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60-547: The senioral principle established in the testament stated that at all times the eldest member of the dynasty was to have supreme power over the rest ( Dux , the Dukes) and was also to control an indivisible "Seniorate Province". In 1138 Bolesław's III eldest son Władysław II , took up the rule over a vast strip of land running north–south down the middle of Poland, composed of: The High Duke resided at Kraków, Poland's capital since 1038. The Senior's prerogatives also included control over

120-679: A count of the Holy Roman Empire and granted him his duchy as a fief . Henry not only obtained the preeminence in Silesia but, with the help of the German party in Polonia Minor, also the duchy of Kraków and became duke of Poland. He initially wanted Wenceslaus to become his successor, but changed his plan on the deathbed and granted Wrocław to Henry III and Kraków to Przemysł II , whereas Kłodzko returned to Bohemia. As Przemysł II united Poland,

180-518: A goliard . The descent of the dynasty was also illustrated by the marriages of the dukes. The Silesian Piasts of the 13th and 14th century married into princely families especially from German families, but also other European royal lines, whereas later Piasts also married non-princely and even bourgeois women. With the adoption of the Protestant faith in Silesia, the Piasts again gained importance. Against

240-575: A close alliance with his brother-in-law, Bohemian king Wenceslaus , he consolidated his position in Greater Poland against Barnim I of Pomerania and repelled an attack on castle Lubusz by the margrave of Brandenburg and the archbishop of Magdeburg . Following an old tradition of his dynasty , he placed himself under the protection of the Holy See , with which he also allied himself against Frederick II . In spite of all his German connections, Henry

300-703: A re-unification of the Polish lands under the Silesian Piasts ended with the Mongol invasion of Poland and Henry's death at the 1241 Battle of Legnica . His eldest son Bolesław II the Bald could not prevail as High Duke against Bolesław V the Chaste of Lesser Poland and, after he regained Lubusz upon the death of his brother Mieszko in 1242, finally had to divide his Silesian heritage with his younger brothers in 1248: The subdivision of

360-656: A strip of land around Opole , for the first time creating the Duchy of Opole . In turn Jarosław had to prepare for an ecclesiastical career and remain celibate . Likewise Bolesław's and Mieszko's youngest brother, Konrad Spindleshanks , when he came of age claimed his rights and about 1177 received the Lower Silesian lands around Głogów ; leading to the first creation of the Duchy of Głogów . However, Bolesław I outlived both his youngest brother and his son, and both territories fell back to him in 1190 and 1201 resp. Bolesław I died in

420-684: A violent inheritance conflict between Władysław and his younger half-brothers, who allied against him. After his failed bid to take control of the entire Kingdom in 1146, he lost his status as the senior duke, was excommunicated by Archbishop Jakub ze Żnina of Gniezno and fled to the Holy Roman Empire . The duchy was then under control of his half-brother High Duke Bolesław IV the Curly . With support from Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa , who had campaigned in Greater Poland in 1157 and forced Bolesław IV to cede Silesia, Władysław's sons were able to return to

480-577: The Catholic Habsburg dynasty , which ruled Silesia since 1526, the dukes sought political support by entering matrimonies with Protestant, imperial rulers like the Hohenzollern dynasty. Their last attempts of independent policies were the candidatures of Frederick II of Liegnitz for the Bohemian crown (1526) and of Henry XI (1573), Frederick IV (1576) and Christian (1668) for the Polish crown. During

540-435: The Duchy of Głogów separated from Poland as well. The last independent Silesian Piast – Bolko II of Świdnica – died in 1368. His wife Agnes ruled the Świdnica duchy until her death in 1392. From that time on, all remaining Silesian Piasts were vassals of the Bohemian crown, although they maintained their sovereign rights. In 1335, John of Bohemia renounced his claim to the title of king of Poland in favour of Casimir

600-454: The Duchy of Silesia and his Pomerelian vassals at Gdańsk in eastern Pomerania . The Senior was tasked with defense of borders, the right to have troops in provinces of other Dukes, carrying out the foreign policy, supervision over the clergy (including the right to nominate bishops and archbishops), and minting the currency. The High duke generally had his own principality (province, dukedom), which he had inherited within his own branch of

