Siemowit (Polish pronunciation: �ɛˈmɔvit also Ziemowit �ɛˈmɔvit was, according to the chronicles of Gallus Anonymus, the son of

Piast the Wheelwright Piast the Wheelwright ( 740/741? – 861? AD; Polish language, Polish: ''Piast Kołodziej'' , ''Piast Oracz'', i.e. Piast the Plower, or ''Piast''; ''Piast Chościskowic'', Latin language, Latin: ''Past Ckosisconis'', ''Pazt filius Chosisconisu'' ...

and

Rzepicha Rzepicha (pronounced ) (also Rzepka) was the wife of the semi-legendary Piast the Wheelwright (founder of the Piast dynasty) and the mother of Siemowit. She is mentioned in Gallus Anonymus' Gesta principum Polonorum, Polish Chronicle (''Cronicae e ...

. He is considered to be the first ruler of the

Piast The House of Piast was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. The first documented Polish monarch was Duke Mieszko I (–992). The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of King Casimir III the Great. Branches of ...

dynasty.K. Jasiński, Rodowód pierwszych Piastów, p. 47. He became the

Duke of the Polans Poland was ruled at various times either by dukes and princes (10th to 14th centuries) or by kings (11th to 18th centuries). During the latter period, a tradition of Royal elections in Poland, free election of monarchs made it a uniquely electab ...

in the 9th century after his father,

, son of Chościsko, refused to take the place of legendary Duke Popiel. Siemowit was elected as new duke by the '' wiec''. According to a popular legend, Popiel was then eaten by mice in his tower on Gopło lake. The only mention of Siemowit, along with his son, Lestek, and grandson, Siemomysł, comes in the medieval chronicle of Gallus Anonymus. Siemowit's great-grandson,

Mieszko I Mieszko I (; – 25 May 992) was Duchy of Poland (966–1025), Duke of Poland from 960 until his death in 992 and the founder of the first unified History of Poland, Polish state, the Civitas Schinesghe. A member of the Piast dynasty, he was t ...

, was the first Christian ruler of Poland.

References

See also