White Eagle Rises - Chapter #1.1 - Founders of Piast Dynasty - Crusader Kings 2 AAR

1.1. Founders of Piast dynasty

In the middle of 9th century Western Europe was divided between descendants of Charlemagne as a result of the Treaty of Verdun. Louis the Bald held West Francia, while his son reigned in Aquitania; Ludwig the German coruled with his son Karlmann over East Franks. These two kingdoms stayed separated by mighty Lotharingia in the center and Italy in the south. Meanwhile Saxon kingdoms of Britain faced massive invasion of Normans led by sons of legendary Ragnar Lodbrok: Halfdan, Ubba and Ivar. Saxon armies were no match for fearful pagan hordes, and in the result Normans managed to establish their rule over large parts of British Islands, so called Danelaw. In the east, countless Slavic tribes kept fighting between each other, being unmindful of their powerful neighbors: Franks in the west, Khazars in the south, Normans in the north. After his arrival to Novgorod (Holmgard) a Dane called Rurik managed to rise to power and unite many Slavic and Ugro-Finnic tribes under his banner, while at the same time, his kin Dir established himself in Kiev (Konugardr). Viking longboats soon started to sow terror on the coasts of Black Sea, being a threat even to mighty Constantinople. 

During that time Christian kingdom of Great Moravia remained major power among West Slavs. However with death of Mojmir, his nephew and heir, Rostislav, barely managed to keep control over vast territories, still mostly inhabited by pagan people, and in the result once mighty realm was on the edge of collapse. Besides Bern, Moravian capital, the other major seats of power in the region was Praha, capital of Czechs; Kraków, main city of Vistulans; Płock in Masovia and Poznań in Greater Poland.  Little is known about Polans tribe and their rise to power. They are not even mentioned in Bavarian Geographer, main source of knowledge about Slavic tribes in 9th century, written in Regensburg on the orders of Ludwig the German. According to later chronicles, founder of future kingdom was Piast the Wheelwright, who successfully managed to depose previous dynasty of Popielids, ruling over Polans from their seat in Kruszwica. What can be certain is that he, or one of his descendants, managed to consolidate their power in Greater Poland and started expanding to the east, waging wars with tribes of Kuyavians and Mazovians and, according to Moravian chronicles, raiding territories of modern-day Lesser Poland, successfully capturing and plundering Kraków and the Benedictine monastery in Tyniec.  According to some German relations, Polish troops participated in the Frankish – Bohemian war in 875. Chronicle of Bishop of Salzburg from 10th century mentions battle of Pisek, where 4,000 pagan warriors, led by “duke of Posen”, were decisively defeated by outnumbering Frankish forces. In a result of the battle Franks opened their way to the very heartlands of Bohemia, forcing baptism of duke Borivoj and his homage to king of East Francia, Karlmann. 

First truly reliable description of the Polish state comes from early 10th century. It was written by Jewish merchant from Umayyad Caliphate, Yaqub ibn David. He travelled through kingdoms of West Franks, visited courts of the kings of West and East Francia, then set off towards lands of Great Moravia, to finally arrive in Poznań, described by him as a large, rich city with strong, wooden fortifications. At this time Poznań was already major seat of Polish duke Siemowit, probably the eldest son of Piast the Wheelwright. At the beginning of 10th century Siemowit already reigned over vast lands between rivers of Oder and Bug. Yaqub ibn David lists all major tribes, obedient to rule of Siemowit, including Masovians, Kuyavians, Goplans and Silesians. While territories controlled by Polish duke was vast and its inhabitants spoke mostly one language and had similar beliefs, they were still socially connected mainly by tribal structures, resulting in high decentralization of the realm. Duke had to count on cooperation of local tribal elders and chiefs, while they were not always entirely obedient to ruler from distant Poznań.   

In his relation, Yaqub ibn David mentions members of duke’s family, among them his sons Leszek and Przemysł and his sister Dobrawa, married to khagan of Khazars. Relation of Jewish merchant includes description of the war waged by Siemowit on tribe of Vistulans. Until first half of 10th century process of consolidation lasted both in Greater and Lesser Poland. While Piast and his descendants were engaged in fighting with Kuyavians and Mazovians, dukes of Sandomierz and Wiślica in the south, managed to defeat kingdom of Great Moravia, acquiring Kraków, tribal lands of Opolans and Golensizi and rich provinces of Moravia and Slovakia. Conflict between dukes from Poznań and Kraków was inevitable, and it finally broke out at the second decade of 10th century. Siemowit managed to gather 4,000 man under his banners, supported by 2,000 warriors from allied Obodritia, while duke of Vistulans Zbigniew fielded similar force of 6,000 man. In the early spring Siemowit entered lands of Vistulans, successfully capturing Kraków and Opole, just before Zbigniew managed to gather his forces. Decisive battle occurred by Racibórz in lands of Golensizi. Flanks of Vistulans were severely weakened by Siemowit’s archers, and then crushed by infantry charge. Zbigniew, endangered by encirclement, retreated to the east, and remnants of his forces were finally captured by Łuck in Cherven Cities, where they suffered another defeat. Vistulans were decisively beaten and their forces dispersed, thus they were forced to pay homage to Siemowit, while Zbigniew was taken hostage to Poznań, where he probably stayed for the following years.

Check full PDF version here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MugKVQuD8oQAhuQr7qXGe-eDGV9g85Et/view?usp=sharing