Leszek II the Black

Leszek II the Black (c. 1241 – 30 September 1288), was a Polish prince of the House of Piast, Duke of Sieradz since 1261, Duke of Łęczyca since 1267, Duke of Inowrocław in the years 1273-1278, Duke of Sandomierz and High Duke of Poland from 1279 until his death. Early years Leszek was the eldest son of Duke Casimir I of Kuyavia and his second wife, Constance, daughter of Henry II the Pious from the Silesian branch of the Piast dynasty. His nickname, Black (Latin: Niger), appears for the first time in the 14th century Kronika Dzierzwy, and was probably given to him for his dark hair. In 1257 his mother died, and shortly after his father married Euphrosyne, daughter of Casimir I of Opole. Leszek's stepmother soon caused conflicts in the family with her attempts to obtain territorial benefits for her own children. The eldest of them was the future Polish king Władysław I the Elbow-high. This was to the detriment of Leszek and his younger full-brother, Ziemomysł. Some chronicles even accused Euphrosyne of attempting to poison both stepsons. Leszek and Ziemomysł rebelled against their father and stepmother in 1261 (although the participation of Ziemomysł is debated in historiography). The revolt initially failed because the local nobility, dissatisfied with their adventurous policy, retired their support; however, thanks to the help of a coalition formed with Bolesław V the Chaste, Siemowit I of Masovia, and Bolesław the Pious, Leszek eventually forced his father to give him the district of Sieradz as a separate duchy.