Key Facts
- Date
- 22/23 August 1040
- Location
- Upper Palatine Forest, Domažlice District, Czech Republic
- Hungarian reinforcements
- 3,000 troops sent by Peter, King of Hungary
- Henry's vanguard
- ~1,000 men; almost completely destroyed in ambush
- Conflict resolved
- Břetislav surrendered 29 September 1041 after second campaign
Strategic Narrative Overview
Anticipating the invasion, Břetislav fortified Bohemian Forest passes, secured 3,000 Hungarian troops, and prepared ambushes. Henry, aware of the trap, advanced in detachments. His vanguard of 1,000 men under Werner I of Maden was lured into a prepared position and nearly annihilated. A second wing under Margrave Otto of Schweinfurt retreated with heavy losses. Henry also ordered a Saxon force invading from the north under Eckard II of Meissen to withdraw, which it did after further negotiation.
01 / The Origins
Břetislav I of Bohemia invaded Poland in 1039, sacking Gniezno and removing the relics of Adalbert of Prague to establish a separate archbishopric independent of Mainz. Archbishop Bardo protested to Henry III, King of the Romans, who was already displeased that Bohemia and Poland, both nominally Holy Roman Empire vassals, were at war. When Břetislav refused to pay tribute demanded by Henry, the king assembled two armies and marched on Bohemia.
03 / The Outcome
Henry requested a truce but Břetislav demanded unconditional surrender, which Henry rejected. The king launched a second campaign in 1041, this time successfully linking up with Saxon forces before Prague. Břetislav was compelled to surrender on 29 September 1041. Henry subsequently founded Stockau Abbey in 1041, and Břetislav built the Chapel of St. Wenceslas at Brůdek in 1047 to commemorate the earlier battle.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
2 belligerents
Henry III, King of the Romans, Werner I of Maden, Count of Winterthur, Otto of Schweinfurt, Margrave, Eckard II, Margrave of Meissen.
Side B
2 belligerents
Břetislav I, Duke of Bohemia.
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.