Editing Bolesław III Wrymouth (section)

==Succession provisions==

===Senioral principle===
{{main|Bolesław Wrymouth's testament}}
Bolesław's experiences during his youth probably motivated him to make a division of his domains among his surviving sons. The loyal Count Palatine [[Piotr Włostowic]] was appointed to execute the provisions. In his testament, also known as the "Statute of Succession", Bolesław introduced the "senioral principle" in Poland in an effort to preserve the unity of the state and to prevent a power struggle among his sons.<ref name="Szczur, p. 128">S. Szczur: ''Historia Polski – średniowiecze'', p. 128.</ref> This regulation about the succession came into force after Bolesław's death, although is unknown the exact date of his establishment.<ref>G. Labuda: ''Testament Bolesława Krzywoustego'' [in:] A. Horst. (ed.), ''Opuscula Casimiro Tymieniecki septuagenario dedicata'', p. 178; J. Bieniak: ''Polska elita polityczna XII wieku (Część II. Wróżda i zgoda)'', [in:] Kuczyński K. (ed.), ''Społeczeństwo Polski średniowiecznej'', vol. III, p. 52.</ref> It is believed that its creation may have occurred in 1115 or 1116, after the birth of his son Leszek, or after the suppression of the rebellion of Skarbimir (in 1117).<ref>S. Szczur: ''Historia Polski – średniowiecze'', p. 127. According to J. Bienak the Testament was drawn up during the Christmas celebrations of 1117. J. Bieniak: ''Polska elita polityczna XII wieku (Część II. Wróżda i zgoda)'', [in:] K. Kuczyński (ed.), ''Społeczeństwo Polski średniowiecznej'', vol. III, pp. 51–52. The theory of Bienak was criticized by M. Dworsatschek. M. Dworsatschek: ''Władysław II Wygnaniec'', p. 37.</ref> Sources indicate that the original document about the succession was drawn up in 1137. The Statute was nullified in 1180 but restored by [[Pope Innocent III]] in 1210 after a petition of the Silesian rulers;<ref>K. Maleczyński: ''Bolesław III Krzywousty'', p. 302. The abolition of the Seniorate Principle occurred during the Congress of Łęczyca in 1180. In that meeting, the Lesser Poland domains were given to Casimir II as hereditary fief. R. Grodecki, S. Zachorowski, J. Dąbrowski: ''Dzieje Polski średniowiecznej'', vol. I, p. 183. The decisions of the Congress were further approved by [[Pope Alexander III]] on 28 March 1181. A. Bielowski (ed.): [http://kpbc.umk.pl/dlibra/publication?id=9073 ''Monumenta Poloniae Historica'' (in Polish)], p. 401, compare editor 1, p. 401.</ref> however, historians challenge this account in the absence of any other information.<ref name="Szczur, p. 128"/>

The senioral principle established that the eldest member of the dynasty was to have supreme power over the rest and was also to control an indivisible "senioral part": a vast strip of land running north–south down the middle of Poland, with [[Kraków]] its chief city.<ref name="Śmiech">A. Śmiech: [http://www.jednodniowka.pl/readarticle.php?article_id=68 ''Testament Bolesława Krzywoustego''] (in Polish) [retrieved 22 July 2014].</ref> The senior duke's prerogatives also included control over Pomerania, a fief of the Holy Roman Empire. Sources showed a discrepancy in terms of the power exercised by the senior duke. Pope Innocent III wrote about [[primogeniture]], while [[Wincenty Kadłubek]] refers to both seniority and primogeniture. Kadłubek combined in one sentence the two systems, ''i.e.'', inheritance of supreme power in individual districts, where primogeniture was in force. Among historians, there is a view that what Bolesław established was not seniority, but primogeniture that belongs exclusively to Władysław II and his descendants.<ref>E. Rymar: ''Primogenitura zasadą regulującą następstwo w pryncypat w ustawie sukcesyjnej Bolesława Krzywoustego'', "Śląski Kwartalnik Historyczny Sobótka", no 1 (48), pp. 10–15, 1993.</ref> The coverage and nature of power exercised by Bolesław IV the Curly in 1146 supports this hypothesis.<ref>Issues about the principate-seniority rules after Bolesław's death were further revised in the publication of A. Śmiecha, ''Testament Bolesława Krzywoustego''. In ''Statut o sukcesji władzy w Polsce'' the author presents the views of Polish medieval studies. A. Śmiech: [http://www.jednodniowka.pl/readarticle.php?article_id=68 ''Testament Bolesława Krzywoustego''] (in Polish) [retrieved 22 July 2014]. See also [in:] S. Szczur: ''Historia Polski – średniowiecze'', p. 128.</ref>

