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Chapter 45 (1248–1255)
Chapter 45 (1248–1255)
The tragic death of Jakub I on the battlefield against the pagan Ruthenians profoundly complicated the internal affairs of the Mazovian Empire. The accession of the two-year-old Jakub II did little to improve the situation, as a child could not effectively govern such a vast territory.
Queen Mother Cathania feared that some of her late husband's bolder vassals might rise against her son. After Jakub I’s funeral on September 12, 1248, a council meeting was convened at Cathania’s request. During the proceedings, it was agreed that the regency would be entrusted to Henry, Jakub 's uncle, until the young king came of age. Henryk, Duke of Samogitia and Lithuania, and Jakub I’s military marshal, was chosen due to his unwavering loyalty to his nephew.
One of Henryk’s first acts as regent was to negotiate peace with Novgorodian Rus. The treaty, signed on October 20, 1248, maintained the territorial status quo. Henryk also repealed the taxes raised by Jakub I to ensure the loyalty of ecclesiastical and urban vassals to the Przemyski dynasty.
Cathania, who had wielded real power in Mazovia, did not entirely trust Henryk despite his devotion and loyalty to her late husband. Viewing him as a potential threat to her son, she initiated a strategy to gain control over him and, consequently, over the regency. After several attempts, she seduced Henryk, exploiting his susceptibility to her charms. Henryk’s marriage to an older, unattractive wife only made Cathania’s task easier.
Their fiery affair culminated in marriage in December 1248, a month after Henryk’s wife, Katarzyna, died in an unexplained accident. Her body was found at the base of the Vilnius castle walls. Many assumed it was a tragic mishap during one of her habitual walks on the wet castle walls. Following the marriage, Cathania skillfully manipulated Henryk, using her allure to dominate his decisions regarding the empire.
In autumn 1249, a rebellion broke out among the Baltic pagans of Semigallia, a duchy recently incorporated into the Mazovian Empire. Jakub I’s brutal conquest of Semigallian lands had fostered resistance to Christianization. The conflict was ignited when clergymen sent to convert the local population burned one of the pagans’ sacred sites. The enraged populace gruesomely executed the priests, turning a small local uprising into a full-blown rebellion encompassing Semigallia, Samogitia, and Lithuania—regions still largely inhabited by adherents of ancient faiths.
Henryk, as regent and marshal, led a 30,000-strong imperial army to suppress the uprising. The pagan forces, numbering fewer than 10,000, were poorly armed and trained. However, they avoided direct confrontation, evading Henry’s forces. To counter this, Henryk divided his army into two units: a mobile force of 10,000 light cavalry and a 20,000-strong main contingent.
The light cavalry eventually caught up with the rebels in Semigallia, where they were retreating. Henryk’s arrival with the remaining imperial forces crushed the rebellion, nearly annihilating the insurgents. Captured men were severely punished; all had their right hands amputated, and every tenth man was hanged along Semigallian roads as a warning. Henryk then withdrew to Vilnius.
(Cathania presenting Jakub II to the subjects.)
As Cathania feared, one of the empire’s vassals sparked a civil war. Grand Duke Władysław II Korecki of Halych-Volhynia sought to capitalize on the situation by asserting his claim to the imperial throne. Władysław, a direct descendant of Bogumił I of Mazovia, challenged the Przemyski dynasty's legitimacy, which had only ruled the Mazovian Empire for 48 years. In a letter to Poznań, he denounced Jakub II as a usurper and declared his own rightful claim to the throne.
Władysław’s forces, numbering 25,000–30,000, marched from Halych towards Poznań. Cathania, unable to rely on Henryk, who was still suppressing the pagan rebellion, mobilized a 32,000-strong army from Jakub domain under Skarbimir of Cieszyn, a minor noble and experienced commander under Jakub I. The two armies clashed near Kraków, resulting in a catastrophic defeat for Skarbimir’s forces, and the commander perished in battle.
(Escape of the Jakub II and his mother.)
After Poznań received news of the defeat, Cathania ordered the imperial treasury’s evacuation and fled with her son to Vilnius, where Henryk’s forces of 20,000–27,000 were stationed. Upon her arrival, Henryk recruited mercenaries from Italy and Germany, bolstering his army to 37,000 men. He then marched towards Poznań, besieged by Władysław.
The decisive battle took place on July 14, 1254, under the walls of Poznań. Henryk’s forces surprised Władysław, who was preoccupied with the siege. The city’s defenders, led by Baron Bezprym of Kalisz, launched a sortie, trapping Władysław’s troops between the city’s garrison and Henryk’s army. The battle ended swiftly, with Władysław captured. His execution on November 20, 1254, marked the rebellion’s end.
Henryk emerged victorious, solidifying Jakub II’s reign and earning the title of Grand Duke of Lithuania.
(Cathan bidding farewell to Henryk as he goes into battle against the Byzantines.)
However, the peace was short-lived. On July 12, 1255, a Byzantine envoy arrived in Poznań to declare war on Jakub II. Emperor Theoktistos of the Eastern Roman Empire sought the Mazovian crown, claiming tenuous rights through his mother and as the husband of Jakub’s aunt, Grzymisława. This unexpected threat forced Henryk to muster an army of 45,000 and march towards Moldavia.
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Chapter 46 (1255 - 1260)
Chapter 46 (1255 - 1260)
As Henryk marched with his army towards the Moldavian plains to engage the Byzantines, Cathan remained in Poznań, recruiting additional mercenary banners to support her new husband. She hired Russian and Turkish mercenaries, as well as two banners of Scandinavian warriors, totaling 15,000 additional troops. She also decided to grant amnesty and release all imprisoned supporters of Władysław who were willing to aid her son in the war against Theoktistos. This policy allowed her to gather an additional 10,000 troops. The 25,000-strong army, led by Konrad of Opole, was to join Henryk, who was already fighting the Byzantines in Moldavia.
Cathan dedicated much attention to raising her son, bringing in numerous distinguished scholars, political experts, and military commanders for his education. The results were quick to appear—Jakub absorbed knowledge at an exceptional pace. From an early age, inspired by tales of his father, he displayed ambition, striving to match or even surpass him. He showed kindness to his peers, and whenever conflicts arose among his noble friends, he sought to resolve them as fairly as possible for both sides. Cathan also devoted much time to teaching him eloquence and the art of rhetoric, crucial for negotiations and discussions with vassals, foreign dignitaries, and rulers.
Theoktistos with his Varangian Guard.
