Duke of Greater Poland Duke of Kalisz
He was the second child (but fourth-born son) of Mieszko III the Old, Duke of Greater Poland and since 1173 High Duke of Poland, by his second wife Eudoxia, daughter of Grand Prince Iziaslav II of Kiev. He do not know when he was born. His older brother, Bolesław, was born in 1159, while his younger brother Władysław Laskonogi was alive in 1166 or 1167.
Mieszko appeared for the first time in 1166 or 1167 in a document signed between Mieszko III and Casimir II the Just at the congress in Jędrzejów as one of the sons of the Duke of Greater Poland. They probably returned to the country in 1181, when Mieszko III regained the rule over Greater Poland. In 1184 and thanks to the wise diplomatic affairs of his father, Mieszko the Younger was appointed by the sickly Duke Leszek Governor of the Masovian-Kuyavian principality, and with this, apparently the right of succession after his death.
However, the arbitrary and cruel government of Mieszko III, caused that Leszek reasumed his alliance with Casimir II the Just, who was appointed his sole heir.
In 1185 Mieszko was then deposed and returned to his father"s court. Unfortunately, Casimir II soon regained the control of the district, and the Prince-Governor was exiled.
Mieszko the Younger died on 2 August 1193. He was buried in the crypt founded by his father in the Cathedral of Saint Paul the Apostle in Kalisz.
Tombstones of Mieszko the Younger and Mieszko III were found during archaeological excavations during 1958–1960.