===Division of the Polish state===
[[File:Ustawa sukcesyjna Bolesława Krzywoustego.jpg|thumb|Fragmentation of Poland in 1138 (in accordance with [[Testament of Bolesław III Wrymouth]]){{legend|crimson|The [[Seniorate Province]] (Eastern [[Greater Poland]], Western [[Kuyavia]], [[Wieluń Land]], [[Lesser Poland]]) under Władysław II the Exile}}{{legend|indigo|Silesian Province of [[Władysław II the Exile]]}}{{legend|darkslategray|Masovian Province of [[Bolesław IV the Curly]] composed of [[Masovia]] and Eastern [[Kuyavia]]}}{{legend|seagreen|Greater Poland Province of [[Mieszko III the Old]] composed of Western [[Great Poland]]}}{{legend|palegreen|Sandomierz Province of [[Henry of Sandomierz]], split off from the Seniorate Province}}{{legend|lightpink|Łęczyca Province ([[Łęczyca Land]] and [[Sieradz Land]]) as [[Salomea of Berg]]'s [[dower]]}}{{legend|sandybrown|Pomerania, fiefdom of Poland under the control of the princely superior of Poland (princeps)}}]]
Bolesław divided his domains into the following provinces:

The [[Seniorate Province]] (with his capital [[Kraków]]) was supposed to be non-inherited and indivisible.<ref name="Śmiech"/><ref>M. Kantecki argued that Bolesław described the heritability of the Seniorate Province. This view was supported by W. Kętrzyński. The arguments of M. Kantecki met with criticism between contemporary medieval studies. E. Rymar: ''Primogenitura zasadą regulującą następstwo w pryncypat w ustawie sukcesyjnej Bolesława Krzywoustego'', "Śląski Kwartalnik Historyczny Sobótka", no 1 (48), pp. 4–5, 1993.</ref> It consisted of [[Lesser Poland]], [[Sieradz]] and [[Łęczyca]], the western part of [[Kruszwica]] and [[Kuyavia]],<ref>P. Jasienica: ''Polska Piastów'', p. 127.</ref><ref>Modern medievalist historians pointed that Sieradz and Łęczyca were not included in the territorial district of the Seniorate Province. A. Śmiech: [http://www.jednodniowka.pl/readarticle.php?article_id=68 ''Testament Bolesława Krzywoustego''] (in Polish) [retrieved 22 July 2014].</ref> the eastern part of [[Greater Poland]], [[Kalisz]], [[Gniezno]] and [[Gdańsk Pomerania]].<ref>A. Marzec: ''Bolesław III Krzywousty'', [in:] S. Szczur, K. Ożóg (ed.), ''Piastowie. Leksykon biograficzny'', p. 84; K. Maleczyński: ''Bolesław III Krzywousty'', p. 328.</ref> [[Western Pomerania]] as a fief would remain under the control of the senior duke.<ref>S. Szczur: ''Historia Polski – średniowiecze'', p. 132.</ref>