The Byzantine Empire, ruled by Theoktistos, had long passed its golden age, yet it remained a powerful state in the Mediterranean, possessing vast human and material resources. The war against Mazovia was seen in Constantinople as Theoktistos' personal obsession. Many Byzantine aristocrats openly stated that this conflict would bring no benefits to the Empire, arguing that military efforts should instead focus on reclaiming territories in Sicily or Asia Minor. Sicily and the southern part of the Italian Peninsula had been lost when a local Greek aristocratic family declared independence from Constantinople. The resulting war, fought between 1180 and 1198, ended in a Byzantine defeat. In 1223, during a civil war, Trebizond declared its independence—these were the lands that should have been the emperor’s priority, not some barbaric Mazovian frontier.
Cathan skillfully exploited this discontent to her advantage. Through well-placed bribes, she fueled dissatisfaction among the Byzantine aristocracy. She also spread fear of an impending war with the Burkhanid Empire, a Zoroastrian Persia. Rumors that the Persians were preparing for another war against Byzantium over Armenia caused great unease, forcing Theoktistos to divert part of his forces to the Persian border—thus easing Henryk’s task. Ironically, Cathan inadvertently did the Byzantine Emperor a favor, as the Persians indeed invaded Armenia a few years later.
Mazovian knights fighting Byzantines.
Henry, commanding an army of 45,000 troops, reached Moldavia before the Byzantines arrived, allowing him to prepare an ambush for the approaching enemy from the southeast. With an army of 45,000 men at his disposal, he divided his forces. Leading 15,000 troops southward towards Bessarabia, he anticipated encountering the Byzantine forces there. The remaining 30,000 were stationed near the town of Iași, where Henryk intended to lure his opponents.
Henryk’s scouts soon confirmed his predictions—a Byzantine force, estimated at 30,000-35,000 men, was advancing northwest. When Byzantine patrols spotted his troops near Chișinău, where his forces had temporarily encamped, Henry initiated a calculated retreat northward towards Iași.
The Byzantine commander took the bait, believing he could crush what seemed to be a smaller Mazovian force, unaware that he was marching into a trap. Henry reached Iași two days ahead of the Byzantines, allowing his men time to rest while scouting the battlefield. He split the 30,000-strong force he had left behind into two concealed banners of 15,000 troops each, hiding them in nearby forests.
On June 15, 1256, when the Byzantine army arrived at the fields surrounding Iași, Henryk’s forces stood ready and well-rested. The ensuing battle lasted several hours and resulted in a Mazovian victory. The exhausted Byzantine troops, worn out from their pursuit across Moldavian terrain, were swiftly overwhelmed when the hidden Mazovian forces ambushed them from the forests. Despite this remarkable victory, the war did not end. The armies of Theoktistos launched several further invasions through Moldavia over the next four years, each time with similar results.
By the end of 1256, Cathan and Henryk had found a suitable bride for the now ten-year-old Jakub. Viola, Duchess of Chrobatia, was nearly five years older than him, but she was considered an ideal match for the Mazovian monarch. Their offspring would inherit both the imperial throne and the Duchy of Chrobatia. Przemysław, the founder of the Przemyski dynasty, had once planned to integrate Chrobatia into the Mazovian Empire through marriage, but during his lifetime, the opportunity never arose. Now, Henryk had finally achieved his father’s ambition.
In August 1260, peace negotiations between the Mazovian Empire and the Byzantine Empire began. Mazovian Chancellor Konrad of Brandenburg traveled to Constantinople with a diplomatic mission, aiming to secure the best possible terms for Mazovia. Cathan’s ideal outcome would have been Theoktistos renouncing his claims to the Mazovian throne. However, after prolonged negotiations, a white peace was signed in October 1260—neither side gained nor lost anything.
Although the war did not end in an outright victory for Mazovia, Jakub II remained on the throne. The conflict had lasting consequences for the Byzantine Empire—Theoktistos' armies had been largely destroyed in the Moldavian campaign. When war with Persia erupted in 1267, Byzantium could not properly respond. To muster an army, the empire had to rely on mercenary banners. While this temporarily delayed defeat, the prolonged wars had drained the imperial treasury. When unpaid mercenary units mutinied and seized Constantinople, Theoktistos and his entire family, including Jakub’s aunt Grzymisława, were slain.
In 1273, the Eastern Roman Empire officially ceased to exist. This event marked the end of an era—the last remnant of the Roman Empire had fallen.
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The fall of Constantinople should deter others from trying to claim the Mazovian throne...
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Chapter 47 (1260 - 1265)
Chapter 47 (1260-1265)
The end of the war with the Byzantines brought a period of respite for the Mazovian Empire. Over the next five years, the Empire was not engaged in any significant military conflict. Most of this peaceful period was spent rebuilding the imperial army, which had been weakened by continuous wars. Large-scale settlement efforts were also undertaken in territories conquered by Jakub I, including Semigallia and lands that had previously been part of Kievan Rus.
These areas were sparsely populated due to a pagan uprising; the few settlements that had survived Jakub I's conquest had now fallen into ruin. To address this, mass settlement privileges were granted, allowing peasants from lands under the Emperor’s rule, as well as those of other nobles, to apply for the right to settle in these territories.
Jakub and Henryk signing the settlement edict.
The regent Henryk, with the approval of the then 15-year-old Jakub, issued an edict introducing a new form of settlement law. This law established a contract between the landowner and the settlers. According to its provisions, groups of peasants from the central part of the Empire—including lands within the private domain of the Mazovian monarch, the Grand Duchy of Halych-Podolia, and the Grand Duchy of Bohemia-Moravia—were permitted to leave their villages with their lord’s consent to settle on new lands.
The edict required these settlers to form settlement groups of at least fifty people, who would elect a village leader (sołtys) to represent their interests before their new lord. The new landowner was obligated to grant them the best available farmland in his domain, often displacing pagans who had not converted to Christianity.
The law also granted temporary privileges to settlers: for 20 years, they were exempt from all tributes to their new lord. After this period, they were required to pay rent and provide in-kind tributes. Each settler received an equal share of land, typically between 1 and 2 łans. The issue of labor duties (pańszczyzna) was to be settled between the village leader and the landowner, with three options available: complete exemption, four days of labor per month, or eight days per month. Peasants had the right to leave the village after serving at least half of the exemption period (about 10 years), provided they had fulfilled all their obligations to the landowner.
The first judicial authority was the village court, composed of settlers. The village leader, chosen by the peasants and acting as the settlement organizer, was entitled to a larger estate, the right to operate an inn and a mill, and a portion of the settlers' tributes. He also presided over the village court. This settlement law, developed by Henryk and other members of the Imperial Council, was influenced by Jakub II’s participation under the guidance of his mother. It became known as the Henryk Law, in honor of its creator, Henryk, the Imperial Regent.
