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Bolesław III Wrymouth
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===Birth and naming=== The lack of a legitimate heir, however, remained a concern for Władysław I and in 1085 he and his wife [[Judith of Bohemia]] sent rich gifts, among which was a life size statue of a child made of gold, to the [[Benedictine]] Sanctuary of [[Saint Giles]]<ref>The cult of Saint Giles began to expand rapidly in Europe during the first half of the 11th century. Polish lands went through the clergy, or pilgrims going to Saint-Gilles and Santiago de Compostella; K. Maleczyński: ''Bolesław III Krzywousty'', pp. 14–15.</ref> in [[Saint-Gilles, Gard|Saint-Gilles]], [[Provence]] begging for offspring.<ref>''Władysław, by the grace of God Duke of the Polans, and Judith, his legitimate wife, send to Odilon, the venerable Abbot of Saint Giles, and all his brothers humble words of profound reverence. Learned that Saint Giles was superior to others in dignity, devotion, and that willingly assisted [the faithful] with power from heaven, we offer it with devotion these gifts for the intentions of had children and humbly beg for your holy prayers for our request''. Gallus Anonymus: ''Cronicae et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum'', vol. I, cap. XXX, pp. 57–58.</ref><ref>12th century chronicles mentions that at the coffin of St. Giles was a golden image of some form. J. ed. Vielard: ''La guide du pèlerin de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle, XII-wieczny przewodnik pielgrzymów ST. Gilles'', St. Giles 1938; M. K. Barański: ''Dynastia Piastów w Polsce'', p. 179.</ref> The Polish envoys were led by the personal chaplain of Duchess Judith, Piotr.<ref>K. Maleczyński: ''Bolesław III Krzywousty'', p. 13.</ref> The date of birth of Bolesław is closely linked with the death of his mother Judith. This fact is evidenced by contemporary sources: * [[Gallus Anonymus]] in the ''Cronicae et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum'' reported that Duchess Judith gave birth to Bolesław on the day of [[Stephen I of Hungary|Saint Stephen, King of Hungary]]<ref name="Gallus Anonymus, p. 62">Gallus Anonymus: ''Cronicae et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum'', vol. II. cap. I. p. 62.</ref> (whose feast since the 11th century was celebrated on 20 August). However, the Duchess's health never recovered from childbirth and she died on "the night of Nativity"<ref name="Gallus Anonymus, p. 62"/> (''i.e.'', 24–25 December). Gallus did not note the year in his chronicle. * [[Cosmas of Prague]] wrote in Latin in his ''Chronica Boëmorum'' ("Chronicle of Bohemians") that Bolesław was born three days before the death of Judith, who died in VIII [[Calends]] of January (25 December) of 1085.<ref name="Kosmasa, p.77–78">''Kosmasa Kronika Czechów.'', vol. II, cap. XXXVI, pp. 77–78.</ref> * The ''Kalendarz krakowski'' said that Duchess Judith died on 24 December 1086,<ref>In 1637, on the tombstone of Judith at Kraków Cathedral was placed the date of her death as 24 December 1082, in clear contradiction to all known sources. O. Balzer: ''Genealogia Piastów.'', p. 104.</ref> and only indicated that the birth of Bolesław was in the same year.<ref name="Balzer, p. 119">O. Balzer: ''Genealogia Piastów.'', p. 119.</ref> * The Obituary of the Abbey of Saint-Gilles reported the death of Judith on 24 December 1086.<ref>K. Jasiński: ''Rodowód pierwszych Piastów.'', p. 165, footnote 59, p. 172.</ref> * The ''Rocznik kapituły krakowskiej'' (closely related to the ''Kalendarz krakowski'') placed the death of Judith on 24 December 1086.<ref>K. Jasiński: ''Rodowód pierwszych Piastów.'', p. 167.