Mieszko of Bytom

Mieszko of Bytom (b. ca. 1305 – d. bef. 9 August 1344), was a Duke of Siewierz during 1312–1328 (from 1315 only formally), Bishop of Nitra 1328–1334 and Bishop of Veszprém from 1334 to his death. He was the fifth and youngest son of Duke Casimir of Bytom by his wife Helena. Life As the youngest son, Mieszko was destined to the clergy since his early childhood. Nevertheless, after his father's death in 1312 he received the town of Siewierz, but he continued his church career and in 1313 he joined to the Knights Hospitaller. Two years later (in 1315) Mieszko, together with his older brother Bolesław, traveled to Hungary, at the request of their sister Queen Maria and soon after his arrival, Mieszko was appointed Hungarian Prior of the Knights Hospitaller; however, three years later, in 1318, he resigned from that dignity at the express command of the Pope. After his resignation as a prior, Mieszko remained as a faithful supporter of his brother Bolesław, who in return rewarded his fidelity in 1328, when he obtained for Mieszko the dignity of Bishop of Nitra. This happened despite the opposition of the local Chapter, who were completely against the nepotism; however, the full support shown to the Piast princes by the King Charles I Robert and his new wife Queen Elizabeth (Queen Maria died in 1317) ended this dispute with a complete success to Mieszko, who, in order to assume the rule over the bishopric, finally decided to resign his Duchy of Siewierz on behalf of his brother Władysław.