660-699: The Duchy of Upper and Lower Silesia in 1742. The duchies which had remained in Poland were subsequently annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia ( New Silesia ) and the Habsburg monarchy ( Galicia ) during the 18th century Partitions of Poland . The Duchy of Upper and Lower Silesia lasted as a crown land of Cisleithanian Austria until 1918, whereupon it was divided between the Second Polish Republic ( Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship ) and Czechoslovakia ( Czech Silesia ) after

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720-639: The Fulda monastery , his brother Bolesław administered his possessions until Konrad's early death, when he incorporated Konrad's part into his own duchy. Mieszko at the same time was able to expand his duchy with the former Lesser Polish territories of Bytom and Oświęcim , given to him by High Duke Casimir II the Just , and also with the Duchy of Opole, which he received after the death of Duke Jarosław and his father Bolesław in 1201. One year later, Bolesław's heir, Duke Henry I

780-662: The Germanisation of Silesia did not necessarily mean a desire to move apart from Poland. He suggests that it was more likely a way to satisfy the Silesian Piasts' ambitions inside Poland. The planned introduction of German settlers would strengthen Silesia, and also the Silesian Piast claims to the senioral throne in Kraków. Only when the Silesian Piasts' ambitions to rule in Kraków were thwarted did they decide to set their province on

840-649: The Polish–Czechoslovak War of 1919. Silesian Piasts The Silesian Piasts were the elder of four lines of the Polish Piast dynasty beginning with Władysław II the Exile (1105–1159), eldest son of Duke Bolesław III of Poland . By Bolesław's testament , Władysław was granted Silesia as his hereditary province and also the Lesser Polish Seniorate Province at Kraków according to

900-548: The Seniorate Province of Lesser Poland in the east, separated by the Przemsza and Biała rivers. The boundaries varied slightly in the following decades: at least when the duchy was re-established for the sons of Władysław II the Exile in 1163 (see below), it also comprised Lubusz Land northwest of Krosno , which had been the western outpost of Greater Poland and passed to the margraves of Brandenburg in 1248. In 1177

960-585: The Silesian Province ( Polish : dzielnica śląska ), the duchy was one of five main provinces established in medieval Poland according to the Testament of Bolesław III Krzywousty . By the terms of the will from 1138–1146 it was controlled by the Senior Duke of Poland or High duke , Bolesław's first-born son Władysław II the Exile , who also held the Duchy of Kraków. The testament however failed to prevent

1020-419: The Testament of Boleslaw III . Władysław soon entered into fierce conflicts with his brothers and the Polish nobility. When in 1146 he attempted to take control of the whole of Poland, he was excommunicated by Archbishop Jakub ze Żnina of Gniezno and his brothers finally drove him into exile. He was received by King Conrad III of Germany , his brother-in-law by Władysław's consort Agnes of Babenberg , at

1080-474: The imperial palace of Altenburg . Silesia and the Seniorate Province came under the control of second-born Bolesław IV the Curly , Duke of Masovia. In the same year King Conrad III attempted to regain power for Władysław, but failed. Not until 1157 Duke Bolesław IV the Curly was defeated in a campaign by Konrads successor Emperor Frederick Barbarossa , however, the "Silesian issue" was not mentioned in

1140-505: The 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, various branches of the Silesian Piasts became extinct. In 1532, the last Duke of Opole, John II the Good, died, leaving most of Upper Silesia under direct Bohemian rule. In 1675, the last legitimate Silesian Piast – George William, Duke of Liegnitz – died. The last male Silesian Piast was baron Ferdinand II Hohenstein , who died in 1706, the last female Piast, Charlotte , died in 1707. The Silesian Piasts formed

1200-641: The Austrian Habsburg monarchy until King Frederick II of Prussia invaded Silesia in 1740 and annexed most of it during the First Silesian War . The bulk of the duchy, enlarged by the County of Kladsko and Upper Lusatian territories annexed from Saxony , was subsequently reorganized as part of the Prussian Province of Silesia , while the duchies remaining under Austrian control were reconstituted as