Peasants at work.
During these five years, new agricultural techniques from Western Europe were introduced. The three-field system became widespread—this method divided farmland into three parts. Each year, two were cultivated while the third lay fallow to allow the soil to recover. One field was sown in autumn with winter crops, the second in spring with summer crops, and the third remained fallow, serving as pasture. The rotation of these fields annually ensured soil fertility.
Additionally, new farming tools, such as the moldboard plow and harrows, became more common, increasing crop yields and supporting a larger population.
At the end of 1260, joyful news arrived: Megetu, ruler of the Ilkhanate, abandoned his pagan gods and converted to Christianity. Megetu was baptized by Nestorian priests.
Nestorianism was a Christian doctrine that emerged between 428 and 431 due to controversies surrounding the teachings of Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople. It concerned the relationship between Jesus Christ’s divine and human natures. Condemned as heresy by the Council of Ephesus in 431, Nestorianism nevertheless gained a following in parts of the East.
The conversion of Mongol warriors to the faith of Christ was a significant event, offering opportunities to strengthen relations with the powerful steppe empire.
Cathan and Henryk agreed that the pagan Kingdom of Livonia should be eradicated due to its continuous raiding of Mazovian borderlands. To achieve this, they planned to request the Pope’s approval for a crusade against the Baltic pagans.
For over two centuries, the Mazovian Empire had waged war against Baltic pagans, pushing them further north. On behalf of Jakub II, Henryk sent a formal request to the Holy See for permission to launch a crusade against the Livonians. Pope Theodorus IV approved the request, declaring a Crusade against the Pagan Kingdom of Livonia in the summer of 1261.
Faced with the threat of total annihilation, King Vaidginas II of Livonia took drastic action. He invited a Swedish bishop to his court, who baptized him and his entire family. In the following years, Livonian nobility also converted to Christianity.
The Baptism of Livonia marked the end of easy northern expansion for the Mazovian Empire. It also put an end to Livonian raids on Mazovian borderlands, allowing settlers to colonize the region without fear.
Cathan ensured that her two daughters married well. Pechna, the eldest of three siblings, wed Gómez I, King of Castile, whose newly established dynasty sought strong allies. Cathan accepted the marriage proposal.
Her younger daughter, Kazimiera, married Aimer, King of Lombardy, a distant relative of Jakub II. Aimer was the grandson of Euphorisana, daughter of Przemysław, great-grandfather of Jakub II.
Both marriages were arranged years in advance and took place between 1262 and 1264. Around this time, Cathan gave birth to Odon, Henryk’s son and Jakub’s half-brother. Unfortunately, Henryk died less than a year later, never having the chance to raise his heir.
On January 14, 1264, Jakub II reached adulthood. He inherited his father’s natural leadership instincts, and years of military education made him an expert in warfare.
From a young age, Henryk and Cathan instilled in Jakub II a deep hatred for the pagan Rus of Novgorod and Kyiv, the people responsible for Jakub I’s death. Jakub II swore to avenge his father, and what better way to do so than by invading their lands?
One month after Jakub II’s 16th birthday, a grand wedding ceremony took place in Poznań, uniting him with Viola, Duchess of Chrobatia.
The wedding was held at Poznań Cathedral, officiated by Bishop Władysław Olkowski. After the ceremony, Jakub and Viola attended a lavish wedding feast, joined by all the dignitaries and vassals of the Mazovian Empire.
During the celebrations, the bedding ceremony was conducted. Cathan ensured that no one disturbed the newlyweds, and after the servants presented the bloodstained bedsheet as proof of the marriage’s consummation and Viola’s virginity, the festivities continued for a full week.
Following the wedding, public feasts were held, allowing commoners to enjoy the leftovers from Jakub II’s wedding banquet.
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Mazovia: Calls crusade on LivoniaCathan and Henryk agreed that the pagan Kingdom of Livonia should be eradicated due to its continuous raiding of Mazovian borderlands. To achieve this, they planned to request the Pope’s approval for a crusade against the Baltic pagans.
For over two centuries, the Mazovian Empire had waged war against Baltic pagans, pushing them further north. On behalf of Jakub II, Henryk sent a formal request to the Holy See for permission to launch a crusade against the Livonians. Pope Theodorus IV approved the request, declaring a Crusade against the Pagan Kingdom of Livonia in the summer of 1261.
Faced with the threat of total annihilation, King Vaidginas II of Livonia took drastic action. He invited a Swedish bishop to his court, who baptized him and his entire family. In the following years, Livonian nobility also converted to Christianity.
Livonia: Converts to Catholicism, invalidating the crusade
Mazovia: Claims victory
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Chapter 48 (1265 - 1270)
Chapter 48 (1265 - 1270)
Jakub II, the son of Jakub I, grandson of Jan I, and great-grandson of Przemysław I "the Bastard," was the fourth ruler of Mazovia from the Przemyski dynasty. As he reached adulthood, he displayed patience, fairness in resolving disputes among his subjects, courage in hunting large game, ambition instilled by his mother, Cathan, and eloquence. He also maintained a friendly attitude toward his vassals and subjects.
Despite these positive traits, some still viewed Jakub as the heir of a bastard descendant of Zygmunt IV, whose lineage was also not of legitimate birth. Jakub decided that the best way to legitimize his rule over the Empire was to exhume some of his ancestors and commission new, magnificent sarcophagi with appropriate death masks for them.
He ordered artists to ensure that successive rulers of the Mazovian Empire bore striking resemblances. He was particularly concerned that his great-grandfather, Przemysław I, should have almost identical facial features to Zygmunt IV, from whom he was an illegitimate descendant. Similarly, he sought to create visual continuity between the tombs of Zygmunt I "the Cruel" and Bolesław II. This was meant to reinforce the perception that the Mazovian throne had an unbroken lineage directly tracing back to Siemomysł "the Founder," the first king of Mazovia.
Although Jakub officially assumed power, his mother, Cathan, still sought to control the politics of the Mazovian Empire. This led to numerous conflicts between them, and the stance of his wife, Viola, only complicated matters further. Viola demanded that Jakub completely remove his mother from power, but the problem was that both women were incredibly similar in character and could not tolerate each other’s presence.
Jakub struggled to fully oppose Cathan, as she held a psychological influence over him, a remnant of his traumatic experiences during Władysław’s rebellion. Constant quarrels with Viola echoed through the halls of the palace in Poznań, yielding no resolution to the crisis he faced. Only when Cathan agreed to some concessions toward the new Empress did Jakub finally find some relief.
