by the German-Bohemian coalition (during which  [[Bratislava Castle|Pozsony Castle]] was put under siege)<ref name="Barański, p. 202">M. K. Barański: ''Dynastia Piastów w Polsce'', p. 202.</ref> and the fact that Svatopluk, who owed Bolesław his throne, didn't honor his promise to return Silesian cities seized from Poland ([[Racibórz]], Kamieniec, [[Koźle]] among others) by his predecessors.<ref name="Zachorowski, p. 141">R. Grodecki, S. Zachorowski, J. Dąbrowski: ''Dzieje Polski średniowiecznej'', vol. I , p. 141.</ref> Bolesław then decided to restore Bořivoj II to the Bohemian throne, but was unable to do so<ref name="Szczur, p. 122"/> owing to the need to divert his forces north to thwart a Pomeranian invasion.<ref name="Barański, p. 202"/>

====Polish-German War of 1109====
In response to Bolesław's aggressive foreign policy, the [[Holy Roman Emperor]], [[Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry V]], undertook a punitive expedition against Poland in 1109,<ref>Wincenty Kadłubek: ''Kronika polska'', vol. III, cap. 18, pp. 133–138. See also K. Kmąk: [http://historia.org.pl/2009/08/28/wojna-polsko-niemiecka-1109/ ''Wojna polsko-niemiecka 1109 (in Polish)''] [retrieved 15 July 2014].</ref> assisted by [[Czech (people)|Czech]] warriors provided by Svatopluk of Bohemia. The alleged ''casus belli'' was to restore Zbigniew to his former position. The Emperor gave Bolesław an ultimatum: he would abandon the expedition only if Bolesław gave Zbigniew half of Poland to rule, formally recognized Henry as overlord and paid 300 pieces of fine silver as a regular tribute.<ref name="Kmąk">K. Kmąk: [http://historia.org.pl/2009/08/28/wojna-polsko-niemiecka-1109/ ''Wojna polsko-niemiecka 1109 (in Polish)''] [retrieved 15 July 2014].</ref> Bolesław rejected Henry's demands. During the negotiations between the Empire and Poland, the Polish ruler was in the middle of a war against Pomerania. On the west side of the [[Oder]] river, Henry V hurriedly gathered knights for his expedition against Poland.<ref name="Kmąk"/> Before the fight ended in Pomerania, the German troops were able to approach [[Głogów]].<ref>M. K. Barański: ''Dynastia Piastów w Polsce'', pp. 203–204.</ref>
[[Image:PsiePole MBielski.png|thumb|right|[[Battle of Hundsfeld]], from ''The Polish Chronicle'' of [[Marcin Bielski]] (1597)]]
The military operations mainly took place in [[Silesia]] in southwestern Poland, where Henry V's army laid siege to the major cities of Głogów, [[Wrocław]] and [[Bytom Odrzański]]. In addition to defending the towns, Bolesław conducted a guerrilla war against the Holy Roman Emperor and his allies. He reportedly defeated the expedition at the [[Battle of Hundsfeld]] on 24 August 1109,<ref name="Kmąk"/><ref>Wincenty Kadłubek describes this battle following the reports of Gallus Anonymus. However, at the end of the 19th century, historians recognized Kadłubek's relate as unreliable, as reflected, inter alia, [in:] [[Samuel Orgelbrand|S. Orgelbrand]]: ''Encyklopedia Powszechna'', vol. XII, ''Od Polska do Rohan'', p. 406.</ref> although the existence of this battle is doubted by historians because it was first recorded about a century later.<ref>''"S. Orgelbranda Encyklopedia Powszechna"'', Warsaw 1902, vol. XII, page 406</ref><ref>M. Kaczmarek, ''"Bitwa na Psim Polu"'', in: Encyklopedia Wrocławia, Wrocław 2000</ref>

