POL ( 67 ) dules or generals, as their office had been only to the fovereignty, one Rithogar, a Teutonic to lead the armies into the field. The firft of prince, fent an ambaffador demanding her in marthefe is univerfally allowed to have been Lechus riage, and threatening war if his proposals were Lecht; who is said to have been a lineal de- refufed. Vanda marched in perfon against him at fcendant from Japhet the son of Noah. Accord- the head of a numerous army. The troops of ing to fome writers, he migrated at the head of a Rithogar abandoned him without ftriking a blow. merous body of the defcendants of the ancient upon which he killed himself in despair; and VanSclavi from fome of the neighbouring nations; da, having become enamoured of him, was fo and, to this day, Poland is called by the Tartars much concerned for his death, that the drowned the kingdom of Lechus. Bufching, however, gives herself in the river Viftula or Wefel. From this Sa different account of the origin of the Poles. unfortunate lady the country of VANDALIA takes The family of Cracus having thus beSarmatia, he obferves, was an extenfive country, its name. come extinct, the Poles reftored the vaivodes notinhabited by a variety of nations of different names. He fuppofes the Poles to be the defcendants of the withstanding all that they had formerly suffered ancient Lazi, a people who lived in Colchis near from them. The confequences were the fame as the Pontus Euxinus; whence the Poles are fome- before: the vaivodes abused their power. At that times called Polazi. Croffing feveral rivers, they time the Hungarians and Moravians had invaded entered Pofnania, and fettled on the borders of Poland with a numerous army, and were opposed the Warta, while their neighbours the Zechi fet- only by a handful of men almoft ready to furrentled on the Elb, in the 550th year of Chrift. As der at difcretion. However, one Premislaus, a to the name of Poland, or Polfka, as it is called by private foldier, contrived a stratagem by which the the natives, it comes from the Sclavonic word numerous forces of the enemy were overthrown; Pale, or Polo, which fignifies a country adapted and for his valour was rewarded with the duketo hunting, because the whole country was 'for- dom. We are ignorant of the other transactions merly covered with vaft forests, exceedingly pro- of his reign; but all hiftorians inform us that he per for that employment. To Lechus fucceeded died deeply regretted, and without iffue. On the death of Premiflaus feveral candidates appeared er, generally supposed to have been his neple. He was a warlike and fuccefsful prince, for the throne; and the Poles determined to predning many provinces of Denmark, and build- fer the victor in a horfe race. Lechus, one of the the city of Wismar, so called from his name. competitors being detected in endeavouring to After his death, the nobility were on the point of take an undue advantage, another Lechus, a peaadding a fovereign, when the people, haraffed by fant, who made the difcovery, was raised to the She grievous burdens occafioned by the wars of throne, and the other was put to death. This Vikimer, unanimously demanded another form of happened A. D. 774, and Lechus III. behaved with great wisdom and moderation. Though he Bernment, that they might no longer be liable luffer from ambition or tyranny. The nobi- poffeffed the qualities of a great warrior, and exy flattered this humour of the people, but infti- tended his dominions on the fide of Moravia and Rated fuch a form of government as threw all the Bohemia, yet his chief delight was to make his cher into their own hands. Twelve palatines, fubjects happy by peace. In the decline of life he redvodes, were chofen; and the Polish domi- engaged in a war with Charlemagne, and is faid to divided into as many provinces. Thefe pa- have fallen in battle with that powerful monarch; bodes exercifed a defpotic authority within their though others fay he died a natural death. LeMal jurifdiction, and aggravated the mifery of chus III. was fucceeded by his fon Rechus IV. people by perpetual wars among themselves; who inherited all his father's virtues. He fupwhich the Poles, worn out with oppreffion, preffed an infurrection in the polish provinces, by sired to return to their old form of government. which he acquired great reputation; after which Ty caft their eyes upon Cracus, or Gracus, he led his army against the Greek and Italian leto the wealth and popularity had raised him to gions who had