266px|thumb|right|Płock Diadem, Ducal Crown attributed to Konrad I of Masovia
Konrad I of Masovia (; 1187? – 1247), son of
Casimir II and
Helen of
Moravia, was the 6th
Duke of Masovia.
After his father's death in 1194, Konrad was brought up by his mother. In 1199 he received
Masovia and in 1202,
Kuyavia. In 1205, he and his brother,
Leszek I the White, had their greatest military victory at
Battle of Zawichost against
Roman the Great. The
Ruthenian army was crushed and Roman was killed in battle. The
Russian princess
Agafia of Rus became his wife. His maternal grandmother (the princess-consort of Moravia,
Znaim (part of
Holy Roman Empire) was one Maria of Serbia, apparently a daughter of the pre-Nemanjic Zhupan dynasty.
Attempted conquests of Prussia
Konrad unsuccessfully attempted to conquer
pagan Prussia in a 1209 crusade and several times after , 1219, 1222 . On the advise of the first bishop Christian of Prussia,
Christian of Oliva, in 1220 he founded the
Order of Dobrin (
Order of Dobrzyń) and was again defeated. Ongoing attempts on Prussia were answered by incursions across the borders of his lands, while Prussians were in the process of gaining control over the territory of
Chełmno Land. Subjected to constant Prussian raids and counter-raids, Konrad now wanted to stabilize the north of the duchy of Masovia in this fight over border area of Chełmno Land.
The Teutonic Order
Map of
Prussian tribes (coloured areas) in the 13th century. Kulmerland (Chełmno Land, white) in the south west already under control of the Teutonic Order
Thus in 1226, Konrad having difficulty with constant raids over his territory, invited the religious
military order of
Teutonic Knights to fight the
Prussians, as they already had supported Hungary from 1211 to 1225. When the Order notified Hungary that they are firstly responsible to the pope, the Order was expelled by the Hungarian king though. Thus, in turn for its service, the Order wanted to have its rights documented beforehand, by a deal with Konrad that was to be confirmed by the Emperor and the Pope.
Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II issued in March 1226 the
Golden Bull of Rimini, stating that:
"brother Konrad had offered and promised to furnish brother Herrmann, Honorable Master of the Holy Hospital of St. Mary of the Germans in Jerusalem (Teutonic Order).. with the Culmensis Land between his march and the Prussians and equip them (T.O.) well, so they may take Preussenland (Terra Prussiae) in possession... we recognize the fact, that this land is included in the realm of the empire, we trust the judgement of the Master... we recognize all land in Prussia as an ancient right of the empire ...".
In 1230, the
Treaty of Kruszwica was supposedly signed, according to which Konrad granted
Chełmno Land to them, and to the
Order of Dobrzyń. This document does not exist however, and it is believed
[Boockmann, p. 97][Bernd Martin, p. 24] that it was never signed and the Order might have forged it.
In 1234, the pope issued the
Golden Bull of Rieti, confirming the prior deals, stating that the land of the Order was only subject to the Pope, not a fief of anybody.
Konrad's legacy
Konrad is blamed by Poles, that 'his actions began the process whereby the Teutonic Knights came to control much of the
Baltic coastline through their monastic state, that had ultimately dire consequences for the Polish state'.
Konrad and Agafia had the following children:
- Eudoxia (1215-1240) - The wife of Count Breny I of Wettin
- Ludmila (born before 1225)
- Ziemomysł (born between 1216 and 4 Jul 1228 Died between 10 July and 18 September 1241)
- Salomea (born between 1220 and 1225 died after 30 August 1268), nun
- Mieszko (b. 1235), died in infancy.
See also
