Poland and the Renewal of the Roman Empire in the year 1000

What was Otto III up to?
This video is part of a collaboration about early medieval Poland.
M. Laser History's video: • Introduction to Mediev...
History with Hilbert's channel: / @historywithhilbert146
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FOOTNOTES
1. Gerd Althoff, Otto III, trans. Phyllis G. Jestice (University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2003), 82; Roman Michałowski, The Gniezno Summit: The Religious Premises of the Founding of the Archbishopric of Gniezno, trans. Anna Kijak (Leiden: Brill, 2016), 223.
2. Althoff, Otto III, 83; Michałowski, The Gniezno Summit, 225-27.
3. Althoff, Otto III, 83-84; Michałowski, The Gniezno Summit, 228-40.
4. See Anthony F. Czajkowski, “The Congress of Gniezno in the Year 1000,” Speculum 24, no. 3 (1949): 341; Althoff, Otto III, 85-86.
5. For the life of Adalbert of Prague and the sources for it, see Ian Wood, The Missionary Life: Saints and the Evangelisation of Europe, 400-1050 (Harlow, Eng.: Longman, 2001), chapter 10.
6. Czajkowski, “The Congress of Gniezno in the Year 1000,” 350, 352; Althoff, Otto III, 103; Andrzej Pleszczyński, “Poland as an Ally of the Holy Ottonian Empire,” in Europe around the Year 1000, ed. Przemysław Urbańczyk (Warsaw: Wydawnictwo DiG, 2001), 419; Tadeusz Manteuffel, The Formation of the Polish State: The Period of Ducal Rule, 963-1194, trans. Andrew Gorski (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1982), 61.
7. Gesta Principum Polonorum: The Deeds of the Princes of the Poles, trans. Paul W. Knoll and Frank Schaer (Budapest: Central European University Press, 2003), 34-41.
8. Althoff, Otto III, 90-91.
9. Althoff, Otto III, 99, 100-101.
10. Czajkowski, “The Congress of Gniezno in the Year 1000,” 352, 355-56; Manteuffel, The Formation of the Polish State, 63, 75; Althoff, Otto III, 101; Michałowski, The Gniezno Summit, 188.
11. Althoff, Otto III, 101.
12. Althoff, Otto III, 90; Michałowski, The Gniezno Summit, 240-41.
13. Thietmar of Merseburg, Ottonian Germany: The Chronicon of Thietmar of Merseburg, trans. and ed. David A. Warner (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2001).
14. Michałowski, The Gniezno Summit, 104-105, 264. I was attempting to allude to passages like Rom. 16, 2 Cor. 8:23, and Col. 4:11.
15. Czajkowski, “The Congress of Gniezno in the Year 1000,” 354-55; Pleszczyński, “Poland as an Ally of the Holy Ottonian Empire,” 421.
IMAGE CREDITS
Map of Holy Roman Empire in the year 1000
Wikimedia user Sémhur, CC BY-SA 3.0
commons.wikime...
Computer animation “Gród w Gnieźnie”
Courtesy of the Museum of the Origins of the Polish State
Photo of Drzwi gnieźnieńskie (Gniezno Doors), c. 1175
Courtesy of the Archdiocese of Gniezno
archidiecezja....
Image of Otto III
Evangeliar Ottos III.
BSB Clm 4453
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich
www.digitale-s...
Empress Zoe Mosaic
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Myrabella, public domain
commons.wikime...
Image of Henry II
Pontifikale Benediktionale (sogenanntes Pontifikale Heinrichs II.)
Staatsbibliothek Bamberg Msc.Lit.53, 2v
www.deutsche-d...
Photo of the Museum of the Origins of the Polish State
MuzPoczPansPol1.jpg
Wikipedia user Aung, public domain
commons.wikime...

[@thomasking49]

I could listen to this man talk for hours. Also the talking head style with really clean graphics is really refreshing. My new favorite youtube channel.

[@davidemiozzi8589]

there's something hypnotic about his tone, and the content is top notch

[@johngrebenor2363]

Some of my friends call me crazy for loving to listen to "dry" history content, but I honestly love just hearing this semi-monotonous (by some standards) delivery of info by a professional. It's soothing yet deeply interesting and is sometimes what I want as opposed to some overly-theatrical narrator!

[@mo0se3]

ever since the time traveler vid, this guy is a "drop everything and watch" for me

[@geebdohboy5251]

@@johngrebenor2363yes, straight forward and easy to digest with out without looking at the screen

[@Rando_Shyte]

Pee and poo

[@sudokuzcalkami]

its so refreshing to hear Polish names being pronounced properly by an English speaker, thank you! Great video

[@wlodekgoldsztajn662]

same, his pronounciation is really good

[@Halo_Legend]

An only time in history an English speaker cared enough to make a 5 minute research about pronunciation.

[@milkymarco7]

POLAND MENTIONED!!!!

[@Spugler2]

🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱

[@oiuqreofnqoiruegnqerg]

polska mistrzem polski!!

[@MietoK]

torille?

