History of Mazovia and its people - Part I : The First Steps (867-1410)

[kakom]

Chapter 24 (1100-1114)

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On January 2, 1100, Matilda, the eldest daughter of Konrad II, married Louis, heir to the Lombard throne. Agnes, Conrad's second daughter, received a marriage proposal from the distant kingdom of Sennar; she was to marry the reigning ruler of that state, Apouliumen. Konrad decided to accept the proposal. On May 1, 1106, Euphorized married the new King of Norway, Sigtrygg. Two years later, Konrad's fourth daughter, Kena, was wed to King Alfonso VI of Castile.

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Over time, Konrad grew increasingly disgusted with the actions of Pope Constantine III. However, an open conflict with the pope only arose at the beginning of 1109, when Constantine demanded that Konrad change the law of free investiture in the territory of Mazovia. Konrad's outright refusal led Constantine to place a curse on the Mazovian monarch. In response, Konrad appointed his brother Edward as Antipope, who took the name Symmachus IV. Constantine excommunicated both Konrad and Edward, but this had little effect once a 21,000-strong army was already marching towards the Italian Peninsula.

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By December 1110, Konrad's forces crossed the Alps and headed towards Rome. Konrad led the 20,000-strong army to overthrow Constantine III and place his younger brother on the papal throne. Along the way, no one dared challenge the forces of the King of Mazovia. The counts, dukes, and kings of Italy lacked the means to stop his army's advance, and most were favorable to his cause—Constantine was one of the more hated popes.

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The battle that decided Constantine III's fate took place outside the walls of Castel Sant'Angelo, where he had taken refuge before Konrad’s forces reached the city. The Papal Guard and hired Italian mercenaries could not protect him from what was to come. For the first time since the Vandal invasion, the Eternal City became a prize for invaders. The battle for Castel Sant'Angelo lasted several days, during which the entire city became the scene of horrific violence. Despite Konrad's orders to spare the city's inhabitants, there were widespread looting and rapes.

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On July 2, 1111, Constantine was captured, betrayed by his cardinals who sought to save their own lives. Constantine, in exchange for his life, renounced his claim to the Papal throne in favor of Symmachus. He spent the rest of his days in one of the many Benedictine monasteries within the Kingdom of Mazovia. Konrad kept the location secret, but after his death, Constantine was murdered, likely on Symmachus’s orders.

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Konrad II died at the age of 53, leaving the Kingdom of Mazovia to his eldest son Zygmunt, Duke of Bohemia. Zygmunt was crowned as Zygmunt III a few days after his father's funeral. Konrad II's reign can be considered successful. He expanded the kingdom's eastern borders slightly, and his conflict with Pope Constantine III resulted in the appointment of his brother Edward as Antipope, ultimately placing him on the papal throne.

Kingdom of Mazovia 1114​

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

Hopefully Symmachus will be a better Pope than Constantine - and that he won't excommunicate Zygmunt because of claims to the throne.

 

[Chac1]

Thanks for this latest chapter. This shows Konrad's true power: being able to unseat the pope and place your brother on that holy throne is quite the accomplishment.

 

[kakom]

Chapter 25 (1114-1126)

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Zygmunt III inherited a cleft lip from his father, which caused him difficulty in speaking. This defect contributed to his growing up as an extremely sluggish and cowardly young man. Despite Konrad's efforts to educate him, he became a mediocre commander. The only virtues of the new monarch were his kindness and honesty towards others. When Zygmunt began his reign, messengers almost simultaneously arrived in Poznań, informing the monarch that his two older sisters had passed away. Euphorisana and Agnes died due to a plague sweeping across the entire European continent, with smallpox claiming many lives.

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Four months after the death of Konrad II, Saga, his second wife, gave birth to a son. Named Konrad, this posthumous child was recognized by Zygmunt as his father's offspring because, like him, he also had a cleft lip, a clear sign he was fathered by Konrad II. Since he was born after Konrad's death, Zygmunt did not have to worry about his claims to the throne.

Symachus IV, seated on the papal throne by his brother Konrad II, found himself in an awkward situation, as he had not been elected by the conclave and was not respected by bishops throughout Europe. To legitimize his position as the successor of Saint Peter, he sought to divert secular rulers' attention from the question of his legal claim to Rome. He concluded that the best way to achieve this was through war—a war in God's name against the infidels. On April 22, 1116, in St. Peter's Square, he delivered his address to the assembled crowd, painting a vivid picture of the atrocities supposedly committed by the Saracens against poor pilgrims who only sought to bow before the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. He declared that the time had come for the Holy Land to once again be in Christian hands.