over-run Panonia, and completely Be higheft honours among his countrymen, and defeated them. Nor was his valour more confpiPaleo is faid to have been defcended of the Ro- cuous in the battle than his clemency to the van. nd the GRACCHI. He fignalized himself against the quifhed. His fon Popiel I. who fucceeded him, was also a virtuous and pacific prince, who never fake, whom he overthrew in fome desperate enAgents, and afterwards built the city of Cra- had recourse to arms but through neceflity. He te with their fpoils. He did not enlarge his do- removed the feat of government from Cracow to nfusions, but made his fubjects happy by many Gnefna, and was fucceeded by his nephew Popieł nt regulations. At laft, after a long and II. a minor, whofe maturity was diftinguifhed by rons reign, he expired, or, according to fome, cruelty. Prompted by an ambitious and barbaaafinated by a nobleman who afpired to the rous queen, he invited his 20 uncles, natural fons C. He left three children; Cracus II. Le- of Lechus III. to an entertainment, and poifoned and a daughter named Vanda. Cracus fuc- them all. Their bodies being left unburied were onded to the dukedom, but was foon after mur- devoured by rats, who foon after punifhed the'murCovered by Lechus. However, the crime he had derers, by devouring Popiel II. his cruel queen, itted fo difturbed his confcience, that the fecould not be kept. When it was known that. had murdered his brother, he was depofed ignominy, and his fifter Vada declared is. She was a molt beautiful and accomhed lady; and foon after fhe had been raifed is mort be in are few it, the e thes ECHOL The mop and family, alive. Difcord, anarchy, and civil war This This excellent monarch died in 861, and was fucceeded by his fon Ziemovitus, who was of a more warlike difpofition than his father, and who firft introduced a regular difcipline among the Polish troops. He was victorious in all his battles with the Germans and Hungarians; and confiderably enlarged his dominions. After his death nothing remarkable happened in Poland till the time of Miecziflaus I. who attained the ducal authority in 964. He was born blind, and continued fo for 7 years; after which he recovered his fight without ufing any medicine; a circumftance fo extraordinary, that in those times of ignorance and fuperftition it was accounted a miracle. In his reign the Chriftian religion was introduced into Poland; in confequence of his marriage with Deborwka, daughter to the Duke of Bohemia, who had rejected his offer, unlefs he would fuffer himself to be baptized. He founded the archbishoprics of Gnefna and Cracow, and many bishoprics; but allowed his dominions to be ravaged by the Ruffians. He was fucceeded by his fon Boleflaus I. the firft king of Poland. Boleflaus had conferred on Suantepolk, he pro jected nothing less than the destruction of him and his whole army. The maffacre was already begun when Boleflaus received intelligence; and having already affembled part of his army, fell upon the traitors with fuch fury, that they were obliged to fly, and he got fafe to Poland. But in the mean time Jariflaus having affembled fresh forces, pur fued the Polish army; and having come up with them juft as one half had croffed the river Borif thenes, attacked them with the utmoft fury. Boleflaus defended himself with the greatest refolution; the Ruffians were entirely put to the rout, and a terrible carnage enfued. The victory, how ever, though complete, was not decifive; for which reafon Boleflaus continued his retreat, with out attempting to conquer a country too exten five for him ever to keep in fubjection. He next led his army into Saxony, plundered the country and fixed the boundaries of his empire at the Elbe; where he erected two iron columns, in me mory of his conqueft. He afterwards conquered Pruffia and Pomerania; and then applied himfel wholly to the enacting of wholefome laws for the benefit of his people. But in the midft of thi tranquillity Jariflaus affembled the most nume rous army that had ever been heard of in Ruffa with which he appeared on the frontier of Po land. Boleflaus, though now advanced in years marched out against his adversaries, and met them on the banks of Borifthenes, where he gained ano ther fignal victory. Many thousand prifoner were taken, but Boleflaus releafed them upor very eafy conditions. This well-timed clemency produced fuch an happy effect, that the Ruffians voluntarily fubmitted to his jurifdiction, and again became his fubjects. He died in 