{"id":1380,"date":"2020-03-01T13:30:47","date_gmt":"2020-03-01T13:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chrystus.pl\/?p=1380"},"modified":"2020-07-11T21:04:15","modified_gmt":"2020-07-11T21:04:15","slug":"dlaczego-mieszko-1-przyjal-chrzest-polski","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chrystus.pl\/en\/dlaczego-mieszko-1-przyjal-chrzest-polski\/","title":{"rendered":"Why did Mieszko 1 accept Polish baptism?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why did Mieszko I accept the baptism of Poland? What were his motives and what did the whole situation stem from? The baptism of Poland was an unprecedented event in the entire history of our country. But why in a completely pagan country, which the Polish lands were at that time, was such a move decided upon? Why did the ruler of an entire country such as Mieszko I accept his own baptism and, consequently, Polish baptism? <\/span><\/p>\n

There is probably no one simple answer to this question; we can only come somewhat close to the correct answer. As noted above, the conversion of the entire country to Christianity was largely politically motivated. Our greatest neighbors, who were also our greatest threat, were Catholics. <\/span><\/p>\n

They could easily attack our country under the pretext of defending Christianity. Secondly, the official change of religion facilitated relations with the West. Most of Europe at that time was already Christian, and the remaining pagan countries quite quickly changed their religions. Thirdly, prestige in the international arena mattered, which without the support of the majority of powers, and without the support of the papacy, we could never achieve. The immediate political cause was the alliance with our southern neighbour, the Czechs, and Mieszko I's marriage to Princess Dobrawa. <\/span><\/p>\n

The simplest answer to the question \"why did Mieszko I accept Polish baptism?\" would be that he did so for political motives and the general mood in Europe at the time.<\/span><\/p>\n