Editing Bolesław III Wrymouth (section)

====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>