Editing History of Poland (section)

===Mieszko I===

[[File:Polska 992 - 1025.png|thumb|right|Poland expanded under its first two rulers. The dark pink area represents Poland at end of rule of [[Mieszko I of Poland|Mieszko I]] (992), whereas the light pink area represents territories added during the reign of [[Bolesław I the Brave|Bolesław I]] (died 1025). The dark pink area in the northwest was lost during the same period.]]

Poland was established as a state under the [[Piast dynasty]], which ruled the country between the 10th and 14th centuries. Historical records referring to the Polish state begin with the rule of Duke [[Mieszko I of Poland|Mieszko I]], whose reign commenced sometime before 963 and continued until his death in 992. Mieszko converted to [[Latin Church|Christianity]] in 966, following his marriage to Princess [[Doubravka of Bohemia]], a fervent [[Christianity|Christian]].<ref name="playground I xxvii-xxviii">{{Harvnb|Davies|2005a|pp=xxvii-xxviii}}</ref> The event is known as the "[[Christianization of Poland|baptism of Poland]]", and its date is often used to mark a symbolic beginning of Polish statehood.<ref name="Zubrzycki2006">{{Harvnb|Zubrzycki|2006|p=64}}.</ref> Mieszko completed a unification of the [[Lechites|Lechitic]] tribal lands that was fundamental to the new country's existence. Following its emergence, Poland was led by [[List of Polish monarchs|a series of rulers]] who converted the population to Christianity, created a strong [[Kingdom of Poland (1025–1385)|kingdom]] and fostered a distinctive [[culture of medieval Poland|Polish culture]] that was integrated into the broader [[Culture of Europe|European culture]].<ref name="Wyrozumski 80-88">{{Harvnb|Wyrozumski|1986|pp=80–88}}.</ref>