However, he did not stop there. Symachus presented a vision in which, according to his view, the entire Mediterranean coastline should return to Christian control, as it was before the barbarian Muslim hordes spilled out of the Arabian Peninsula. The knightly orders, a new type of military formation, emerged from this period in medieval European culture. Until then, knights fought for their lords in exchange for sustenance, often leading brutal lives that required breaking divine commandments, thus condemning their souls to damnation. But with the Church offering full absolution of sins for fighting in the name of the cross against the Saracens, many chose to join knightly orders to atone for their past deeds.

This is roughly how the first two knightly orders were formed: the Order of the Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon (commonly known as the Templars), and the Sovereign Military Order of the Hospital of Saint John (known as the Hospitallers). Both orders aimed to fight Saracens, pagans, and heretics. They were founded before Symachus IV proclaimed the First Crusade to the Holy Land. A year after Symachus IV announced this new path for the Church and Christianity, preparations for the crusade were completed. On April 16, 1117, Symachus IV celebrated mass in St. Peter's Square in Rome, praying for the success of the endeavor. Knights from across the continent attended, including Sigismund III, who had decided to participate in the crusade and sought the Pope's blessing before marching toward Jerusalem.

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Two days later, the crusading forces set off for the Holy Land, occupied by the Caliphate of the Abdulids. Zygmunt gathered the largest army ever mustered by the Mazovian rulers—26,000 troops. They made their first stop in Constantinople, from where they crossed into Asia Minor. Without encountering any resistance, they marched to Antioch, where they stayed for several weeks, during which Sigismund admired the ancient and picturesque city. On June 20, 1118, Zygmunt and his forces entered Muslim-occupied territories and marched on Sidon. This city was a strategically important point due to its location near the Kingdom of Antioch's border, from which new crusader forces were continually arriving. By capturing Sidon, Sigismund would secure a foothold for further crusade expansion and an important supply point.

(First Crusade march route)
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Within a few weeks, Zygmunt forces managed to breach the city's walls. Following the capture, looting, murders, and rapes occurred with Sigismund's approval, as he believed the Muslims deserved no mercy. Only the local Copts were placed under royal protection and were not to be harmed.

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After looting Sidon, Zygmunt army marched toward another wealthy city, Haifa, while the rest of the crusader forces under papal command headed toward Jerusalem. Haifa was stormed in March 1119, and like Sidon, it was almost completely plundered, with most of its Muslim inhabitants massacred.

On July 30, 1119, outside the walls of Jerusalem, the only battle of the crusade took place. The Caliph Badshah Qward's army of nearly 35,000 attempted to break the siege of the holy city, which had been ongoing for months. The main commander of the crusaders, Grand Master of the Hospitallers, Mathieu Amalric, led a force of nearly 28,000 men. The arrival of Zygmunt 18,000-strong army at a crucial moment during the battle tipped the scales in favor of the Crusaders. With the Caliph's forces defeated, the crusade was nearly complete. Four weeks later, when Jerusalem fell to the Crusaders, the First Crusade was declared over.

Symachus IV entrusted the Holy Land to the Hospitallers, whom he believed contributed most to its recovery for Christianity.
Zygmunt III was disappointed by the Pope's decision, as he believed he had contributed the most to the crusade's success and deserved the honor. However, the Mazovian ruler had to accept Symachus's decision and return home with the spoils of war. Zygmunt journey back took nearly a year.

When he returned to Poznań in the autumn of 1121, a civil war was raging in the Great Moravian State. Queen Catherine was fighting against the opposition, which had rebelled to dethrone her and install another candidate from the Mojmir dynasty. Zygmunt decided to take advantage of this opportunity to incorporate the County of Kłodzko into the Mazovian Kingdom.