====Second Expedition to Bohemia====
In 1110 Bolesław undertook an unsuccessful military expedition against [[Bohemia]]. His intention was to install yet another pretender on the Czech throne, [[Soběslav I, Duke of Bohemia|Soběslav I]],<ref>M. K. Barański: ''Dynastia Piastów w Polsce'', p. 207.</ref> who sought refuge in Poland. During the campaign he won a decisive victory against the Czechs at the [[Battle of Trutina]] on 8 October 1110;<ref>Tomasz Ga̜sowski, Jerzy Ronikier, Zdzisław Zblewski: ''Bitwy polskie. Leksykon'', [[Znak (publisher)|Editorial Znak]], 1999.</ref> however, following this battle he ordered his forces to withdraw. The reason for this is speculated to be the unpopularity of Soběslav I among Czechs as well as Bolesław's unwillingness to further harm his relations with the Holy Roman Empire. In 1111 a truce between Poland and the Empire was signed, stipulating that Soběslav I would be able to return to Bohemia while Zbigniew would be able to return Poland.<ref>This treaty probably stipulated that Zbigniew received Sieradz as a fief. P. Ksyk-Gąsiorowska: ''Zbigniew'', [in:] S. Szczur, K. Ożóg (ed.), ''Piastowie. Leksykon biograficzny'', p. 75.</ref> Bolesław's assent was likely under pressure from the many supporters of the exiled duke in 1108, who, according to the reports of Gallus Anonymus, was surrounded by bad advisers (probably including [[Martin I (archbishop of Gniezno)|Martin I, Archbishop of Gniezno]]<ref>Z. Dalewski: ''Rytuał i polityka. Opowieść Galla Anonima o konflikcie Bolesława Krzywoustego ze Zbigniewem'', p. 25.</ref>). Once in Poland, his advisers persuaded Zbigniew to claim sovereignty over his previous domains. The first step was his presence at the [[Advent]] ceremonial, surrounded by attendants, with a sword carried before him, an exclusive prerogative of the ruler. As he had recognized Bolesław as his overlord in [[Łęczyca]] in 1107,<ref>Z. Dalewski: ''Rytuał i polityka. Opowieść Galla Anonima o konflikcie Bolesława Krzywoustego ze Zbigniewem'', pp. 39–40.</ref> Boleslaw considered this an act of treason,<ref>Z. Dalewski: ''Rytuał i polityka. Opowieść Galla Anonima o konflikcie Bolesława Krzywoustego ze Zbigniewem'', p. 13, 46.</ref> causing a definitive breach in their relationship.<ref>Z. Dalewski: ''Rytuał i polityka. Opowieść Galla Anonima o konflikcie Bolesława Krzywoustego ze Zbigniewem'', p. 38.</ref> Probably for these reasons, Zbigniew was blinded on Bolesław's orders in 1112.<ref>The date of Zbigniew's blinding is disputed. Cosmas of Prague favored the year 1110 (''Kosmasa Kronika Czechów'', vol. III, cap. XXXIV. p. 115); for the year 1111 are in favor L. Giesebrecht: ''Wendische Geschichte aus den Jahren 780–1182'', p. 176 and M. Gumblowicz: ''Zur Geschichte Polens im Mittelalter. Zwei kritische Untersuchunden über die Chronik Baldwin Gallus. Aus dem Nachlass des Verfassers herausgegeben'', p. 94; for the year 1112 are in favor O. Balzer: , p. 117, S. Szczur: ''Historia Polski – średniowiecze'', p. 124 and T. Tyc: ''Zbigniew i Bolesław'' [in:] ''Arcybiskup Marcin i Gniezno'', p. 23; for a time between 1112 and 1113 are in favor R. Grodecki, [in:] Gallus Anonymous: ''Kronika polska'', pp. 28–29, M. Plezia, [in:] Gallus Anonymous: ''Kronika polska'', p. 38; and for the year 1113 is in favor K. Maleczyński: ''Bolesław III Krzywousty'', pp. 70–75.</ref>

====Excommunication====
The blinding of Zbigniew caused a strong negative reaction among Bolesław's subjects. Unlike in the east, blinding in medieval Poland was accomplished not by burning the eyes out with a red hot iron rod or knife, but employed a much more brutal technique in which the condemned's eyes were pried out using special pliers. The condemned was then made to open his eyes and if he did not do so, his eyelids were also removed.

