Editing Doubravka of Bohemia (section)

==Marriage and Christianization of Poland==
In the second half of 964<ref>Date fixed by H. Łowmiański, ''Początki Polski'', vol. V, p. 548.</ref>  an alliance between Boleslav I the Cruel, Duke of Bohemia, and Mieszko I of [[Poland]] was concluded. In order to consolidate the agreement, in 965 Boleslav I's daughter Doubravka was married to Mieszko I. The marriage cemented the [[Polish-Bohemian alliance]], which continued even after Doubravka's death.

Two independent sources attribute to Doubravka an important role in the conversion to Christianity of Mieszko I and Poland. The first is the chronicles of Thietmar, who was born two years before the death of Doubravka. He wrote that the Bohemian princess tried to persuade her husband to accept Christianity (even at the cost of breaking their marriage and with it the Polish-Bohemian alliance). In the end, she finally obtained the conversion of Mieszko I and with him, of all Poland.<ref>''Thietmari chronicon'', vol. IV, cap. 56.</ref> In turn, the 12th-century chronicler [[Gallus Anonymus]] says that Doubravka came to Poland surrounded by secular and religious dignitaries. She agreed to marry Mieszko I providing that he was baptized. The Polish ruler accepted, and only then was able to marry the Bohemian princess.

Modern historians agree that the baptism of Mieszko I was dictated by political benefits and should not be attributed to any action of Doubravka. She is held to have had virtually no role in the conversion of her husband.<ref>J. Dowiat, ''Metryka chrztu Mieszka I'', p. 79; Andrzej Feliks Grabski, ''Bolesław Chrobry. Zarys dziejów politycznych i wojskowych'', p. 26; S. Trawkowski, ''Monarchia Mieszka I i Bolesława Chrobrego,'' pp. 116–117; H. Łowmiański, ''Początki Polski'', vol. V, p. 549.</ref> Historians note that the narrative of the conversion of Mieszko I thanks to Doubravka formed part of the tradition of the Church which stressed the conversion of Pagan rulers through the influence of women.<ref>A. F. Grabski, ''Mieszko I'', Warsaw 1973, p. 93.</ref>

Doubravka did have a significant role in the Christianization of the Poles. In her wedding procession, she arrived in Poland with Christian clergymen, among them possibly [[Jordan (Bishop of Poland)|Jordan]], ordained the first [[Bishop of Poznań|bishop of Poland]] in 968. Tradition attributes to Doubravka the establishment of the Holy Trinity and St. Wit Churches in [[Gniezno]] and the Church of the Virgin Mary in [[Ostrów Tumski, Poznań|Ostrów Tumski]], [[Poznań]].