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This war lasted only two years, and on August 15, 1123, a peace treaty was signed in which Catherine ceded Kłodzko to Sigismund. During one of his travels through his lands, Zygmunt was forced to take a less-traveled road due to a fallen tree blocking the original path, making the detour faster. Unfortunately, this turned out to be an elaborate trap set by one of Zygmunt enemies. The royal carriage was ambushed by a group of well-armed bandits. During the ensuing fight between the carriage's guards and the bandits, Zygmunt was mortally wounded. As he slowly bled to death, he pondered who could benefit from his demise. The obvious candidate was his direct heir, Konrad, but the boy was too young to organize such a bold attack. It had to be orchestrated by Saga, Konrad's mother, or perhaps by Jan, Duke of Lusatia, who had claims to the throne. Ultimately, it no longer mattered, as Zygmunt III drew his last breath just as his retinue managed to escape the ambush.

With Zygmunt III's assassination, the crown of the Mazovian Kingdom passed to his younger brother, Konrad, who was only 11 years old. He was crowned on March 11, 1126, as Konrad III. The fact that he was a posthumous child, born after Konrad II's death, could have led to internal strife in the kingdom. Zygmunt III's reign can be considered average, much like the monarch himself. Only his participation in the First Crusade to the Holy Land is worth mentioning, though it did not result in territorial gains.

Mazovia year 1126​

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

Jan is going to kill another King, isn't he?

 

[Chac1]

Thank you for the new chapter. I suppose we have a good murder mystery on our hands now. Will we get answers as to who was behind the assassination? Does @StrategyGameEnthusiast already have it all sussed out?

 

[kakom]

Chapter 26 (1126-1130)

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The 11-year-old Konrad III ascended to the throne after the death of his brother, Zygmunt III, who was murdered by unknown assailants. Until Konrad could rule independently, the role of regent was to be held by Chancellor Bolesław of Grodno. The young ruler, like his father and brother, had a cleft lip. He was a greedy child, hoarding all the toys and treats for himself, yet he also exhibited an extraordinary level of bravery for someone so young. Being a child, unable to directly control the state, Konrad had to rely on his advisors. Bolesław was completely loyal to his mother Saga, as were the other courtiers in Poznań. The queen mother, Saga, held real power in Mazovia, and many suspected that her intrigue led to Zygmunt III's death.

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A month after Zygmunt III's death, a male heir was born to him, named Konrad by his mother. This posthumous son had weak claims to the Mazovian throne. Saga saw the boy as a threat to her son, but she did not attempt to remove him. His death would only arouse further suspicion among the vassals, who were already unfriendly toward the young ruler and his mother.

Ironically, the birth of Konrad sparked Duke Jan of Lusatia to renounce his loyalty and start a succession war. Just days after the posthumous child's birth, Jan gathered his forces and marched toward Poznań. Most of the nobles sided with him, believing Saga was behind Zygmunt III's assassination.

Jan I Zygmuntowicz, Duke of Lusatia and Bohemia, was a descendant of Zygmunt I the Cruel through his second son, Bolko, and thus claimed rights to the Mazovian crown. In his efforts to depose Konrad III, he was supported by the dukes of Brandenburg, Pomerania, Volhynia, Kamieniec, Mecklenburg, and the great mayors of Gdańsk Pomerania and Lübeck.

(The rebellious areas are pink)
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On the side of Konrad III stood the rulers of the Mazovian, Kujavian, Bełsk, Podlachian, Kyiv, and Silesian duchies. The Mazovian Succession War lasted from 1126 to 1130. Between 1127 and 1130, several battles were fought.

The forces of Konrad III, led by Marshal Stanisław of Tarnów, emerged victorious, mainly due to their numerical superiority. The army of over 13,000 easily crushed the rebel forces, who could not agree on a strategy for conducting military operations.

The fighting against the rebels continued until 1130, when Jan was captured in a battle near Lublin. The clash ended with the defeat of his troops and his capture. The Duke of Lusatia was imprisoned in the dungeons of Poznań Castle, where he spent the rest of his days. However, his defeat did not end Konrad III's problems. Jan's brother, Siemowit, fled the battlefield and found refuge with one of the Bohemian counts, who decided to help him fight against Konrad. Thus, the civil war continued, with only the pretender to the Mazovian crown changing.

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On September 1, 1130, Konrad III came of age, and upon turning 16, he took full control of the kingdom. He became an ambitious, cruel young man, and thanks to a well-rounded education, he was quite knowledgeable in military matters.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

Konrad III may be an adult now, but he better invest in greater protection than Zygmunt III had.