</ref> Historian August Bielowski established Bolesław's birth on 26 December 1085 and the death of his mother two days later, on 28 December. According to him Gallus Anonymus committed two errors. First, instead of "the Sunday after the Nativity of the Lord", he wrote incorrectly "in the Sunday of the Nativity". Secondly, he mistook the day of [[Saint Stephen]] (26 December) for the festivities of King Stephen of Hungary (20 August). Both corrections lead to the birth date of Bolesław on 26 December. This theory was supported by the fact that, in 1085, 28 December fell on a Sunday.<ref name="Jasiński, p. 166">K. Jasiński: ''Rodowód pierwszych Piastów.'', p. 166.</ref> [[Oswald Balzer]] refuted Bielowski's theory, arguing that Judith's death was on the night of 24/25 December 1086, and the birth of Bolesław was four months before, on 20 August. According to him, this timing of Judith's death gives rise to possible discrepancies in determining the exact date of Bolesław's birth, but corroborates all known sources who placed the death of Judith. Gallus wrote that Judith died shortly after giving birth to a son. Later sources interpret this as a death in childbirth and Cosmas of Prague followed this fact, though he didn't receive the information firsthand. Hence, his mistake would result in this point. In contrast, the correct date of birth of Bolesław would be 20 August, as indicated by Gallus. In the medieval tradition the year began on 25 December. In that case, the reports of Cosmas allow us to conclude that Bolesław was born in 1085. This information, however, was contradicted by the ''Kalendarz krakowski'', which gave the year as 1086. Judith was styled by the authors of the ''Kalendarz'' as "regina Polonia" (''Queen of Poland'' in Latin), and this title could be associated with her father's coronation as King of Bohemia and Poland on 15 June 1086 (according to Cosmas).<ref>O. Balzer: ''Genealogia Piastów.'', p. 103.</ref><ref>Wincenty Kadłubek in his writings gave to Judith and Władysław I Herman the titles of Queen and King. W. Kadłubek: ''Kronika polska.'', vol. II, cap 22, pp. 81–82.</ref> Karol Maleczyński refuted Balzer's date for the coronation of Vratislav II, the one given by Cosmas.<ref name="Kosmasa, p.77–78"/> However, most researchers indicate that the coronation took place on 15 June 1085, so Judith could have been called Queen a year earlier.<ref name="Balzer, p. 108"/><ref name="Labuda, p. 13"/> Karol Maleczyński determined that the death of Judith took place on the night between 24 and 25 December 1085, and Bolesław was born four months before, on 20 August. Researchers found that the date given by the ''Rocznik kapituły krakowskiej'' (24 December 1086) was the same established by Cosmas (25 December 1085). The difference in the year could be explained in the different style of dating followed by Cosmas, who began the year according to the [[Julian calendar]] on 1 January and Christmas (''Nativitate'' in Latin) on 25 December. According to Maleczyński, Kazimierz Jasiński failed to consider this calendar difference, which occurs only during the period of 25–31 December.<ref>K. Jasiński: ''Rodowód pierwszych Piastów.'', p. 166. Compared with K. Maleczyński: ''W sprawie daty urodzin Bolesława Krzywoustego.'', "Kwartalnik Historyczny", nº50, pp. 442–445.</ref> Archaeologist Wojciech Szafrański reassumed the theory of Bielowski: Judith of Bohemia died on 28 December 1085, and Bolesław was born two days before, on 26 December. According to Szafrański Cosmas used the term ''VIII Calends of January'', with no specific date. However, in the Chronicle of Gallus should read that Judith died ''on Christmas Day'', but ''on Sunday in the Octave of Christmas''.<ref name="Jasiński, p. 166"/> Using such a broadened range of days, the investigator determined the birth of Boleslaw in the feast of Saint Stephen (26 December).<ref>The date was widely supported by the investigator, for which he advocated to A. Bielowski against K. Jasiński. Pros: K. Jasiński: ''Rodowód pierwszych Piastów.'', p. 166.