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The Polish Thermopylae – Głogów

At the end of the first decade of the 12th century, Poland was allied with Hungary, whereas the German king Henry V was supported by the Czech ruler Svatopluk. The Czech prince was in conflict with Bolesław III the Wry-Mouthed, and in 1107, he hosted in his court Zbigniew, the exiled brother of Bolesław the Wry-Mouthed. When in 1108 Henry V invaded Hungary, expecting support from the Czech army, Bolesław attacked Czechia, preventing Svatopluk from helping the Germans. King Henry V had to withdraw from Hungary without success.

In 1109, the German ruler decided to subjugate Bolesław the Wry-mouthed and declared war on him. He demanded that the prince of Poland swear fealty to the Empire, pay an annual tribute of 300 grzywnas, placed 300 knights under Henry’s command and return half of the land to the exiled Zbigniew. When Bolesław rejected the demands, Henry V set out to invade Poland with his army. He was aided by the Czech prince Svatopluk.

Fearing an attack from Pomerania while the fight with the Germans was on, Bolesław led his army there and defeated the Pomeranians, but he failed to return before the German army crossed the Polish border. The Germans reached the town of Głogów and laid siege to it.

The commander of the town’s garrison sent envoys to Bolesław, asking him whether he should defend the town with the small garrison. He gave hostages to Henry until he received a reply from the prince, his own son among them. The hostages were to return to Głogów regardless of what Bolesław decided. The prince ordered the commander to defend the town and wait for relief. The brief truce was broken and fighting ensued. King Henry V did not release the hostages. He had them bound to the siege engines, expecting that the defenders would not shoot at their own children. He was mistaken. The inhabitants of Głogów, told to defend the town at all cost, repelled the attack and eventually were rescued.

Bolesław did not attack the powerful German army head on, but crushed units that went away from the main force to forage for food. This tactic eventually made the Germans retreat, unsuccessful. Henry V’s authority was undermined and Poland strengthened its position in Europe.

Prof. Marek Barański

The reverse of the coin bears a symbolic representation of the siege of Głogów by Henry V’s army: in the foreground there is a medieval knight with a bow, standing on the town’s fortifications, with a siege engine in the background.

The obverse of all the coins of the “The Polish Thermopylae” series features Athena, the goddess of just war and wisdom.