Mieszko I of Poland and half a century later, by Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg. By the time Mieszko I took over from his father, the Polans' tribal federation of Greater Poland had for some time been actively expanding. Continuing this process, perhaps in the first years of Mieszko's reign, if it had not been done already by his father, Mieszko I conquered Masovia. Likely also during that period or earlier, at least partially Gdańsk Pomerania was obtained. Mieszko's interests were then concentrated mainly on areas occupied by the eastern (near the Oder River) branches of the Polabian Slavs; some of them became soon subordinated
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