Pierwsze piastowskie królestwo
The first Kingdom of Piasts

Summary/Abstract: The paper aims to reevaluate the ideological and theological questions connected with the first two coronations of the Piast rulers. The author tries to present the actions of Polish kings-to-be as a possible redefinition of their position within the recreated medieval Roman empire (not against it as a more traditional view puts it). Very important role plays the utilization of Holy Lance, or its copy possessed by the Polish rulers. Author uses especially the written accounts of Thietmar’s Chronicle put in certain antithesis with the only positive contemporary description of Mieszko II’s kingship – the letter written (or stylized) by Matilda of Swabia. The kingship of Piasts is described rather as a religious and ideological, rather than political act.

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