King Boleslaw of Russia
Moderator: MOD_nyhetsgrupper
-
Kelsey Williams
King Boleslaw of Russia
Hello,
While randomly flipping through a copy of the Icelandic _Landnamabok_
this morning I discovered the following curious entry:
"A great chieftain in Sweden called Gorm was married to Thora, daughter
of King Eirik of Uppsala. They had a son called Thorgils who married
Elin, daughter of King Boleslaw of Russia and Ingigerd, sister of
Dagstygg, king of the giants. Their sons were Hergrim and Herfinn, who
married Halla, daughrer of Hedin and Arndis Hedin's-daughter . . ." [1]
Boleslaw does sound like an authentically Slavic name (although perhaps
more Polish than Russian?) and I was curious whether there is any
historical precedent for his existance. I'd also be rather curious to
find out something about his father-in-law "the king of the giants"
<g>.
Sincerely,
Kelsey J. Williams
[1] Hermann Palsson & Paul Edwards, trans. & ed., _The Book of
Settlements: Landnamabok_ (n.p.: University of Manitoba Press, 1972),
92.
While randomly flipping through a copy of the Icelandic _Landnamabok_
this morning I discovered the following curious entry:
"A great chieftain in Sweden called Gorm was married to Thora, daughter
of King Eirik of Uppsala. They had a son called Thorgils who married
Elin, daughter of King Boleslaw of Russia and Ingigerd, sister of
Dagstygg, king of the giants. Their sons were Hergrim and Herfinn, who
married Halla, daughrer of Hedin and Arndis Hedin's-daughter . . ." [1]
Boleslaw does sound like an authentically Slavic name (although perhaps
more Polish than Russian?) and I was curious whether there is any
historical precedent for his existance. I'd also be rather curious to
find out something about his father-in-law "the king of the giants"
<g>.
Sincerely,
Kelsey J. Williams
[1] Hermann Palsson & Paul Edwards, trans. & ed., _The Book of
Settlements: Landnamabok_ (n.p.: University of Manitoba Press, 1972),
92.
-
Arkadiusz Bugaj
Re: King Boleslaw of Russia
Uzytkownik "Kelsey Williams" <gkkwilliams@cowboy.net> napisal w wiadomosci
news:1112366627.817665.163990@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
I don't know much about Icelandic primary sources but this quotation, if am
wrong correct me, seems to be a part of kind of a chronicle, which reports
some legendary 'facts' including patrc of total fairy tale like this
Dagstygg being a king of giants.
Arkadiusz
news:1112366627.817665.163990@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
Hello,
While randomly flipping through a copy of the Icelandic _Landnamabok_
this morning I discovered the following curious entry:
"A great chieftain in Sweden called Gorm was married to Thora, daughter
of King Eirik of Uppsala. They had a son called Thorgils who married
Elin, daughter of King Boleslaw of Russia and Ingigerd, sister of
Dagstygg, king of the giants. Their sons were Hergrim and Herfinn, who
married Halla, daughrer of Hedin and Arndis Hedin's-daughter . . ." [1]
Boleslaw does sound like an authentically Slavic name (although perhaps
more Polish than Russian?) and I was curious whether there is any
historical precedent for his existance. I'd also be rather curious to
find out something about his father-in-law "the king of the giants"
g>.
Sincerely,
Kelsey J. Williams
I don't know much about Icelandic primary sources but this quotation, if am
wrong correct me, seems to be a part of kind of a chronicle, which reports
some legendary 'facts' including patrc of total fairy tale like this
Dagstygg being a king of giants.
Arkadiusz
-
Kelsey Williams
Re: King Boleslaw of Russia
Arkadiusz Bugaj wrote:
The _Landnamabok_ is essentially a sort of roster of early settlers of
Iceland together with information on where they settled and their
families. I believe (IIRC) it was compiled in the 11th or 12th
centuries and deals with people with lived in the 9th through 11th
centuries.
Sincerely,
Kelsey J. Williams
Uzytkownik "Kelsey Williams" <gkkwilliams@cowboy.net> napisal w
wiadomosci
news:1112366627.817665.163990@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
Hello,
While randomly flipping through a copy of the Icelandic
_Landnamabok_
this morning I discovered the following curious entry:
"A great chieftain in Sweden called Gorm was married to Thora,
daughter
of King Eirik of Uppsala. They had a son called Thorgils who
married
Elin, daughter of King Boleslaw of Russia and Ingigerd, sister of
Dagstygg, king of the giants. Their sons were Hergrim and Herfinn,
who
married Halla, daughrer of Hedin and Arndis Hedin's-daughter . . ."
[1]
Boleslaw does sound like an authentically Slavic name (although
perhaps
more Polish than Russian?) and I was curious whether there is any
historical precedent for his existance. I'd also be rather curious
to
find out something about his father-in-law "the king of the giants"
g>.
Sincerely,
Kelsey J. Williams
I don't know much about Icelandic primary sources but this
quotation, if am
wrong correct me, seems to be a part of kind of a chronicle, which
reports
some legendary 'facts' including patrc of total fairy tale like this
Dagstygg being a king of giants.
Arkadiusz
The _Landnamabok_ is essentially a sort of roster of early settlers of
Iceland together with information on where they settled and their
families. I believe (IIRC) it was compiled in the 11th or 12th
centuries and deals with people with lived in the 9th through 11th
centuries.
Sincerely,
Kelsey J. Williams
-
Todd A. Farmerie
Re: King Boleslaw of Russia
Kelsey Williams wrote:
This may be coincidence, but this could have been borrowed from
the royal pedigree: Gorm and Thora would seem to match Gorm the
Old and Thyra, while in "King Boleslaw of Russia" looks like the
father-in-law of Svein.
taf
"A great chieftain in Sweden called Gorm was married to Thora, daughter
of King Eirik of Uppsala. They had a son called Thorgils who married
Elin, daughter of King Boleslaw of Russia and Ingigerd, sister of
Dagstygg, king of the giants. Their sons were Hergrim and Herfinn, who
married Halla, daughrer of Hedin and Arndis Hedin's-daughter . . ." [1]
Boleslaw does sound like an authentically Slavic name (although perhaps
more Polish than Russian?) and I was curious whether there is any
historical precedent for his existance. I'd also be rather curious to
find out something about his father-in-law "the king of the giants"
g>.
This may be coincidence, but this could have been borrowed from
the royal pedigree: Gorm and Thora would seem to match Gorm the
Old and Thyra, while in "King Boleslaw of Russia" looks like the
father-in-law of Svein.
taf
-
Kelsey Williams
Re: King Boleslaw of Russia
Todd A. Farmerie wrote:
You're right; certainly Gorm and Thora seem rather similar to King Gorm
and Thyra. If that's indeed the case, though, I'm somewhat surprised
that Gorm is only referred to as a "great chieftain in Sweden" rather
than as "king of Denmark" (unless of course the compiler of the
pedigree was not aware of his identity outside of whatever source he
was drawing on).
I wonder whether "King Boleslaw" should be identified with Boleslaw I
Chrobry of Poland (d. 1025) or maybe one of the Boleslaw's in Bohemia?
Sincerely,
Kelsey J. Williams
Kelsey Williams wrote:
"A great chieftain in Sweden called Gorm was married to Thora,
daughter
of King Eirik of Uppsala. They had a son called Thorgils who
married
Elin, daughter of King Boleslaw of Russia and Ingigerd, sister of
Dagstygg, king of the giants. Their sons were Hergrim and Herfinn,
who
married Halla, daughrer of Hedin and Arndis Hedin's-daughter . . ."
[1]
Boleslaw does sound like an authentically Slavic name (although
perhaps
more Polish than Russian?) and I was curious whether there is any
historical precedent for his existance. I'd also be rather curious
to
find out something about his father-in-law "the king of the giants"
g>.
This may be coincidence, but this could have been borrowed from
the royal pedigree: Gorm and Thora would seem to match Gorm the
Old and Thyra, while in "King Boleslaw of Russia" looks like the
father-in-law of Svein.
taf
You're right; certainly Gorm and Thora seem rather similar to King Gorm
and Thyra. If that's indeed the case, though, I'm somewhat surprised
that Gorm is only referred to as a "great chieftain in Sweden" rather
than as "king of Denmark" (unless of course the compiler of the
pedigree was not aware of his identity outside of whatever source he
was drawing on).
I wonder whether "King Boleslaw" should be identified with Boleslaw I
Chrobry of Poland (d. 1025) or maybe one of the Boleslaw's in Bohemia?
Sincerely,
Kelsey J. Williams
-
Todd A. Farmerie
Re: King Boleslaw of Russia
Kelsey Williams wrote:
I suspect that Boleslaw of Poland is intended, but there were also,
Boleslaw/Bureslaw of the Wends who appears in pedigrees. I am not too
femiliar with the historical documentation on the Wends. He may just be
a confused double for Boleslaw Chrobry - Barlow, in his Edward the
Confessor, shows (in the gneealogical chart at the end) such a Boleslaw
of the Wends as father-in-law of Svein, when this is now thought to
represent Chrobry. Likewise, Turton shows such a man, IIRC, but his
pedigree seems reality-challenged.
taf
I wonder whether "King Boleslaw" should be identified with Boleslaw I
Chrobry of Poland (d. 1025) or maybe one of the Boleslaw's in Bohemia?
I suspect that Boleslaw of Poland is intended, but there were also,
Boleslaw/Bureslaw of the Wends who appears in pedigrees. I am not too
femiliar with the historical documentation on the Wends. He may just be
a confused double for Boleslaw Chrobry - Barlow, in his Edward the
Confessor, shows (in the gneealogical chart at the end) such a Boleslaw
of the Wends as father-in-law of Svein, when this is now thought to
represent Chrobry. Likewise, Turton shows such a man, IIRC, but his
pedigree seems reality-challenged.
taf
-
Arkadiusz Bugaj
Re: King Boleslaw of Russia
Uzytkownik "Todd A. Farmerie" <farmerie@interfold.com> napisal w wiadomosci
news:d2rofl$p07$1@eeyore.INS.cwru.edu...
Boleslaw's(Chrobry) known daughters weren't married to any of Scandinavian
kings. Sources confirm exsistence of four daughters of Boleslav:
1. a nameless one (d. before 1013)
2. Regelinda married to Herman, margrave of Meissen (d. 1038)
3. nameless wife of Swietopelk of Turow and Kiev (d. after 1019)
4. Mathild engaged to Otto of Schweinfurtu, prince of Schwabien
On the other hand there is a Scandinavian track among siblings of Boleslaw
because his sister Swietoslawa-Sygried, daughter of Mieszko I, was married
to a Swedish king Eric the Victorious, and the to a king of Danemark Sven
the Forkbeard.
The prince of the Vends proper version of name is Borzyslaw(Russian version
Borislaw), which different from Boleslaw.
Borzyslaw means-"the one who gains fame in fight", when Boleslaw means "more
famous (Bole - more+ slaw fame).
Arkadiusz
news:d2rofl$p07$1@eeyore.INS.cwru.edu...
Kelsey Williams wrote:
I wonder whether "King Boleslaw" should be identified with Boleslaw I
Chrobry of Poland (d. 1025) or maybe one of the Boleslaw's in Bohemia?
I suspect that Boleslaw of Poland is intended, but there were also,
Boleslaw/Bureslaw of the Wends who appears in pedigrees. I am not too
femiliar with the historical documentation on the Wends. He may just be a
confused double for Boleslaw Chrobry - Barlow, in his Edward the
Confessor, shows (in the gneealogical chart at the end) such a Boleslaw of
the Wends as father-in-law of Svein, when this is now thought to represent
Chrobry. Likewise, Turton shows such a man, IIRC, but his pedigree seems
reality-challenged.
taf
Boleslaw's(Chrobry) known daughters weren't married to any of Scandinavian
kings. Sources confirm exsistence of four daughters of Boleslav:
1. a nameless one (d. before 1013)
2. Regelinda married to Herman, margrave of Meissen (d. 1038)
3. nameless wife of Swietopelk of Turow and Kiev (d. after 1019)
4. Mathild engaged to Otto of Schweinfurtu, prince of Schwabien
On the other hand there is a Scandinavian track among siblings of Boleslaw
because his sister Swietoslawa-Sygried, daughter of Mieszko I, was married
to a Swedish king Eric the Victorious, and the to a king of Danemark Sven
the Forkbeard.
The prince of the Vends proper version of name is Borzyslaw(Russian version
Borislaw), which different from Boleslaw.
Borzyslaw means-"the one who gains fame in fight", when Boleslaw means "more
famous (Bole - more+ slaw fame).
Arkadiusz
-
Arkadiusz Bugaj
Re: King Boleslaw of Russia
U¿ytkownik "Arkadiusz Bugaj" <arcadiusb@gazeta.pl> napisa³ w wiadomo¶ci
news:d2s9sp$682$1@nemesis.news.tpi.pl...
Forgot to add. At the turn of X century lived two Boleslaws' Czech rulers.
Boleslaw II the Pious(970-999), notabene son of Boleslaw I the Cruel
(999-1002), and Boleslaw III the Red, butI don't think any of them had any
northern connection in contrast to the Piasts, whose interest in Baltic
politics is well documented.
Arkadiusz
news:d2s9sp$682$1@nemesis.news.tpi.pl...
Uzytkownik "Todd A. Farmerie" <farmerie@interfold.com> napisal w
wiadomosci news:d2rofl$p07$1@eeyore.INS.cwru.edu...
Kelsey Williams wrote:
I wonder whether "King Boleslaw" should be identified with Boleslaw I
Chrobry of Poland (d. 1025) or maybe one of the Boleslaw's in Bohemia?
I suspect that Boleslaw of Poland is intended, but there were also,
Boleslaw/Bureslaw of the Wends who appears in pedigrees. I am not too
femiliar with the historical documentation on the Wends. He may just be
a confused double for Boleslaw Chrobry - Barlow, in his Edward the
Confessor, shows (in the gneealogical chart at the end) such a Boleslaw
of the Wends as father-in-law of Svein, when this is now thought to
represent Chrobry. Likewise, Turton shows such a man, IIRC, but his
pedigree seems reality-challenged.
taf
Boleslaw's(Chrobry) known daughters weren't married to any of Scandinavian
kings. Sources confirm exsistence of four daughters of Boleslav:
1. a nameless one (d. before 1013)
2. Regelinda married to Herman, margrave of Meissen (d. 1038)
3. nameless wife of Swietopelk of Turow and Kiev (d. after 1019)
4. Mathild engaged to Otto of Schweinfurtu, prince of Schwabien
On the other hand there is a Scandinavian track among siblings of Boleslaw
because his sister Swietoslawa-Sygried, daughter of Mieszko I, was married
to a Swedish king Eric the Victorious, and the to a king of Danemark Sven
the Forkbeard.
The prince of the Vends proper version of name is Borzyslaw(Russian
version Borislaw), which different from Boleslaw.
Borzyslaw means-"the one who gains fame in fight", when Boleslaw means
"more famous (Bole - more+ slaw fame).
Forgot to add. At the turn of X century lived two Boleslaws' Czech rulers.
Boleslaw II the Pious(970-999), notabene son of Boleslaw I the Cruel
(999-1002), and Boleslaw III the Red, butI don't think any of them had any
northern connection in contrast to the Piasts, whose interest in Baltic
politics is well documented.
Arkadiusz
-
Arkadiusz Bugaj
Re: King Boleslaw of Russia
U¿ytkownik "Arkadiusz Bugaj" <arcadiusb@gazeta.pl> napisa³ w wiadomo¶ci
news:d2sadd$bhj$1@nemesis.news.tpi.pl...
Boleslaw II the Pious(970-999), notabene son of Boleslaw I the Cruel
FATAL ERROR!!!, and Boleslaw III the Red (999-1002, but I don't think any
of them had any
northern connection, in contrast to the Piasts, whose interest in Baltic
politics is well documented.
Arkadiusz
>
news:d2sadd$bhj$1@nemesis.news.tpi.pl...
U¿ytkownik "Arkadiusz Bugaj" <arcadiusb@gazeta.pl> napisa³ w wiadomo¶ci
news:d2s9sp$682$1@nemesis.news.tpi.pl...
Uzytkownik "Todd A. Farmerie" <farmerie@interfold.com> napisal w
wiadomosci news:d2rofl$p07$1@eeyore.INS.cwru.edu...
Kelsey Williams wrote:
I wonder whether "King Boleslaw" should be identified with Boleslaw I
Chrobry of Poland (d. 1025) or maybe one of the Boleslaw's in Bohemia?
I suspect that Boleslaw of Poland is intended, but there were also,
Boleslaw/Bureslaw of the Wends who appears in pedigrees. I am not too
femiliar with the historical documentation on the Wends. He may just be
a confused double for Boleslaw Chrobry - Barlow, in his Edward the
Confessor, shows (in the gneealogical chart at the end) such a Boleslaw
of the Wends as father-in-law of Svein, when this is now thought to
represent Chrobry. Likewise, Turton shows such a man, IIRC, but his
pedigree seems reality-challenged.
taf
Boleslaw's(Chrobry) known daughters weren't married to any of
Scandinavian kings. Sources confirm exsistence of four daughters of
Boleslav:
1. a nameless one (d. before 1013)
2. Regelinda married to Herman, margrave of Meissen (d. 1038)
3. nameless wife of Swietopelk of Turow and Kiev (d. after 1019)
4. Mathild engaged to Otto of Schweinfurtu, prince of Schwabien
On the other hand there is a Scandinavian track among siblings of
Boleslaw because his sister Swietoslawa-Sygried, daughter of Mieszko I,
was married to a Swedish king Eric the Victorious, and the to a king of
Danemark Sven the Forkbeard.
The prince of the Vends proper version of name is Borzyslaw(Russian
version Borislaw), which different from Boleslaw.
Borzyslaw means-"the one who gains fame in fight", when Boleslaw means
"more famous (Bole - more+ slaw fame).
Forgot to add. At the turn of X century lived two Boleslaws' Czech rulers.
Boleslaw II the Pious(970-999), notabene son of Boleslaw I the Cruel
FATAL ERROR!!!, and Boleslaw III the Red (999-1002, but I don't think any
of them had any
northern connection, in contrast to the Piasts, whose interest in Baltic
politics is well documented.
Arkadiusz
>
-
Todd A. Farmerie
Re: King Boleslaw of Russia
Arkadiusz Bugaj wrote:
Same woman I had in mind - the pedigree, as I remember it, had Svein
marrying first the daughter of Boleslaw of the Wends, then Sigrid, with
Sigrid remarrying to Erik the Victorious. The more recent
reconstructions indicate that these refer to the same person - that
Sigrid was daughter (sic - sister) of Boleslaw of Poland.
Unfortunately, he I have seen, not infrequently, "Boleslav, King of the
Wends", which leaves one in doubt whether they mean Boleslav of Poland
or Burislav of the Wends.
Uzytkownik "Todd A. Farmerie" <farmerie@interfold.com> napisal w wiadomosci
news:d2rofl$p07$1@eeyore.INS.cwru.edu...
I suspect that Boleslaw of Poland is intended, but there were also,
Boleslaw/Bureslaw of the Wends who appears in pedigrees. I am not too
femiliar with the historical documentation on the Wends. He may just be a
confused double for Boleslaw Chrobry - Barlow, in his Edward the
Confessor, shows (in the gneealogical chart at the end) such a Boleslaw of
the Wends as father-in-law of Svein, when this is now thought to represent
Chrobry. Likewise, Turton shows such a man, IIRC, but his pedigree seems
reality-challenged.
Boleslaw's(Chrobry) known daughters weren't married to any of Scandinavian
kings. Sources confirm exsistence of four daughters of Boleslav:
On the other hand there is a Scandinavian track among siblings of Boleslaw
because his sister Swietoslawa-Sygried, daughter of Mieszko I, was married
to a Swedish king Eric the Victorious, and the to a king of Danemark Sven
the Forkbeard.
Same woman I had in mind - the pedigree, as I remember it, had Svein
marrying first the daughter of Boleslaw of the Wends, then Sigrid, with
Sigrid remarrying to Erik the Victorious. The more recent
reconstructions indicate that these refer to the same person - that
Sigrid was daughter (sic - sister) of Boleslaw of Poland.
The prince of the Vends proper version of name is Borzyslaw(Russian version
Borislaw), which different from Boleslaw.
Unfortunately, he I have seen, not infrequently, "Boleslav, King of the
Wends", which leaves one in doubt whether they mean Boleslav of Poland
or Burislav of the Wends.
-
Arkadiusz Bugaj
Re: King Boleslaw of Russia
Uzytkownik "Todd A. Farmerie" <farmerie@interfold.com> napisal w wiadomosci
news:4251c3a0@news.ColoState.EDU...
We have two problems here:
1. Identification of Boleslaw/Bu(o)rislaw king of Wends.
2. Lineage of Sigrid (Swietoslawa)
Ad. 1 I know no "Boleslaw/Burislaw (Borislaw/Borzyslaw) king of the Wends.
The term the Wends was used by medieval German sources in reference to
Western Slavs, living between Elbe and Odra river. Later in XII and XIII
centuries in refernce to subjects of Westpomeranian princess. In IX- XI
centuries German chroniclers calling the Slavs -the Weneds" had in mind
members of two main groups: middle called Wielets (or Stodoranie- Lucice)
and north-western called Obodryci- Abodrites. Statehood of southern group of
the Serbs living in the Maissen-Lausitz area had been destroyed until X
century and the Eastern Mark had been constituted there. Northern Slavic
tribes, during X-XI century, tried many times to create their independent
states, but their princess were unsuscessful fighting against German
expansion and tribal (pagan) conservatism. One thing I can say forsure there
were no Burislaws among them. I can recount:Przybyslaw of the Stodoran,
Nakon of Abodrites (Obodryci), the latter tribe had later princes called
Msciwoj, Gotszalk and Przybyslaw Gotszalkowic. No Burislaw. There was one
ruler who bore this name, it was a founder of the Czech dynasty of
Przemysliden, Borivoj 852/5-888/9, father of Spityhniev I and Vratislav I. I
think this Borivoj, because of geographical reasons doesn't come into
account. Thusly I would exclude this name as a name of exsisting ruler of
the Wends. Supposedly it is a broken "lectio" of Slavic name Boleslaw,
ofwhom I am writing below.
Unfortunately you didn't give me much details on where this name (Boleslaw)
is taken from as well as Burislaw.
On the other hand, there were Boleslaw's kings or princes of Poland and
Czech. In Poland: Boleslaw I the Barlow (d.1025), II the Generous (d. 1089)
or III the Wrymouth (d.)1138. In Czech I have already mentioned: Boleslaw
I the Cruel, Boleslaw II the Pious (970-999), and Boleslaw III the Red
(999-1002), but I think we may exclude because of the same reason as in the
case of their forefather Borislaw. Polish king Boleslaw I and prince
Boleslaw III ruled directly on the area of Pomerania between the Wisla and
Odra, and the latter achieved supervison over duchy of West Pomerania.
I think that Boleslaw III, who lived in XII century doesn't match in
genealogy and chronology terms.
So Boleslaw I is acceptable. The explanation for his titel "king of the
Wends" is that it the term was by Edward the Confessor whose knowledge was
second-hand and came from the Danes who must have called Slaves, similarly
to the German, the Wends.
2. Speaking about Sigrid lineage and details of her life I rely on K.
Jasinski book, Rodowód pierwszych Piastów (The lineage of the first Piasts),
who claims and many other Polish historians, since O. Balzer that she was a
sister not a daughter of Boleslaw I. Information that she was daughter of B.
I w find in the chronicle of Adam of Brema, who wrote in the second part of
XI century, sonme 50 years ago of Sigrid's time of living. More reliable,
Thietmar contemporary to Sigrid calls her 'Miseconis filia ducis'that. Also
facts of Sigrid's life go along that reconstrution. What "newer ones' do you
have in mind.Also order of Sigrids marriages in the sources light doesn't
cause doubts because of simple fact that Swiedish Eric the Victorious died
995 and Sven the Forkbeard in 1014.
Arkadiusz
news:4251c3a0@news.ColoState.EDU...
Arkadiusz Bugaj wrote:
Uzytkownik "Todd A. Farmerie" <farmerie@interfold.com> napisal w
wiadomosci news:d2rofl$p07$1@eeyore.INS.cwru.edu...
I suspect that Boleslaw of Poland is intended, but there were also,
Boleslaw/Bureslaw of the Wends who appears in pedigrees. I am not too
femiliar with the historical documentation on the Wends. He may just be
a confused double for Boleslaw Chrobry - Barlow, in his Edward the
Confessor, shows (in the gneealogical chart at the end) such a Boleslaw
of the Wends as father-in-law of Svein, when this is now thought to
represent Chrobry. Likewise, Turton shows such a man, IIRC, but his
pedigree seems reality-challenged.
