Let it never be the case that a Polish king runs from a battle!

Draft/Preview of the First Chapter



Survival of Przemysl and the Polish-French alliance

For his third wife, Przemysl chose Margaret. This marriage was made for political reasons and was expected to secure the succession of Przemysl. Given the relatively close relationship between husband and wife (both were great-grandchildren of Přemysl Ottokar I of Bohemia), they needed a papal dispensation in order to marry. Some historians consider that on the occasion of the wedding, Przemysł betrothed his daughter to Margaret's brother, Otto.
The coronation of the couple took place on June 26, 1295 in Poznan at Gniezno Cathedral. Margaret was the first undisputed Queen consort of Poland since Richeza of Lotharingia during the 11th century.
Margaret of Brandenburg discovers that she is pregnant and gives birth to twins named Margareth and Henry in April 3, 1296.




 
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Survival of Przemysl and the Polish-French alliance part I
For his third wife, Przemysl chose Margaret. This marriage was made for political reasons and was expected to secure the succession of Przemysl. Given the relatively close relationship between husband and wife (both were great-grandchildren of Přemysl Ottokar I of Bohemia), they needed a papal dispensation in order to marry. Some historians consider that on the occasion of the wedding, Przemysł betrothed his daughter to Margaret's brother, Otto.

The coronation of the couple took place on June 26, 1295 in Poznan at Gniezno Cathedral. Margaret was the first undisputed Queen consort of Poland since Richeza of Lotharingia during the 11th century.

Margaret of Brandenburg discovers that she is pregnant and gives birth to twins named Margareth and Henry in April 3, 1296.

The birth made Przemysl happy and overjoyed and happy at the birth of his own son, Henry, who will succeed him after his own death.



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I'm not sure if some those marraiges are vialable.
First of all, Przemysł II was only a ruler of more of less Greater Poland (Wielkopolska) and Pomerelia. I doubt if his daughter would have been an attractive wife for a son of the King of Germany. Such marriages were always political affairs and Przemysł could not offer Albert I anything.
Marriage of Margaret to Bolesław III is also debatable, IMHO, especially with Przemysł giving up Kalisz, relatively important town - he looses a significant part of his kingdom gaining only a possible alliance with Bolko I the Strict (Bolesław's regent) and later Bolesław himself - and he wasn't the strongest of Silesian dukes at the time.
I also question the marriage of Henry (Przemysł's son) to Margareth of Bohemia, especially considering the fact that Bohemia was supposed to give up Cracow - getting what in exchange? An alliance with a relatively weak Przemysł? Not enough for quite wealthy province. It is also worth to remember that Wenceslaus II was in conflict with Bolko I.
And finally, last tiny detail. Poznań and Gniezno were (and still are) separate towns.
 
I'm not sure if some those marraiges are vialable.
First of all, Przemysł II was only a ruler of more of less Greater Poland (Wielkopolska) and Pomerelia. I doubt if his daughter would have been an attractive wife for a son of the King of Germany. Such marriages were always political affairs and Przemysł could not offer Albert I anything.
Marriage of Margaret to Bolesław III is also debatable, IMHO, especially with Przemysł giving up Kalisz, relatively important town - he looses a significant part of his kingdom gaining only a possible alliance with Bolko I the Strict (Bolesław's regent) and later Bolesław himself - and he wasn't the strongest of Silesian dukes at the time.
I also question the marriage of Henry (Przemysł's son) to Margareth of Bohemia, especially considering the fact that Bohemia was supposed to give up Cracow - getting what in exchange? An alliance with a relatively weak Przemysł? Not enough for quite wealthy province. It is also worth to remember that Wenceslaus II was in conflict with Bolko I.
And finally, last tiny detail. Poznań and Gniezno were (and still are) separate towns.
Silesia is a Polish fief(s), giving up Kalisz to a Silesian duke is just like expanding the fiefs, so Kalisz will be a part of a fief not a crown land, I think Przemysl will use marriages to strengthen his grip to his own vassals, I think he will use that grant to balance the power of Bolko I.



Elisabeth Richeza/Richeza will not marry a Habsburg ITTL she will marry the King of Hungary, Charles Robert..oops I am spoiling the next part, I think a Polish-Hungarian Alliance maybe enough for Wenceslaus II to abandon his claims to Krakow and Sandomierz..
 
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Originally posted by kasumigenx
Silesia is a Polish fief(s), giving up Kalisz to a Silesian duke is just like expanding the fiefs, so Kalisz will be a part of a fief not a crown land, I think Przemysl will use marriages to strengthen his grip to his own vassals, I think he will use that grant to balance the power of Bolko I.

AFAIK neither Henry the Fat (duke of Breslau/Wrocław and Bolesław III's father) nor Bolko I never were Przemysł's vassals, regardless of the coronation. What is more important, Przemysł had better relation with Henry III of Głogów, although those relations got worse after Przemysł's reconciliation with Władysław the Elbow-High. Nevertheless,Henry the Fat, was Przemysł's enemy. OTOH such a marriage might be seen as a reconciliation act between Przemysł and duchy of Breslau. But it would have almost certainly antagonized Henry III.

Elisabeth Richeza/Richeza will not marry a Habsburg ITTL she will marry the King of Hungary, Charles Robert..oops I am spoiling the next part, I think a Polish-Hungarian Alliance maybe enough for Wenceslaus II to abandon his claims to Krakow and Sandomierz..

That would take some time: Andrew III (king of Hungary) died in 1301, after that Hungarian throne went to Wenceslaus III and later (after a lot of turbulence) eventually to Charles Robert in 1310. So Charles Robert as king of Hungary can not help Przemysł II to push Bohemias from Cracow before 1310. At the time king of Bohemia was already John of Luxemburg But hey, this is AH and survival of Przemysł has to create a lot butterflies....
 