Cathan left the imperial capital and settled in one of her son’s many castles, taking residence at Wawel Castle in Kraków. From there, she continued to monitor the actions of her daughter-in-law through a trusted network of spies and informants at the Poznań court. Viola was aware of the constant surveillance but, being pregnant with Jakub’s child, she did not fear any direct threats from her mother-in-law that could endanger Jakub’s reputation or the life of his heir. She had to accept that she would have to share influence over Jakub and the Mazovian Empire with Cathan. On August 26, 1266, Jakub and Viola’s daughter, Dobrawa, was born.
Understanding that the Ilkhanate had become a powerful force in the region over the past decades, Jakub recognized the importance of establishing diplomatic ties. While the Mazovian Empire did not share borders with the Nestorian Mongols, he sought to strengthen relations with them. An opportunity arose when Khan Megetu welcomed the birth of his firstborn son, Belgunutei.
In the summer of 1267, Jakub sent an embassy to the Ilkhanate capital, Bukhara, proposing a betrothal between Dobrawa and Belgunutei. A year later, the response was positive: the two-year-old Dobrawa and the one-year-old Belgunutei were promised to each other under the agreement between Jakub and Megetu.
Megetu, in his greetings to Jakub—delivered through the returning embassy—expressed great admiration for Jakub’s father and namesake, Jakub I. Among the Mongols, Jakub I was known as a great warrior due to his victory over the Golden Horde at the Battle of Pierwomajsk. Until then, no one had successfully halted the war machine forged by Genghis Khan. Megetu believed that the god of these Western warriors must have played a role in the victory, leading him to convert to Nestorian Christianity. This was also one of the reasons he accepted the proposal to unite their families through marriage.
In July 1268, Jakub II launched his long-planned eastern campaign. His first target was Novgorodian Rus, which had previously resisted his father in the war of 1248. The objective, as before, was the conquest of Polotsk.
Jakub assembled an army of 56,000 troops for the invasion. After nearly twenty years, he was ready to take revenge on the Novgorodians and erase the shameful defeat that the Empire had suffered at the hands of these "pagan dogs." On August 12, he led his forces to the borders of Novgorodian Rus. The march took about two months, during which additional vassals sent reinforcements. By October 14, Jakub's forces crossed into enemy territory, starting another war between the Mazovian Empire and the eastern pagans.
Mitrofan after the defeat of the Novgorod-Kiev troops.
At the end of 1268, Jakub's troops laid siege to Vitebsk, he assumed that Mitrofan II would come to the city's aid, Vitebsk was one of the most populous and wealthy cities of Novgorodian Rus, its loss or destruction would significantly reduce the economic potential of this country. Jacob assumed that if he understood this, then Mitrofan must also be aware of it, relief should be his priority.
Jakub's reasoning was confirmed when a few weeks later scouts informed him that a combined Novgorod-Kiev army had been spotted heading towards the besieged city. From the reports he received, a picture of an army of 49-51 thousand men, commanded by Mitrofan II, the Grand Prince of Kiev Rogovold II, son of Rogovold I, the murderer of Jakub I, came to the aid of Novgorod. The Battle of Vitebsk was to decide the victory of this war, Jakub decided to approach his opponents and attack them by surprise, when his scouts informed him that the Ruthenian army was less than two days' journey from Vitebsk.
He set out to meet them, leaving about 5-7 thousand men near the city to continue the siege. He managed to approach the camp of the combined Novgorod-Kiev forces late in the evening of November 12, his army stood unnoticed opposite the allied Ruthenian forces. In order not to betray the presence of his troops, Jakub forbade any burning of torches or fires during the march or rest, he also did not risk a clash with his enemies in the dark, he allowed his knights to rest. Early the next morning, the Ruthenian warriors saw the Masovian army, which should have been near Vitebsk, just in front of their camp, lined up in battle formation and ready to attack.
The surprise of the enemy's army by Jacob was complete, in addition the Ruthenians did not strengthen their camp, they assumed that they would not meet the Masovians here. The attack of the Masovian army went to both wings of the Novgorod-Kiev army, in this way Jacob wanted to encircle his enemies.
At the time of the attack of the Masovian army, a large group of Ruthenian armed men managed to escape from the encirclement, at the sight of the Imperial banner their commander Vasyl Kyrich directed the attack of his men against Jakub and his knights. As a result of this clash Vasyl managed to face the Masovian ruler in a duel, which Jakub almost did not pay with his life, Vasyl's powerful swing crushed Jakob's shields, the muscles and bones of his left hand were crushed and torn mercilessly, only the quick reaction of his men who killed Vasyl before he could deal the final blow saved Jakub from the fate that befell his father.
The defeat of the Ruthenian army occurred when the Masovian forces closed the encirclement, the chaos and panic only intensified the enormity of their defeat. Mitrofan and Rogovold managed to break out of the encirclement, both left their warriors at the mercy of Jakub, who showed no mercy, only the noble born boyars were taken prisoner. However, the conflict itself lasted until 1270, when Mitrofan sent an embassy to Jakub, who was in the captured Vitebsk. As a result of the duel with Vasyl, Jakub was in a dying state, his medics could not save the shattered limb, the only way to save the life of his Imperial Majesty was amputation below the elbow.
The war ended in the autumn of 1270, when Mitrofan II, the Grand Prince of Novgorod, began negotiations to end the conflict. He had to admit the complete defeat of his troops, further continuation was pointless, the Principality of Polotsk was almost entirely under the control of Jakub II, Mitrofan as well as Prince Rogvolod II of Kiev, could not send any more troops to fight Jakub's armies, in this situation the only way out was to surrender.
Before Jakub set out to plunder and pillage lands outside the Principality of Polotsk. Mitrofan's envoys tried to come to terms with Jakub, but he did not intend to in any way diminish the defeat of his opponents, demanding all the lands previously occupied by his knights as well as those still free from control in the area of Polotsk.
Beyond Mitrofan which Rogvolod had to pay, the equivalent of 20 thousand denarii in silver or gold. The conditions set by Jakub were hard and difficult to accept, however, realizing the scale of defeat, Mitrofan II gave in and agreed to them. Jakub, who emerged victorious from this war, although maimed, in his opinion regained the lost honor of the Przemyśl family.
After returning from this expedition, Jakub took care of the affairs of the heir to the Mazovian throne, he visited the chambers of his wife Viola regularly, in order to father a male heir, due to the loss of half of his left hand it was quite a difficult task.