1025, after ha ving vaftly extended his dominions, and rendered his fubjects happy. (See BOLESLAUS I.) Bolef laus was fucceeded by his fon Miecziflaus II. but be poffeffed none of the great qualities of his fa (4.) POLAND, HISTORY OF, FROM K. BOLESLAUS I. TO BOLESLAUS II. Boleflaus I. furnamed Chrobry, fucceeded to the fovereignty in 999. He profefied and cherished Chriftianity, and was a man of great valour and prudence. The emperor Otho III. invefted him with the regal dignity; which was confirmed by the pope. Upon this, he affected a great deal of ftate. It however excited the envy of the duke of Bohemia, who had folicited the fame honour for himself, and had been refufed. His jealoufy was further excited by the connection between Boleflaus and the emperor, the former having married Rixa the emperor's niece. Without any provocation, therefore, he entered Poland at the head of a numerous ar my, committing everywhere dreadful ravages. Boleflaus immediately marched againft him, and the Bohemians retired with precipitation. Scarcity of provifions, and the inclemency of the feather, being indolent and debauched. In the be fon, prevented Boleflaus at that time from purfuing; but as foon as thefe obftacles were removed, he entered Bohemia at the head of a formi. dable army; took Prague after a fiege of 2 years; and after over-running the whole country, took the fortress of Wiffogrod, with the duke and his fon Jaremir; put out the eyes of the former, and condemned the latter to perpetual imprisonment. From Bohemia Boleflaus marched towards Moravia; but no fooner did he arrive on the frontier than the whole province fubmitted without a blow. The civil war having taken place, on the death of Wolodimir, grand duke of Ruffia, between his 2 fons Jariflaus and Suantepolk, the latter fled to Boleflaus for affillance; who accordingly fet out at the head of a numerous army, under pretence of doing juftice to Suantepolk. He was met on the Bog by Sariflaus at the head of an army much fuperior in number to his own, but he foon gained complete victory over him, and obliged him to fly to Kiovia. This city was foon after taken, with a vaft treasure and thus Boleflaus became master of the greatest part of Ruffia; whereupon he reinitated Suantepolk, and completely routed a fecond army brought againft him by Jarillaus. In return for all these favours, which ginning of his reign, the Ruffians, Bohemians, and Moravians, revolted. However, as the fpirit and discipline introduced by Boleflaus ftill remained in the Polish army, Miecziflaus found no diffi culty in reducing them again to obedience: afte which, devoting himself entirely to voluptuout nefs, he was feized with a frenzy, which put a end to his life in 1034. The bad conduct of thi prince proved very detrimental to the intereft o his fon Cafimir. Instead of electing him king, they chofe Rixa his mother queen-regent. She proved tyrannical, and so partial to her countrymen the Germans, that a rebellion enfued, and the wa forced to fly to Germany, whither fhe had fen Boleflaus's vaft treasure. In confequence of her bad behaviour and expulfion, Cafimir was driver out of the kingdom; and a civil war taking place many pretenders to the crown appeared at once To the miferies occafioned by this were added thofe of foreign war both with the Bohemians and Ruffians. In the midst of these accumulated dif treffes, Cafimir was loudly called for, and hi election to the throne refolved on. After fome fearch, he was difcovered in France, where he had affumed the monaftic habit for fubfiftence A dispensation being obtained, his return was ce lebrated lebrated with the greateft joy by all ranks; and he was crowned at Gnefna, by the primate, with uncommon folemnity. He proved a virtuous and pacific prince. He fuppreffed the banditti, refto red order, and by his marriage with the princess Mary, fifter to the duke of Ruffia, all quarrels with that nation were extinguished. The kingdom flourished during his reign; and became more refpectable from the wisdom and ftability of the adminiftration than it could have been by many victories. After a happy reign of 16 years, he died, beloved and regretted by all his fubjects. (5.) POLAND, HISTORY of, FROM K. BOLESLAUS II. TO BOLESLAUS III'S DEATH. By the happy administration of Cafimir, the kingdom re. covered fufficient ftrength to carry on fuccefsful wars against its foreign enemies. Boleflaus H. the fon of Cafimir, an enterprifing and valiant prince, fucceeded to the throne; and foon made