 

[Chac1]

Thanks for the new chapter. Konrad III's character looks like he will no doubt exact revenge on the rebels and others. This does not bode well for the future of the kingdom.

 

[kakom]

Chapter 27 (1130 - 1142)

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Konrad III married Ida Urso, the daughter of the Bavarian king. This marriage was meant to secure a strong ally for Konrad in the ongoing internal conflict. Albert, the Bavarian ruler, was called upon by Konrad for assistance, and after crossing the border, he supported his son-in-law’s forces in battles against the rebels. From this marriage, a daughter named Samboja Zygmuntowicz was born.

Jacek Przemyślid, a Czech count, decided to take advantage of the chaos in the Mazovian state. He helped Siemowit escape from Konrad’s forces and sheltered Jan Zygmuntowicz’s brother at his court. Jacek then supported Siemowit’s claim to the Mazovian throne, prolonging the succession war that Jan Zygmuntowicz had started.

The Mazovian succession war continued. Jan was still imprisoned in Poznań, but his brother Siemowit had gained the backing of several of Konrad’s vassals. Siemowit’s claims were supported by the princes of Kyiv, Podlachia, Brandenburg, Pomerania, Mecklenburg, Kamieniec, Volhynia, and Podolia. On Konrad’s side were the great mayors of Lübeck and Gdańsk Pomerania, along with the dukes of Silesia, Mazovia, Kujawy, and Bełsk.

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The Battle of Zgorzelec contributed to the development of Konrad’s military and leadership skills. This victorious battle for the young monarch taught him how to conduct military operations in difficult terrain. This experience made Konrad focus more on the intelligence aspect of warfare, sending scouts to inform him about enemy movements.

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Unfortunately, Konrad was wounded in the final phase of this battle. His opponents' forces were retreating, and to demonstrate leadership, Konrad charged the enemy with his guard. At that moment, he was struck by an arrow under his groin. The wound healed over a few months but caused him pain during weather changes.

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The pagan neighbors of Mazovia, the Lithuanians and the Ruthenians, took advantage of the succession wars. They attacked the rebellious princes of Kyiv, Podlachia, and Volhynia. Konrad III was too preoccupied with his internal enemies to repel these invasions, resulting in Mazovia losing some of its eastern territories, gained during the reigns of Konrad’s grandfather and great-grandfather. The civil war finally ended in the autumn of 1137, when the forces of the rebellious nobles were decisively defeated in the Battle of Kraków. Jacek Przemyślid and Siemowit Zygmuntowicz were captured. Jacek was executed, while Siemowit joined his brother in the dungeon, where both died during the tortures inflicted by Konrad III.

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On March 14, 1138, Konrad’s first wife, Ida, died after contracting pneumonia a few weeks earlier.

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The marriage did not produce a male heir, so Konrad had to find a new wife to ensure the continuation of the dynasty. Eager to secure a male heir, Konrad married as soon as the mourning period ended. He wed Henryka, the daughter of the Lombard king. Konrad’s new wife was an exceptionally cunning and intelligent woman, well-versed in courtly intrigues, conspiracies, and various plots.

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Konrad decided to undertake a pilgrimage in gratitude for his victory over the rebels. Since Jerusalem had become a Christian-ruled city, he chose to travel there to thank God for his success. During his absence, Henryka was to govern in his name. On his journey across Europe toward the port of Venice, Konrad was plagued by bad weather. Constant rain worsened his health, but believing that it was one of the trials testing his faith, he continued traveling despite the fever and cold he had contracted.

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After two months, when the weather finally improved and Konrad was aboard a ship bound for the Holy Land, he saw a bright star in the sky every night, which he believed was guiding him to Jerusalem. He took this as a favorable sign from the Almighty.

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Once in the Holy Land, traveling from the port city of Acre toward Jerusalem, Konrad journeyed with a group of knights from the Templar Order. Every night over dinner, they discussed their experiences in battle, and the Mazovian monarch learned much about the art of war from his companions.

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Konrad entered the walls of Jerusalem in the summer of 1140. The holy city was an extraordinary place. He met Christians from various parts of the world, including black Nubians, Orthodox Greeks, and Copts. Konrad was deeply moved by the place, feeling the palpable presence of Christ, who had died for the sins of mankind.

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On August 12, Konrad fell seriously ill again, but this time the fever would not break. Over the next few months, he lay bedridden in his chambers, ravaged by illness. No court physician could cure him, nor could the foreign doctors who were summoned. Masses and prayers held in churches for the monarch’s health brought no improvement.