[@rdtfycugvibu1631]

POLISH MOUNTAIN

[@CarterMuller]

2137

[@Amleto.]

None of those bullshit history KZbin channels that create great animations and put a robotic voice in the background reading the Wikipedia page of an event will ever be as informative as a true historian who simply presses play and starts talking about history.

[@danielacordero3376]

PREACH

[@Dudsgon]

Bullshit KZbin is the real cancer. Especially in such matters

[@SarimFaruque]

by "animation" it's ai generated art

[@seebasschipman293]

He definitely doesn’t “just press play and talk history” there’s a lot more to these productions

[@alextravers4127]

Llololloooopollllo p o 2:50 bucks London on 3:09 😊llool😅olo😅😅l😅 to lol and oh lloo😅oo😊 Lloyd on lllolol😅 ol'ppoop Lloyds oooopoolpl 😅

[@FootballManagerPl]

I'm Polish, and I'm positively surprised by this video. It never really crossed my head that this event is mostly mentioned in Polish historiography. I remember learning about it in school and possible explanations provided there, were that Otto had great plans for Europe which would involve Poland, but his death put a stop to it. And tbh elementary/middle school is probably the last time when I heard or read about this event. This video trying to get into the minds of people over 1000 years ago is a really nice, quick lesson and reminder of it.

[@littlethings7522]

Wykład, który wiele wyjaśnia - hołd lenny, niemiecki sen o imperium i Unia Europejska (warto wysłuchać całości) - Kanał: Pro vita bona | Magdalena Ziętek-Wielomska: Od I Rzeszy do UE. Jak Niemcy od 1000 lat rządzą Europą

[@piotrmalewski8178]

Otton gave Bolesław the throne of Charlemagne...

[@RobiTobi-u3u]

@@littlethings7522aż mi się nie chce komentować . Powiem tylko że to nie miejsce na leczenie kompleksów .

[@littlethings7522]

@@RobiTobi-u3u Jakich kompleksów? Zakładam, że wykładu nie wysłuchałeś i nie wiesz o czym mówisz.

[@annapl4385]

Please use correct grammar. I am Pole not Polish

[@patryknowicki4536]

No way my favorite history youtuber dropped a video about my favorite country relating to my favorite empire during my favorite era

[@OotsutsukiShibai]

Eastern Roman Empire > Holy Roman Empire

[@patryknowicki4536]

@@OotsutsukiShibai anime profile pic = opinion rejected. Cringe orthocoal

[@OotsutsukiShibai]

@@patryknowicki4536 Mówi to gościu z jakimś orzełkiem na profilowym XD

[@patryknowicki4536]

@@OotsutsukiShibai cope

[@alexlover1619]

@@OotsutsukiShibai The Roman Empire > those poor doppelgängers

[@brumm3653]

The way this event is taught in Polish schools is that it was a sort of symbolic coronation, that Otto considered Bolesław to be worthy of being a king, but not a real coronation. That officially happened 25 years later, shortly before Bolesław's death.

[@piotrmalewski8178]

What's interesting it's hardly mentioned that Otto gave Bolesław the throne of Charlemagne...

[@8Hshan]

@@piotrmalewski8178 What. The. F... O.O To me that's far more shocking than that "coronation" gesture. Damn, that shows how serious Otto was about his plans for Bolesław in his new empire...

[@josega6338]

All being the image upon Ubu roi and prince Bougrelao were shapen by Jarry. Bougre, besides sodomizer, means 'guy' in french

[@Artur_M.]

Looks like I just found another great channel to subscribe to. An excellent video! I'm really looking forward to the other two in this project. Fun fact: in 986 Mieszko I gave the young Emperor Otto III a surprising gift: a live camel (probably a Baktrian one). It's funny how among the precious few facts we know about this period, there are such fascinating, random details. Although, we can potentially conclude something useful from them, for example, about the trade contacts.

[@kamelia633]

This is not a random details at all. At that time, people believed that the Christian emperor commanded not only people, but all living creatures, so animals were given to the emperor. Unusual and rare animals that aren't found in Europe were especially valued as good gifts. Over time, rich cities began to imitate this custom and because of this, zoos as we know them today appeared. The fact that Mieszko gave Otto a camel speaks of either good relations between the Piasts and Ottonians, or a desire for good relations.

[@asocci100]

It's amazing how much prestige and admiration the Roman Empire still held throughout history that even 600 years after the Western portion fell, European kings still tried to revive it or claim some hereditary link to its glorious past. The Franks, the Holy Roman Empire under Charlemagne, the Ottomans, the Russ, and the Poles.

[@SaladDongs]

And the Romanians! Hell, even the Roman Empire tried to reclaim the Roman empire

[@pukpuk7642]

Because after the fall of Rome, the church preserved the legacy of antiquity and was an element of civilizing the barbarians who eventually became culturally Romans. In the Middle Ages, it was the church that civilized the barbarians. Then the USA was founded by Europeans who, taking inspiration from Rome, wanted to break the monopoly of the feudal lords. Then the Enlightenment era broke the monopoly of the church etc . Ultimately, the barbarians in the times of Rome preserved its legacy and eventually became culturally Romans and their entire civilization

[@pukpuk7642]

Many do not understand the processes of the entire West and in reality the entire Western civilization is precisely a continuous of the civilization that was created in Greece, then due to cultural strength it was taken over by Rome after conquering Greece, then the barbarians did the same, who destroyed Rome, etc. because the church preserved this heritage and then the US uprising did it, which broke the feudal monopoly of absolute rulers in Europe etc .

