LOWRY ANCESTORS IN EASTERN EUROPE

1. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN EASTERN EUROPE

2. INDEXClick arrow to advance • Poland • Russia • Austria • Hungary • Czech Republic • Turkey

3. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN POLAND • Although Poland in now aligned primarily with Eastern Europe, historically it was tied closely to Scandanavia, Germany, and the Holy Roman Empire • As a result of those ties, multiple marriages occurred connecting the nobility of England and Scotland to the nobility of Poland • Poland first emerged as a political entity in the 10th century under Mieszko I (35th GGF of Tom Lowry), founder of the Piast Dynasty • Mieszko I adopted Christianity in 966 • Boleslaw I the Brave (35th GGF of Tom Lowry) succeeded his father • He expanded his territory to include Kiev, Russia, and his sword carried a dent created by beating it against the gate of Kiev • Mieszko II (34th GGF of Tom Lowry) lost most of what his father had gained • His successor/son Casimir I (33rd GGF of Tom Lowry) was such a failure he was forced out of the country, but was restored with support from the Holy Roman Emperor

4. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN POLAND • Wladyslaw I Herman (32nd GGF of Tom Lowry) claimed the throne after his older brother, Boleslaw II the Bold, murdered the Bishop of Krakow in 1079 • His successor, Boleslaw III the Crooked Mouth (31st GGF of Tom Lowry) expanded Poland’s holding to encompass Pomerania • He made a mistake common among other rulers – he tried to divide Poland amongst his sons following his death • Wladislaw II the Exile (30th GGF of Tom Lowry) became Duke of High Poland but was expelled from Poland after blinding and muting his brother with molten lead • Boleslaw I ‘The Tall’ of Silesia (25th GGF of Ethel Maud Smith) regained the crown of Poland after fighting beside Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in Italy • Henry I ‘The Bearded’ (24th GGF of Ethel Maud Smith) was Duke of Lower Poland and Silesia, and managed to bring Poland back under one rule, only to have it crushed by a Mongol invasion

5. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN POLAND • Henry II the Pious (23rd GGF of Ethel Maud Smith) was killed in a Mongol invasion that crushed Russia and most of Poland • Dobrawa of Bohemia (35th GGM of Tom Lowry), wife of Mieszko I, converted him, and much of Poland, to Christianity • St Hedwig (Hedwig of Silesia) (24th GGM of Ethel Maud Smith), was the wife of Henry I the Bearded

6. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN RUSSIA • Ancestors in Russia were limited to the area of Kiev in western Russia, andarea which traditionally interacted with Poland, Germany, and the eastern European countries • In 1051 Henry I of France married Anne of Kiev (29th GGM of Tom Lowry) linking French ancestors to the nobility of Kiev • Anne was the daughter of Yarislov I the Wise, Czar of Kiev (30th GGF of Tom Lowry) • Anne was not impressed with France, writing home that France was “a barbarous country where the houses are gloomy, the churches ugly and the customs revolting” • Following Henry I’s death she married Ralph III of Valois, who had divorced his wife to marry her, earning both excommunication by the Pope • Anne’s 3rd great-grandfather was Rurik (34th GGF of Tom Lowry) a Varangian chief who consolidated the rule of most of Kiev • His descendants were the ‘Rurikids’ of Rus Kiev

7. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN RUSSIA • Rurik was followed by Igor (33rd GGF of Tom Lowry) who besieged Constantinople (Byzantium) twice, but failed to take the city • In a lesson most politicians have failed to learn, he was killed by the Drevlians in 945 while trying to impose taxes upon them • The Drevlians bent two trees to the ground, ties his feet to them, then released them, pulling him in half during the ensuing launch • Olga of Kiev (33rd GGM of Tom Lowry), wife of Igor, sought revenge by slaughtering thousands of Drevlians, placing them in ships that were then set afire • Olga was the first Rus to convert to Christianity, for which she became St Olga • Following Olga’s death her son (Sviatoslov I Igorevich -- 32nd GGF of Tom Lowry) became Grand Prince of Kiev • He died in battle against the Pechenegs who sided with the Byzantine emperor

8. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN RUSSIA • His son, Vladimir Sliatoslovavich the Great (31st GGF of Tom Lowry) fled Kiev • In the civil wars that followed his father’s death Vladimer fled the country, then enlisted the aid of Haakon Sigurdsson, King of Norway (32nd GGF of Tom Lowry) to retake his land • On his return trip, Vladimir stopped to ask Prince Rovgolod for his daughter in marriage • When the prince refused, Vladimir killed the prince and kidnapped the daughter • Vladimer was a religious thinker – he rejected Islam because he liked alcohol and pork, he rejected Jews because they had lost Jerusalem, indicating their god was not a warrior god – he settled on Christianity because he could drink and fight • Despite his shortcomings, the Golden Age of Kiev began with him

9. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN RUSSIA • Vladimir the Great’s son was Yarislov I the Wise (30th GGF of Tom Lowry), father of Anne of Kiev • To become Czar of Kiev, Yaraslov defeated his father in battle, then killed all of his brothers

10. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN AUSTRIA • The area of Austria was settled early on by Bavarian settlers, who were then displaced by Charlemagne (33rd GGF of Tom Lowry) • Tassilo III (42nd GGF of Tom Lowry) was the last of the Bavarian (Agilofling) rulers of Austria, leaving the door open for expansion of the Avars and Magyars • In 976 Leopold I the Illustrious (35th GGF of Tom Lowry) began the task of retaking Austria from the Magyars • Adalbert the Victorious (34th GGF of Tom Lowry) continued the wars with the Hungarians and Moravians • In 1082 Leopold II (32nd GGF of Tom Lowry) was defeated by the Bohemians under Vratislav II (33rd GGF of Tom Lowry) • His son, Leopold III (31st GGF of Tom Lowry) reclaimed lands, much of which he gave to the church, later being canonized as Saint Leopold

11. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN HUNGARY • Hungary first came into existence when the Slavic Magyars began to organize in the 9th century, filling the void left by the fall of the Roman Empire • In 895 Almos I of Hungary (40th GGF of Tom Lowry) defeated the Bulgars, only to have them regroup and crush his forces • Almos I, having failed to lead his people, was sacrificed to the gods by them • Arpad of Hungary (39th GGF of Tom Lowry) greatly expanded Magyar holdings in Hungary • His grandson, Prince Taksony (37th GGF of Tom Lowry) was crushed by German forces under Otto I the Great (34th GGF of Tom Lowry) in 955 • Tsasony’s grandson, Basil (Vazul) (35th GGF of Tom Lowry) plotted to assassinate his cousin, Stephen I, but failed, and wound up with his eyes gouged out and his ears filled with molten lead, earning him the name ‘Vasul the Blind’

12. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN HUNGARY • Following Vasul’s death his son Bela I (33rd GGF of Tom Lowry) fled to Poland, where he married Richenza of Poland (33rd GGM of Tom Lowry), daughter of Mieszko II (34th GGF of Tom Lowry), creating one of many ties between the Hungarians and Poles • Another son, Andrew ( (34th GGF of Tom Lowry) fled to Russia, where he married Anastasia of Kiev (34th GGM of Tom Lowry), daughter of Yaroslov the Wise of Kiev (35th GGF of Tom Lowry) and creating one of many ties between the Hungarians and Russians • Andrew I reclaimed the throne, only to be overthrown by Bela • Bela died when his throne’s canopy collapsed on him, and he was followed by his son, Geza I (32nd GGF of Tom Lowry) • Geza’s brother, Ladislaus I (32nd GGF of Tom Lowry), solidified Christianity in Hungary, earning his sainthood as St Ladislaus, Patron Saint of Architecture

13. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN HUNGARY • In addition to achieving sainthood, Ladislaus I added Croatia to his holdings, and reclaimed land taken by the Byzantine Emperor, Alexios I (32nd GGF of Tom Lowry) • Bela II the Blind (30th GGF of Tom Lowry) claimed the throne in 1131, despite having been blinded by his uncle, later to die from alcohol intoxication (the original blind drunk) • Geza II (29th GGF of Tom Lowry) followed his father • During his reign King Louis VII of France (28th GGF of Tom Lowry) and Eleanor of Aquitaine (28th GGM of Tom Lowry) were hosted in Hungary as they passed through on their way to a disastrous Crusade • Bela III (23rd GGF of Tom Lowry) married a French princess, and the chivalrous culture of France was brought to Hungary • Andrew II the Jerusalemite (22nd GGF of Tom Lowry) followed Bela III • Faced with rebellion from the Church and his subjects, he found his power severely weakened • His death marked the last connection of the Lowry family to the ruler of Hungary

14. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC • The Czech Republic emerged from the ancient kingdom of Bohemia • Early Bohemia was ruled by the Premesyl Dynasty, beginning with Premesyl the Ploughman (46th GGF of Tom Lowry) around 700, a poor peasant who married a princess of Prague – Libusa (46th GGM of Tom Lowry) • Premesyl was followed by his descendants, the Seven Princes of Bohemia, beginning with Nezamesyl (45th GGF of Tom Lowry) and ending with Hostivit (39th GGF of Tom Lowry) • Borijov I, Duke of Bohemia (38th GGF ) was the first ruler of Bohemia documented in contemporary records • Borijov converted Bohemia to Christianity in 883 and was baptized by St Methodius • Borijov’s wife, LudmilazePsova (38th GGM of Tom Lowry) was venerated as St Ludmila for the conversion of Bohemia that followed her conversion • The Catholic Church gave Ludmila the responsibility for resolving conflicts with in-laws, and probably does not rest in peace

15. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC • Vratislav I (37th GGF of Tom Lowry) succeeded Borijov as Duke of Bohemia • He founded St George’s Basilica in Prague and the city of Wroclaw in Poland • Vratislav died in 921 and was succeeded by his son Wenceslaus (Good King Wenceslaus – 36th great-granduncle of Tom Lowry) • In 935 Wenceslaus’ brother, Boleslav I the Cruel (36th GGF of Tom Lowry) invited Wenceslaus to the Feast of Saints Cosmos and Damien, and had him murdered as he traveled to the church • Boleslav II the Pious (36th GGF of Tom Lowry) followed Boleslav I and was at war with Poland, conquering Silesia • Vratislaus II (33rd GGF of Tom Lowry) became the first king of Bohemia in 1085 • In 1241 Wenceslaus I (23rd GGF of Ethel Maud Smith) withstood an invasion of Bohemia by the Mongols • King PremesylOtakar II (22nd GGF of Ethel Maud Smith) was called the ‘King of Gold and Iron’ because of his military successes

16. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN TURKEY • The city of Byzantium (Constantinople), an ancient city of the Greek Empire, became home to the Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Roman Empire • Following the fall of the Roman Empire, Byzantium continued as a religious and political center • Because of its location and political/religious importance, it was a focal point of many of the Crusades and Muslim invasions • In the 11th century Alexios I Comnenos (32nd GGF of Tom Lowry) was faced with invasions from the Seljuk Turks and Arabs, launching the First Crusade, planned at the home of William V of Aquitaine (31st GGF of Tom Lowry) with Pope Urban • During the Crusades that followed, Europeans flocked to Byzantium and Antioch, marrying with the Byzantines and creating ties from the Lowry family back to the Byzantines

17. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN TURKEY • Theodosius I the Great (50th GGF of Tom Lowry) was the last emperor to rule over the entire Roman Empire • Upon his death in 395 the empire was divided between his two sons, creating an Eastern Empire in Byzantium and a Western Empire in Rome • Theodosius I made Nicene Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire • Arcadius (44th GGF of Tom Lowry) followed Theodosius I, to be followed by Theodosius II the Younger (43rd GGF of Tom Lowry) • Theodosius II constructed the Theodosian Wall around the city of Byzantium • His reign was plagued by attacks from Attila the Hun • Basil I the Macedonian (35th GGF of Tom Lowry) connected the Lowry line through a different lineage

18. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN TURKEY • Basil I was a commoner who served as bodyguard to the Emperor, only to succeed him after assassinating him • Leo VI the Wise (34th GGF of Tom Lowry) followed Basil I • Leo’s daughter, Anna of Byzantium (33rd GGM of Tom Lowry) married Louis, Duke of Provence (33rd GGF of Tom Lowry), creating one of many ties between Byzantium and Europe • In 860 Byzantium saw its first attack from Russia in the form of Prince Igor of Kiev (33rd GGF of Tom Lowry) • In 957 Igor’s widow, St Olga (33rd GGM of Tom Lowry) was baptized in Constantinople • In 971 John I Tzimisces (37th GGF of Tom Lowry) managed to gain control over the Russians and the Bulgars, bringing the Roman Empire of Byzantium to a level equivalent to that of the Western Empire in the 4th century

19. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN TURKEY • Isaac Komnenos (32nd GGF of Ethel Maud Smith) was the first of the Komnenos Emperors of Constantinople • Without heirs, he was followed by his nephew, Alexios I Komnenos (32nd GGF of Tom Lowry) • Alexios I appealed to Pope Urban for assistance against the Muslims, leading to the first Crusade • Bohemond Guiscard (26th GGF of Tom Lowry) was one of many Normans responding to the Pope’s call • Bohemond took the city of Antioch from the Turks, but opted to keep it for himself rather than returning it to Alexios, eventually leading to war between the two • His actions were followed by Fulk V d’Anjou (29th GGF of Tom Lowry) who took back Jerusalem, then named himself King of Jerusalem

20. LOWRY ANCESTORS IN TURKEY • John II Komnenos (31st GGF of Tom Lowry) followed Alexios and made substantial gains against the Turks and the Crusaders, eventually bringing the Crusaders back to his side • Alexios III Angelos (24th GGF of Tom Lowry) saw the slow disintegration of the Byzantine Empire • He became emperor after blinding his brother and imprisoning him • Crusaders gained the city of Constantinople, with Baldwin of Flanders (22nd GGF of Tom Lowry) naming himself King of Constantinople • Yolanda of Flanders (21st GGM of Ethel Maud Smith) ruled for a while as Empress of Constantinople • By the start of the 14th century Constantinople had fallen to the Muslims for the last time, becoming part of the Ottoman Empire