Currently, only Jakub's half-brother, Odon, son of Cathan from his second marriage, son of Henry, would inherit the Empire in the event of Jakub's death. Odon was only 6 years old, after Henry's death he ruled the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the regent there was Cathan who ruled on behalf of her second son.
After a few weeks, the court physicians confirmed Viola's suspicions that she was in a blessed state, evening visits of Jakub to his wife's chambers brought results. Eight months later she gave birth to a boy, Jakub's firstborn son, and at the same time heir to the throne, Jakub named the boy Władysław. The birth took place without major complications, both Viola and the boy were strong and healthy.
Family tree of the Przemyski dynasty.
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This dynasty doesn't seem very stable, with only two male members left after Jakub... Wladyslaw and Odon are going to need to have plenty of sons to secure the dynasty's future.
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His firstborn son should be named Henryk tbh in recognition of his great regent, uncle and stepfather
Yes they should have more sons, for most of the game I had problems maintaining dynastic lines.
I agree, but when I was playing it didn't occur to me and I went with the game's suggestion.
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Chapter 49 (1270 - 1275)
Chapter 49 (1270 - 1275)
At the beginning of the year 1270, Jacob II initiated a monetary system reform. Within the Empire, coins from various origins were widely used, with the most popular being denarii from the German principalities and the Bavarian kingdom. These coins owed their popularity to their high content of pure silver. Jakub’s predecessors had not paid sufficient attention to controlling the coinage produced in Mazovian mints or to establishing a fully independent currency. However, Jakub understood that having a national currency was a matter of both prestige and power for the state and its ruler. Therefore, he commenced the production of his own silver coins.
The Mazovian grosz, as the new currency was called, was to weigh approximately 3.2 grams, with 0.2 grams of copper and the remaining 3 grams consisting of the purest possible silver. The obverse of the coin bore the image of Jakub II, while the reverse featured the Imperial Mazovian coat of arms—a black eagle with a crown. The production of these coins was placed under the strict control of the imperial crown, with only selected mints within Jakub II’s personal domain being authorized to mint them. Their production began almost immediately after Jakub approved the designs presented by his mint officials.
The Mazovian grosz quickly spread throughout the Empire thanks to favorable policies imposed by the court in Poznań. Jacob’s vassals were required to pay their dues using this coin, and only if they lacked it were they permitted to use other currencies—converted according to the value of the Mazovian grosz. The coin also gained popularity beyond the Empire’s borders. In later years, Jacob began minting gold coins weighing 2.2 grams, commonly referred to as złotówki.
Doquz at the age of 16
Jakub planned to betroth his son to a princess of the Ilkhanate, Doquz. To this end, he once again sent envoys to Khan Megetu, who resided in Bukhara. This diplomatic expedition was entrusted to the Imperial Chancellor Mieszko Rogalski, who first traveled across the Black Sea to Georgia, where he was received in Tbilisi by King David III. After spending several weeks in the Kingdom of Georgia, he continued his journey across the Caspian Sea.
Upon reaching Bukhara, Mieszko had to wait several days before being granted an audience with Megetu. During the meeting, he presented gifts sent by Jakub II as a token of respect and friendship toward the Great Khan. The proposal for another marital alliance between the two dynasties was accepted, allowing Mieszko to return to the Empire with good news for Jacob.
Following the defeat of the Novgorod-Kievan alliance in the war over the Principality of Polotsk, Kievan Rus, now weakened, became the next target of Jakub II’s expansion. His objective was to annex the lands of the Smolensk Principality into the Mazovian Empire.
A 70,000-strong army, led personally by Jakub, was assembled to invade Kievan Rus. The Mazovian ruler believed this force would be sufficient to defeat his opponents. After crossing the border, Jakub divided his forces into three armies of 22,500 troops each, assigning them the task of capturing strategic fortresses across the Kievan Principality. As Jacob had anticipated, Prince Rogovold II did not field his army against the invasion. Following his earlier defeat in the war over Polotsk, he lacked the forces necessary to resist Jacob.
One by one, cities and fortresses fell into the hands of the Mazovian army. By the end of 1272, Jakub’s forces had nearly complete control over the Smolensk Principality, with the last battles concluding in April 1273.
The war ended with a peace treaty signed in Smolensk on April 11, 1273. Rogovold II was forced to cede the Smolensk lands to Jakub and additionally had to pay a tribute in silver worth 10,000 Mazovian grosz. A five-year truce, lasting until 1278, was established. However, Jakub was already planning another invasion of Rogovold II’s lands once the truce expired.
As Jakub and his forces were returning from their victorious campaign against Kievan Rus, the Golden Horde, under its new Khan Atlan, launched a raid on the southern territories of the Mazovian Empire. Upon hearing of this attack, Jacob hastily redirected his troops, hoping to stop Atlan before he could inflict significant damage.
Mongol warriors rapidly captured settlements along the border, finally stopping at Kyiv, which they seized before Jacob’s army could arrive to relieve the city. Kyiv was completely devastated, and many of its inhabitants perished. It seemed as though Atlan would push further into the wealthier cities of the Mazovian Empire, but upon learning of Jacob’s 70,000-strong army approaching, he began retreating toward Crimea.
The Mongol forces’ retreat was slowed by wagon trains filled with plunder and captives taken from Kyiv and other settlements. Jakub finally caught up with Atlan’s forces near Kryvyi Rih, a town near the border with the Golden Horde. Atlan’s army was in the midst of crossing the Dnieper River, with a significant portion (around 45,000 troops) still on the western bank.
Jakub ordered a forced march to intercept the Mongols, despite the exhaustion of his soldiers. The horrors they had witnessed—burned villages, slaughtered townsfolk—had left them thirsting for revenge. As soon as Jakub’s forces arrived at the riverbank, he commanded a cavalry charge, deploying both light and heavy horsemen.
With 45,000 Mongol warriors still on the western bank, they were overwhelmed by Jakub’s massive 70,000-strong army. Many Mongols drowned in the Dnieper, while most were slain by Mazovian knights. This Battle of the Dnieper took place on August 12, 1274.
Khan Atlan, watching the destruction of his army from the safety of the eastern bank—where 20,000 of his men had already crossed—was forced to abandon his loot and captives, who were later liberated by Jakub. Following his victory, the Mazovian army marched north in search of other crossings over the Dnieper, intent on carrying the war into Mongol territory.
However, Atlan’s forces consistently outmaneuvered Jalub’s army, always reaching river crossings first and preventing the Mazovians from safely crossing. Jakub realized that forcing a crossing in these conditions would result in heavy casualties and ultimately decided to halt his offensive.
