That slavery continued in Central Europe even after the introduction of Christianity we know from many sources including the Life of Otto of Bamberg which discusses the Pomeranian – Polish wars. Since, for example, the Pomeranians were at the time still pagan, they could be enslaved when taken captive. But slavery did not seem to be limited to pagans. Interestingly, the very first Polish Chronicle, the Gallus Anonymous Chronicle also features an explicit reference captives being Christian. Thus in Book II, chapter 1 we have the description of the birth of Bolesuav III (from Knoll/Schaer translation which you can get online via Google Books):
“The boy Bolesuav was born on the feast of Saint Stephen the king’s; but his mother subsequently fell ill and on the night of our Lord’s birth she passed away, She was a woman who had always performed acts of charity towards the poor and those in captivity, especially preceding the day of her death,* and she had redeemed many Christians with her resources from the servitude of the Jews…”
* note: you have to wonder whether this was a ‘tongue in cheek’ comment.
Bolesuav the Wrymouth was born (probably with a cleft palate or lip) on August 20, 1086. Bolesuav’s mother was Judith of Bohemia – herself a daughter of Duke Vratisuav II of Bohemia and his second wife Adelaide, daughter of King Andrew I of Hungary; she died on Christmas 1086 whether as a result of complications from childbirth is unclear. Incidentally, if the above is factually correct, it is also the first mention of Jews in Poland (albeit the chronicle was written years after the birth of Bolesuav), though it is likely that such presence existed before this time.
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