Mieszko I of Poland mentions a gift or dedication of Mieszko's land to the Pope (the act took place almost a hundred years earlier). It is roughly his borders that Poland was returned to in 1945. There is no certain information on Mieszko I's life before he took control over his lands. Only the "Lesser Poland Chronicle" gives the date of his birth as somewhere between the years 920–931 (depending on the version of the manuscript), however, modern researchers don't recognize the Chronicle as a reliable source. Several historians on the basis of their investigations postulated the date of Mieszko I's birth to have
Mieszko Kazimierzowic "Gesta principum Polonorum" written in the early 12th century, put Mieszko third in order, among his brother. Modern historian, Janusz Bieniak, has supposed that Mieszko was the second son of Casimir I and was older than Władysław Herman, but most scholars disagree with this hypothesis. The date of Mieszko's birth was given by "Rocznik krakowski" (Kraków Annals). This source omitted dates of birth of Mieszko's brothers. Kazimierz Jasiński thought that "Rocznik" was started shortly before Mieszko's birth and this was the reason for absence of his older brothers. Przemysław Wiszewski supposed tha Casimir I chose Mieszko as his successor and