The twelfth-century rulers of Poland took an active role in holy wars in the Baltic, the last bastion of paganism in Europe, by adapting the idea of Christian holy war to suit local conditions.

This study charts the evolution of the ideology of holy war and crusading in medieval Poland through Polish incursions into the Baltic, the last bastion of paganism in Europe. It traces the transmission of the idea of holy war and crusade to north central Europe, explaining its impact on political and religious life in Poland, and Polish missionary and crusading activity in Prussia, Pomerelia, and Pomerania. Holy war and crusade helped influence state formation, politics, and dynastic succession. Key mechanisms by which the idea of holy war was transmitted to Poland are examined and compelling evidence is provided that the Polish elites were highly familiar with, and receptive to, the idea of crusade. The Polish elites were deliberate participants in Christian holy wars and undertook various crusading activities during the twelfth century. The influence of the idea of holy war on the actions of the Polish dynasts and the central role of women in the establishment of family traditions of participating in crusading are examined in some detail. Furthermore, this book explores the conditions that enabled the cause of the Christianization of Prussia to be taken up by the Teutonic Order by tracing the divergence of the idea of holy war in the Piast realm away from the norms of Latin Christendom in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries. This work offers new perspectives for international studies of warfare sanctioned by religion.
Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1. The Expansion of the Piast Realm, 960–1100

Chapter 2. The Evolving Idea of Holy War and Crusade

Chapter 3. Conquest of Pomerania: Bolesław III and Holy War

Chapter 4. Mission and Crusade: Władysław II and the Piast Juniors

Chapter 5. A Piast in the Holy Land: Henry of Sandomierz

Chapter 6. The Piasts and the Holy War Against the Prussians

Chapter 7. Missions to the Prussians and the Beginning of the Prussian Crusade

Conclusion

Appendix 1. The Main Representatives of the Piast Dynasty (966–1230)

Appendix 2. The Chronology of Polish History c. 920–1230

Bibliography

Index