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- BIOGRAPHY
Boleslaw II was the son of Boleslaw I 'the Gruesome', duke of Bohemia, and Biagota von Stockow. He became duke upon his father's death in 967.
Boleslaw II maintained good relations with the Ottonian German kings, and in 975 he supported Otto II during his civil war against Heinrich II, duke of Bavaria. In 977 Boleslaw again attacked Bavaria, but on this occasion was barred from annexing any lands by Otto II. Boleslaw's reign is most notable for the foundation of the diocese of Prague in 973. It was placed within the jurisdiction of the archbishop of Mainz. In 982 a nobleman called Vojtech was appointed to this position until he abandoned his primacy to lead a mission to the Old Prussians in 994. (Vojtech became known as Adalbert the German form of his name. He was killed in Prussia in 997, and later canonised as St. Adalbert.)
War between Poland and Bohemia was continual in this period, and by 990 Boleslaw had occupied Silesia.
On 28 September 995, Boleslaw and his confederates, the Vrsovci, stormed Libice in southern Bohemia and massacred Slavnik's dynasty. This clan had been the main rival of Premyslid power in Bohemia. Boleslaw's brutal triumph ensured the unity of Bohemia under a single ruler.
Boleslaw and his wife Hemma/Emma had five children. Their eldest son Wenceslas died young; the second son Boleslav III succeeded him as duke of Bohemia, but he was captured, blinded and died imprisoned in Poland; the third son Jaromir replaced his younger brother Udalrich, but he was castrated, blinded and finally murdered; the next son Udalrich/Oldrich, also became duke of Bohemia, and was the only sibling to have progeny, the last child, Luta, was only mentioned in 1026.
Boleslaw II died on 7 February 999.
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Est 940 - 999 (~ 59 years)
Siblings
