exalted," offered homage to Henry. His duchy was restored to him, with half the tribute remitted; he was moreover confirmed in the possession of Silesia, seized from the Poles, and then actually in his hands. His own splendid war-horse which Břatislav offered to Henry, with its saddle "completely and marvellously wrought in gold and silver," was given, in the duke's presence, to Leopold of Austria, the hero of the expedition.
Once having sworn fealty, Břatislav maintained it loyally until the close of his life, and his advice on military matters was of great service to Henry. The re-grant of Breslau and the Silesian towns to Poland in 1054 was, however, a great strain even on his loyalty; and in spite of Henry's award, he recovered the lost cities for a time from Casimir, by force of arms, in the following year. Thence he would have proceeded to Hungary, but on his way he died. His successor, Spitignev, although his succession was ratified by Henry, plunged into a riot of animosity against everything German, expelling from Bohemian soil every man and woman of the hated nation, rich, poor and pilgrim.
Duke Casimir of Poland played throughout a less prominent part than his vigorous neighbour. Affairs at home kept him fully occupied; while his close early connexion with Germany, and the memory of the partition of Poland by Conrad, would further deter him from any thought of imitating his father Mesco, who, like Boleslav, had claimed the title of King.
Of his part in events between 1039 and 1041 we know little. With 500 horse, he went to Poland, where he was "gladly received"; he slowly recovered his land from foreigners; and finally (1047) overcame the last and greatest of the independent Polish chiefs, Meczlav of Masovia.
He had secured the greater part of his inheritance; it remained to recover Silesia, seized by Břatislav in 1039 and confirmed to the Bohemian duke by Henry.
It is in 1050 that serious trouble first threatened. In this year, Casimir was definitely accused of "usurping" land granted by Henry to Břatislav; as well as of other, unrecorded, misdemeanours against the Empire. Henry actually prepared an expedition against him, and war was averted only by the illness of the Emperor and the alacrity and conciliatory spirit shewn by Casimir. Coming to Goslar of his own free will, he exculpated himself on oath of the charge of aggression against Bohemia, and consented to make the reparation demanded for the acts of which he was duly judged guilty the princes. Thence he returned home with royal gifts.
Strife however continued between Casimir and Břatislav; and at Whitsuntide 1054 both dukes were summoned before Henry at Quedlinburg. It is plain that in the meantime Casimir had made good his hold on Breslau; for the town and district are now confirmed to him by Henry, under condition (according to the Bohemian Chronicler) of annual