Less than a year later, when it became clear that Jakub was preparing reinforcements to force a crossing of the Dnieper, Atlan sent envoys to propose peace. Jakub initially reacted with fury, even contemplating executing the Mongol emissaries, but ultimately restrained himself and negotiated.
Jakub did not wish to continue the war, as it would bring no immediate benefits and only cause further losses. In December 1275, a peace treaty was signed, under which the Golden Horde paid Jakub II a tribute of 16,000 grams of gold. The peace agreement was set to last five years, until 1280.
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Hopefully the Golden Horde doesn't come back when the truce expires...
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Chapter 50 (1275 - 1280)
Chapter 50 (1275 - 1280)
The invasion of the Golden Horde devastated the southeastern borders of the Mazovian Empire. These lands would take decades to recover from the plundering expedition of Altan. The reorganization of the destroyed territories was a costly endeavor for the imperial vassals, so Jakub decided to reduce taxes for those most affected by the recent war. His victory over Altan’s Mongol warriors brought Jakub fame and prestige among many European rulers.
News of his success also reached Bukhara, where the Ilkhanate Khan, Megetu, sent Jakub expressions of recognition and respect. The Ilkhanate and the Golden Horde had been at war for almost fifty years, and Megetu’s conversion to Nestorian Christianity only deepened the conflict between the once-close Mongol states.
Jakub decided to embark on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to give thanks for his victory against the Golden Horde. This journey required extensive preparations, and his disability further complicated matters. In his absence, his wife Viola and his mother Cathan were to jointly govern the empire. On August 12, 1276, Jakub departed from Poznań, accompanied by five of his finest knights from the imperial retinue.
The first destination of his pilgrimage to Jerusalem was Venice. Upon reaching this port, Jakub planned to hire a galley to sail across the Mediterranean to the Holy Land. While crossing a mountain pass in the Carpathians, his party was ambushed by a gang of bandits. Jakub had no intention of surrendering his gold to the brigands, and in the ensuing battle, his company emerged victorious. Nearly all the bandits were slain, while the few survivors fled at the first signs of resistance.
Crossing the Carpathians and the Pannonian Plain took Jakub nearly two months. During this time, he encountered another group of pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. These poor travelers had been robbed of their money and were unable to purchase food from the peasants they met along the way. Moved by their plight, Jakub shared his provisions with them.
The journey to Venice took approximately another month, with no extraordinary or concerning events occurring along the way. Upon arriving in the city, Jakub was able to hire a galley, which carried him across the Mediterranean. The voyage to the port of Acre lasted another month. On his way from Acre to Jerusalem, Jakub encountered a group of knightly monks, who kindly offered him their escort to the Holy City. During their evening discussions around the campfire, Jakub shared his experiences from the wars he had fought in.
On July 2, 1277, after nearly a year of travel, Jakub reached Jerusalem. The city left him in awe—Christians from all over the known world gathered there to pay homage to the Lord. Everywhere he looked, he saw a multitude of different garments, and the air was filled with the sounds of countless foreign languages.
Jakub first visited the Holy Sepulchre, where he prayed in gratitude for his victory over the pagan Mongols. He then explored the astonishing city, witnessing the ruins of the Jewish temple, of which only one wall remained—the Wailing Wall, as it was called by the Jews. Jakub also visited the church built atop the Temple Mount. After the conquest of Jerusalem during the Crusades, the Dome of the Rock mosque had been burned down by the crusaders and later demolished, replaced by a magnificent church occupying the entire mount—the Jerusalem Cathedral.
The pilgrimage to the Holy Land proved to be an invaluable experience. Observing foreign dignitaries during his visit to the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller, Jakub was able to learn about the customs of other cultures. The journey back to Mazovia took the Emperor another two years. In 1279, he finally returned from his pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
The disability Jakub had suffered during the war against the Novgorodian Rus earned him the moniker "Jakub the Half-Handed." This nickname stemmed from his injury—he had lost part of his left hand, which had to be amputated by his medics to save his life.
During Jakub’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land, undertaken to give thanks for his victory over the Golden Horde, his mother, Cathan, passed away. Her death was due to the frail health she had struggled with since birth—a weakness she had always compensated for with an indomitable spirit and willpower. After her passing, Viola, Jakub’s wife, took full control of the regency.
However, Viola herself passed away only a few months after Jakub returned to Poznań from the Holy Land. The remains of both of these important women in Jakub’s life were laid to rest in the crypts of the Poznań Cathedral. Jakub ensured that sculptors captured the beauty of his late wife as faithfully as possible.
After Viola’s death, their son Władysław inherited the Duchy of Chrobatia. In his name, Jakub appointed Mieszko of Trzciniarz as the ruler of the province.
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Thank you for the latest chapter. Jakub is a hard luck ruler, but likeable because he perseveres. Thanks for including the details of his pilgrimage. However, he didn't seem to get much reward for his time and sacrifice. We'll just have to see if his luck turns in the next chapter.
Chapter 51 (1280 - 1285)
Chapter 51 (1280 - 1285)
The capital of Mazovia, Poznań, was in mourning after the funeral ceremony in which Viola Chrobacka, the beloved wife of Jakub II the Half-Handed, was laid to rest in the catacombs of Poznań Cathedral. Jakub ensured that his wife's final resting place reflected her beauty—the sarcophagus in which she was placed was meticulously crafted, capturing Viola's likeness in the finest detail.
Made of white marble imported from Italy at Jakub's special request, it was adorned with intricate floral patterns. However, it was not just Viola's death that shook Jakub, but also the fact that the illness that claimed her life had gone undiagnosed by either his court physicians or any of the foreign medics he had summoned. Many courtiers whispered that Viola's death could not have been due to some mysterious disease, suspecting instead that she had been poisoned with an exotic toxin.
Jakub, however, found no evidence to support the claim that his wife had been poisoned. Furthermore, no one in his immediate circle directly benefited from her death—except for Władysław, who inherited the Duchy Chrobatia from his mother. However, since the young prince was far too young to have orchestrated such a plot, Jakub dismissed the idea. The Duchy of Chrobatia was to be governed in Władysław's name by a regent appointed by Jakub—Mieszko of Trzciniarz. Once the mourning period for Viola had passed, many of Jakub’s trusted advisors urged him to remarry. However, having been controlled throughout his life by strong women, Jakub was in no hurry to take another wife.
His attitude towards the opposite sex was complicated, shaped by his relationships with both his mother and his late wife. Cathan, Jakub’s mother, had been demanding and overprotective from his earliest years. The civil war left a deep impression on his memory, as it was during this time that his mother saved his life when they fled Poznań before the rebel armies arrived.