</ref> For this reasons, the date of 1085 given by Bielowski is correct according to him. However, Jasiński pointed the weaknesses of the argument of Szafrański because Gallus has written about the Octave, but specifically about Christmas night, but the investigator didn't consider all other sources, as well as the achievements of research in genealogy.<ref name="Jasiński, p. 166"/> [[Marian Plezia]] argued that Bolesław was born on 2 September 1085 or 1086.<ref name="Jasiński, p. 186">K. Jasiński: ''Rodowód pierwszych Piastów.'', p. 186.</ref> According to Gallus, the day of King Stephen of Hungary was also celebrated on 2 September.<ref>From 1686 to 1939 the day of King Stephen of Hungary was celebrated on 2 Septemberafter which was transferred on 16 August. Official website of the Parish of St. Stephen in Warsaw: [http://www.swstefan.pl/ ''Święty Stefan, Król, 969–1038'' (in Polish)] [retrieved 13 July 2014].</ref> Jasiński considered this theory unfounded. In Poland the feast of King Stephen of Hungary is pointed by the ''Kalendarz krakowski'' and the ''kalendarz Kodeksu Gertrudy'' on 20 August. Besides, if Bolesław was born on 2 September, Gallus probably would be noted that this was the day after the celebration of [[Saint Giles]] (1 September), which was attributed to be the intercessor of his birth.<ref name="Jasiński, p. 186"/> Kazimierz Jasiński placed the death of Judith in the night between 24 and 25 December 1086<ref>K. Jasiński: ''Rodowód pierwszych Piastów.'', pp. 164–165, 168.</ref> and the birth of Bolesław four months before, on 20 August.<ref>K. Jasiński: ''Rodowód pierwszych Piastów.'', pp. 185–187.</ref> In this point he agrees with the findings of Balzer. He supported his views with additional arguments: All sources are based in the missing ''Rocznika kapituły krakowskiej'', and the next known text of this source refers to events in 1086.<ref>K. Jasiński: ''Rodowód pierwszych Piastów.'', p. 167, 185.</ref> Cosmas, writing his chronicle a few decades later, probably benefited from oral tradition and could make a mistake when he placed the year. His reports who placed the birth of Bolesław three days before the death of his mother denoted a quite short time.<ref>Cosmas often uses the Latin term ''tertio die'' to determine a short period. K. Jasiński: ''Rodowód pierwszych Piastów.'', pp. 186–187.</ref> Today is widely recognized the view of both Jasiński and Balzer, that Bolesław most likely was born in the day of King Stephen of Hungary, 20 August 1086.<ref>O. Balzer: ''Genealogia Piastów.'', p. 119; K. Jasiński: ''Rodowód pierwszych Piastów.'', pp. 185–187.</ref> According to Cosmas of Prague, Bolesław was named after his uncle, [[Bolesław II the Generous]]. Władysław I Herman had no reason to named his first-born legitimate son after his brother, but probably in this way tried to placate the former allies of his predecessor.<ref name="Jasiński, p. 184">K. Jasiński: ''Rodowód pierwszych Piastów'', p. 184.</ref> Bolesław's nickname "Wrymouth" (pl: ''Krzywousty'') appeared in Polish and Latin sources of the 13th century: ''Genealogia płocka (Criwousti)''<ref>K. Jasiński: ''Przydomek Bolesława Krzywoustego'' [in:] ''Genealogia. Studia i materiały historyczne'', vol. VI, p. 143.</ref> and the ''Rocznik świętokrzyski młodszy (Crzyvousti)''. Probably the origin of this nickname dates back on the 12th century and is related with some physical characteristics of the Polish ruler, who were noticed at the time of his reign.<ref name="Jasiński, p. 184"/> Probably he began to be named in this way after 1114, because Gallus Anonymus in his ''Chronicle'' never mentioned it.<ref>K. Maleczyński: ''Bolesław III Krzywousty'', pp. 342–343.