The failed siege ended Henry II's Polish campaign and forced the Peace of Bautzen, confirming Polish control over Lusatia.
Key Facts
- Duration
- Three weeks
- Date
- August 1017
- Conflict phase
- Last phase of German–Polish War (1002–18)
- Resulting treaty
- Peace of Bautzen, 1018
- Primary source
- Thietmar of Merseburg
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The siege took place during the final phase of the German–Polish War (1002–1018), in which Emperor Henry II sought to reassert imperial authority over territories controlled by Bolesław I the Brave of Poland. Henry assembled forces including Bohemian and Lutici allies to press his campaign eastward and capture the strategically significant town of Niemcza.
In August 1017, imperial forces under Henry II besieged Niemcza for approximately three weeks. Despite the support of Bohemian and Lutici allies, the siege failed. According to chronicler Thietmar of Merseburg, Polish reinforcements broke into the city and illness spread among the German troops, forcing the besieging army to abandon the effort.
The failure at Niemcza effectively ended Henry II's military campaign in Poland. Unable to achieve his objectives by force, the emperor agreed to the Peace of Bautzen in 1018, which left the eastern March of Lusatia and the Milceni lands (later Upper Lusatia) under Polish control, representing a significant territorial concession by the empire.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.
Side B
1 belligerent
Bolesław I the Brave.