Even after her regency ended, Cathan continued to involve herself in state affairs, which led to constant conflicts between her and Viola. Because of these experiences, Jakub delayed his next marriage as long as possible, rejecting potential candidates for the most trivial reasons. However, when his half-brother Odon died childless, leaving Jakub the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, he finally announced his engagement—to the ten-year-old daughter of the Ethiopian Emperor, Iesousyko.
At the beginning of 1280, Jerusalem, the holy city of the three great polytheistic religions, was captured by the armies of Sultan Adnan III Rassid. The city had defended itself for twelve weeks, during which the defenders displayed unwavering determination against overwhelming odds. However, the Muslim warriors ultimately breached the walls and stormed the city. In retaliation for the massacre committed by the Crusaders in 1119, Sultan Adnan’s forces spared no Christian—whether elderly, women, or children.
With the fall of Jerusalem, the Templar state in Palestine ceased to exist. In short order, the Muslims seized the remaining fortresses and cities under Templar control. The order’s holdings in the Iberian Peninsula fell into the hands of the Kingdom of Castile, which had responded to the Templars' call for assistance against an Andalusian uprising.
Castilian forces crushed the rebellion and then occupied the order’s castles and cities, ending the Templars’ history in Spain. When news of Jerusalem’s slaughter reached Pope Vigilius IV, he declared the Second Crusade to reclaim the Holy Sepulchre from the infidels.
Jakub had no interest in supporting this crusade militarily. Though deeply affected by the fate of Jerusalem, he could not afford to embark on an expedition to the Holy Land while planning another war against neighboring Kievan Rus.
Instead, he offered moral and financial support to Pope Vigilius, sending him 20,000 Mazovian groszy to partially cover the costs of the campaign. Jakub had no intention of deploying his troops to the farthest reaches of the known world—his preparations for war with the Rus were nearly complete.
On April 11, 1281, Jakub launched another war against Kievan Rus. This time, his target was the Principality of Pereyaslavl. His army, numbering 65,000 men, marched from Poznań. Jakub aimed to defeat the Kievan forces in battle before besieging their strongholds.
The Mazovian troops crossed the border on May 20 and advanced directly toward Pereyaslavl, which they besieged for six weeks. The city surrendered when its defenders ran out of supplies. Jakub forbade his troops from looting or committing any atrocities against the local population, hoping to minimize unrest after taking control of the Rus lands.
Rogovold, the Kievan ruler, did not rush to relieve Pereyaslavl. Only after the city fell did it become apparent that his forces had withdrawn north to join an army from Novgorod, which had come to his aid. The combined Novgorod-Kievan forces numbered approximately 58,000 men.
However, it was rumored that Rogovold had also hired Turkish mercenaries—displaced warriors from the fallen Turkic khanates—who were promised land in return for their service. With these reinforcements, the enemy army swelled to nearly 70,000 men. In response, Jakub abandoned Pereyaslavl and withdrew across the Dnieper to Mazovian territory. He established a fortified camp near Korsun, awaiting his enemy’s approach.
A few weeks later, the Kievan army attempted to cross the Dnieper. Thanks to careful surveillance of the river crossings, Jakub learned where they planned to ford. His 65,000-strong army lay in wait in a dense forest a few kilometers from the crossing, ready to strike.
When 30,000–40,000 enemy soldiers had made it across, Jakub gave the order to attack. The Kievan-Novgorodian army was quickly driven back into the river, where many drowned. The Turks provided some resistance by firing arrows at Mazovian troops across the Dnieper, but the battle ended in a decisive victory. Jakub then split his forces and besieged the remaining Rus strongholds, capturing them one by one by April 1284.
The war with Kievan Rus ended in April 1284 when Rogovold II lost complete control of the Principality of Pereyaslavl. In subsequent negotiations, he admitted total defeat and ceded the land to Jakub. The peace treaty was signed on April 24, 1284, in Novgorod-Seversky, where Jakub and Rogovold met face-to-face for the first time.
On April 12, 1284, Dobrawa turned sixteen. By then, her fiancé, Belgunutei, had already become Khan of the Ilkhanate. According to the agreement between Jakub and Megetu, Dobrawa was to marry Belgunutei. A Mongol delegation arrived in Poznań to escort Dobrawa to Bukhara for the wedding.
During her journey across the Black and Caspian Seas, she had to learn many Mongol wedding customs—she could not disappoint her father or dishonor the Przemyski family name. Jakub’s chancellor accompanied her to Bukhara to ensure the ceremony was conducted according to Jakub’s wishes.
By late October 1284, Jakub fell ill. Initially, it seemed to be a simple cold, but when his fever persisted, his court physicians grew alarmed. Despite their treatments and bloodletting, his condition worsened. By December, he was in agony, suffering from chills and sweats. On December 20, 1285, Jakub passed away.
Jakub II died on December 20, 1285. His only son, Władysław, inherited the throne, arriving from the Duchy of Chrobatia two weeks later. His coronation took place on January 12, 1286. Jakub's reign, from 1248 to 1285, spanned 37 years—years of war, economic reforms, and governance. His remains were laid to rest beside his ancestors in the crypt of Poznań Cathedral, next to his wife, Viola Chrobacka.
Map of the Masovian Empire, 1285
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Wladyslaw seems to be the only remaining male member of the current dynasty, who would inherit if he were to die heirless?
Chapter 52 (1285 - 1290)
Chapter 52 (1285 - 1290)
Władysław I was crowned in Poznań Cathedral on January 12, 1286. He was the fifth ruler of the Przemyski dynasty to ascend to the Mazovian throne. Unlike his illustrious father, Władysław did not possess military genius. He was a competent commander, capable of handling himself on the battlefield, but he often failed to recognize critical moments that could tip the scales between victory and defeat.
In most cases, Władysław adhered to pre-prepared battle plans or campaign strategies, largely ignoring changes that could affect the outcome. The Mazovian Emperor, aware that he did not match the military skills of his father or grandfather, did not plan to expand the state's borders through armed conquest. Moreover, the incorporation of large pagan territories of Kievan and Novgorodian Rus led to religious unrest on the empire's frontiers, which Władysław would have to confront.
Władysław was characterized by patience and restraint in his actions. Although he lacked the military genius of his predecessors, he was well aware of this and knew he could not match his father, Jakub. From a young age at the Poznań court, he observed his father returning victorious from campaigns against pagan Rus or Mongols. Comparing himself to his father, Władysław concluded that the world was unfair, giving more to some than to others. Instead of rebelling against this injustice, he accepted it as it was, and his humility stemmed from these experiences.
