In accordance with the last will and testament of Poland's Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth, Poland was upon his death divided into 4-5 hereditary provinces distributed among his sons, and a royal province of Kraków reserved for the eldest, who was to be High Duke of all Poland. This was known as the fragmentation of Poland.
One of these provinces, Silesia, was granted to Bolesław III's eldest son, Władysław II the Exile, and was subsequently divided among his sons Boleslaus I the Long (Wrocław/Lower Silesia), Mieszko I Tanglefoot (Racibórz/Upper Silesia) and Konrad Spindleshanks (Głogów). After Konrads death Głogów was united with the Duchy of Wroclaw/Lower Silesia. In 1241 the Duchy of Lower Silesia was divided into the Duchies of Wrocław, Legnica and Głogów; Upper Silesia was divided into the Duchies of Cieszyn, Opole and Racibórz. In 1340 the Duchy of Racibórz was united with Opava, a Bohemian fief. At the beginning of the 14th century 14 independent Duchies existed in Silesia: Brzeg, Wroclaw, Świdnica, Jawor, Ziębice, Głogów, Ścinawa, Zagan and Oels in Lower Silesia; Koźle, Cieszyn, Bytom, Niemodlin, Opole, Strzelce, Racibórz and Opava in Upper Silesia and the eclessiatical duchy of Nysa. Between 1327 and 1329 most dukes accepted the overlordship of Bohemian king John of Bohemia, who acquired the right of succession for all of these duchies. In the coming centuries all branches of the Silesian Piasts died out, and with the dead of George William, Duke of Liegnitz the dynasty ceased to exist.
Duchy of Silesia
- 1138-1146 Ladislaus I the Exile exiled by his brothers
- 1146-1163 Boleslaus IV the Curly brother of Ladislaus I
- 1163-1177 Boleslaus I the Long, Mieszko I Platonogi and Konrad, sons of Ladislaus I
Duchies of Lower Silesia
- 1177/1195-1201 Boleslaus I the Long (Bolesław I Wysoki)
- 1201-1238 Henry I the Bearded (Henryk I Brodaty)
- 1238-1241 Henry II the Pious (Henryk II Pobożny)
- 1241-1248 Boleslaus II the Bald (Bolesław II Łysy Rogatka)
- 1248-1266 Henry III the White (Henryk III Biały)
- 1248-1270 Władysław of Salzburg
- 1266/1270-1290 Henry IV the Righteous (Henryk IV Prawy (Probus))
- 1270-1273 Přemysl II Ottokar of Bohemia (regent)
- 1290-1296 Henry V the Corpulent (Henryk V Brzuchaty)
- 1296-1311 Bolesłaus III Rozrzutny
- 1296-1301 Bolko I Surowy
- 1301-1302 Henry of Wiebrzno (regent)
- 1302-1305 Wenceslaus II of Bohemia
- 1311-1335 Henry VI the Good (Henryk VI Dobry)
1327/1335 Duchy of Wrocław falls to imperial Bohemia.
[ Jan Kroski, Count of Krosno 1656]
Duchy of Oels
1309-1320/1 — Boleslaw of Olesnica
1309-1366 — Konrad I of Olesnica
1492 Duchy of Oleśnica falls to Bohemia.
Duchies of Upper Silesia
Eclessiatical Duchy of Nysa
Duchy of Teschen (Cieszyn)
Up to 1290 Cieszyn belonged to the Duchy of Racibórz
In 1653 the Duchy of Teschen was transferred to the Habsburg domains.
Sovereign Duchess Agnieska Zatorska of Wadowice. Born 1477-Died 1505. Married to Jan Kobierzycki of Tworkow and Kobierzyn, with one male heir. They were the last of the Piast Dynasty to rule Wadowice. Despite the sale of Wadowice to the King of Poland; to insure his armorial protection of the region; Wadowice continued to be torn by wars for another 300 years.
See also
- List of Polish rulers
- Piast dynasty
- Dukes of Masovia
- Dukes of Greater Poland
- Dukes of Little Poland
- Dukes of Cuiavia
- Dukes of Sieradz-Łęczyca
References
- Neue deutsche Biographie, Berlin 2001, Bd.: 20, p. 403-407
- Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon, Leipzig 1905-1909, Bd.: 17, p. 845-847
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