Originally posted by kasumigenx


AFAIK neither Henry the Fat (duke of Breslau/Wrocław and Bolesław III's father) nor Bolko I never were Przemysł's vassals, regardless of the coronation. What is more important, Przemysł had better relation with Henry III of Głogów, although those relations got worse after Przemysł's reconciliation with Władysław the Elbow-High. Nevertheless,Henry the Fat, was Przemysł's enemy. OTOH such a marriage might be seen as a reconciliation act between Przemysł and duchy of Breslau. But it would have almost certainly antagonized Henry III.



That would take some time: Andrew III (king of Hungary) died in 1301, after that Hungarian throne went to Wenceslaus III and later (after a lot of turbulence) eventually to Charles Robert in 1310. So Charles Robert as king of Hungary can not help Przemysł II to push Bohemias from Cracow before 1310. At the time king of Bohemia was already John of Luxemburg But hey, this is AH and survival of Przemysł has to create a lot butterflies....
Thanks for the idea, I think Przemysl II should marry his daughter to the future Duke of Glogow instead of a marriage with Wroclaw and cede parts of the Posen district adjacent to Glogow to the Duke of Glogow to strengthen it against Wroclaw.

I think Vaclav III should marry Elisabeth Richeza..
 
Be careful with strengthening Głogów - after Henry III died in 1309 his 5(!) sons divided his duchy between themselves, changing the biggest of Silesian duchies into 5 mini-states of minor importance. Now, should Przemysł II support Henry IV (let's say it is his son-in-law) against his brothers and recognize him as the ONLY successor of Henry III, that might work. He controls Greater Poland and Pomerelia, has Henry III and a strong Silesian duchy as an ally and he reconciled with Władysław the Elbow-High - but for how long?. Anyway, it still takes some time.
But how about scenario like this: after coronation in 1295 Przemysł stabilizes his power and by diplomacy and sword manages to neutralize Brandenburg treat - at least temporarily. Meanwhile butterflies do their magic and in 1297 Władysław the Elbow-High dies - no matter why, heart attack, disease, falls from stairs, not important. Przemysł incorporates Władysław lands into his kingdom (Brześć, Sieradz, Kuyavia, Łęczyca). IOTL Przemysł made Władysław his successor in 1293, but it is possible that the deal worked both ways (let's assume that Władysław's sons weren't born yet)
Now Przemysł has one powerful ally, Henry III of Głogów. A marriage or at least engagement between Henry IV and Margaret of Poland might be a good way to stregthen such an alliance. They also might plan reconquest of Cracow and Sandomierz with Hungarian help.
 
Be careful with strengthening Głogów - after Henry III died in 1309 his 5(!) sons divided his duchy between themselves, changing the biggest of Silesian duchies into 5 mini-states of minor importance. Now, should Przemysł II support Henry IV (let's say it is his son-in-law) against his brothers and recognize him as the ONLY successor of Henry III, that might work. He controls Greater Poland and Pomerelia, has Henry III and a strong Silesian duchy as an ally and he reconciled with Władysław the Elbow-High - but for how long?. Anyway, it still takes some time.
But how about scenario like this: after coronation in 1295 Przemysł stabilizes his power and by diplomacy and sword manages to neutralize Brandenburg treat - at least temporarily. Meanwhile butterflies do their magic and in 1297 Władysław the Elbow-High dies - no matter why, heart attack, disease, falls from stairs, not important. Przemysł incorporates Władysław lands into his kingdom (Brześć, Sieradz, Kuyavia, Łęczyca). IOTL Przemysł made Władysław his successor in 1293, but it is possible that the deal worked both ways (let's assume that Władysław's sons weren't born yet)
Now Przemysł has one powerful ally, Henry III of Głogów. A marriage or at least engagement between Henry IV and Margaret of Poland might be a good way to stregthen such an alliance. They also might plan reconquest of Cracow and Sandomierz with Hungarian help.
That Idea is good, I think Henry of Glogow could be boosted by Przemysl.

I think Bolko I can be killed before he sires another son at the time Przemysl is crowned, Bolko I has only one son at that time, perhaps we can have him killed and his son turned into a priest which gives Opole back to the crown and also perhaps give some bits of Opole as compensation for the other sons of Henry III of Glogow.
 
I'm affraid your mixing 2 Bolko's. Bolko I the Strict was the duke of Jawor and protector/regent of Breslau and Legnica (in the name of his nephew, Bolesław III); Bolko I of Opole was a different duke and close ally of Bohemia, so annexing Opole would not be easy.
Those Piasts can be very confusing, can't they? ;)
 
I'm affraid your mixing 2 Bolko's. Bolko I the Strict was the duke of Jawor and protector/regent of Breslau and Legnica (in the name of his nephew, Bolesław III); Bolko I of Opole was a different duke and close ally of Bohemia, so annexing Opole would not be easy.
Those Piasts can be very confusing, can't they? ;)

But isn't Bolko I of Opole also a maternal cousin of Wladyslaw the Elbowhigh..perhaps Przemysl could take advantage of that.
 
Originally posted by kasumigenx
But isn't Bolko I of Opole also a maternal cousin of Wladyslaw the Elbowhigh..perhaps Przemysl could take advantage of that.

I doubt it. Bolko I's son, Bolesław the Elder (or First-Born) was born in 1293. Besides, Bolko I was a vassal to Wenceslaus II and an enemy to Władysław the Elbow-High (his 2nd cousin, I believe). Not to mention the fact that Bolko I of Opole had 3 brothers with much better claims to his duchy than Władysław.
 
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