1260-575: The Bearded , and his uncle Mieszko moreover specified to rule out the right of succession among their branches, an arrangement which was largely responsible for the special position of what would become Upper Silesia . In the same year, Poland abolished the seniorate and the Silesian duchies became independent entities. Henry I the Bearded actively took part in the inner-Polish conflicts and expanded his dominion with determination. Henry, before securing in 1229

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1320-631: The Bohemian kingdom when he died without male heirs three months later. Silesia was incorporated into the Lands of the Bohemian Crown , after King Casimir III had acknowledged the acquisition by the 1348 Treaty of Namslau with King Charles IV — except for the Upper Silesian duchies of Oświęcim and Zator, which in the 16th century were integrated in the Polish Kraków Voivodeship , as well as

1380-532: The Duchy of Siewierz, that was purchased by the Archbishop of Kraków in 1443. As Henry VI left no male heirs, his lands were inherited by King John of Bohemia . The following maps illustrate continuing fragemtarization of the Duchy of Silesia, and shifting borders of the individual smaller duchies. After the inheritance of Bohemia by the House of Habsburg in 1526, the Silesian duchies gradually passed under control of

1440-554: The Great of Poland renounced his rights to Silesia in the 1335 Treaty of Trentschin . During the time of its establishment, the Silesian lands covered the basin of the upper and middle Oder river. In the south the Sudetes mountain range up to the Moravian Gate formed the border with the lands of Bohemia – including Kłodzko Land – and Moravia . After a more than century-long struggle,

1500-445: The Great , who in return renounced his claims to Silesia. This was formalized in the treaties of Trenčín and Visegrád , ratified in 1339. The division into small and smallest territories led to a decline of prestige and power. Many Silesian Piasts now merely had the status of squires with greater rights. Some Piasts entered foreign services as mercenary leaders, like John II of Glogau and Sagan. Henry IX traveled through Europe as

1560-487: The Piast dynasty, and left to his personal heirs within his own branch, whereas Kraków followed the seniorate (fell to the oldest of them). Kraków was a substantial addition to the resources of the incumbent, whoever it was, and was intended to put him higher in might than his vassal dukes. However, the seniorate soon collapsed, with the first Senior - Władysław II the Exile - failing his bid to take over other provinces and in 1146

1620-630: The Pious upon his death in 1238, it seemed that the Polish fragmentation could be overcome and the will of Bolesław III Krzywousty would finally be fulfilled. Henry II in 1239 had to resign the regency of Upper Silesia in favour of his cousin Mieszko II the Fat . He anew defended Lubusz, this time against the forces of the Ascanian margraves of Brandenburg , and in 1241 granted it to his second son Mieszko . The hopes for

1680-585: The Pious would, therefore, assuredly have maintained the independence and prestige of the kingdom if all his plan had not been annihilated by an unforeseen catastrophe. In 1241, he died as a Christian hero in the Battle of Legnica , in which he was attempting to arrest the Mongolian invasion. His death left the Silesian Piast dynasty deeply shaken. After Henry's death in 1241, his brother Bolesław II ruled on behalf of his underage brothers. Since all male members of

1740-544: The Polish High Duke Casimir II the Just attached the former Lesser Polish castellanies of Bytom , Oświęcim , Zator , Siewierz und Pszczyna to Upper Silesia in favour of Duke Mieszko IV Tanglefoot . After Silesia as a whole had become a Bohemian fief according to the 1335 Treaty of Trentschin, these lordships – except for the state countries of Bytom and Pszczyna – returned to the Polish Crown . As

1800-499: The Polish crown. After the intervention of King Charles I of Hungary he left Polonia Minor , but on his way back he enforced his supremacy over the Upper Silesian Piasts. In February 1327, five principalities were carved out of Polish Upper Silesia and placed under Bohemian suzerenity: Duchy of Niemodlin , Duchy of Cieszyn , Duchy of Racibórz , Duchy of Koźle and Bytom and the Duchy of Oświęcim and Zator . In April

