The baptism of Mieszko I and hiscourt(966)–about the event and its meaning

Abstract

In 966 AD, the Polish ruler Mieszko I and his court were baptizedin the Catholic Church, which is commonly considered the beginning of the Polish nation and Poland as a state. The baptism of the Polish dukebrought Poland into the Latin culturalsphere and civilization, which was built on Christianity and the cultural heritage of ancient Greeks and Romans. In the course of a few decades Poland had its ownorganization and structure of the Catholic Church (with a metropolis in Gniezno),which highlighted the recognition of thePolish sovereignty by the Papacy and the Empire. On the Polish territory there were established numerous Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries, which,in addition toperforming evangelizing and pastoral work, broughtthe achievements of agriculture, architecture andconstructionto Poland.Cathedrals,collegiates, monasteries andparishes became an important element of state administration and contributed to the creation ofa network of schools, hospitals, and eventuallythe Academy of Kraków[Akademia Krakowska] in the 14th century.Over a thousand-year history ofthe Polish nation and state, a unique cultureand the Polish language owe their existencetothe actfrom1050 years ago, referred to asthe "Baptism of Poland" in historiography.