The legendary Battle of Głogów of 1109 which continued even after the sons of the defenders of Głogów, who had been previously captured and kept hostage, were tied to the siege engines. (Fotopolska.eu)
Monasteries, funded by princes and magnates, grew in number and played an increasingly important role. Apart from the Benedictines, who were present as early as the 11th century, there were also Cistercians, Canons Regular, and with time, the Dominicans and Franciscans, too. There were military orders as well – the Order of the Holy Sepulchre and the Teutonic Knights – who would soon cause serious trouble for the Poles. In the 13th century, there already existed a relatively well-developed network of parishes, and this meant there was a network of schools too. The second half of the 13th century saw increased attempts to reunite the country. The Church, whose organisational structures were nationwide, played an important role in this. The cult of St Stanislaus, canonised in 1253, was a significant factor too. It was said that just as the parts of the dismembered body of the murdered bishop grew back together, so Poland would grow back together again. People also prayed to St Adalbert and St Hedwig, who was canonised in 1267, asking for their intercession. The race for the Polish crown, between the Bohemian prince Wenceslaus and the ruler of the Polish province of Wielkopolska Przemysł II, was won by the
15