Mieszko I of Poland
Mieszko I (c. 935 – May 25, 992) was a duke of the Polans and the first christian ruler of Poland. He was father of Boleslaw I, first polish king. His politican masterpiece called "The Baptism of Poland" caused, that germans, bohemians and vielets didn't anymore attacked Poland, beacause he got a baptism from the bishop from the Bohemia, which was a german Fiefdom.
Family
He was a son of the Siemomysł, the ruler of Polans, and grandson of the Lestek, she was also a father of: Boleslaw I of Poland, the first king of Poland, Mieszko Mieszkowic, Świętosława, the queen of the Vikings and the Granfather of Cnut the Great, the king of the vikings, Mieszko Mieszkowic, Lambert Mieszkowic and Vladivoj - the Duke of Bohemia.
The Politics
Mieszko was a great politican, an example of his politician and strategist genius was the fact, that he adopted christianity from the Bishop from Bohemia, which was a german fiefdom, and he stopped most of the attacks of Vielets, Bohemians and Germans. He was also a big friend of the Holy Roman Empire's Emperor. He conquered almost all of the terrains of today's Poland and he United all of the Polish tribes in one country, with the capital in Gniezno.
Blindness
Gallus Anonymus writes that Mieszko was blind until his 7th birthday. That information was used by later chroniclers, but it's probably just an allegory.
Catholicism
Mieszko was the first catholic ruler in Poland, he married Dobrawa of Bohemia and after that got baptised.
Mieszko I Of Poland Media
According to a legend, Mieszko was blind during the first seven years of life and gained his sight during postrzyżyny, which was an early slavic right of passage ritual.
Polan strongholds under Mieszko's rule, mid-10th century
Ostrów Lednicki, ruins of palatium and chapel
Denar of Mieszko I featuring a Christian cross
Wichmann the Younger Surrenders to the Polish Prince Mieszko by Franciszek Smuglewicz (early 19th c.)
Poland under Mieszko's rule, c. 960–992
This picture contains a copy of latin text, which you can find in medieval codex from second half of 12 century (look at Source). It's written by transalpine early gothic minuscule (or lately carolinian minuscule with gothic elements), except first " I ", one from unical.
Monumental tomb of Mieszko I and Bolesław I by Christian Daniel Rauch
Mieszko as imagined by Jan Matejko in the 19th century
References
- Ilustrowany Poczet Królów i Książąt Polskich