Mieszko III the Old attention of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, who offered his help in his restoration on the Polish throne after a payment of 10,000 pieces of silver, a sum that Mieszko couldn't reunited. Finally in Pomerania, his other son-in-law Duke Bogislaw I accepted to help him. By the agency of his Pomeranian allies, Mieszko forged his links with their Polish followers, grouped around Zdzisław, Archbishop of Gniezno and in 1181 was able to conquer the eastern Greater Polish lands of Gniezno and Kalisz, which until then had been part of the Seniorate Province. Soon after, Mieszko also managed to recover western Greater Poland.
Mieszko I Tanglefoot to both Mieszko (who received the towns of Racibórz and Cieszyn) and Jarosław (who received Opole). In 1177 Mieszko supported his uncle and namesake Mieszko III the Old when he had to fight to maintain his rule over the Duchy of Kraków; this renewed again the disputes between him and Bolesław I the Tall, who wished to obtain the Duchy and with this the Seniorate. However, Bolesław suffered an unexpected defeat by Mieszko and his own son Jarosław, who distracted him to advance over Kraków; in his place was his younger uncle and ally, Casimir II the Just, who captured