Boleslaus the Wrymouthed (1085-1138), after his father's death, drove
his elder brother, Zbigniew, out of the country. His influence grew as he made
new conquests and expanded the territory of his realm. The dramatic war
against the emperor Henry V ended in the latter's defeat at the battle
of Psie Pole near Wroclaw. Boleslaus' conquest of Pomerania was accompanied
by missionary work. He captured Gdansk Pomerania and won suzerainty
over Szczecin Pomerania. Unfortunately, he undid his enormous successes
when in his political testament he divided the state among his three
adult sons, although he also established the institution of the sovereign,
or senior, prince. This was the beginning of the period of feudal
disintegration, which lasted almost two hundred years.
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