This is the 979 German-Polish War. For a list of all Polish-German Wars, see Polish-German Wars.
| Conflict: | Otto II's raid on Poland (979) |
| Partof: | German–Polish War |
| Date: | 979 - Summer 980 |
| Place: | Poznań, Greater Poland |
| Result: | Polish victory |
| Combatant1: | Civitas Schinesghe |
| Combatant2: | Holy Roman Empire |
| Commander1: | Mieszko I |
| Commander2: | Otto II |
| Strength1: | unknown |
| Strength2: | unknown |
Otto II's raid on Poland was a military expedition against Civitas Schinesghe the state of Mieszko I after Mieszko I supported the rebellious prince Henry the Quarrelsome during the civil war in Germany following the death of Emperor Otto I the Great. The invasion ended in defeat for the Holy Roman Empire, as Otto II could not achieve any military success which forced him to return to Germany.
The initial ruler of the Piast state, Mieszko I, historically regarded as a loyal ally and even a friend of Emperor Otto I the Great, saw a sudden rift in relations in 972. This rupture occurred when Margrave Odo, an administrator of the German frontier, independently invaded Piast territories.[1]
In response, Mieszko engaged Odo's forces at the Battle of Cedynia in 972 and emerged victorious. Despite its minor scale, the clash caught the attention of the emperor. Mieszko faced condemnation for spilling the blood of German knights, prompting Otto I to demand a punitive measure. He ordered Mieszko's six-year-old son and heir, Bolesław, to be sent to the imperial court as a hostage.