Life Agnes of Babenberg

1 life

1.1 family , personality
1.2 marriage
1.3 high duchess of poland
1.4 deposition , exile
1.5 death , aftermaths

life
family , personality

through mother, agnes descendant of salian dynasty, ruled holy roman empire since 1024 until maternal uncle, emperor henry v, died without issue in 1125. half-sister of frederick ii, duke of swabia, , conrad iii, king of germany since 1138 (both born mother s first marriage frederick i, duke of swabia). of full-siblings, 1 sister judith married marquess william v of montferrat , 1 brother bishop otto of freising, renowned medieval chronicler.

according wincenty kadłubek, polish chronicler , bishop of kraków (and opinion shared other sources), agnes ambitious, energetic woman, , proud of origins. no wonder bishop called in pages of polish chronicle, tigress (polish: tygrysica).

marriage

the ruler of poland, duke bolesław iii wrymouth, in order hold ground against empire wanted obtain powerful ally against lothair iii of supplinburg, in 1125 had been elected king of romans against duke frederick ii of swabia. therefore forged alliance babenbergs , hohenstaufen families, who, relatives of extinct salian dynasty, natural rivals of lothair. in order seal alliance, marriage between bolesław iii s eldest son władysław , agnes agreed. wedding took place around 1125; according historians, couple had received duchy of silesia bolesław iii gift.

high duchess of poland

bolesław iii died on 28 october 1138. in will, divided poland between sons. oldest son, supreme authority in country assigned władysław ii title of high duke (princeps). in addition silesia, received seniorate province (which included lesser poland, eastern greater poland , western kuyavia) , authority on pomerania. half-brothers boleslaw iv, mieszko iii , henry received hereditary fiefs junior dukes. in addition, władysław ii receive lands of Łęczyca, granted bolesław iii widow salomea of berg life oprawa wdowia , revert seniorate province upon death.

almost immediately, high duke began efforts unify country under rule. wincenty kadłubek stated confrontation between władysław ii , half-brothers instigated agnes, believed husband, eldest son, had right sole ruler of whole country.

in order strengthen authority of high duke, believed agnes took part in downfall of 1 of powerful nobles in country, voivode piotr włostowic, supported junior dukes. according legend, capture of włostowic agnes, because sent own retainers castle , captured him during night. event recorded in german contemporary historiography; however, since story not confirmed, not accepted modern historians. agnes demanded włostowic s death, husband decided instead make example of him. włostowic blinded, muted , sentenced exile.

deposition , exile

the tyrannical rule of władysław ii , agnes led many of subjects switching allegiance junior dukes. in 1146 high duke s forces defeated near poznań. władysław ii escaped bohemia, while agnes , children remained in kraków, time maintained resistance against junior dukes wawel castle. however, attempts defend city unsuccessful and, in end, whole family reunited in exile.

after short time @ bohemian court of duke vladislaus ii, agnes half-brother, king conrad iii of germany, offered hospitality polish royal family, settled @ kaiserpfalz of altenburg. @ first, seemed władysław ii regain power in poland. german expedition against junior dukes launched in 1146, due flooding of oder river , pressures on german king margraves albert bear , conrad of meissen, campaign failed.

the failure of expedition did not discourage agnes, continued attempts restore husband. asked intervention of pope eugenius iii, decided raise question in 1148 council of reims, , sent legate guy poland obtain submission of junior dukes. however, refused accept return of władysław ii, , pope declared ban on poland. pope s actions had few repercussions united support of polish church hierarchy junior dukes.

in 1152 king conrad iii died , succeeded nephew frederick barbarossa. accession of energetic ruler, hopes of agnes , władysław ii of returning poland rekindled. encouragement of aunt, new german king launched expedition against poland in 1157. campaign success unexpectedly barbarossa did not restore władysław ii polish throne. instead high duke bolesław iv declared vassal of emperor frederick , compelled pay tribute him. in compensation władysław ii, forced bolesław promise restitution of silesian duchy władysław s sons.

death , aftermaths

both agnes , władysław ii knew battle lost. remained in altenburg, władysław ii died on 30 may 1159. agnes day of death placed sources between 24 , 25 january, year remained disputed among historians , sources. survived husband, , known did not return silesia sons when restored in heritage in 1163. thus, believed agnes died between 1160 , 1163. buried in cistercian abbey of pforta near naumburg on saale river.