himself fo famous, that three unfortunate princes all took refuge at his court at once, having been expelled from their own dominions by their rebellious fubjects. These were, Jacomir, fon of Briteflaus duke of Bohemia; Bela, brother to the king of Hungary; and Zaflaus duke of Kiovia, eldest fon to Jaridaus duke of Ruffia, and coufin to the king of Poland. The duke of Bohemia, dreading the confequences of Jacomir's efcape, affembled an army, and, without any declaration of war, marched through the Hercynian foreft, defolated Silefia, and laid wafte the frontiers of Poland with fire and fword. Boleflaus marched against him with a force greatly inferior; and, by his fuperior abilities, cooped up his adversary in a wood, where be reduced him to the greateft diftrefs. In this extremity the duke fent proposals for accommodation; yet they were rejected with difdain by Boleflaus; upon which the former ordering fires to be kindled in his camp, as if he defigned to continue there, removed in the night-time; and marching through narrow defiles, was advanced feveral leagues before Boleflaus received advice of his retreat. The king pursued him, but in vain; fo he returned, after ravaging the frontiers of Moravia. The next year he entered Bohemia with a numerous army; but the duke fubmitted to fuch terms as he thought proper to impofe. In thefe Jacomir was not forgotten, after which, he determi. ned to march towards Hungary, to affift Bela. That prince and be entered Hungary by different routes, each at the head of a numerous body, defeated a vaft army, and feized the king, who foon after died of a broken heart; so that Bela fucceeded to the throne without farther oppofition. But after thefe victories, Boleflaus, inftead of affifting Zaflaus, began to think of fubjecting the whole country to himself, in right of his queen, as well as of his descent from Jariflaus's fifter. Having therefore affembled a very numerous and well difciplined army, he entered the duchy of Kiovia, where he was opposed by Wiffeflaus, who had ufurped the fovereignty, with a vast multitude of forces. Boleflaus, however, continued to advance; and the Ruffian prince being intimidated by the tumber and good order of his enemies, deferted bis own troops and fled away privately with a flender retinue; upon which his forces difperfed. The inhabitants of Kiovia now called to their affiftance Suantoflaus and Ufzevold, two brothers of Wiffeflaus; but these princes acting the part of mediators, procured pardon for the inhabitants from Zalaus their natural fovereign. With the fame facility the two princes recovered all the other dominions belonging to Zaslaus, only one city venturing to ftand a fiege, and that was foon reduced. But in the mean time the king of Hungary dying, a revolt enfued, and the two fons of Bela were on the point of being deprived of their paternal dominions. This Boleflaus no fooner heard than he marched directly into Hungary; where by the bare terror of his name, he re-eftablished tranquillity, and confirmed the princes in their kingdom. While this was doing, Zaflaus was again driven from his territories, all the conquefts formerly made were loft, and Suantoflaus and Ufzevold rendered more powerful than ever. The king, however, foon difconcerted all their measures. He ravaged the palatines of Lufac and Chelm, reduced the ftrong city of Wolyn, and tranfported the booty to Poland. The campaign was finished by a battle with Ufzevold; which proved fo bloody, that though Boleflaus was victorious, his army was fo much weakened, that he could not purfue his conquefts. In winter he made numerous levies; and returning in fpring to Kiovia, reduced it, after several defparate attacks. by famine: But, instead of treating the inhabitants with cruelty, he commended their valour, and strictly prohibited his troops from pillaging or infulting them; diftributing provifions among them with the utmoft liberality. But this clemency was followed by a great difafter. Kiovia was the most diffolute, as well as the richest city in the north, and the king and all his foldiers gave themselves up to the diffipations of the place. The Polish women, exafperated at hearing that their hufbands, who had been 7 years abfent, had connected themfelves with the women of Kiovia, raifed their flaves to the beds of their mafters; and confpired in one general fcheme of prostitution, to be revenged of the infidelity of their husbands, excepting one fingle woman, namely, Margaret, the wife of Count Nicholas of