[@pukpuk7642]

Generally culturally such USA is not really a young country because it was created from the cultural heritage of Europe, which has been continuous since ancient Greece. Such USA was built by Europeans with obvious references to Rome

[@odenoki9571]

​@@pukpuk7642 Couldn't you argue that feudal monopolies still exist in Europe? I could be wrong, but it's my understanding that the descendants of feudal lords still hold huge swathes of land across Europe. These historic aristocratic families remain among the largest landowners on the continent. It's interesting that we still use the term 'landlords,' which has its roots in the feudal system. I recognize that this observation might apply more to some European countries than others, but the continuation of this land ownership pattern supports the argument that feudal monopolies persist in some form. While there have been significant changes in land distribution and economic structures, the enduring presence of these aristocratic landowners suggests that elements of the feudal legacy still influence modern Europe I suppose I'm being a bit pedantic though

[@spookymethod]

Always a pleasure to see you upload. You bring a very authentic perspective to the history side of KZbin. :^)

[@magimon91834]

Central European history in general is stuck behind a linguistic barrier to an extent that fascinates me. We don't have this history with most of French or Italian history. I love the HRE but so much of it isn't available in English

[@theenglishman]

Mike Duncan really wasn’t kidding when he said that Poland always factors in somehow in times like these.

[@EvoDeVeau]

Can you elaborate? As a Pole I'm curious where can I read/listen more of what you've said

[@deepbluejeer]

​@@EvoDeVeau Check out Mike Duncan's Revolutions podcast. While Poland isn't one of the main countries discussed, he touches on the way Poland affected the French, 1848, and Russian revolutions

[@dinodonut5776]

@@deepbluejeerIt also comes up in the American, and Haitian revolutions as well

[@Dawid.O]

Im Polish, I got my degree in history on Warsaw Uni and most historians here think that Otto;s plan was to make Bolesław his eastern ally in order to secure border and perhaps form some kind of long term cooperation. Idea of Roman Empire reborn, but with Slavs in it. Eastern lords in Germany, who wanted to expand to the east, did not aprove of this.

[@michalswag]

its kinda funny how this event is always mentioned in polish education but its always in passing. so a lot of people know that "in the year one thousand a german king came to gniezno" but not much besides that. i guess its just an easy date to remember so it always sticks with you. pozdrowienia z lublina! edit: also shoutouts on the pronunciation, no one wouldve been mad if you messed up but i appreciate the extra care.

[@metanoian965]

The Frankfurt Schul don't like that story

[@michalswag]

huh?

[@metanoian965]

@@michalswag uhu !

[@karolol127]

Why? Can you explain it a bit? To be honest, Otto's idea was revolutionary at the time, he seems to be a very open-minded person. Being an emperor, he didn't want to be a kind of dictator, instead he tried to base politics at the highest level more on liberal principles.

[@ipodman1910]

He probably read Plutarchs Alexander story…

[@SMiki55]

So there's this one Polish historical writer, Teodor Parnicki (you can look him up - he has an article on the English Wikipedia). In 1944 he wrote a novel titled "Srebrne orły" ("Silver Eagles") that focused on Emperor Otto III and Pope Sylvester II. It's an underrated gem from the writing craft perspective (Parnicki was a master of dialogue) but there's one quite shocking plot detail that stands out: at Gniezno, Otto makes Bolesław the Patricius Romanorum. Bolesław is meant to be the Empire's arm in the east and potentially an emperor himself in case something happens to Otto. What's mind-boggling is that when you research the actual sources, Parnicki's bold hypothesis appears… kinda credible? Bolesław's son Mieszko II was taught speaking and writing Latin, Greek, and German, he was engaged to and later married Otto's niece Richeza - could he be groomed not to become a king, but an emperor? Of course, that's just a hypothesis, one that's less credible because it is formulated within a novel, not a historical work - even if said novel was based upon the author's enormous research in libraries of Teheran and Jerusalem.

[@premodernist_history]

Sounds cool. I wish I could read Polish. I'd probably enjoy his books.

[@alexbernat525]

That's so fascinating. In the most out there interpretation, it makes you wonder if there was a kind of plot to restore a unified Roman empire between these rulers. If things went perfectly for Otto, you could've had a Holy Roman emperor married to a Byzantine empress in partnership with Poland. It sounds like the type of stuff an ambitious young emperor would dream up. I'd love to peer into a timeline where Otto didn't die so young, maybe nothing would've come of it, but then maybe, just maybe... Crazy the things that sudden death can tear apart indiscriminately 🥲

[@slawomirkulinski]

It makes sense. Piasts were ruling their state in a very German and Roman Empire way.

