Bolesław I the Brave, 967–1025. Polish prince (992–1025) and first Polish king (1025). He waged long and successful wars against the Holy Roman Empire in defense of Poland's independence and completed the unification of Polish lands. Boleslaw maintained relations with Grand Prince Volodymyr the Great. As Prince Sviatopolk I's ally, he fought against Yaroslav the Wise and in 1018 marched on Kyiv. On his way back to Poland Boleslaw captured the Cherven towns, which Yaroslav regained in 1031.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 1 (1984).]