Editing Adalbert of Prague (section)

===Mission and martyrdom in Prussia===
[[File:Polska 992 - 1025.png|thumb|Poland, [[Bohemia]] and [[Prussia (Baltic)|Prussia]] during the reign of [[Boleslaus I of Poland|Boleslaus I]]]]
[[File:Gniezno Cathedral detail 02.jpg|thumb|The execution of Saint Adalbert by the pagan [[Old Prussians|Prussians]], [[Gniezno Doors]]]]

Adalbert again relinquished his diocese, namely that of Gniezno, and set out as a missionary to preach to the inhabitants near [[Prussia (Baltic)|Prussia]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://saints.sqpn.com/book-of-saints-adalbert| title = Monks of Ramsgate. "Adalbert", ''Book of Saints'' (1921)| date = May 2012| access-date = 2012-09-20| archive-date = 2014-12-21| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141221064936/http://saints.sqpn.com/book-of-saints-adalbert| url-status = live}}</ref> [[Boleslaus I of Poland|Bolesław I]], Duke (and, later, King) of Poland, sent [[soldiers]] with Adalbert on his mission to the Prussians. The Bishop and his companions, entered Prussian territory and traveled along the coast of the [[Baltic Sea]] to [[Gdańsk]]. At the borders of the Polish realm, at the mouth of the [[Vistula|Vistula River]], his half-brother Radim (Gaudentius), Benedict-Bogusza (who was probably a Pole), and at least one interpreter, ventured out into Prussia alone, as Bolesław had only sent his soldiers to escort them to the border.<ref name=":1" />

Adalbert achieved some success upon his arrival,<ref name=":2" /> however his arrival mostly caused strain upon the local Prussian populations.<ref name=":1" /> Partially this was because of the imperious manner with which he preached,<ref name=":2" /> but potentially because he preached utilizing a book.<ref name=":1" /> The Prussians had an oral society where communication was face to face. To the locals Adalbert reading from a book may have come off as a manifestation of an evil action. He was forced to leave this first village after being struck in the back of the head by an oar by a local chieftain, causing the pages of his book to scatter upon the ground. He and his companions then fled across a river.<ref name=":1" />

In the next place that Adalbert tried to preach, his message was met with the locals banging their sticks upon the ground, calling for the death of Adalbert and his companions. Retreating once again Adalbert and his companions went to a market place of [[Truso]] (near modern-day [[Elbląg]]). Here they were met with a similar response as at the previous place.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last1=Baronas|first1=Darius|title=The Conversion of Lithuania: From Pagan Barbarians to Late Medieval Christians|last2=Rowell|first2=S.C.|publisher=The Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore|year=2015|isbn=978-609-425-152-8|location=Vilnius|pages=35–36}}</ref> On the 23 April 997, after mass, while Adalbert and his companions lay in the grass while eating a snack, they were set upon by a pagan mob. The mob was led by a man named Sicco,<ref name=":1" /> possibly a pagan priest,<ref name=":2" /> who delivered the first blow against Adalbert, before the others joined in. They removed Adalbert's head from his body after he was dead, and mounted on a pole while they returned home.<ref name=":1" /> This encounter may also have taken place in Tenkitten and [[Primorsk, Kaliningrad Oblast|Fischhausen]] (now Primorsk, [[Kaliningrad Oblast]], [[Russia]]).<ref name=":2" /> It is recorded that his body was bought back for its weight in [[gold]] by King [[Boleslaus I of Poland]].<ref name=":2">{{cite web| url = https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-adalbert-of-prague-685| title = "St. Adalbert of Prague", Catholic News Agency| access-date = 2020-04-19| archive-date = 2020-10-08| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201008075713/https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-adalbert-of-prague-685| url-status = live}}</ref>