[@bonus88888]

​@@slawomirkulinskiWhat do you mean, that is interesting

[@karolol127]

​@@premodernist_history I think if you get an digital verion of it, you can translate it with some top quality AI translators like deepl and if not understand each single word perfectly then you'll get the context in details at least.

[@slawomirkulinski]

Here is one interpretation. Otto III was looking for ways to rebuild the Empire. However empire requires an Emperor who is obeyed. The problem was that many tribes in the north, including Norse, Germanic, Baltic and Slavic tribes were not so bend on authoritarian rule in the late Roman Empire fashion. In these cultures leaders were very often selected to do specific job - lead the tribe, or a stronghold, without a right for succession for their offspring. Their power was bestowed by the people. In Slavic tribes the gathering which was selecting a leader was called "wiec", it was an conducted to elect the leader, perform justice duties and other matters of the community. Now Piast dynasty was an oddity in this northern eastern European region. They were very authoritarian. The way Piasts created the their domain was a constant conquest of independent Slavic towns and strongholds. Fallen strongholds were usually razed to the ground. If captured people were resisting they were slain on the spot. If they not resist, there were two things that would happen. If they agree for resettlement to other stronghold under Piast rule they will keep their life and only loose all their possessions and status. If they don't agree, they will be sold into slavery (Hence the English word slave = Slavic). With this, Piasts would build a new stronghold nearby the old one and settle there their supporters. This process was to uproot Slavic people from their towns and settlements. Piasts were creating very effective state in terms of adopting and developing technology and military prowess. This state was ruled in a very authoritarian way which didn't suit most of Slavs. Piasts introduced Christianity to Slavs because it was a vehicle for authoritarian rule. In Christianity disobeying the monarch was a mortal sin as the ruler was anointed by the God, not by the people. It was effectively a blasphemy. As I've said this didn't suit the Slavic mindset and Piasts were facing uprisings. Good example of Slavs in the region which didn't like the idea of authoritarian were Velets. Why we don't know much about them? It's because they've decided to side with the German Roman Empire and keep partial independence. In the end they were divided and assimilated. They've resided in the region north of Berlin (on a very interesting and undiscovered lands - see Battle of Tollensesee). Back to Otto III. He has seen in Bolesław the ruler that can govern the state the way Roman Emperors did by creating the system where his will is passed down without question. What happen afterwards. Main Piast dynasty died out by the end of XIV century. The lower branches in Silesia turned away from Poland and pivoted towards Bohemia and German Roman Empire proving my point. Poland had to put someone on the throne so the nobles (which were Polish Slavs) crowned Hungarian Princess (as King, not the Queen) and married her to Lithuanian Duke. So we can see a return to Slavic idea to have powers elected. Since then every Jagiellon Duke had to gather support of the Polish nobles to be crowned the King of Poland. Each "election campaign" like that was yielding new rights and privileges for Polish nobles creating the foundation of Polish Noble Democracy - private ownership, right to court justice, elections of kings, parliament.

[@ipodman1910]

Please investigate that Slavs has nothing to do with English ‘slaves’.

[@littlethings7522]

Wykład, który wiele wyjaśnia - hołd lenny, niemiecki sen o imperium i Unia Europejska (warto wysłuchać całości) - Kanał: Pro vita bona | Magdalena Ziętek-Wielomska: Od I Rzeszy do UE. Jak Niemcy od 1000 lat rządzą Europą

[@Hadar1991]

18:00 As a Pole, who is not a historian, I always interpreted this image of Sclavina, Germania, Galia and Roma approaching Otto III, that Otto III idea was to make from HRE union autonomous kingdoms (more less divided among the ethnic lines), that each of those kingdoms could have own customs, traditions, language etc. with the emperor being above those divisions and focused on what unites all those kingdoms, that is Christianity. That would match Otto III religiosity, but also would be extremely progressive. And I think that Polish historiography somewhat agrees with my interpretation, because usually history textbooks alongside Congress of Gniezno discuss the idea of "Universal Empire" where Emperor was meant to be emperor of all Christian states. Basically an European Union focused on Christianity/Catholicism and with Emperor at the top.

[@punipunistuff]

I need 4 times more the amount of videos, thank you.😁

[@handeggchan1057]

"How many Poles does it take to reestablish the Roman Empire?" Sounds like a really bad (or great) joke.

[@kalamata480]

You tryin to do some Polish humour?

[@ephemeralvapor8064]

As many as it takes to hold up the "tent" of the circus maximus? Sorry, I have children so puns and wordplay abound.

[@citricdemon]

i remember hearing this story when I was a child. it always smacked of fantastic legend to me - in fact, it was always told alongside other legends, like Boleslaw under the mountain, the dragon of krakow, and the queen who threw herself into the river rather than marry a german.

[@metanoian965]

Allegory. Polish Freedom and Independence. Like them Hussar fairies on horseback. It's about Poland the Stronk !