After the deaths of Jakub II and his half-brother Odon, Władysław became the last male representative of the Przemyski dynasty. While ruling the Duchy of Chrobatia, he married Gurbesu, an Ilkhanid princess. This union was intended to ensure dynastic continuity and a strong military alliance against the Golden Horde, which remained a significant threat to the Mazovian Empire.
Further wars against the Rus under the pretext of Christianization became impossible, as successive Rus rulers accepted baptism to deprive Mazovia of a pretext for war. In 1284, Mitrofan III, the Grand Prince of Novgorod, was baptized in the Byzantine rite by a Georgian priest named Gregory. From then on, other Rus princes and nobles adopted Orthodoxy. Meanwhile, Kievan Rus fragmented into several independent principalities following the childless death of Rogvolod II.
Doquz, Władysław's original fiancée, died of illness before turning 12. Seeking to maintain the alliance with the Mazovian Empire, the Ilkhanid Khan proposed that Władysław marry Doquz's younger sister, Gurbesu. She arrived in Chrobatia on April 11, 1284, where the wedding ceremony took place.
During the ceremony, Władysław's wife wore traditional Mongol attire, accompanied by a retinue of servants who attended to her needs. With her, Chinese architecture, furniture, and art arrived in Chrobatia and later in the Mazovian Empire. After Władysław assumed full power over the Mazovian Empire, his newlywed wife demanded a residence in the Chinese-Mongol style, unwilling to spend her days in the gloomy walls of Poznań Castle.
Władysław, constantly subjected to his wife's outbursts of fury, decided to allocate funds to build her a palace in the Mongol-Chinese style in Kalisz County. He had to bring architects from the Ilkhanate to construct the palace, and a steady trade exchange was established with the Ilkhanate. Through the Caspian and Black Seas, Mazovia imported luxury goods such as Chinese ceramics and silks, which quickly gained popularity among the Mazovian nobility. One of his wife's greatest flaws was her disdain for anything foreign to the culture she was raised in. She treated Mazovian customs with contempt and distaste. On the other hand, she could be kind and affectionate towards others, and her oratory skills were impressive. She was also generous towards those in need.
Władysław's efforts to appease his easily angered empress bore fruit quickly, as less than nine months after the wedding, she gave birth to a daughter named Jolanta, the first child of Władysław and Gurbesu. Celebrations were held in Poznań and throughout Władysław's domain to honor the birth of the imperial couple's first child. Priests held masses for the health and prosperity of the newborn princess.
Between 1286 and 1288, two pagan uprisings erupted in territories incorporated into the empire during the reigns of Jakub I and Jakub II. In Pereyaslavl, a man named Izaslav, who still adhered to the faith of his Rus ancestors, gathered an army of nearly 10,000 ragged men willing to lay down their lives to return these lands to pagan rule. In Samogitia, Baltic pagans once again incited a rebellion, likely seeking to take advantage of the change in ruler. Sarunas, a pagan priest, gathered an army of 15,000 faithful followers, and the rebellion spread to Semigallia and the Lithuanian Duchy.
Władysław took his imperial army, which now numbered around 22,000 to 24,000 soldiers, and marched towards Pereyaslavl to crush Izaslav's rebellion. Upon arriving in the principality, alongside Prince Trojden Wawrzyński, who had been installed there by Jakub II, Władysław managed to defeat Izaslav's army within a few months. Izaslav was captured and executed as an example. After dealing with the Rus uprising, Władysław headed to Samogitia to confront the fanatical Balts.
The fighting in Semigallia, Lithuania, and Samogitia was complicated by dense forests, which hindered the movement of large military formations despite efforts to clear paths for communication. Although these lands had long been under Mazovian control, they were still largely inhabited by pagan Balts. Jakub II's settlement policies had yielded poor results, mainly due to bands of pagan bandits preying on poor villagers. The policies of local counts and princes also exacerbated the situation, as they tried to force pagans into submission rather than pursuing a balanced approach, which only backfired.
In this situation, Władysław spent nearly two years suppressing Sarunas' rebellion. Only after Sarunas was captured and imprisoned did the rebellion subside, though the embers of pagan unrest continued to smolder. To end the periodic pagan uprisings in territories once part of the Livonian Kingdom or the Grand Duchies of Kiev and Novgorod, Władysław adopted more economic measures. Pagans were forced to convert and abandon their old customs. Each newly baptized peasant was exempt from serfdom for five years and from rent or tribute for eight years. This policy proved far more effective than forced conversion, though some still chose to fight for the faith of their ancestors.
The Second Crusade to the Holy Land, proclaimed by Pope Vigilius IV, saw participation only from German princes and their armies. Most rulers of Western and Eastern Europe were preoccupied with their own affairs and reluctant to waste resources on fighting Muslims in the Levant. Despite the lack of widespread Christian support, the crusade gathered an army of around 120,000 to 130,000 men ready to fight for Christ. The Crusader forces were divided into two armies of roughly 60,000 each.
One, led by Conrad III, the Grand Duke of Franconia, marched through the Balkans and Asia Minor to Palestine, encountering resistance from Orthodox Croats and Greeks who disapproved of foreign troops crossing their lands. The other army, under the command of Frederick II, Duke of Holstein, was to sail from Italian ports and land in Acre, where Conrad's army was also headed.
However, Frederick's fleet never reached Acre. A storm sank nearly 60% of his ships, forcing him to return to Italy. Unaware of this, Conrad crossed into the Kingdom of Antioch, not knowing he was now alone against the forces of the Rassid Sultanate. Following the original plan, he marched his army towards Acre, where the Crusader forces were supposed to unite.
He besieged the port for three months, waiting for Frederick's fleet. There, Sultan Sha'ban and his 85,000-strong army engaged him in battle, resulting in Conrad's defeat and the collapse of the crusade. Most Crusaders perished, with only a few escaping to the Kingdom of Antioch. The crusade officially ended on May 12, 1288, when Pope Hormisdas III called off the campaign to reclaim the Holy Sepulchre.
At the end of 1289, Władysław's firstborn son was born. Gurbesu gave birth to a boy on November 11, 1289. Władysław named his son after his father and grandfather, calling him Jakub. Jakub's birth ensured the male continuation of the Przemyski line. The boy resembled his mother more than Władysław, while Jolanta took after her father.
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That's a lot of pagan uprisings (I know it's counting rebellions against previous rulers of the Empire), will the Empire ever have an end to them?...