The achievements of Bolesław the Brave were also held in high esteem at the court of Bolesław Krzywousty (Bolesław Wrymouth), whose collaborators described them to the chronicler Gallus Anonimus who was writing a chronicle of the Piast dynasty. We do not know Gallus’s name or his country of origin. He is believed to have come from the south of France, although more recent research suggests that he may have hailed from northern Italy. He was probably a Benedictine monk. His Polish Chronicle, composed in Latin ca 1113 (its narrative stops at this date), describes the history of Poland since its mythical beginnings until the chronicler’s times. The author’s intent was to relate the deeds of Polish dukes, predecessors of Bolesław Wrymouth, and of Bolesław himself. It was doubtless a work intended to praise the ruler and his family, and to justify his title to the Polish throne. Gallus’s Chronicle is the first work of such breadth to have been written in Poland and treating of its history, hence despite its Latin and the author’s foreign origins it is considered the first work of Polish national literature. It remains a seminal and unrivalled source for the study of the early Piast period.

The power of Bolesław the Brave’s state – especially its military might – was lauded by the chronicler Gallus Anonimus, active at the court of Bolesław Krzywousty (Bolesław Wrymouth). We do not know his name or his country of origin. He is believed to have come from the south of France, although more recent research suggests that he may have hailed from northern Italy. He was probably a Benedictine monk. His Polish Chronicle, composed in Latin ca 1113 (its narrative stops at this date), describes the history of Poland since its mythical beginnings until the chronicler’s times. The author’s intent was to relate the deeds of Polish dukes, predecessors of Bolesław Wrymouth, and of Bolesław himself. It was doubtless a propaganda work meant to praise the ruling family and justify their title to the Polish throne. Gallus’s Chronicle is the first work of such breadth to have been written in Poland and treating of its history, hence despite its Latin and the author’s foreign origins it is considered the first work of Polish national literature. It remains a seminal and unrivalled source for the study of the early Piast period. In the fragment cited below, the chronicler provides numerical data regarding Bolesław the Brave’s troops which, however, are considered dubious and exaggerated by historians.

These events were described in contemporary annals and later chronicles. The circumstances of Mieszko’s baptism were related by an anonymous chronicler known as Gallus Anonimus, active at the court of Bolesław Krzywousty(Bolesław III Wrymouth). We do not know his name or his country of origin. He is believed to have come from the south of France, although more recent research suggests that he may have hailed from northern Italy. He was probably a Benedictine monk. His Polish Chronicle, composed in Latin ca 1113 (its narrative stops at this date), describes the history of Poland since its mythical beginnings until the chronicler’s times. The author’s intent was to relate the deeds of Polish dukes, predecessors of Bolesław Krzywousty, and of Bolesław himself. It was doubtless a work intended to praise the ruler and his family, and to justify his title to the Polish throne. Gallus’s Chronicle is the first work of such breadth to have been written in Poland and treating of its history, hence despite its Latin and the author’s foreign origins it is considered the first work of Polish national literature. It remains a seminal and unrivalled source for the study of the early Piast period.