Wladyslaw II the Exile
| Wladyslaw II | |
|---|---|
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| High Duke of Poland | |
| Reign | 28 October 1138-1146 |
| Predecessor | Boleslaw III Wrymouth |
| Successor | Boleslaw IV the Curly |
| Born | 1105 Krakow |
| Died | 30 May 1159 (age 54) Altenburg |
| Burial | Pegau monastery |
| Spouse | Agnes of Austria |
| Issue | Boleslaw the Tall Mieszko IV Tanglefoot Richeza of León Konrad I of Głogów Albert |
| House | Piast dynasty |
| Father | Boleslaw III Wrymouth |
| Mother | Zbyslava of Kiev |
Władysław II the Exile (Polish:Władysław II Wygnaniec) was the eldest son of Boleslaw III Wrymouth and Zbyslava of Kiev, around 1125 Wladyslaw married Agnes of Austria, when his father died, Wladyslaw was assigned the title of High Duke and recieved land stretching from Kraków to eastern Greater Poland and western Kuyavia, his younger half-brothers Boleslaw the Curly recieved Masovia and Mieszko the Old received Poznań.
The dispute of Władysław with his stepmother Salomea of Berg and his half-brothers began openly in 1141, when the Dowager Duchess, without the knowledge and consent of Wladyslaw, commenced to divide Łęczyca province between her sons and tried to arrange the marriage of her daughter Agnes to Vsevolod II of Kiev.
Wlostowic affair
During Wladyslaw's reign, the count palatine Piotr Włostowic had the greatest and most decisive impact. A firm follower of Duke Bolesław III, he had soon acquired enormous political significance in the country, covering the most important court offices. When Władysław succeeded his father, he reinstated the voivodeship and Włostowic's power grew.
On 27 July 1144, Salome died, according to the duke's will, her province Łęczyca, was to be returned to Władysław's Seniorate province, but Włostowic planned a coup with the junior dukes in order to take over the district for Henry of Sandomierz.
Without waiting for the arrival of provisions, he sent his troops against the forces of Bolesław IV and Mieszko III, but Władysław suffered a defeat. In 1145, Wladyslaw ordered one of his knights named Dobek to capture him, Dobek arrived at his court in Wrocław and kidnapped Wlostowic with his men, Wladyslaw decided to blind and banish him.
Deposition and exile
At the beginning of 1146, Władysław decided to make a final attack on his rivalling half-brothers. He managed to take Masovia without any obstacles and forced Bolesław IV to retreat from defending his brother, Mieszko III in Poznań, but Wladyslaw started losing because of the insecurity of his other districts, where rebellions erupted against him.
Wladyslaw with his wife and children was forced to flee to Bohemia; Boleslaw and Mieszko achieved success, when Wladyslaw arrived in Bohemia, Conrad III of Germany offered hospitality, Wladyslaw shortly after moved to Germany and immediately swore fealty to the king, he died at Altenburg on 30 May 1159.