[@adstz7979]

This is one of the really important medieval events in Polish foreign policy. Our history teacher explained to us the outlines of the political environment at the time in connection with the "Gniezno summit". She pointed out that due to the imperfect nature of the sources, interpretation is difficult, but everything indicates that Otto III had the idea of expanding the empire eastward basing the whole thing on a common denominator, something everyone shared - the Christian faith. She added that what he wanted to do, in a sense, is perhaps being realized today, after more than 1,000 years in the form of the European Union. It is true that no longer on the basis of faith per se...but on the basis of civilizational foundations imbued with Christianity? Sure, it kinda sticks. Unfortunately, the chances for something great vanished into thin air after Otto's death, and Poland was doomed, it seems, to endure German shenanigans for centuries with a spectacular finale in the form of the release of the "Drang nach Osten" album with such well-known hits as "Little oopsie (1939-1945)"

[@DavidGBlair]

The EU is imbued with Christian principles? I would say the opposite is more true.

[@misterborak751]

Haha. Great and unexpected last sentence.

[@pawezarnotal1382]

The difference between Polish and western historiography is understanding of the context...or lack thereof. E.g, Bolesław coronated himself in 1025 to anchor and perpetuate the kingship for his son, Mieszko 2, who was coronated - irony - also in 1025

[@CatSounds-u9f]

Boleslaw crowned himself king again because he was dying and needed to legitimise the passing of the crown to his child. This is because Otto crowned Boleslaw King, not his child, so to prevent a succession struggle he had to do it. It's explained by the fact that he crowned himself king in 1025, died within a few weeks and the crown passed to his son.

[@thenextguy32]

They say youtube videos are for either tutorials, entertainment, or comfort. Well, this guys my comfort historian

[@WolfPackDiggyDog24]

I really appreciate that you go out of your way to describe how a historian thinks and what kind of approaches, considerations, and even frustrations an academic might deal with. It humanizes what I think a lot of people see as a sort of intellectual black box that pushes them away, an "oh that's not for me, I wasn't born with the knack" approach you see with all sorts of things from arts to math and science, when in reality a thirst for understand what really happened and how things are the way they are is as human as you can get. I love history and tell my friends and family the _what_ of it all the time, but I'm not nearly as competent at explaining _how_ history is, which to me is all about the historian's approach I always look forward to your videos to the point where I'll save them for special occasions when I can really pay attention. Keep up the great work!

[@noihansama1410]

Lavish Polish party -> drunk people -> bromance -> crowning using Otto's crown. Ofcourse not official but would make a hell of a story to be told among city people for some time. This is my take based on nothing at all. Feel free to disagree :D

[@renerpho]

You mentioning Theophanu reminded me about CGP Grey's "Someone Dead Ruined My Life… Again.", which is a nice video about how to get lost in primary sources. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it.

[@confutatismaledictis7599]

Please make more videos, man. I love the chill vibe + solid scholarship. It’s a great combo.

[@knightoflain]

Absolute props for your pronounciacion of polish names

[@ludwikahawryszuk6637]

Cześć! It was really nice to hear about my country's history today. Dziękuję ślicznie!

[@BorklundSE]

Babe wake up, new Premodernist video dropped

[@bloodywanker781]

I've seen an interesting hypothesis on the event of crowning Bolesław with the imperial diadem. According to it, Otto wanted to re-create the system of tetrarchy with himself as the Augustus and Bolesław as the Caesar.

[@gunsoup9530]

I love this channel, I love the way you explain things it’s like we’re having a conversation but you’re doing all the talking for me in the best way

[@mathdebaterclub]

New Premodernist video? POLSKA MENTIONED??

[@MrAlexo01]

It's weird that I have researched a topic in Uni only to see a YT video about it, it feels really surreal.

[@tamasburik9971]

Anything more you can tell us of your research?

[@MrAlexo01]

@@tamasburik9971 it's nothing important, I just researched the Ottonians and the christianisation of eastern and northern Europe for a presentation I had to hold for a beginner's course. I was really interested in the Ottonians specifically, so I read a book about them. Otto III. and Boleslaw I. of Poland, the idea of renovatio imperii romanorum and their friendship were mentioned there.

[@Ivelio1]

For me, it's clear that Otto wanted to restore the Roman Empire, but since he had his close ones related to Byzantine, he clearly wanted the restore the old Roman Empire in it's former glory. By the year 1000 AD, Muslim expansion already took over great part of Iberian peninsula, entire northern Africa, and a lot parts of Anatolia. He might've seen it as a serious threat and wanted to unify Christiandom to fight the invading force.

