Mieszko III the Old was a duke of Greater Poland (1138-1202) and also a high-duke of all Poland (1173-1202, with interruptions), belonging to the Piast dynasty.

Parents: Boleslaus III the Wrymounth, duke of Poland, and Salome of Berg (Mieszko was the third son of Boleslaus, and second son of the ducal couple).
Born: 1126/1127 ?
Realm of power:
1138-1202 Duke of Greater Poland
1173-1177, 1190, 1198/1199, 1202 Duke of Cracow, High-duke of Poland
Married to:
(1) in ca. 1140 Elizabeth of Hungary, daughter of Prince Álmos, brother of the king of Hungary
(2) in ca. 1154 Eudoksia of Kiev , daughter of Izjaslav II , grand duke of Kyiv (Kievan Rus')
Children:
Odon I
Boleslaus of Cuiavia
Mieszko of Kalisz
Vladislaus III Laskonogi
Died: 13 March 1202

Biography

According to the statute of the Polish duke Boleslaus III the Wrymouth Poland was divided into the 4-5 hereditary provinces distributed among his sons, and a royal province of Cracow for the eldest to be the high-duke of all Poland.

One of these provinces, Greater Poland was given to Mieszko, the third oldest son of Boleslaus, and subsequenly divided among his descendants and successors. In 1173 Mieszko was promoted to the throne of Cracow and became a high-duke of Poland (dux maximus, dux totius Poloniae), but was soon expeled from Cracow by his younger brother Casimir the Just, and from Greater Poland by his son. Mieszko never resigned his rights and ambitions and returned to Cracow four times before he died in 1202.