Piotr Włostowic

Piotr Włostowic (or Włost; c. 1080 – 1153), also known as Peter Wlast, was a Polish noble, castellan of Wrocław, and a ruler (możnowładca) of part of Silesia.

Włostowic regained his position and estates, but his disability and worsening health prevented him from taking further active part in politics, and he died in 1153.

Twentieth-century German medieval researchers saw Włostowic as a grandson of a Magnus, Count of Wrocław, who was described by the chronicler Gallus Anonymus as a royal who arrived in the 1070s from a land that had just fallen under the yoke of foreign rule.

Some historians, most notably Tomasz Jurek, have postulated that Magnus, Count of Wrocław was in fact Magnus Haroldson, the son of the Anglo-Saxon king Harold II, who had fled England along with his siblings following the defeat of their father by William the Conqueror, thereby tracing Włostowic's ancestry to England.

His marriage to Maria, the daughter of a powerful ruler, further elevated Włostowic, and he received the rank of voivode (Palatine or comes palatinus) from Bolesław.

Władysław II opposed his father's wish, and encouraged by his wife, Agnes of Babenberg, tried to ensure his power as the king would not be weakened.

For his part, Włostowic refused to clearly declare himself for any side, instead choosing to try and smooth the conflicts and conduct negotiations.

Agnes demanded Włostowic's death, but Władysław decided instead to make an example out of him: Wlast was blinded, muted and sentenced to exile.

Włostowic was respected and had many friends, and his fate caused many people to switch their allegiance to the younger brothers.

In the coming centuries, Piotr Włostowic Dunin (or Peter Wlast) became a near-legendary figure, especially as contemporary writers-monks remembered his generous support of the Church.