PrzemyslII
Przemysl II was the king of Poland.
Contents
History
Przemysl II was the only son of Przemysl I, duke of Greater Poland. He was born four months after his father's death. His uncle Boleslaw served as his regent and effectively ruled over all of Greater Poland.
He led a successful war against the brothers and joint margraves of Brandenburg: John II, Otto IV, and Conrad I. At this time he also developed a strong alliance with Mestwin II, duke of Pomerania.
Reign
Poznan
Boleslaw granted the duchy of Poznan to Przemysl II in 1273.
Greater Poland
Boleslaw died in 1279 without any sons; Przemysl II reunited the duchy of Greater Poland with his inheritance.
Przemysl II negotiated with Mestwin II over his succession. By 1282 the eventual reunification of Pomerania and Greater Poland was agreed.
In 1283, Jakub Swinka became archbishop of Gniezno. Jakub would become a close ally of Przemysl II and a ringleader of the Polish reunification scheme.
In 1290, Przemysl II inherited the duchy of Krakow from Henryk IV. His claim was contested by Wladyslaw I, and he effectively only held Krakow. He shortly sold the duchy to Wenceslaus II of Bohemia.
Two years later, Przemysl II participated in secret negotiations with Wladyslaw I and Casimir II in Kalisz. They agreed on a scheme to reunite the kingdom of Poland and a succession order amongst themselves. This was further cemented with a marriage between Wladyslaw I and Jadwiga, a daughter of Boleslaw.
Poland
Mestwin II died in 1994; with the union of Greater Poland and Pomerania, Przemysl II was the preeminent leader of Poland. Jakub crowned him as king of Poland in Gniezno on June 26, 1295.
On February 8, 1296, Przemysl II was assassinated.
Legacy
Przemysl II recreated the kingdom of Poland.