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Incursions
Mieszko I
[957. The final campaigns of Wichmann against Mieszko of the 'Licicaviki', the Liutizi, the Wagrians, and the Abodrites; he later joined with the Slavs called Wuloini (i.e., from Wollin) against Mieszko, who called in aid from Boleslav of Bohemia.]1
[972] The illustrious Margrave Hodo collected an army and attacked Mieszko though the latter was faithful to the emperor and paid tribute for territory extending to the river Warthe. Only my father, Count Siegfried, then a young man and unmarried, came to his aid with warriors of his own. When the battle began at Zehden, on the feast of John the Baptist, they were initially successful. But then Mieszko's brother, Cidibur, attacked and killed all the best warriors, with the exception of two counts. The emperor was very disturbed when he heard this miserable news and sent representatives from Italy who ordered Hodo and Mieszko to leave off their fighting and preserve the peace until he returned, or risk losing his favor.2
985. The Saxons invaded Slavia. Mieszko came to them with a large army as reinforcements. They laid waste to that whole land with fire and much slaughter.3
986. King Otto while still a little boy came to Slavia with a large army of Saxons. Mieszko came to him there with a very great multitude, and obtained from him a camel and many other presents, and also put himself under his power. Proceeding together, they laid waste to that whole land with fires and much pillage.4
990. In this year the Saxons twice laid waste the Abodrites in a powerful attack. Many of them and especially the most noteworthy were killed, others were murdered in the river. By the grace of God, the Saxons returned with peace and victory. Mieszko and Boleslav, dukes of the Slavs, contended amongst themselves with serious hostility.5
991. King Otto with a large army of Saxons and reinforcements from Mieszko besieged and conquered Brandenburg6. When he was leaving there, a certain Saxon, Kizo, boldly invaded the same burg with the aid of the Liutizi rashly enough against the king’s command, and, with the perseverance of the aforesaid Slavs, altogether unjustly subjugated it to his control contrary to human or divine law. He attempted frequent attacks of robbery in Saxony along the river Elbe. By the grace of God he fled from them into hiding, not as a victor but a like a fugitive thief.7
992. King Otto with a strong force of his own men again went to Brandenburg8. Henry, duke of the Bavarians, came to him, as did Boleslav, prince of the Bohemians, with a huge multitude in aid to the king. But Boleslaw, the son of Mieszko, not at all able to come himself to the lord king (for indeed a powerful war against the Russians threatened him), sent his warriors sufficiently loyal to him in service to the king. Yet the lord king, trusting the promises of the Slavs to be good, and not wishing to resist his princes, again granted them peace and from there returned home. But they, in their customary way, lied in everything. 9