June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... Events Otto II marries Theophanu, Byzantine princess. ... Cedynia (German: ) is a town in Poland, in West Pomeranian Voivodeship, in Gryfino County. ... Lusatia (German Lausitz, Upper Sorbian Łužica, Lower Sorbian Łužyca, Polish Łużyce, Czech Lužice) is a historical region between the Bóbr and Kwisa rivers and the Elbe river in the eastern German states of Saxony and Brandenburg, south-western Poland (Lower Silesian Voivodeship) and the northern... Reign ca. ...

Introduction

The Battle of Cedynia happened on 24 June 972 during the rule of Duke Mieszko I, the first Christian ruler of Poland. There was a war raging over the western border of the young country, because Mieszko wanted to capture the lightly defended and economically important estuary of the Oder River. This led to a conflict with Margrave Hodon, who was the ruler of the neighbouring marchy of Lusatia (an antecedent of Brandenburg). Hodon wanted to extend his territory and gathered his forces. He received support from another man, Count Sigfried and decided to attack. He was sure of victory and his raid was a private conflict which was against the agreements made by the German emperor. However, the battle was won by Poland. Cedynia (German: ) is a town in Poland, in West Pomeranian Voivodeship, in Gryfino County. ... June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... Events Otto II marries Theophanu, Byzantine princess. ... Reign From c. ... A Christian is a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, referred to as the Christ. ... The Oder River (Czech/Polish: Odra, German: Oder, Ancient Latin: Viadua, Viadrus, Medieval Latin: Odera, Oddera) is a river in Central Europe. ... Margrave is the English and French form (recorded since 1551) of the German title Markgraf (from Mark march and Graf count) and certain equivalent nobiliary (princely) titles in other languages. ... Lusatia (German Lausitz, Upper Sorbian Łužica, Lower Sorbian Łužyca, Polish Łużyce, Czech Lužice) is a historical region between the Bóbr and Kwisa rivers and the Elbe river in the eastern German states of Saxony and Brandenburg, south-western Poland (Lower Silesian Voivodeship) and the northern...   (Lower Sorbian: Bramborska; Upper Sorbian: Braniborska) is one of Germanys sixteen Bundesländer (federal states). ... Suikoden II: Sigfried is a Unicorn. ...

The Forces

The numbers are unknown, but the military abilities and the rank of opponents indicate that they could not have had more than 4,000 man on each side. It is known, however, that the German forces consisted of heavy cavalry while the Polish consisted of cavalry and infantry. An army unit consisting of mounted soldiers are commonly known as cavalry. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, or other means. ...

The Battlefield

The Polish duke wanted to avoid a long campaign on his territory and stop the enemy on the borders. The fight was on one of passes through Oder River. The place was picked carefully. The only way was next to a high hill grown with trees and most of area was swamp-like. Also there was a town of Cedynia a bit deeper.

The battle

When the Germans were going through the river, Mieszko led an attack on them. Then he posed a retreat and the Germans chased him. However then, his brother Czcibor attacked from the forest. The Germans were flanked and fell back to the swampy terrain. There, unable to defend, they were slaughtered.

Aftermath

Not many Germans escaped, however Sigfried and Hodon did. Eventually the son of Mieszko was taken by the German emperor, Otto I. Otto II wanted to have a revenge in 979, but was also defeated. Otto II ( 955 – December 7, 983, Rome), was the third German ruler of the Saxon or Ottonian dynasty. ...

Sources

Based upon "Słynne bitwy w historii Polski" (Famous battles in Polish history) by Rafał Korbal. Information about this battle is found in the Gall Anonim Chronicle and the Thietmar Chronicle. In the city there is a monument erected after World War II. The people of Poland took pride in their long history, filled with the struggle to get, keep, and regain freedom—the main value for Poles. ... Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead...