Following his marriage to the Christian Doubravka of Bohemia, the pagan ruler of the Polans, Mieszko I, converts to Christianity, an event considered to be the founding of the Polish state.

Doubravka of Bohemia

10th-century Bohemian princess and Duchess consort of the Polans

Doubravka of Bohemia, Dobrawa was a Bohemian princess of the Přemyslid dynasty and by marriage Duchess of the Polans.

Paganism

Polytheistic religious groups

Paganism is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions other than Christianity, Judaism, and Samaritanism. In the time of the Roman Empire, individuals fell into the pagan class either…

Polans (western)

Central European ethnic group

The Polans, also known as Polanians or Western Polans, were a West Slavic and Lechitic tribe who inhabited the Warta River basin of the contemporary Greater Poland region starting in the 6th century. They were one of Central Europe's main tribes and closely related to the…

Mieszko I

Duke of Poland (c. 930–992) (ruled c. 960–992)

Mieszko I was Duke of Poland from 960 until his death in 992 and the founder of the first unified Polish state, the Civitas Schinesghe. A member of the Piast dynasty, he was the first Christian ruler of Poland and continued the policies of both his father Siemomysł and his…

Christianization of Poland

The Christianization of Poland refers to the introduction and subsequent spread of Christianity in Poland. The impetus to the process was the Baptism of Poland, the personal baptism of Mieszko I, the first ruler of the future Polish state, and much of his court. The ceremony…

History of Poland during the Piast dynasty

Period of Polish history from 960 to 1370

The period of rule by the Piast dynasty between the 10th and 14th centuries is the first major stage of the history of the Polish state. The dynasty was founded by a series of dukes listed by the chronicler Gall Anonymous in the early 12th century: Siemowit, Lestek and…

April 14

Day of the year

April 14 is the 104th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 261 days remain until the end of the year.