1860-506: The Polish seniorate constitution, but Władysław's sons were obliged to pay a yearly tribute to the Holy Roman Emperor . High Duke Bolesław the Curly also retained control of the most important Silesian cities such as Wrocław , Opole , Głogów , Racibórz and Legnica until 1166 when the Silesian dukes took control of these parts. Władysław's sons probably ruled Silesia together until 1172, when they divided their territory: Bolesław

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1920-482: The Silesian duchies increased over the following generations and accompanied the fragmentation of Poland . Henry's III son Henry IV Probus upon the death of his uncle Władysław in 1270 ruled at Wrocław and in 1288 even became High Duke of Poland, until the male line became extinct with his death in 1290. He was succeeded by his cousin Duke Henry V the Fat , son of Henry's III brother Bolesław II, who once again re-united

1980-514: The Tall, eldest brother, received the large area from Legnica up the Oder River to Wroclaw and created the Duchy of Opole for his eldest son Jarosław . Mieszko Tanglefoot the smaller Duchy of Racibórz around Racibórz and Cieszyn . Their minor brother Konrad Spindleshanks received Żagań , Głogów and Krosno from the hands of Bolesław the Tall. As Konrad prepared himself for a clerical career at

2040-506: The boundary had just been determined by an 1137 agreement with the Bohemian duke Soběslav I . In the west Lower Silesia bordered on the German March of Lusatia (later Lower Lusatia ) and the former Milceni lands around Bautzen (later Upper Lusatia ) with the boundary running along the Bóbr and Kwisa rivers. Silesia was limited by the Polish provinces of Greater Poland in the north and

2100-471: The brothers followed, whereby Mieszko III was able to incorporate the northwestern lands of Gniezno and Kalisz into his Duchy of Greater Poland. The Seniorate remained contested after Kraków was inherited by Casimir's II son Leszek I the White in 1194, still by his uncle Mieszko III (d. 1202), then by his younger brother Konrad of Masovia , by his cousin, Mieszko's III son Władysław III Spindleshanks and also by

2160-427: The continuous involvement of the Silesian Piasts in Polish affairs. He remarks that the dukes of Silesia did not break their connections with their relatives in the rest of Poland. The most visible evidence of this is said to be the fact that in the 13th century three Silesian Dukes – Henry I, Henry II and Henry IV – took control of Kraków and therefore of the senior throne of the whole of Poland. In Davies' opinion,

2220-542: The duchies of Wrocław and Legnica under his personal rule. The duchy lost its southern territories in 1290–1291, i.e. the Kłodzko Land , which passed to Bohemia, and the towns of Świdnica , Rychbach , Ząbkowice , Ziębice and Strzelin , which passed to the Duchy of Jawor after Duke Bolko I the Strict of Jawor supported Henry V's assumption of the Duchy of Wrocław. Nevertheless, upon the death of Henry V in 1296, his heritage

2280-460: The duchy in 1163. As long as they were under pressure by High Duke Bolesław IV, they ruled jointly at Wrocław , until tensions between them erupted into an open conflict in 1172. As a result, the brothers divided the duchy among themselves; the first partition of many which led to the creation of numerous Silesian duchies in the following centuries: After a revolt by Bolesław's eldest son, Jarosław , who feared for his heritage, his father ceded him

2340-561: The dukes of Opole and Wrocław also became the tributaries of king John. In 1329, Władysław I the Elbow-high started a war with the Teutonic Order . The Order was supported by John of Bohemia who managed to enforce his supremacy over the dukes of Masovia and Lower Silesia . In April–May 1329, following Lower Silesian duchies became subjects of the Bohemian crown: Ścinawa , Oleśnica , Żagań , Legnica - Brzeg and Jawor . In 1331

2400-429: The fall of Bolesław II , was destined by him for his eldest son, whom he associated with his rule towards the end of his life. This Henry II the Pious , who succeeded his father in 1238, was, in fact, entirely worthy of the heritage of the first Piasts. Pursuing the very able policy of Henry the Bearded, his son was moreover able to obtain the support of the clergy, with whom his father had had frequent disagreements. In

