Henryk IV Probus
However, he wasn't the only candidate for the Seniorate. Henryk IV Probus, Duke of Wrocław, also advanced his claims. At first, it seemed that Bolesław II was able to master Lesser Poland without obstacles, as his troops in 1288 captured Kraków and Sandomierz. However, later in the same year he was expelled from Kraków by the troops of Henryk IV Probus, who gained the decisive favor of the castellan Sulk the Bear (pl: "Sułk z Niedźwiedzia"), who opened the gates of Wawel Castle to him. After this victory, Henryk IV Probus returned to Wrocław, and Bolesław II managed to say in Sandomierz. In early February 1289 a coalition of Piast princes (Henry III of Głogów, Przemko of Ścinawa and Bolko I of Opole) organized an expedition to Kraków with the purpose of consolidating the rule of Henryk IV Probus. At the sime time Bolesław II, who still wanted to recover Kraków, organized a coalition with Władysław I the Elbow-high and Casimir II of Łęczyca, Unexpectedly, he also received the support of his brother Konrad II and Kievan Rus' troops. In this way, Bolesław II was able to organized a powerful army with the main objective of reconquering the Seniorate. The army of Henryk IV Probus withdrew from Kraków, and on 26 February the bloody Battle of Siewierz took place, which ended with the defeat of Henryk IV's allies; during the fight, was killed Przemko of Ścinawa and Bolko I of Opole was captured. After the battle, Bolesław II occupied Kraków, where he triumphantly entered in the summer of 1289. Shortly after, he gave Sandomierz to his brother Konrad II as they had previously accorded in exchange of his military support. This action caused outrage among the Lesser Poland nobility (accustomed to see the Duke of Kraków reign over Sandomierz), who utterly refused to recognize Bolesław II as their ruler, and proclaimed Władysław I the Elbow-high as the new Duke of Kraków. For unknown reasons, Bolesław II refused to fight and retreated to his domains in Płock, and in August 1289 Władysław I the Elbow-high was in turn expelled by Henryk IV Probus, who became in the new ruler over Kraków and Sandomierz.