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Konrad III passed away on October 22, 1142. His nephew, Konrad IV, the son of Zygmunt III, who like Konrad III was a posthumous child, inherited the throne. The reign of Konrad III was marked by internal struggles between the main line of the Zygmuntowicz dynasty and a cadet branch for the Mazovian throne. With the death of Konrad III, Prendota III Zygmuntowicz, Duke of Lusatia, would likely seek to claim the crown of the kingdom.

Mazovia at the time of Konrad III’s death 1142​

Bawaria - Kingdom of Bavaria
Państwo Wielkomorawskie - Great Moravia
Ruś Kijowska - Kievan Rus
Wielkie Księstwo Litewskie - Grand Duchy of Lithuania
1 - Bulgarian Empire
2 - Crimean Kingdom
3 - Duchy of Thuringia
4 - Duchy of Saxony

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

Konrad III passed away on October 22, 1142. His nephew, Konrad IV, the son of Zygmunt III, who like Konrad III was a posthumous child, inherited the throne. The reign of Konrad III was marked by internal struggles between the main line of the Zygmuntowicz dynasty and a cadet branch for the Mazovian throne. With the death of Konrad III, Prendota III Zygmuntowicz, Duke of Lusatia, would likely seek to claim the crown of the kingdom.

Will Mazovia have a stable succession again? (Landing younger sons has really come back to haunt the Kingdom)

 

[Chac1]

Thanks for this new chapter.

Konrad III passed away on October 22, 1142. His nephew, Konrad IV, the son of Zygmunt III, who like Konrad III was a posthumous child, inherited the throne. The reign of Konrad III was marked by internal struggles between the main line of the Zygmuntowicz dynasty and a cadet branch for the Mazovian throne. With the death of Konrad III, Prendota III Zygmuntowicz, Duke of Lusatia, would likely seek to claim the crown of the kingdom.

This closing passage has me thinking we will see a new succession war. Does this mark an era of decline for the kingdom?

I suppose the next chapter should hold some answers.

 

[kakom]

Chapter 28 (1142 - 1150 )

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Konrad IV, the son of Zygmunt III, was born posthumously. He inherited the throne after his uncle, Konrad III, fell ill and died without a male heir. Konrad IV was only 16 years old when the royal crown was placed on his head. Raised and educated by his uncle from a young age, he was trained in military strategy and leadership. Konrad was known to be ambitious and patient, easily forming relationships with others. He was generous to those loyal to him, while also demonstrating cunning in his dealings with them.

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Despite having numerous marriage proposals from across Europe, Konrad chose the most exotic of them, agreeing to marry Kristina Smith, the daughter of the king of the Nubian Kingdom. The dark-skinned beauty arrived in Poznań on June 20, 1143. Kristina turned out to be highly educated, particularly in mathematics.

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The Nubian Kingdom, ruled by Kristina's father, Khael II the Just, had become a regional power in recent decades. The Nubian rulers successfully destroyed the Abyssinian Sultanate, and in its place, the Christian Kingdom of Mailek Bahr, ruled by a cadet branch of the Smith family, now existed.

Nubia 1143 AD

Meanwhile, Prendota III, Duke of Lusatia, staked his claim to the Mazovian throne, sparking the third succession war in Mazovia within the past twenty years. The cadet branch of the Zygmuntowicz family continued to cause problems. Prendota was a cousin of Jan, who had inherited the Duchy of Lusatia after Jan's death. Prendota’s claims were supported by several of Konrad’s vassals, those not currently imprisoned in Poznań. This war lasted from 1143 to 1148 and saw several battles, though none were decisive.

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The confrontation that ultimately led to Prendota’s downfall was the Battle near the village of Pretzsh. On the morning of November 12, 1148, the royal army clashed with the rebel forces, each side fielding about 10,000 men. The rebels were decisively defeated. Prendota was betrayed by his former supporters, who sought to save their own lives. He met the fate of a traitor, being beheaded on Konrad’s orders, while his son was secretly murdered.

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As a result of this battle, Konrad IV improved his leadership skills and gained valuable military experience, which was essential for his future plans to wage wars against the pagan neighbors to the east.

