Poland's successful defense against Henry V ended German-Bohemian intervention and preserved Bolesław III's rule.
Key Facts
- Year
- 1109
- Key battle
- Battle of Hundsfeld
- Besieged town
- Głogów
- Outcome
- Defeat of German-Bohemian forces
- Casus belli
- Exile of Zbigniew from Poland
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Bolesław III Wrymouth exiled his brother Zbigniew from Poland. Zbigniew sought intervention from Holy Roman Emperor Henry V to restore his position, prompting Henry V to ally with Bohemian Duke Svatopluk and mount an armed expedition into Polish territory on Zbigniew's behalf.
Henry V, Zbigniew, and Bohemian Duke Svatopluk led a joint military expedition into Poland in 1109. They besieged the border town of Głogów but failed to capture it, and were subsequently defeated by Bolesław III's forces at the Battle of Hundsfeld, a decisive engagement that checked the invasion.
The defeat of the German-Bohemian coalition ended the military campaign and left Bolesław III Wrymouth in firm control of Poland. The failure of the expedition secured Polish sovereignty and demonstrated the kingdom's capacity to resist external interference driven by dynastic disputes.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Bolesław III Wrymouth.
Side B
2 belligerents
Henry V, Zbigniew, Svatopluk of Bohemia.