BOLESLAS, the name of six kings of Poland and three of Bohemia. The most cele brated of them, Boleslas, surnamed the Great, and the first Polish sovereign who had the title of king, was son of Duke Mietchislaf, and suc ceeded him in 992. He completed the work of introducing Christianity which his father had begun, contributed greatly to the progress of civilization and brought the army under regular discipline. The Emperor Otho III resolved to ascertain his real character by visiting him in person, and was so much pleased with the def erence with which he was received that he crowned him with his own hands in 1001, and exempted him from all homage and tribute. Boleslas assumed all the splendor of his new dignity and became a powerful sovereign. He not only repelled an aggression on his terri tories by the Duke of Bohemia, but became in his turn the aggressor and conquered Moravia. Success awakened a desire for new conquests, and the Russians, who hitherto had always been the aggressors, were attacked in their turn and were obliged to purchase peace by the ces sion of large tracts of territory. He afterward
turned his arms to the north of Germany and compelled the greater part of the northern sov ereigns to become tributaries. In 1012 a formidable league was formed against him by the Emperor of Germany and the Dukes of Bohemia and Austria, but the allies were glad to conclude a peace with him in 1018. His last campaign was against the Russians, whom he signally defeated in a great battle on the banks of the Bug. After 20 years of continuous war fare he was permitted to enjoy peace and ef fected numerous internal improvements, pro mulgating excellent laws, and even putting a check upon his own power by the appointment of a council of 12 to act as mediators between the sovereign and the people. This body was the germ of the Polish Senate. Boleslas died in 1025, after a reign of 26 years, which is one of the most glorious in the annals of Poland, and has handed down his name as one of the greatest sovereigns of his time.