</ref> In the ''Kronika książąt polskich'' and ''Kronika polsko-śląska'' Bolesław was qualified by the Latin adjective ''curvus'', whose significance remains unclear. According to the 14th-century ''Kronika o Piotrze Włostowicu'' the duke was hunchbacked (Latin: ''gibbosus'') or had a crooked mouth.<ref name="Jasiński, p. 184"/><ref>''Monumenta Poloniae Historica (Pomniki dziejowe Polski)'', vol. III, p. 68, 457, 626, 765.</ref> The 15th-century chronicler [[Jan Długosz]] wrote: :: He had a mouth on one side slightly bent, and for this he was called Wrymouth; however, this is not marred his face, and even added to him some charm.<ref name="Długosz, p. 422">Jan Długosz: [http://www.pbi.edu.pl/book_reader.php?p=43577&s=1 ''Jana Długosza kanonika krakowskiego Dziejów polskich ksiąg dwanaście'', vol I, p. 422. (in Polish)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416082343/http://www.pbi.edu.pl/book_reader.php?p=43577&s=1 |date=16 April 2012 }} [retrieved 23 July 2014].</ref> In March 1972, in the [[Masovian Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral]] of [[Płock]], where according to tradition Bolesław was buried, an archaeological research project was conducted.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bibliotekanauki.pl/articles/970784.pdf |title=Szczątki kostne Bolesława Krzywoustego w katedrze płockiej |last=Szafrański |first=Włodzimierz |date=1985 |website=Biblioteka Nauki |publisher=Instytut Historii Kultury Materialnej PAN |access-date=12 September 2023}}</ref> A coffin was discovered containing the bones of 16 men and women. One of the skulls, of a man who died aged 50, had a deformed mandible.<ref>According to the researchers there was a pathological malformation, called [http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/dental_disorders/temporomandibular_disorders/mandibular_condylar_hyperplasia.html Mandibular Condylar Hyperplasia]. M. Spórna, P. Wierzbicki: ''Słownik władców Polski i pretendentów do tronu polskiego'', p. 66.</ref> There is a hypothesis that these remains belonged to Bolesław. Opponents of this theory suggest that the duke was named in this way many years after his death, and his contemporary Gallus did not mention any physical defect in the hero of his Chronicles. The defenders of the hypothesis argue that the work of Gallus has the characteristics of a [[panegyric]] in honor of Bolesław, because the chronicler did not mention his physical infirmities. It is also speculated that the bone damage occurred as a result of childbirth complications, which led to the death of his mother a few months later.<ref>R. Jaworski: ''Bolesław Krzywousty, w: Władcy Polski (dodatek do Rzeczpospolitej)'', p. 11.</ref> The nickname of Boleslaw was also explained in other ways. According to a legend, Boleslaw slammed his face against a wall after watching his father's subservience towards the Germans and Czechs.<ref>J. Machnicki: ''Przewrotna historia Polski - do 1795 roku'', p. 30.</ref> According to Jan Długosz, the duke in his youth had an ulcer, which caused the deformity of his face.<ref>Jan Długosz: [http://www.pbi.edu.pl/book_reader.php?p=43577&s=1 ''Jana Długosza kanonika krakowskiego Dziejów polskich ksiąg dwanaście'', vol I, p. 537. (in Polish)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416082343/http://www.pbi.edu.pl/book_reader.php?p=43577&s=1 |date=16 April 2012 }} [retrieved 23 July 2014].</ref> According to older historiography, he received the nickname Wrymouth for his perjury.<ref>E. Kowalczyk: ''Krzywousty - skaza moralna czy fizyczna'', "Kwartalnik Historyczny", nr 101, pp. 3–14.</ref><ref>Another view is shown by K. Jasiński, who argued that is more likely he received this nickname for a physical defects than inmoral conduct. K. Jasiński: ''Przydomek Bolesława Krzywoustego'' [in:] ''Genealogia. Studia i materiały historyczne'', vol. VI, pp. 138–146.</ref>
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