Pagan revolts in Poland

Strengthening the power of Boleslaw the Brave , his many campaigns and administrative decisions imposed significant burdens on society ^[1] . Sack II , reaping the benefits of his father's policies, continued his way of exercising power. Tributes and tax reforms could be associated equally with the politics of Piast , and with the development and stabilization of the structure of the church.

The pagan revolt was based on the alliance of Meshko II with the Lutches ( pagans living on the Labe ) against the German emperor Conrad II . This alliance made it possible to repulse the attacks of Conrad II in 1029 and even organize a victorious retaliatory campaign in 1030 against Saxony . This caused criticism of Meshko by the imperial encirclement, he was even declared a pseudo-Christian. In 1031 , when Meshko was defending himself against another attack by Konrad II on the western border, Russian princes Yaroslav the Wise and Mstislav moved to the eastern territory on behalf of Bezprim . In 1032, Meshko II avenged Konrad by reducing Poland’s trade ties with the Christian empire.

During the struggle of Meshko II with Bezprim , the rebellion spread over a significant territory throughout the country and the peasantry took an active part in it, dissatisfied with the new orders of both secular and religious magnates. Its greatest intensity was witnessed in Greater Poland , where the churches in Gniezn , Poznan , Lednice were destroyed. And also in Silesia , where the Christian government had not yet gained strength after the War of the Brave with Henry II, the return of paganism in 1034-1037 destroyed the entire church organization, destroying the capital of the bishop, churches and monasteries (probably appointed in 1000 by Johannes (Jan) as Bishop of Wroclaw , never had real power in his bishopric). The decline of Christian power was also facilitated by the expansion of Bregetislav I Czech from 1038 to the weakened and rebellious pagan Great Poland. In Mazovia, the former cup-house Meshko II - Metzlav - proclaimed himself a prince and launched an armed campaign against the Piasts , having previously concluded an alliance with pagan Pomerania .

The uprising was finally crushed in the 40s of the XI century by Kazimir the Renewal with the help of the knights of the German emperor and the troops of the Russian prince Yaroslav the Wise ^[2] . In 1047, the Mazovans were defeated in armed clashes in which Metzlav was killed. After the uprising was suppressed, pagan cults were again banned, the newly recreated pagan shrines and idols were destroyed and destroyed. Church authority began expanding church governance and rebuilding destroyed churches.

• 1029 - Sack II, after concluding an alliance with the Lutches, repelled the attack of the German emperor Conrad II.
• 1030 - Meshko II’s campaign against Saxony in response to the attack of Conrad II in 1029.
• 1032 - Bag II swears an oath to Emperor Conrad II.
• 1034 - the beginning of the uprising caused by the so-called pagan reaction, which spread throughout the country due to hostility to the new religion. This period is considered the beginning of a return to paganism.
• 1034 - 1038 - demolition of the cathedral in Wroclaw .
• 1037 - as a result of public discontent, a popular uprising broke out against the clergy and those in power.
• 1038 - a popular rebellion in Greater Poland.
• 1039 - Casimir the Updater transferred the capital of Poland from Greater Poland to Krakow .
• 1047 - The Mazovshans were finally defeated in a series of armed clashes, in one of which Metzlav was killed.
• 1051 - the resumption of the bishopric in Wroclaw by Bishop Jerome, a cathedral was built.

• Pagan revolts in the Czech Republic

• Gerard Labuda. Początki państwa polskiego. - Warszawa: DNP, 2002 .-- ISBN 83-89136-48-1 .

• Slavic anti-church uprisings