[@arturhashmi6281]

You are right, Gallus Anonymus was chronicler of Piast dynasty on the court of the king Bolesław III Wrymouth and He wrote almost 100 years after the events mentioned in the video alledgedly happened, so it could be just a piece of Propaganda, I can't argue with that. Gallus was sometimes very clear about mistakes or cruelty of Polish kings, but Bolesław I was first Polish king and he is kind of father-figure of the dynasty so I can't deny propaganda hypothesis. You are also right that Thietmar is not reliable source either and It's pretty clear when you read him that he hates Polish people and Slavs generally, He does not bite his tongue, which is not very appealing for me as a Polish person, but I understand that he was the chronicler of Merserburg, which was constantly endangered by Slavic pagans. To give you wider perspective I need to tell you about Mieszko the I who was the father of Bolesław I the brave from the video. Mieszko was the first Polish ruler who definitely was not mythical. Polish written history lit. starts with him. He was in constantly hostile relations with German duchies on the west, especially with Brandenburg, they wanted to "evangelize" his land and conquer it in the name of Christ and He wanted to stay independent, so He married Czech princess Dobrava and he converted into Catholicism with all Polish people at the same time - at least "on the paper". He also allied with Sweden, his daughter Świętosława more known as Sigrid Storrada became mother of: Olof - king of Norway, Harald - king of Denmark and finally Kanut - king of England, Denmark and Norway. Mieszko started to build position of Poland in Europe and Bolesław continued or even outgrow his ambitions. First of all one source implay that He could be slave in the German court during his childhood as a part of some pact (just like Myrcella Lannister in the Dornish court:p) so some historians in Poland even say that He grew up with Otton, but I do not know how they defend that hypothesis. We know that Bolesław was not newly converted humble servant of God, He was pretty cruel (blinded many relatives) but also very effective politician and conqueror. He wanted to build relation with the Emperor not become his vassal like eg. Czechs and It is very clear from the wrriten history that it was his goal. We know for a fact as you said that He created archdecese in Gniezno so He could become a King. We know that Congress of Gniezno happened, I do not think that any historian doubt that, but did Otton really put his diadem on the head of Bolesław? No one can tell for sure. Some even say that Otto recognized Bolesław the Brave as his second successor on the imperial throne (after Margrave Meissen Ekkehard). One of my teachers in school told me that Bolesław was going to be kind of governor and evangelizator of the eastern Europe and He told us about that as one of the many unfulfilled chances from our history, but in some ways thats what Poland did, because they stopped Germans from brutal evangelising Baltic people and Ruthenians, but they allied them and Christinized them peacfuly by political marriage, just like Czechs did before with Poland and then they defended together eastern Europe from Mongolian and Turkish conqests as well as eg. Teutonic order, but it is a different story. Bolesław was also called a friend of the Holy Roman Empire and an imperial brother, which is the highest possible dignity in the established ceremonial. Gifts were exchanged during events. Additionally Poland became independent from Germany (was exempt from tribute). Otto III gave the Brave the spear of St. Maurice and a relic of a nail from the Cross of the Lord, and in return received the arm of Saint Wojciech - Adalbert (it is preserved to this day) and 300 armed soldiers. There is also third suspicious but interesting source, French chronicler Ademar of Chabannes (d. 1034), wrote that Bolesław had Otto III accomplices to Aachen and there He received the golden throne of Charlemagne, whose tomb at that time Otto III displayed and access. It's hard to say what happened and what was propaganda, but for sure Bolesław became ruler of newly Chrostian almost barbarian state and He build independent Polish kingdom with vast teritory, political power and at least formally equal position to HRE not as usual vassal. What was further plan of Otton for this relationship? We can only speculate.

[@Adelinold]

Wooohooo POLAND MENTIONED!!!

[@LuisAldamiz]

Wasn't that same attitude that Otto III displayed towards Hungary and France in an apparent attempt to make an Empire with "vassal-ish" kingdoms all around?

[@dekuparadox5972]

Watch another video on this topic here! :D 4w-bHiZM8wI

[@nicholasricardo8443]

I love the Ottonians, because they prove that for a time, there really was a western Roman empire centralized in Germany

[@DonetskiLetsplayshik]

I definitely view the pre-interregnum HRE and post-interregnum HRE as two different entities historically, especially after habsburgs started coronating themselves

[@rafaelmakaveli4795]

hahahahhahahahaha

[@berndlauert8179]

habsburg rome was still a roman empire centralised in germany

[@nicholasricardo8443]

@@berndlauert8179 the ottonians and the emperors before the great interregnum had a much more centralized empire than the post interregnum hre

[@berndlauert8179]

@@nicholasricardo8443 and who says that it was supposed to be centralised like under the ottonians forever? if it were not for metternich the empire would prevail to this day

[@stanrichie5340]

Kudos for pronouncing Bolesław and Mieszko right!

[@funkle2645]

Citing your sources mid video like that is such a breath of fresh air

[@snerpletiger8761]

I otto get my hands on one of those spiffy red dress shirts!

[@SuperFenderson]

Polan stronk!

[@richardlionerheart1945]

SCREAM IF YOU LOVE POLAND

[@michaireneuszjakubowski5289]

I live in Kołobrzeg, seat of one of the four dioceses mentioned in this video. By a side entrance of the local Gothic basilica there is a monument to both Otto and Bolesław as well as the turbulent histories of the nations they represented.

