Ryksa, often called Ryczeza, was born in the year 989. She was the granddaughter of the German emperor Otto II and the niece of Otto III. She married Mieszko II in the year 1013 and was crowned with him in the year 1025. The exact source and way by which she came into Poland is not clearly known. Likewise, it is not known if she and Mieszko divorced after his defeat, and if she was confident in his fidelity when he was in exile. Only after Mieszko's death in 1034 did she leave for Germany. When Mieszko was in exile, Ryksa most likely took the side of Bezpryma in the struggle for power between him and his other brother. It was she that gave Konrad II of Germany the royal insignia which gave Germany power over Poland.

She maintained the title of Queen until her death in the year 1063. She died in a Benedictine cloister in Braunweiler.