Jotvingių vaidmuo Meclavo kare su Rusia

ENDuring the reign of Casimir the Restorer (1034-1058), the Yotvingian issue in Polish-Ruthenian relationships became important again. The period is usually associated with the weakening of Poland, as well as with the increasing importance of Kievan Rus' which was ruled by Prince Yaroslav the Wise - the son of Vladimir the Great. From 1034 to 1037 several important events took place: Mieszko II died; Casimir came back to the country; there was the rebellion of the members of the tribal aristocracy which led to the separation of Mazovia and the establishment of the State of Mieclaw. Mieclaw who established the state, was a former cupbearer of Duke Mieszko II. His state was supported by the Pomeranians, Yotvingians as well as Lithuanians and proved to be the tough opponent, able to neutralize the threat of the Polish-Ruthenian alliance. The alliance of Mazovia, Yotvingia and Lithuania affected Rus' policy towards the Balts and restrained its activities to control convenient trade routes and get profit from the Baltic trade. There are few sources providing information about the participation of Yotvingians in the conflict of Kievan Rus', Poland and Mazovia: a set of Ruthenian chronicles in different variants, Gesta principum Polonorum and Chronica Polonorum.The first expeditions of the Ruthenians to Mazovia (1041) proved that Yaroslav Vladimirovich was independent, but they did not result from the alliance with Casimir the Restorer. Therefore, the role of Yotvingians should be discussed in the broader context, namely the struggle of Rus' and Mazovia for the control of the Yotvingian and Lithuanian tribes. The conflict flared in 1038, when Yaroslav went to Yotvingia. The second offensive action took place already in 1040, when Yaroslav went to Lithuania. Because of the strong forces of the resistance coalition (Mazovia, Yotvingia and Lithuanian), Ruthenian ruler decided to cooperate with Casimir the Restorer in order to fight together against Mieclaw and Pagans. In 1047 allied troops caused the defeat of the self-proclaimed prince Mieclaw and ultimately ended the existence of the State of Mieclaw.