Henry V's expedition to Poland
Failed imperial campaign against Bolesław III Wrymouth.
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The 1109 German-Polish War, also called Henry V's expedition to Poland, was a conflict between Bolesław III Wrymouth and Henry V. The war arose after Bolesław's exiled brother Zbigniew sought German support to regain power. The campaign ended with the defeat of the German-Bohemian forces.
Background
After a long-term Piast dynasty rivalry, Bolesław III expelled his older half-brother and co-ruler Duke Zbigniew from Poland in 1107. Zbigniew fled to the Holy Roman Empire and sought help from King Henry V, but the Emperor was initially occupied with a Hungarian campaign supporting Prince Álmos against King Coloman. Bolesław, loyal to Coloman, invaded Bohemia in 1108, causing Duke Svatopluk to leave the imperial army and repel the Poles. Henry V, forced to abandon his Hungarian campaign, then allied with Zbigniew and demanded Bolesław reinstate Zbigniew and pay annual tribute.
Bolesław rejected both demands. In 1109, German forces gathered at Erfurt, crossed the Polish border near Krosno on the Bóbr River, and approached Głogów on St. Bartholomew's Day. Svatopluk's troops arrived in September. Bolesław fortified Oder strongholds and defeated the Pomeranian army at the Battle of Nakło on August 10.
Battle of Hundsfeld (1109)
After besieging Bytom Odrzański and Głogów, Henry moved down the Oder River toward Wrocław but was defeated at the Battle of Hundsfeld by Bolesław's forces. According to Wincenty Kadłubek, the Germans were ambushed and suffered a complete victory for Bolesław, after which Henry withdrew from Poland. Kadłubek remarked that dogs devouring so many corpses became mad, giving the site the name 'dogs' field' (Polish: Psie Pole, German: Hundsfeld).
Kadłubek's account was questioned in the late 19th century by Samuel Orgelbrand's Encyklopedia Powszechna. Present-day historians are split, with some arguing the battle was an unimportant skirmish and the Chronica, written almost a hundred years later, not fully reliable. Regardless of magnitude, the clash contributed to Henry's retreat.
Aftermath
Henry's campaign ended in complete failure with Bolesław's victory at Hundsfeld. Duke Svatopluk was assassinated, probably by Bohemian Vršovci liensmen, at the Głogów camp on September 21. His successor Vladislaus reconciled with Bolesław. Zbigniew returned to Poland in 1111 but was arrested and blinded by his half-brother shortly afterward.
Bolesław's position toward the Empire strengthened, and he consolidated rule in Pomerania and Lubusz Land. Not until 1157 did Emperor Frederick Barbarossa launch a successful campaign into Polish lands. The successful defense and tradition of Henry's cruelty became a key element in Polish national memory. A memorial stone was erected in 1959 for the 850th anniversary, and a Socialist Realistic memorial to the Głogów children was inaugurated on September 1, 1979, commemorating both the 870th anniversary and the 40th memorial day of the German Invasion of Poland.
More in Military Campaigns Involving the Holy Roman Empire
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Henry V's expedition to Poland (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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