On July 19, 1148, Konrad’s firstborn son was born and named after his father. The young Zygmunt was now the heir to the Mazovian kingdom and the sole claimant to the throne, following Konrad’s execution of Prendota and the murder of his son. On December 29, 1149, Konrad's second son, Jerzy, was born.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

On July 19, 1148, Konrad’s firstborn son was born and named after his father. The young Zygmunt was now the heir to the Mazovian kingdom and the sole claimant to the throne, following Konrad’s execution of Prendota and the murder of his son. On December 29, 1148, Konrad's second son, Jerzy, was born.

Hold up, how did they have a second son just a couple of months after the first? (Seeing as the two children have the same mother)

 

[kakom]

Hold up, how did they have a second son just a couple of months after the first? (Seeing as the two children have the same mother)

Oops mistake, it should be a different year

 

[Chac1]

Interesting chapter. Although Konrad is brutal and cunning, it appears his actions were just in putting down this war to claim his throne.

Raised and educated by his uncle from a young age,

As the new king inherited a throne from an uncle, just curious about which uncle was his mentor? Might that uncle also have claims on titles?

Good to see the ending of this chapter as the king seeks to secure his legacy and succession. An heir and a spare are always good, especially if he can be their mentor.

 

[StrategyGameEnthusiast]

As the new king inherited a throne from an uncle, just curious about which uncle was his mentor? Might that uncle also have claims on titles?

Unless the kingdom has primogeniture, the previous king was likely his only uncle (at least on the paternal side, unless he was raised by his mother's family, then being raised by a maternal uncle is a possibility).

 

[kakom]

Interesting chapter. Although Konrad is brutal and cunning, it appears his actions were just in putting down this war to claim his throne.


As the new king inherited a throne from an uncle, just curious about which uncle was his mentor? Might that uncle also have claims on titles?

Good to see the ending of this chapter as the king seeks to secure his legacy and succession. An heir and a spare are always good, especially if he can be their mentor.

Unless the kingdom has primogeniture, the previous king was likely his only uncle (at least on the paternal side, unless he was raised by his mother's family, then being raised by a maternal uncle is a possibility).

He was apprenticed by his predecessor who was his only uncle

 

[Chac1]

He was apprenticed by his predecessor who was his only uncle

Ok, thanks for that clarification. At least that uncle saw what was coming and prepared.

 

[kakom]

Chapter 29 (1150 - 1160)

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On April 15, 1151, Pope Sylvester IV called upon all righteous Christians to join a crusade against the Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula. The Jattabid Sultanate posed a significant threat to the Christian states in the region, and only a military intervention could halt the advance of the Moors. Konrad IV expressed no interest in participating in this endeavor, as he was preparing for a war against his pagan neighbors. He did not want to waste resources on a war that would likely bring him no direct benefit.

While the Iberian Crusade was launching from Rome, Konrad IV's forces crossed the border into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He invaded his pagan neighbors to the north, aiming to annex Prussian lands into the Mazovian state. The timing of the attack was perfect, as Lithuania, which had recently controlled the entire Livonian region, had lost it due to a civil war. The independent Livonian Kingdom now existed in its place.

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Konrad IV, commanding an army of 21,000, entered Prussia confident of victory. He had the advantage of numbers, and the timing was favorable. As expected, his army quickly defeated the Lithuanian forces sent to stop him. After their defeat, he began capturing the strongholds in Prussia.

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By August 16, 1145, the last of these fortresses had fallen into Mazovian hands. Grand Duke Erdenis I of Lithuania offered a peace settlement, in which the entire Prussian territory would be ceded to Konrad. Konrad accepted the offer, as Prussia had been his primary objective all along. This war, victorious for Konrad, was an act of revenge for the Lithuanian raids during Mazovia's internal strife.

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A year after the Lithuanian campaign, news reached Poznań of the successful conclusion of the crusade. The Iberian Peninsula had been freed from the growing Muslim threat. These territories were reclaimed for the glory of the cross by the Knights Hospitaller, who established themselves in southern Spain. The order now controlled both the Holy Land and a large area in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula.

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On March 19, 1147, Nawoja, the daughter of Konrad and Kristina, was born. She was their third and last child, as they would not have any more offspring.

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In June of the same year, Konrad arranged the marriage of his cousin Samboja. She was married off to Lutbert, the Duke of Burgundy, who was the heir to the throne of that kingdom.