Mieszko I of Poland Denmark, Canute the Great's daughter and wife of Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor. The first Christian ruler of territories later called Poland, Mieszko I is considered the creator of the Polish state. He continued the policy of both his father and grandfather, who were rulers of the pagan tribes located in the area of present-day Greater Poland. Through both alliances and the use of military force, Mieszko extended ongoing Polish conquests and early in his reign subjugated Kuyavia and probably Gdańsk Pomerania and Masovia. For most of his reign, Mieszko I was involved in warfare for the control of Western
Mieszko III the Old of the rebels and divided Henry's Duchy in three parts: Wiślica Land was taken by Casimir, Bolesław took Sandomierz proper, and the rest was led to Mieszko. In 1172 another conflict arose among the Silesian Piasts, when Duke Bolesław the Tall chose to ignore the claims of his first-born son, Jaroslaw by designating his son of the second marriage Henry I the Bearded his sole heir. When Jarosław, forced to become a priest, had returned from his German exile, he claimed a share of the Silesian lands. Mieszko III supported his grandnephew in his demands, and the civil war was