2460-448: The family were eligible to rule, a principle critical for the coming years, a hereditary division was put into practice in 1248/51. Bolesław established the duchy of Legnica , Konrad I Glogow , Henry III kept Wroclaw together with Ladislaus , who would become archbishop of Salzburg . Soon the next generation divided the territory again. Jawor and Lwówek Śląski split off from Legnica, Duchy of Żagań and Ścinawa from Głogów. In

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2520-475: The margrave's death in 1210. He had to defend Lubusz once more against the campaigns of Landgrave Louis IV of Thuringia from 1221. Upon the death of his cousin Duke Casimir I of Opole , son of Mieszko I Tanglefoot, in 1230, he acted as guardian of his minor nephews, thereby once again ruling over whole Silesia. In 1232 he became High Duke of Poland, and as he was able to secure the succession of his son Henry II

2580-485: The next generation Brzeg was detached from Wrocław, Świdnica and Duchy of Ziębice from Lwówek Śląski-Jawor and Oleśnica from Głogów . The Duchy of Opole , which was established by Mieszko I and called after its residence Opole, wasn't spared from the divisions, they only began one generation later. The four sons of Wladyslaw I of Opole, a grandson of Mieszko, split the duchy into Opole, Koźle - Bytom , Racibórz and Teschen . These duchies were also split again in

2640-513: The next generation. Opole was divided into Opole, Niemodlin and Strzelce Opolskie , Koźle-Bytom in Koźle, Bytom and Toszek , Teschen in Teschen and Oświęcim . These divisions often were the result of fierce and militant conflicts, in which not only the Silesian parties but also their partisans from other parts of Poland and neighboring Bohemia were involved. Whereas the connections to Poland diminished

2700-450: The nucleus of a restored Kingdom of Poland . He became duke of Kraków ( Polonia Minor ) in 1232, which gave him the title of the Senior Duke of Poland (see Testament of Bolesław III Krzywousty ). Henry expanded his realm also outside Poland ruling over Barnim , Teltow (owned temporarily) as well as parts of Lower Lusatia . Unfortunately, despite his efforts, he never gained the Polish crown. The royal crown, almost forgotten since

2760-416: The oldest branch of the first Polish royal dynasty. This was the reason that even after the fragmentation of Poland their interest in Polish matters was still strong. Norman Davies stated that the dynastic loyalty of all Piast dukes as well as a single ecclesiastic organisation still secured the unity of the divided Kingdom of Poland. In his opinion the alleged "will" to separate from Poland is contradicted by

2820-559: The political ties with Bohemia became increasingly stronger. In their exile in Germany, the Piasts had witnessed the inner colonizations along the Elbe river and strived to develop sparsely populated Silesia by calling in Germans from the west, slowly increasing Silesia's German population which came to dominate the region over the next centuries. The reign of duke Henry IV Probus was exemplary for

2880-465: The position of Silesias duchies in the area of tension between Poland and Bohemia. After the death of his father Henry III, he was raised in Prague at the court of Bohemian king Ottokar II , who also became his guardian. After Ottokar's death, he did not, as expected, became viceregent of Bohemia for underage Wenceslaus II but was compensated with Kłodzko by Rudolf of Habsburg , who also ennobled Henry to

2940-568: The principle of agnatic seniority . The history of the Silesian Piasts began with the feudal fragmentation of Poland in 1138 following the death of the Polish duke Bolesław III Wrymouth. While the Silesian province and the Kraków seniorate were assigned to Władysław II the Exile, his three younger half-brothers Bolesław IV the Curly , Mieszko III the Old , and Henry of Sandomierz received Masovia , Greater Poland and Sandomierz , respectively, according to

3000-507: The rule was assumed by Władysław's II eldest brother Bolesław IV the Curly , Duke of Masovia, who died without issue in 1173. He was followed in the Seniorate by the second eldest Mieszko III the Old , while Masovia and the Kuyavian lands passed to Bolesław's IV minor son Leszek . The senioral principle finally turned out to be a failure as Mieszko's III rule at Kraków was not only challenged by