Boleslaw's(Chrobry) known daughters weren't married to any of
Scandinavian kings. Sources confirm exsistence of four daughters of
Boleslav:
On the other hand there is a Scandinavian track among siblings of
Boleslaw because his sister Swietoslawa-Sygried, daughter of Mieszko I,
was married to a Swedish king Eric the Victorious, and the to a king of
Danemark Sven the Forkbeard.
Same woman I had in mind - the pedigree, as I remember it, had Svein
marrying first the daughter of Boleslaw of the Wends, then Sigrid, with
Sigrid remarrying to Erik the Victorious. The more recent reconstructions
indicate that these refer to the same person - that Sigrid was daughter
(sic - sister) of Boleslaw of Poland.
The prince of the Vends proper version of name is Borzyslaw (Russian
version Borislaw), which different from Boleslaw.
Unfortunately, he I have seen, not infrequently, "Boleslav, King of the
Wends", which leaves one in doubt whether they mean Boleslav of Poland or
Burislav of the Wends.
We have two problems here:
1. Identification of Boleslaw/Bu(o)rislaw king of Wends.
2. Lineage of Sigrid (Swietoslawa)
Ad. 1 I know no "Boleslaw/Burislaw (Borislaw/Borzyslaw) king of the Wends.
The term the Wends was used by medieval German sources in reference to
Western Slavs, living between Elbe and Odra river. Later in XII and XIII
centuries in refernce to subjects of Westpomeranian princess. In IX- XI
centuries German chroniclers calling the Slavs -the Weneds" had in mind
members of two main groups: middle called Wielets (or Stodoranie- Lucice)
and north-western called Obodryci- Abodrites. Statehood of southern group of
the Serbs living in the Maissen-Lausitz area had been destroyed until X
century and the Eastern Mark had been constituted there. Northern Slavic
tribes, during X-XI century, tried many times to create their independent
states, but their princess were unsuscessful fighting against German
expansion and tribal (pagan) conservatism. One thing I can say forsure there
were no Burislaws among them. I can recount:Przybyslaw of the Stodoran,
Nakon of Abodrites (Obodryci), the latter tribe had later princes called
Msciwoj, Gotszalk and Przybyslaw Gotszalkowic. No Burislaw. There was one
ruler who bore this name, it was a founder of the Czech dynasty of
Przemysliden, Borivoj 852/5-888/9, father of Spityhniev I and Vratislav I. I
think this Borivoj, because of geographical reasons doesn't come into
account. Thusly I would exclude this name as a name of exsisting ruler of
the Wends. Supposedly it is a broken "lectio" of Slavic name Boleslaw,
ofwhom I am writing below.
Unfortunately you didn't give me much details on where this name (Boleslaw)
is taken from as well as Burislaw.
On the other hand, there were Boleslaw's kings or princes of Poland and
Czech. In Poland: Boleslaw I the Barlow (d.1025), II the Generous (d. 1089)
or III the Wrymouth (d.)1138. In Czech I have already mentioned: Boleslaw
I the Cruel, Boleslaw II the Pious (970-999), and Boleslaw III the Red
(999-1002), but I think we may exclude because of the same reason as in the
case of their forefather Borislaw. Polish king Boleslaw I and prince
Boleslaw III ruled directly on the area of Pomerania between the Wisla and
Odra, and the latter achieved supervison over duchy of West Pomerania.
I think that Boleslaw III, who lived in XII century doesn't match in
genealogy and chronology terms.
So Boleslaw I is acceptable. The explanation for his titel "king of the
Wends" is that it the term was by Edward the Confessor whose knowledge was
second-hand and came from the Danes who must have called Slaves, similarly
to the German, the Wends.
2. Speaking about Sigrid lineage and details of her life I rely on K.
Jasinski book, Rodowód pierwszych Piastów (The lineage of the first Piasts),
who claims and many other Polish historians, since O. Balzer that she was a
sister not a daughter of Boleslaw I. Information that she was daughter of B.
I w find in the chronicle of Adam of Brema, who wrote in the second part of
XI century, sonme 50 years ago of Sigrid's time of living. More reliable,
Thietmar contemporary to Sigrid calls her 'Miseconis filia ducis'that. Also
facts of Sigrid's life go along that reconstrution. What "newer ones' do you
have in mind.Also order of Sigrids marriages in the sources light doesn't
cause doubts because of simple fact that Swiedish Eric the Victorious died
995 and Sven the Forkbeard in 1014.
Arkadiusz