Bolesław Chrobry (Bolesław I the Brave), Poland’s second historic ruler, propelled the early Piast state to the height of its power. Over the course of the many wars he waged in 1002-1018, he expanded Poland’s borders to include Milzi (Milsko) and Lusatia in the west, and the Cherven Cities in the east. He temporarily held Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia, in addition to territory reaching as far as the Saale river in the west. He contributed to the founding of a metropolitan see independent from Germany at Gniezno as well as of several bishoprics (the year 1000). He made an unsuccessful attempt to Christianize the pagan Prussians, which resulted in the killing of the missionary Bishop Wojciech in 997. The latter was quickly canonized and became the patron saint of the Kingdom of Poland. The climax of Bolesław’s power came with his crowning as king at Gniezno in 1025, shortly before he died. He was considered a great king by posterity and remained a model for his successors.
The achievements of Bolesław the Brave were also held in high esteem at the court of Bolesław Krzywousty (Bolesław Wrymouth), whose collaborators described them to the chronicler Gallus Anonimus who was writing a chronicle of the Piast dynasty. We do not know Gallus’s name or his country of origin. He is believed to have come from the south of France, although more recent research suggests that he may have hailed from northern Italy. He was probably a Benedictine monk. His Polish Chronicle, composed in Latin ca 1113 (its narrative stops at this date), describes the history of Poland since its mythical beginnings until the chronicler’s times. The author’s intent was to relate the deeds of Polish dukes, predecessors of Bolesław Wrymouth, and of Bolesław himself. It was doubtless a work intended to praise the ruler and his family, and to justify his title to the Polish throne. Gallus’s Chronicle is the first work of such breadth to have been written in Poland and treating of its history, hence despite its Latin and the author’s foreign origins it is considered the first work of Polish national literature. It remains a seminal and unrivalled source for the study of the early Piast period.