Contemporary sources don't provide clear information on whether Bolesław was excluded from the community of the Church.<ref>Z. Dalewski: ''Rytuał i polityka. Opowieść Galla Anonima o konflikcie Bolesława Krzywoustego ze Zbigniewem'', p. 144.</ref> It is generally believed that Archbishop Martin I of Gniezno (who was a strong supporter of Zbigniew) [[excommunicated]] Bolesław for blinding his half-brother.<ref>T. Tyc: ''Zbigniew i Bolesław'' [in:] ''Arcybiskup Marcin i Gniezno'', pp. 30–40.</ref> The excommunication exempted all Bolesław's subjects from their oaths of obedience. The duke was faced with a real possibility of an uprising of the sort that deposed Bolesław the Bold. Recognizing his precarious situation, Bolesław sought the customary penance that would reconcile him with the high priesthood. According to [[Gallus Anonymus]], Bolesław first fasted for forty days and made gifts to the poor:

:: (...)''He slept in ashes and sackcloth, among the streams of tears and sobs, as he renounced communion and conversation with people.''<ref>Gallus Anonymus: ''Cronicae et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum'', vol. III, cap. XXV, p. 158.</ref>

It is possible that Bolesław decided to do this to rebuild his weakened authority and gain the favor of Zbigniew's supporters.<ref>Z. Dalewski: ''Rytuał i polityka. Opowieść Galla Anonima o konflikcie Bolesława Krzywoustego ze Zbigniewem'', p. 145; K. Maleczyński: ''Bolesław III Krzywousty'', pp. 76–77.</ref> Blinding his half-brother might have been perceived by Polish society as a breach of the principle of solidarity among the members of the ruling dynasty, a key foundation of public order.<ref>Z. Dalewski: ''Rytuał i polityka. Opowieść Galla Anonima o konflikcie Bolesława Krzywoustego ze Zbigniewem'', p. 183.</ref>
[[File:Somogyvar Szent Egyed apatsag.jpg|250px|thumbnail|right|Ruins of the Abbey of Saint Giles in [[Somogyvár]], Hungary.]]
According to Gallus, Bolesław also sought and received forgiveness from his half-brother. In the next part of his penance, the duke made a pilgrimage to [[Hungary]] to the Abbeys of [[Saint Giles]] in [[Somogyvár]] and [[Stephen I of Hungary|Saint Stephen I]] in [[Székesfehérvár]]. The pilgrimage to the Abbey of Saint Giles also had a political goal; Bolesław strengthened his ties of friendship and alliance with the [[Arpad dynasty]].<ref>R. Grodecki, S. Zachorowski, J. Dąbrowski: ''Dzieje Polski średniowiecznej'', vol. I, p. 142. According to Maleczyński, any agreement between Bolesław and King Coloman was signed during this trip. Witnessing this was Bolesław's later pilgrimage to the tomb of Saint [[Adalbert of Prague]], where he gave numerous gifts to the clergy and mint commemorative coins. K. Maleczyński: ''Bolesław III Krzywousty'', p. 77.</ref> Following his return to Poland, Bolesław even traveled to [[Gniezno]] to pay further penance at the tomb of [[Adalbert of Prague|Saint Adalbert of Prague]], where poor people and clergy received numerous costly gifts from the duke .<ref name="Gallus, p. 161">Gallus Anonymus: ''Cronicae et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum'', p. 161.</ref> Only after this was the excommunication finally lifted.<ref>During the Hungarian pilgrimage, according to Gallus Anonymous in his Chronicle: (...)''despite the fact that he ruled over some no principality, but over a great Kingdom'' (in terms of Bolesław III Wrymouth) ''and that he was in uncertain peace, from various hostile Christian and pagan peoples, they entrusted themselves and their Kingdom in defense of the power of God''(...). This piece, which focuses on devotion to the care of the Apostolic See of lands belonging to the duke (following the terms of the previous ''[[Dagome iudex]]''), has not been approved by Polish medievalists. Gallus Anonymus: ''Cronicae et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum'', p. 159.</ref> Following his repentance the Polish duke made a vague commitment to the Church.<ref>K. Maleczyński: ''Bolesław III Krzywousty'', p. 77.</ref>

No information survives about Zbigniew's death. In the obituary of the Benedictine monastery in [[Lubiń, Kościan County|Lubiń]] dated 8 July 1113 was reported the death of a monk in Tyniec called ''brother Zbigniew''. Historians believed that he could be Bolesław's half-brother. The information marked that his burial place was in the Benedictine monastery of [[Tyniec]].<ref>M. Spórna, P. Wierzbicki: ''Słownik władców Polski i pretendentów do tronu polskiego'', p. 501; B. Snoch: ''Protoplasta książąt śląskich'', p. 13.</ref>