Poland stays in the Slavic Rite

The traditional date given for the introduction of Christianity to Poland is 966, when Mieszko I was baptized into Latin Rite Christianity. However, there is evidence that the Slavic Rite (of Sts. Cyril and Methodius) had already been introduced to Poland prior to that year, and that Mieszko's conversion was not from paganism but from Slavonic to Latin Christianity.

So this thread asks to assume that that theory is correct, that Slavonic Christianity was present in Poland prior to 966, and posits that the Piasts hold onto it rather than adopting the Latin liturgy. What happens then? How does this impact relations with Bohemia and the HRE? With Rus?

And when the Great Schism starts up in the following century, which side will Slavonic Poland pick? Communion with Rome despite the different liturgy (like the OTL Byzantine Catholics) or communion with Constantinople? Or will Poland simply find itself overrun by German crusaders until it conforms to the Latin rite?
 
The traditional date given for the introduction of Christianity to Poland is 966, when Mieszko I was baptized into Latin Rite Christianity. However, there is evidence that the Slavic Rite (of Sts. Cyril and Methodius) had already been introduced to Poland prior to that year, and that Mieszko's conversion was not from paganism but from Slavonic to Latin Christianity.

So this thread asks to assume that that theory is correct, that Slavonic Christianity was present in Poland prior to 966, and posits that the Piasts hold onto it rather than adopting the Latin liturgy. What happens then? How does this impact relations with Bohemia and the HRE? With Rus?

And when the Great Schism starts up in the following century, which side will Slavonic Poland pick? Communion with Rome despite the different liturgy (like the OTL Byzantine Catholics) or communion with Constantinople? Or will Poland simply find itself overrun by German crusaders until it conforms to the Latin rite?

I have strong doubts about Mieszko being of Slavonic Rite. AFAICT before the official baptism of Poland in 966 the Slavonic Rite was present in the land of Wiślanie tribe, today Little Poland (Małopolska) with Cracow. But it was in times of Great Moravia and in 966 the land in question was not part of Mieszko state, who took it from Bohemia later. There was a theory that after the fall of the Great Moravia some Slavonic Christians (including bishop) remained in Cracow and some found refuge in the neighbouring states, including lands of Polans (a tribe which more or less founded Poland as we know it) but I do not know about any prove that Christianity was accepted by the ruling class of Polans. They might know such a faith existed, but that would be all.
And until the Great Schism the Slavonic Rite was accepted by Rome (while grugdingly), so I do not think that conversion of Mieszko to Latin Liturgy would actually be considered a baptism. In pope's eyes he would already be a Christian, even if with a tendency to heresy. All written sources I know (including Thietmar and Gallus Anonymous) clearly state that Mieszko was a pagan, not a heretic. IIRC for a Catholic Church it was always a very important distinction: a pagan was often seen as someone better than a heretic, with the former being simply ignorant of Truth and the latter being someone who turned away from true faith. And in Xth century Slavonic Rite was not actually considered a heresy yet by Rome.

But let's get to your idea: the Slavic Rite is being accepted by Piasts and Poland and early Polish state is already Christian before 966, pnly by Slavic Rite.
The Polish-Bohemian relations will be complicated. IOTL before 966 Mieszko fought against the alliance of pagan Veleti and Christian Bohemians; the baptism of Poland broke that alliance. However it is hard to say if such alliance would have happened if Poland was Christian earlier. Personally I think it was a matter of geopolitics, not religion, so such an alliance would happen anyway, but I admit it is debatable. Now, breaking such an alliance would be difficult and it might cause a lot of problems for Poland and seriously weaken it.
The relations with HRE, IMO, would be similar to OTL or better. Again, it was a matter of geopolitics, not religion. For the emperor Otto I it would be actually easier to ally himself with a Christian Polish prince against the pagan Veleti, so I think Polish-HRE relations would be better, at least initially.
The relations with Rus will be IMO more or less similar to OTL. Kievan Rus was baptized later than Poland. IOTL the only point of conflict between Kiev and Poland were the Cherven Cities and besides them Kiev was relatively little interested in expanding west. Of course Poland being Christian much earlier might cause some butterflies, even making Rus also accepting the Chritianity earlier.
Another thing to consider is that accepting Chistianity (Slavonic or Latin) in that region meant also accepting higher civilization. Christianity would brought with itself a written word, an enormous help with administration; it would also bring education for ruling class, access to the legacy of the Classical Age but also to achievements of the medieval Europe. That would mean improved agriculture, trade, possiblty also artisanship. Assuming that Poland is Christian (Slavonic Rite) from more or less beginning of the Xth century, it would give Mieszko (if he is nor butterflied away) much better organized state already recognized by other Christian states. He would have better administration, based on educated priests or even secular officials who would write in early Polish using Cyrillic alphabet. So while Mieszko has longer problems with Veleti and Bohemians, he has internally stronger state and possible support of the HRE.

When the Great Schism strikes IMO the most possible scenario is that Poland keeps most of the Slavic Rite, but accepts domination of the pope and Rome making slight changes in its doctrine. It would be more or less like the Byzantine Catholics. I do not think that after over 100 years of Slavonic Rite Poland would suddenly decide to turn to the Latin Rite. They would prefer their priests to conduct familiar prayers and liturgy in a language they can understand; they would already have a large group of local priests, with position, families and their roots already firmy in Polish soil. Sudden change to completely new rite might cause enormous disturbance and a lot of internal conflicts. If Rome agrees to leave Slavonic Rite in exchange for formal loyalty, Polish Slavonic Church would go for it IMO. And I believe the pope would agree to that too seeing such a solution as a possible way to erode the Orthodox Church and possibly bring more nations under the influence of Rome.
I also believe that Poland would not side with Constantinople. Rome was closer with Latin forces directly on Polish border (Bohemia, possibly also HRE). What help could Constantinople offer against them? Accepting small changes in doctrine in exchange for keepng Slavonic Rite would be the best solution for pretty much all interested parties.
OTOH people often do not behave fully rationally when it is about religion....
 
actually, the area where Slavonic right is accepted is the land of the Vistulans aka Greater Poland and upper silesia.
 
actually, the area where Slavonic right is accepted is the land of the Vistulans aka Greater Poland and upper silesia.

No. The land of the Vistulans (Wiślanie) was in present Little Poland / Leser Poland (Małopolska) with Cracow, Wiślica and Sandomierz as its central cities. Upper Silesia is bordering Little Poland, so part of it might have belonged to Vistulans.
 
No. The land of the Vistulans (Wiślanie) was in present Little Poland / Leser Poland (Małopolska) with Cracow, Wiślica and Sandomierz as its central cities. Upper Silesia is bordering Little Poland, so part of it might have belonged to Vistulans.
Yes, basically the Present day Silesian Voivodeship or a part of it was under the Vistulans, there is even a village named Wisla there..
 
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