3060-457: The same year and was succeeded by his only surviving son Henry I the Bearded , who soon entered into conflict with his Piast relatives as well as with his German neighbours. In 1202 he had to face the invasion of his uncle Mieszko I, who, still dissatisfied with the 1172 partition, annexed the Opole territory of late Jarosław. The Duchy of Opole remained with the estates of Mieszko's descendants, whereby

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3120-642: The secession of Upper Silesia was conclusive. In 1206 Henry I came to an agreement with the Polish High Duke Władysław III Spindleshanks to swap Lubusz Land for the Greater Polish Kalisz region. The plan however was foiled, when Władysław III lost the seniorate and furthermore Lubusz was occupied by the troops of the Wettin margrave Conrad II of Lusatia. Duke Henry had to struggle for his northwestern outpost, which he regained upon

3180-477: The second son of Władysław II the Exile, Duke Mieszko IV Tanglefoot of Upper Silesia. In the long-term struggle Leszek I was killed in 1227 and the Pomerelian lands got lost, when Duke Swietopelk II of Gdańsk declared himself independent. Duchy of Silesia The Duchy of Silesia ( Polish : Księstwo śląskie , German : Herzogtum Schlesien , Czech : Slezské knížectví ) with its capital at Wrocław

3240-419: The sons of expelled Władysław II, but also by the youngest son Casimir II the Just , who had not received any share by his late father's testament. Though upon the death of Bolesław IV the Curly he had received the Duchy of Sandomierz , in 1177 he took the occasion of an uprising by Lesser Polish nobles ( magnates ) and assumed the rule as High Duke from his elder brother Mieszko III. A long-term struggle between

3300-593: The sovereignty in Kraków , had made no less persevering efforts to bring Greater Poland also under his dominion. From the beginning of the thirteenth century he had not ceased to intervene in the disputes which were carried on between the descendants of Mieszko the Old . At last in 1234, a good half of that province was formally ceded to him. As a guardian of minor dukes, Henry moreover ruled over Opole and Sandomierz . But, he aimed higher. This Silesian prince not only intended to enlarge his possessions; he proposed to make them

3360-429: The treaty concluded by the rulers, and so Władysław remained in exile. He died in 1159 without returning to Poland. In 1163, Bolesław the Curly was pressed by Frederick Barbarossa to return the hereditary Silesian province to Władysław's sons Bolesław the Tall , Konrad Spindleshanks and Mieszko Tanglefoot , though he retained the Seniorate Province and the Polish throne at Kraków. The Duchy of Silesia remained within

3420-444: The weak and divided Silesian dukes needed a strong partner who could provide cover. They were now separated from the Polish state and subjected to the Bohemian crown. After the death of Wenceslaus III , king of Bohemia and Poland, the right to the Polish crown was disputed, being claimed by various Piast dukes as well as the successors of Wenceslaus III on the Bohemian throne. In 1327, John of Bohemia invaded Poland in order to gain

3480-523: Was a medieval provincial duchy of Poland located in the region of Silesia . Soon after it was formed under the Piast dynasty in 1138, it fragmented into various Silesian duchies. In 1327, the remaining Duchy of Wrocław as well as most other duchies ruled by the Silesian Piasts passed under the suzerainty of the Kingdom of Bohemia as the Duchies of Silesia . The acquisition was completed when King Casimir III

3540-583: Was again partitioned among his sons. The second, Duke Henry VI the Good , in order to ward off claims raised by his elder brother Duke Bolesław III the Generous of Legnica, in 1327 signed an inheritance treaty with King John of Bohemia , like most of the Silesian duchies had been vassalized by the Kingdom of Bohemia in the early 14th century. As the Polish king Casimir III in the 1335 Treaty of Trentschin had renounced Silesia, Henry's VI duchy passed without opposition to

3600-429: Was expelled by his younger half-brothers, an incident which led to long-time Polish particularism. The duchy neighboured originally each of the four partition duchies of Masovia at Płock , Sandomierz , Silesia at Wrocław and Greater Poland at Poznań . Even after many of those were further partitioned, it bordered on several principalities, and was at least close to all. Upon the exile of High Duke Władysław II

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