[@MegaPierzak]

Chłopaki pojedli i popili, Otto był w dobrym humorze i ja to widzę tak: Otto: "Bolek a chcesz se koronę przymierzyć?" Bolesław: "Nie no... Weź... Przestań... Co ludzie powiedzą..." Otto: "no co tam mają gadać... Jestem cesarzem i mogę se robić co chcę... No weź" Otto wkłada koronę Bolesławowi na głowę Otto: "no patrzcie jaki przystojniak! Widzisz jak ci do twarzy!" Gall Anonim:

[@SashaFilmsUnlimited]

What is a good book for if I wanted a good accurate general overview of world history without being so niche. So not guns germs and steel. But not the history of Chinese furniture from 1845-1852 either. For example

[@angryveteran8585]

Ah yes the year 1000 CE. The Common Era. The era that is common. The name chosen specially for the era, that started around the uh....event..

[@iamvortexbae]

😁😁

[@Empire-Builders]

Ottonians mentioned 🤠

[@konstantinosbaras3629]

give us more Byzantine stuff!!! You are by far the most analytical and concise researcher on the youtube world! More Byzantine == more fun!

[@melcombrowne5208]

Should do a series on just how the HRE functioned over time, because if anyone can give a clear answer it’ll be you

[@slawomirkulinski]

@Premodernist - here is a request for even more frustrating subject.- Battle of Tollensesee. We know very little.

[@nitzky8936]

Interesting. In Poland we're taught that Germany was the enemy of newly established Poland from the beginning, and Otto was basically the one "good German" at the time, and he had big plans for restoring the Roman Empire, based on four pillars: Germany, Gaul, Italy, and Sclavinia (Slavs) with Bolesław as the overlord of the latter. In truth Polish rulers at the time often warred with German border lords, competing over the lands of still pagan Slavs, but seemed very keen on gaining favor and recognition from the Emperor, and obtaining standing and prestige within the Empire, which is probably where that quote from Thietmar comes from, and possible exaggeration of what happened in year 1000.

[@gamuhnerdu4759]

I admire how humble you are about these history issues when you don't have direct access to the primary sources because you don't speak the language

[@filipefernandes870]

There wasnt two Roman empires, there was one but there are pretenders, claimants, copy cats. Butbthe Germans was never the Roman empire in any way.

[@illuminati1866]

Do you know about game "Kindom come deliverance"? If yes, then can you make video about that period (~1400 bohemia) and maybe how accurat some aspects of the game to that. It trying really hard to be accurate. If you do, much Thx for that. Спасибо за ваши видео!

[@LGranado-pj6nb]

I'm a simple man When I see a Premodernist video I click

[@evinton]

im a history student that's on the verge of dropping out. your videos remind me why i love history and why i went ahead with it in the first place. thank you.

[@citricdemon]

I used to work hvac with a guy who had a history degree.

[@EndOfSmallSanctuary97]

My sympathies for when you try to enter the job market, however

[@sobiesky5581]

I understand that there are limitations for non-polish speakers in this specific topic. For this reason I would like to straighten and add some more informations. Firsty, we know that Bolesław I at his dead bed was a king of Poland, hovever it's not certain since when. Coronation in 1000 can be in fact backed with more sources and hints than that in 1025, the problem is none of this sources and hints speaking about coronation directly. It's true that Gallus Annonymus wrote his cronicle 100 years after the event and we can't be 100% sure if he can be trusted, we don't know if Otto putted his crown on Bolesław's head, but we know that at the same time Otto granted him a copy of Spear of Saint Maurice. In that time copy of this separ was a symbol of executive power, some times later same ceremony (coronation by imperator's crown and granting the copy of a spear) occured in Bohemia during the coronation of Vratislaus II and he become a king. Same for second Czech king and one of the Hungarian king's. So which coronation was the true one? Both. First one was a coronation made by an Emperor, second one by a Pope. Double-coronations like these occured in Europe sometimes, escecially during the era of imperial-papal conflicts. This 25 years earlier coronation was important for many reason, but for this topic it's important mainly to point out what Otto III really wanted to do. He elevated local duke to the same tier as kingom of Italy (Roma), France (Galia) and Germania so that Poland (Slavia) was equal to them (check out Gospels of Otto III from the thumbnail and personifications of four countires). He wanted to recreate Empire with those four "provinces" with equal rights and on equal footing. (Idea of equalization of East that was considered by east Germans as a place to pilage, loot and collect slaves was not welcomed by them, it was one of the reason why they was opposing Otto's concept of Empire) There is many more things to say but I don't want to make this comment to long. At the end I want to point out that Polish historiography for 12/13th century need a very different apporach than western countires. Lack of sources and laconic character of those that exist force us to look for every bit of information and to interpretate what we already have. In fact we can't even say when, where and in what circumstances baptisation of Poland (in "966") took place. Most of these informations are contractual. Nevertheless good material, thanks for bringing Polish history for english audience, especially topic that should be well known for everyone interested in medieval Europe in general.

[@gordo6908]

thank you for additional information. the idea of four provinces, was there any continuation of the project into the 11th or 12th century?

[@sobiesky5581]

@@gordo6908 Unfortunately after the death of Otto III this idea died with him, german nobles was not intererested in such a thing and next king in fact fought with Poland

[@burhanbudak6041]

Maybe The Real Successor of the Roman Empire Was the Friends We Made Along the Way......