Demboifin, who preferved her fidelity in fpite of all folicitation. Advice of this ftrange revolution was foon received at Kiovia, where it excited terrible commotions. The effect of thefe difcontents was a general desertion, and Boleflaus faw himself fuddenly left almost alone in the heart of Ruffia; the fol diers having unanimously refolved to return home to take vengeance of their wives and their gallants. A dreadful kind of war now erfued. The women knew that they were to expect no mercy from their enraged husbands, and therefore perfuaded their lovers to take arms in their defence. They themfelves fought by the fide of their gallants with the utmoft fury, and fought out their bufbands in the heat of battle, in order to fecure themselves from all danger of punishment by their death. They were, however, on the point of be ing fubdued, whọn Boleslaus arrived with the few remaining Poles, but affifted by a vast army of Ruffians, with whom he intended to take equal vengeance on the women, their gallants, and his Own own foldiers, who had deferted him. This produced a carnage more dreadful than ever. The foldiers united with their former wives and their gallants against the common enemy, and fought against Boleflaus and his Ruffians with the fury of lions. At last, however, the fortune of the king prevailed; the rebels were totally fubdued, and the few who escaped the fword were tortured to death, or died in prifon. To add to the calamities of this unhappy kingdom, the fchifms which for fome time had prevailed in the church of Rome found their way into Poland alfo; and the animofity of parties became aggravated in proportion. By perverfe accident the matter came at laft to be a contention for wealth and power between the king and clergy. This foon gave occafion to bloodshed; and the bishop of Cracow was maffacred in the cathedral while he was perform ing the duties of his office. This and fome other enormous crimes in a short time brought on the moft fignal vengeance of the clergy. Gregory VII. then pope, thundered out the moft dreadful anathemas against the king, released his fubjects from their allegiance, deprived him of the titles of fovereignty, and laid the kingdom under a general interdict, which the archbishop of Gnefna faw punctually enforced. To this terrible fentence Boleflaus in vain oppofed his authority, and tried to recal the fpirit which had formerly rendered him fo formidable to the neighbouring ftates. Confpiracies were formed against him, and the whole kingdom became a fcene of confufion, fo that he could no longer continue with fafety in his own dominions. He fled therefore with his fon Mieczislaus, and took refuge in Hungary: but here alfo the holy vengeance of the clergy purfued him, nor did they ceafe perfecuting him till he was brought to a miferable end. Some fay that he was murdered by the clergy as he was hunting; others, that he killed himself in despair; and one author tells us, that he wandered about in the woods of Hungary, lived like a favage on wild beafts, and was at laft killed and devoured by dogs. The majority, however, tell us, that being driven from place to place by the clergy, he was at laft obliged to become a cook in a monaftery at Carinthia, in which mean occupation he ended his days. The deftruction of Boleflaus was not fufficient to allay the papal refentment. It extended to the whole kingdom of Poland. Miecziflaus, the fon of Boleflaus, was not fuffered to afcend the throne; and the kingdom continued under the most severe interdict, which could be removed only by the force of gold, and the most abject conceffions. Befides the tax called Peter pence, new impofitions were added of the moft oppreffive nature; till at length the pontiff, having fatiated his avarice, and impoverished the country, confented that Uladislaus, the brother of the deceafed monarch, fhould be raised to the fovereignty, but only with the title of duke. This prince being of a meek difpofition, with little ambition, acquiefced in the will of the pope, accepted the terms offered, and fent an embaffy to Rome, earnestly intreating the removal of the interdict. The request was granted; but all his endeavours to recover the regal dignity proved fruitless; the pope having, in conjuction with the emperor of Germany, conferred that honour o the duke of Bohemia. Ruffia took the opportu nity of the late civil difturbances to throw off the yoke; and this revolt drew after it the revolt of Pruffia, Pomerania, and other provinces. The fmaller