ndous odds was unprofitable. A careful,
calculating dynastic policy, which aimed at the establishment of an
equilibrium by means of prudent compromises and defensive alliances,
was, he rightly judged, the best guarantee for the future safety and
glory of Poland. Casimir began by tying the hands of the Teutonic Order
by the truce of Thorn; he induced the king of Bohemia to relinquish his
claims to the Polish throne by consenting to leave him a free hand in
Silesia (conference of Trencsen, early in 1335); and subsequently he
attended the celebrated congress of Visegrad (November 12-December 3,
1335), where Charles Robert entertained him and the king of Bohemia
magnificently. At this congress the differences between Casimir and John
of Bohemia were finally adjusted; peace was made between the king of
Poland and the Teutonic Order on the basis of the cession of Pomerania,
Kulm, and Michalow to the knights, who retroceded Kujavia and Dobrzyn;
and the kings of Hungary and Poland further agreed to assist each other
in the acquisition of the south-eastern border province of Halicz, or
Red Russia (very nearly corresponding to the modern Galicia), in case
the necessity for intervention should arise. The Holy See, jealous of
the growing power of the house of Luxemburg, attempted to set aside the
decrees of the congress of Visegrad, by urging Casimir to take up arms
against the knights once more; but Casimir prudently refrained from
hostilities, and ultimately compensated himself in the south-east for
his losses in the north. To guarantee still further the integrity of
Poland, Casimir, who had no male issue, concluded a compact with Charles
Robert whereby he recognized Louis, Charles Robert's son, as the
successor to the Polish crown; Louis on his part contracting to confirm
the privileges of the Polish gentry and clergy, and to rule Poland
through natives only.

In 1340 the death of George II. of Halicz, and the ravaging of that
fruitful border principality by the Tatars, induced Casimir and Charles
Robert to establish their joint influence there, and in 1344 the Red
Russian boyar, Demetrius Detko, was appointed _starosta_, or governor,
in the names of the two kings. Nine years later Lubart of Lithuania, who
also had claims upon Red Russia, disputed the sway of Poland in that
principality. Hungary coming to the assistance of Poland, Lubart was
defeated and taken prisoner; but Casimir, anxious to avoid a bloody war
with Lithuania's