Page "Casimir III the Great" Paragraph 5

Casimir is the only Polish king who both received and kept the title of the Great in Polish history ( Bolesław I Chrobry is also called the Great, but his title Chrobry ( Valiant ) is now more common ).

When he received the crown, his hold on it was in danger, as even his neighbours did not recognise his title and instead called him " king of Kraków ".

The economy was ruined, and the country was depopulated and exhausted by war.

Upon his death, he left a country doubled in size ( mostly through the addition of land in today's Ukraine, then the Duchy of Halicz ), prosperous, wealthy and with great prospects for the future.

Although he is depicted as a peaceful king in children's books, he in fact waged many victorious wars and was readying for others just before he died.