provinces, however, were foon reduced but the duke had no fooner returned to Poland, than they again rebelled, and hid their families in impenetrable forefts. Uladislaus marched against them with a confiderable army; but was entirely defeated, and obliged to return back with disgrace. Next year, however, he had better fortune; and, having led against them a more numerous army than before, they submitted, and delivered up the ringleaders of the revolt to be punished. No fooner were the Pomeranians reduced, than civil diffenfions took place. Sbigneus, the son of Uladiflaus by a concubine, was placed at the head of an army by the discontented nobility, to fubvert his father's government, and difpute the title of Boleflaus, the legitimate fon of Uladislaus, to the fucceffion. The war was terminated by the defeat and captivity of Sbigneus; who was at first confined, but afterwards released, on condition that he should join his father in punishing the palatine of Cracow. But before this could be done, the palatine effected a reconciliation with the duke; with which the young princes being dif pleafed, a war took place between them and their father. At laft the palatine of Cracow was ba nifhed, and the princes fubmitted; after which, Uladiflaus, having chaftifed the Pruffians and Pomeranians, who had again revolted, died in 1103, the 59th of his age. Uladiflaus was fucceeded by his fon Boleilaus III. who divided the dominions equally betwixt his brother Sbigneus and himself. The former being diffatisfied with his fhare, raised cabals against his brother. A civil war was for fome time prevented by the good offices of the primate: but at laft Sbigneus, having ftirred up the Bohemians, Saxons, and Moravians, against his brother, made fuch formidable preparations as threatened the conqueft of all Poland. Boleflaus, being unprovided with forces to oppofe fuch a formidable power, had recourfe to the Ruffians and Hungarians; who readily embraced his caufe, in expectation of turning it to their own advan tage. The event was, that Sbigneus was entirely defeated, and might eafily have been obliged to furrender himself at difcretion, had not Boleflaus generously left him in quiet poffeffion of the duchy of Mazovia, to maintain himself fuitably to the dignity of his birth. This kindness the ungrateful Sbigneus repaid by entering into another confpiracy; but the plot being discovered, he was feized, banished, and declared a traitor if ever he fet foot again in Poland. Even this severity did not produce the defired effect: Sbigneus perfuaded the Pomeranians to arm in his behalf; but he was defeated, taken prifoner, and again banished. Almoft all the nobility folicited the king to put fuch an ungrateful traitor to death: however, that generous prince could not think of polluting his hands with the death of his brother, notwithftanding all he had yet done. Nay, he even took him back to Poland, and appointed him a main tenance fuitable to his tank: but he foon had reafon to repent his kindness; for his unnatural brother POL POL took all his baggage and valuable effects. The ( 71 ) brother in a short time began to raise fresh difturbances, in confequence of which he foon met with the death which he deserved. Boleflaus was scarce freed from the intrigues of his brother, when he found himself in greater danger than ever, from the ambition of the emperor Henry IV. The emperor had attacked the king of Hungary, with whom Boleflaus was in clofe alliance, and from whom he had received affiftance when in great diftrefs himself. The king of Poland determined to affift his friend, and therefore made a powerful diverfion in Bohemia, where he repeatedly defeated the Imperialists; upon which the emperor, collecting all his forces, ravaged Silefia, and even eatered Poland, where he laid fiege to the ftrong town of Lubufz; but was at laft obliged to abandon the enterprise, after much lofs. However, Henry was not difcouraged, but penetrated ftill farther into Poland, and was laying wafte all before him, when the fuperior skill of Boleflaus compelled him to retire, after having almott destroyed his army with fatigue and famine, without once coming to action. This foon brought on a peace, which was confirmed by a marriage between Boleflaus and the emperor's fifter. In fhort, Boleflaus III. might have equalled his ancestor, Boleflaus I. in glory, had he not been impofed upon by a Hungarian, whom in 1135 he made governor of Wiflica, a strong town on the Nida, which he betrayed to the