He was not a king, but for Poland, he was and is more than a king. He was a great ruler of the Piast Dynasty and a prince of the Polans – the Slavic people who settled the Northern European plain between the Oder and Vistula Rivers. Most importantly, he was the Polish prince who, through his baptism in 966 A.D., brought Christianity to Poland.

A year before his baptism Mieszko I married a Czech Christian princess – Dobrawa. Did she encourage her husband to become a Christian ruler and bring Christianity to Poland? Perhaps. And did he then realize that because of his decision there has been a country called Poland for over one thousand years? He is not here to answer our questions, but there are things we can be sure of.

Poland became a part of Christian Europe. And a Christian ruler was more important in Europe than any  pagan leader. As history shows, no pagan country in Europe survived, whereas Poland grew in importance and size. The Piast dynasty built close diplomatic and political ties with other great dynasties in Europe. And no neighbour needed to invade the lands of the Polans in order to bring Christianity to the people.

Finally, thanks to Mieszko and his baptism in the western church, it is the Latin alphabet that we use today. In Mieszko’s time people were not even aware of such things as reading and writing. The priests and clergyman who arrived in Poland after his baptism were the first to bring books.

Thanks to the records and books we know that Mieszko was a great warrior and diplomat. As a warrior he gained control over many lands and in his time the army of the Polans achieved their first recorded victory in a battle in Cedynia in 972. In the world of diplomacy he is remembered for giving the six year old Otto III (king of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor) a very unusual animal – a camel. It is perhaps no wonder that Otto III was later in his life a great friend and supporter of Mieszko’s son and the future king of Poland – Bolesław Chrobry.

Do Poles remember Mieszko? Of course, we do! Just see how many boys in Poland are given the name Mieszko. And even if you don’t know someone named Mieszko, then you must have enjoyed the popular Mieszko brand of chocolates and candy when visiting Poland!

Illustrations:

Monika Sarul, Mieszko I, 2024

Wikimedia Commons:

Ludwik Patek, Historic scene with Mieszko I and Dobrawa, 1857

Photo: Ł (1970), Contemporary sgraffito in Gniezno commemorating the baptism of Poland

Jan Matejko, Christianization of Poland, 1889