[@mrp1326]

Perfect pronunciation of Gniezno and other names? 😮 👍👍👍

[@marijntaal1531]

Please, please do more on the Holy Roman Empire. I really love it.

[@henkow07]

As someone who lives in Gniezno it was surreal to see a picture of that museum in a KZbin video.

[@ficklegruber6112]

Love the vid as always. Are there any examples you know of where some medieval kids played a prank on the town by going up to the crossroad and rotating the sign so that all the locations they point to were wrong?

[@ivan55599]

Nobles shaking their heads and saying: "Those young emperors/kings and their idealistic views of the world..."

[@chocolateskull6239]

New bit of history for me, this is interesting - will admit I've no real frame of reference for Polish history

[@Michal_Bauer]

As a Pole and a bit of history buff I found early history of Poland really frustrating. Sources are scarce, and modern interpretation (akso what we learn in school) are at least a bit victims of politics and propaganda.

[@ajuc005]

In Polish books I've read this was attributed partly to the fact Bolesław and Otto were friends since childhood (because Mieszko sent Bolesław to be a "hostage" in the German Empire court for years to ensure the treaties). Admitedly - it's not the best source (it's basically a historic novel in 6 parts - "Bolesław Chrobry" by Aleksander Gołubiew :) ). It's more like Alexander Dumas books than history, but it got the basic facts right.

[@kacperwilk8806]

Polska górą

[@brumm3653]

Your pronunciation of Polish names is surprisingly good!

[@ratboi3553]

💪🏻🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱Another Sarmato-Roman Polish Classic💯💯💯🔥

[@pawelparadysz]

Regarding the situation in 1000 in Gniezno -it's also possible that they just really really liked each other in person and got drunk together

[@superposition3717]

Interesting theory. I am more read on Henry and the first Otto, but with Luidprand of Cremona I took away a more of a “holy” inclination to Germanic regnal customs. So, if I was Otto, this crown sharing would be a way of showcasing that I believe him to be “worthy” or “holy” enough to be crowned his own king. As Kings around this time we’re more inclined towards the ecclesiastical hierarchy. And sovereignty is more a post-Westphalian conception.

[@bigsiege1848]

What was the state of wheel barrow technology in 11th century Poland?

[@Yourewrongbuddy]

BABE WAKE UP! PREMODERNIST POSTED A NEW VIDEO!

[@samueldelorme759]

just wondering--what camera do you use? its nice

[@kkupsky6321]

What are those weird bricks behind you? Are they structure or do you just dig the spines? I want a wall like that…

[@mkinitcpio]

maybe he just wanted to be nice to his bro by letting him try the crown

[@allentlee1]

So cool. Ignites my interest in history all over again. Premodernist is a stud!

[@user-uh1wb4bt4e]

Poland mentioned by my favorite man on youtube!! 🦅🇵🇱🥟 greetings from Poland, i absolutely love your work! I thought you would mention the gift from Otto III for Bolesław - the replica of the lance of St. Maurice. Receiving something like this from an emperor must have been incredible...

[@saltA-saurus]

Wow, to hear this is a collaboration with History With Hilbert and Mr. Laser History! A grant is amazing to hear as well.

[@DionysianLovecraftian]

Interesting topic

[@Fashionista-yw3pi]

Poland is cool. From Bosnia

[@YouB3anz]

you’re speaking style is unmatched my man

[@rafabankowski7737]

kudos for spelling Mieszko correctly

[@Coolmd-it4ck]

ANOTHER PREMODERNST VIDEO!!! HOORAY🎉

[@user-gl5ld9vm7i]

Please do another Time Travel episode!

[@joelewis1776]

I see Premodernist upload, I click. Simple as that

[@Unclear4]

GOAT youtube channel

[@pokemonm4niac]

Babe! Wake up! Premodernist posted!!

[@mateoarrechedera5067]

Babe wake up another premodernist video dropped

[@fhujf]

Artur M. appearing in the comment section of this video in 3..2..1..

[@EzraB123]

I love watching his videos high af

[@DamianReloaded]

Is it a valid assessment to say that maybe he was just a romantic teenager that did "silly idealistic things" as teenagers do and the fact he was an emperor is just circumstantial? And any political lecture of his acts speaks more of the views of the people talking about it than about the emperor himself. Maybe they were lovers and everything else was secondary to them? A game they played when they weren't busy in bed? That would be so human that rings true.

[@Suryattva]

no that is not a valid assessment lol

[@DamianReloaded]

@@Suryattva You're right is more of a hypothesis

[@galesdove]

BABE WAKE UP NEW PREMODERNIST VIDEO

[@cookieaddictions]

Main thing I learned is that Zoe was a name in the Middle Ages.

[@wordsisnukes]

how did poland become poland? it's a fascinating question, and it seems that Otto III had an impact. thank you to the supporters of this video. >>TELL ME MORE

[@just_a_quick_ride]

Sadly I feel that this skates over the issue of whether Otto III introduced the wheelbarrow to Poland