Ruffians. Boleflaus, enraged, made war upon the Ruffians, by whom he was entirely defeated. By this difgrace the duke was fo much afflicted, that he died foon after, having reigned 36 years. (6.) POLAND, HISTORY OF, FROM K. BOLESLAUS III.'S DEATH, TO BOLESLAUS IV.'s ACCESSION. Boleflaus, by his will, left his dominions equally divided among his four fons. Uladislaus, the eldeft, had the provinces of Cracow, Sirad, Lencici, Silefia, and Pomerania. Boleflaus, the 2d fon, had the palatinates of Culm and Cujava, with the duchy of Mazovia. The palatinates of Kalefzh and Pofnania fell to Miecziflaus, the 3d fon; and to Henry, the 4th, were affigned thofe of Lublin and Sandomer. Cafimir, the youngest child, then an infant in the cradle, was forgot, and no provifion made for him. By the will of the late duke, all the brothers were obliged to own the fupremacy of Uladislaus, who was declared duke of all Po land. The harmony of the princes was firft difturbed by the ambition of Chriftina, the wife of Vladislaus, who affembled the ftates, and made a long fpeech, fhowing the dangers which might arie from a partition of the ducal dominions among fo many, by promifes and threats, pre. vailed on the nobility to agree to the exclufion of the other princes. Úladiflaus now having got the nobility on his fide, firft drove Boleflaus out of his territories; next, he marched against Henry, and difpoffeffed him alfo, forcing both to take refuge with Mieczislaus in Pofnania, where all the three brothers were befieged. Several of the nobility interpofed, and ufed all their influence to effect a reconciliation, but in vain. He infifted that the befieged princes fhould furrender at difcretion. Thus driven to despair, the brothers fallied out, and attacked the duke's army with fuch impetuofty, that they obtained a complete victory, and (7.) POLAND, HISTORY OF, FROM K.BOLESLAUS IV.'S ACCESSION TO THAT OF CASIMIR II. Boleslaus IV. began his administration with an act of generofity to his brother Uladiflaus, to whom he gave the duchy of Silefia, which thus was feparated from Poland, and has never fince been reannexed to it. This had no other effect upon Uladislaus than the putting him in a condition to raise fresh disturbances; for he now perfuaded the emperor Conrade to invade Poland; but Boleflaus fo haraffed and fatigued his army by perpetual marches, ambufcades, and skirmishes, that he was obliged in a short time to return to his own country; and for fome years Poland enjoyed a profound tranquillity. During this interval Henry entered on a crufade, by which he procured extraordinary fame, but loft almost all his army. Soon after the return of Henry, Poland was invaded by the emperor Frederic Barbaroffa, who was perfuaded to this by the folicitations of Uladiflaus and his wife Chriftina. The number of the Imperialists was fo great, that Boleflaus and his brothers did not think proper to oppose them in the field; they contented themselves with cutting off the convoys, placing ambuscades, haraffing them on their march, and keeping them in perpetual alarms by falfe attacks and fkirmishes. With this view the three brothers divided their forces, defolated the country before the enemy, and burnt all the towns and cities which were in no condition to ftand a fiege. Thus the emperor, advancing into the heart of a defolated country, where he could not fubfift, was at laft reduced to fuch a fituation that he could neither go forward nor retreat, and was obliged to folicit a conference with Boleflaus. The latter was too prudent to irritate him by an unfeasonable haughtiness, and therefore went to the German camp, attended only by his brothers and a flight guard. This inftance of confidence was fo agreeable to the emperor, that a treaty was foon agreed upon, which was confirmed by a marriage between Adelaide, niece to the emperor, and Miecziflaus duke of Pofnania. Boleflaus having thus happily escaped from so great a danger, took it into his head to attempt the conqueft of Pruffia, for no other reafon but because the inhabitants were heathens. Having unexpectedly invaded the country with a very numerous army, he fucceeded in his enterprise; great numbers of infidels were converted, and many churches fet up: but no fooner was Boleflaus gone, than the inhabitants returned to their old religion. Upon this Boleflaus again came againft them with a formidable power; but, being betrayed by fome Pruffians whom he had taken into his fervice, and raised to pofts of honour, his army was led into defiles, |