* Władysław II received the [[Duchy of Silesia|Silesian Province]], comprising [[Silesia]], with his capital [[Wrocław]] and the [[Lebus|Lubusz]] land.<ref name="Grodecki, p. 155">R. Grodecki, S. Zachorowski, J. Dąbrowski: ''Dzieje Polski średniowiecznej'', vol. I, p. 155.</ref> He probably received this domain by 1124 or 1125 after his marriage with [[Agnes of Babenberg]].<ref>G. Labuda: ''Korona i infuła. Od monarchii do poliarchii'', p. 18.</ref> As the eldest son, he became the first senior duke (or ''[[princeps]]'').<ref>G. Labuda believes that Bolesław established the Seniorate Province, which had in turn passed to all his sons, according to seniority, along with a senior district. G. Labuda: ''Testament Bolesława Krzywoustego'' [in:] A. Horst (ed.), ''Opuscula Casimiro Tymieniecki septuagenario dedicata'', p. 193.</ref>
* Bolesław IV received the [[Duchy of Masovia|Masovian Province]], with his capital in [[Płock]] and eastern [[Kuyavia]].
* Mieszko III received the [[Duchy of Greater Poland|Greater Poland Province]], composed of the remaining western parts of Greater Poland, with his capital in [[Poznań]].
* Henry received the [[Sandomierz Province]], composed of eastern Lesser Polish territories centered around the city of [[Sandomierz]] and the [[Bug River]] to the north, with his capital in [[Lublin]].<ref name="Grodecki, p. 155"/><ref>According to modern medievalist historians, Henry would receive his domains only in 1146. A. Śmiech: [http://www.jednodniowka.pl/readarticle.php?article_id=68 ''Testament Bolesława Krzywoustego''] (in Polish) [retrieved 22 July 2014]. G. Labuda believed that Bolesław divided the country between three and not four sons: Władysław II, Bolesław IV and Mieszko III. G. Labuda: ''Testament Bolesława Krzywoustego'' [in:] A. Horst (ed.), ''Opuscula Casimiro Tymieniecki septuagenario dedicata'', p. 193.</ref>
* Salomea, Bolesław's widow, received [[Łęczyca]] or [[Sieradz]]-Łęczyca<ref>K. Buczek: ''Jeszcze o testamencie Bolesława Krzywoustego'', "Przegląd Historyczny", no 60, pp. 621–639; G. Labuda: ''Testament Bolesława Krzywoustego'' [in:] A. Horst (ed.), ''Opuscula Casimiro Tymieniecki septuagenario dedicata'', p. 193.</ref> as her [[dower]]. After her death, these lands were to be included in the Seniorate Province.

Casimir II, Bolesław's youngest son, was not included in the testament, because he was born after his father's death or shortly before.<ref name="Grodecki, p. 155"/>

Among medievalists there is a view that the Statute only provide the inheritance of Bolesław's descendants in the first generation (''i.e.'', his sons). After their deaths, their lands were to be included in the Seniorate Province. However, the later fights between them transformed the provinces into hereditary domains.<ref>S. Szczur: ''Historia Polski – średniowiecze'', p. 130.</ref>

===Feudal division of Poland===
{{main|Fragmentation of Poland}}
The "Senioral Principle" was soon broken, leading to a period of nearly 200 years of Polish disintegration,<ref>With this view is disagreed E. Rymar. See E. Rymar: ''Primogenitura zasadą regulującą następstwo w pryncypat w ustawie sukcesyjnej Bolesława Krzywoustego'', "Śląski Kwartalnik Historyczny Sobótka", no 1 (48), pp. 9–10, 1993.</ref> also known as feudal fragmentation, a phenomenon common in medieval Europe.<ref>S. Szczur: ''Historia Polski – średniowiecze'', p. 131.</ref> Among other countries affected by this were [[Russia]], [[Hungary]], and [[Germany]]. This was a time of internal struggles that caused the weakening of the Polish state and the enormous growth of internal development, culture, and improvement of the situation of the broader population. Distribution of the then-princely rights by contemporary historiography also had benefits, which include: the reconstruction of the political system in the new economic fundamentals and placement of greater responsibility for the fate of the country upon its upper echelons.<ref>B. Zientara: ''Władysław II Wygnaniec'', [in:] ''Poczet królów i książąt polskich'', p. 90.</ref>