Boleslaw II was the oldest son of Kazimierz I and was born in the year 1039. He ascended the throne after the death of his father in 1058. As a king, he was energetic, brave, ambitious and honorable. These traits gained him the name of "Śmiały" which means good natured or good humored. Bolesław's political ideas helped move Poland to the highest standings since Bolesław Chrobry ruled. However, Bolesław was destined to be violent and impulsive as a result of his many political and military successes and his reign ended in catastrophe of which the exact details are not known today.

When he ascended the throne Bolesław was a fierce opponent of the Germans. However he never did face them in armed combat. He did fight German supporters though. When the German emperor Henryk IV fought a bitter battle with Pope Gregory VII and lost, Bolesław benefited by this by formally declaring Poland independent of Germany. He even officially crowned himself King in the year 1076 and the Germans could do nothing about it. He even fell in good favor with the Pope who eventually sent representatives to Poland to help organize the Church.

The capitol was moved from Gniezno to Krak�w where Bolesław pondered the affairs with the Czechs and Hungarians which he thought extremely important. He did not work on the problem of the seperatists in Pomerania and he didn't keep the political views of his predecessors. However, he did become involved in Russian affairs. He undertook a campaign in Russia and deposed the ruling Prince Izasław. This action was the downfall of Bolesław. While he was away, the Germans took advantage of the interim rule of his brother Władysław Herman. This also presented a conflict with other possible future rulers including the bishop of Krak�w, Stanisław. In one of these conflicts, Stanisław, the Bishop of Krak�w, was assassinated while at the altar by order of the King himself.

These events forced the King to abdicate the throne in the year 1079. He was exiled to Hungary where he died in the year 1081. Another legend says that he died in a monastery in what is today Austria. Bolesław's son Mieszko died suddenly soon after returning the the country in the year 1089.