In Polish annals and early medieval chronicles, the figure of Bezprym does not appear at all. Only thanks to foreign sources has it been possible to reconstruct the treacherous fate of the cursed member of the Piast dynasty. The eldest son of Bolesław the Brave, pushed aside from power, conspired with Poland’s neighbors and brought about the exile of the rightful king – Mieszko II Lambert. His rule was brief yet so bloody and hateful that later generations ensured every memory of this nightmarish episode was erased.
Spectacular Success and a Generous Reward
In the second half of 1031, Bezprym achieved a spectacular triumph – he succeeded in taking the place of Mieszko II Lambert, who, fearing for his life, fled the country after crossing into Bohemia, where he was captured and castrated.
This victory of Bolesław the Brave’s eldest son would not have been possible without the active involvement of Yaroslav the Wise, who helped carry out the first partition in Polish history. According to scholars, the Rus’ prince returned home after defeating Mieszko II with countless spoils and vast numbers of captives. It is quite possible that before he departed, Bezprym offered his eastern ally additional wealth left behind by the fugitive king.
For the new ruler of Poland, making the best possible impression on the prince with whom he undoubtedly wished to maintain friendly relations was crucial. Good ties with the Rurikid state were, in fact, the key guarantee of Bezprym’s continued reign.
Bezprym also granted his brother Otto – who had helped him organize the rebellion – a separate district in exchange for his active support during the events of 1031. It is generally accepted that this district was Silesia. Bezprym ruled the rest of the country, including Lesser Poland, Mazovia, and Greater Poland.
A Lost Crown
At the time, Silesia was one of the most populous regions of the Piast realm, so Otto had little reason to complain. One might even argue that Bezprym treated his brother generously, for he could easily have excluded him from the division of the Piast inheritance.
One of Bezprym’s first decisions was to return his predecessor’s crown and regalia to Germany. The Hildesheim Annals record this matter concisely, stating that the insignia were sent by Bezprym himself to Emperor Conrad II. The Brunwilar Chronicle, however, presents the issue differently, claiming that the regalia were carried out of the country by Mieszko’s wife, Richeza.
Although sources confirm that Bezprym relinquished the royal insignia, they differ on the details. The gesture itself was politically significant: it symbolically renounced the royal dignity that Bolesław the Brave had obtained in 1025.
The End Justifies the Means
Bezprym’s rule lasted only a short time. Sources suggest that he brutally crushed the opposition – that is, those still loyal to Mieszko II.
Perhaps his opponents hoped that the exiled Piast ruler would manage to regain control of the situation and return to Poland, driving out his rival. It is unknown how many people were executed or how many were thrown into dungeons.
The number of Bezprym’s victims must have been considerable; otherwise, this information would not have appeared in German annals, which usually mention Polish affairs only in passing. Naturally, Bezprym’s actions provoked resistance. His adversaries could not afford further delay, which would have led them to complete destruction.
From today’s perspective, Bezprym’s strategy seems clear: by physically eliminating both potential and actual opponents, he intended to maintain the power he had gained with great effort. The firstborn son of Bolesław the Brave acted according to the principle that the end justifies the means.
Terror in Keeping with the Age
It remains uncertain whether Bezprym received help in planning his intrigues or whether he controlled everything himself (possibly with the assistance of a few advisors). The latter seems more likely, for in this way he minimized the circle of individuals who might one day betray him – a danger he undoubtedly feared.
Bezprym’s methods were not unlike those of many rulers of his time. King Æthelred II of England (978–1013 and 1014–1016), known as the Unready, once ordered the massacre of all Danes in his realm. The command applied not only to men but also to women and children. Women were buried alive so that dogs could tear their breasts and then the rest of their bodies, while infants still at the breast were smashed against doorposts.
The Czech prince Svatopluk II (1107–1109) also earned infamy when he ordered the slaughter of the Vršovci, his former allies. The executioners showed no mercy. They first dealt with a certain Męcina, head of the clan, accused of conspiring with the Poles during the war with Bolesław the Wrymouth. Then they murdered Męcina’s entire family. The executions lasted many days and took place across nearly the entire territory of the state.
In this broader context, Bezprym’s actions, though ruthless, were not extraordinary by early medieval standards.
Murdered “by His Own People”
Bezprym’s misdeeds were cut short by his death. According to the annalist from Hildesheim, he was murdered “by his own men, not without the instigation of his brothers.”
Gerard Labuda determined that the event occurred in March 1032. Aniela Pospieszyńska, however, argues that the eldest son of Bolesław the Brave may have died slightly later – in early April of the same year.
Her conclusion is based on another German source: the chronicle written by the Annalist of Saxony, who recorded the news of Bezprym’s death immediately after describing Emperor Conrad II’s celebration of Easter in Seliganstad in 1032, which fell on 2 April.
