Duke of Silesia

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The Duke of Silesia was the title of sons and descendants of the Polish Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth. In accordance with the last will and testament of Bolesław, upon his death, his lands were divided into four or five hereditary provinces distributed among his sons, and a royal province of Kraków was reserved for the eldest, who was to be High Duke of all Poland. This was known as the fragmentation of Poland. Subsequent developments led to further splintering of the duchies.

At the beginning of the 14th century, fourteen independent Duchies existed in Silesia: Brzeg, Wrocław, Świdnica, Jawor, Ziębice, Głogów, Ścinawa, Żagan and Oleśnica in Lower Silesia; Koźle, Cieszyn, Bytom, Niemodlin, Opole, Strzelce, Racibórz and Opava in Upper Silesia and the ecclesiastical 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 death of George William, Duke of Liegnitz the dynasty ceased to exist.

Duchy of Silesia

The Duchy of Silesia, one of the hereditary provinces of Poland, Silesia, was granted to Bolesław III's eldest son, Władysław II the Exile, and was subsequently divided among his sons Bolesław I the Tall (Wrocław/Lower Silesia), Mieszko I Tanglefoot (Racibórz/Upper Silesia) and Konrad Spindleshanks (Głogów). After Konrad's death Głogów was again united with the Duchy of Wrocław/Lower Silesia.

Partitions of Silesia

In 1173, Bolesław returned and he agreed to let Mieszko and Bolesław rule in their own Duchies, separated from the Duchy of Silesia. This led to the creation of the Duchy of Racibórz for Mieszko I and the Duchy of Opole for Jarosław, beginning the fragmentation of the Duchy of Silesia. The territories controlled by Mieszko I and Jarosław roughly corresponded to what is known as Upper Silesia, while the territories remaining with Bolesław I roughly corresponded to Lower Silesia.

Lower Silesia

Duchy of Lower Silesia was a direct continuation of the Duchy of Silesia, but without the territories roughly corresponding to Upper Silesia; hence, it was composed of the territories roughly corresponding to Lower Silesia. Some sources refer to it as the Duchy of Silesia; some as the Duchy of Lower Silesia; others yet as the Duchy of Wrocław (Breslau). Wrocław was the capital of the Duchy of Silesia, yet this early (1172–1248) Duchy of Silesia should not be confused with the smaller Duchy of Wrocław that was created with further fragmentation in 1248.

The Duchy went through various border changes in the coming years, sometimes losing and sometimes gaining territory. In 1248, Lower Silesia was divided when Bolesław II had to cede the Duchy of Wrocław to his younger brother Henry III.

Upper Silesia

Upper Silesia was divided into the Duchies of Cieszyn and Opole-Racibórz. In 1340, the Duchy of Racibórz was united with Opava, a Bohemian fief.

Piast Dukes of Silesia

Partitions of Polish Silesia under the Piast dynasty

       Below follows a simplified table of Silesia's partitions:

Duchy of Silesia
(1138–1163)
       Opole-Racibórz
(Upper Silesia)
(1st creation)

(1163–1282)
                    
Wrocław
(Lower Silesia)
(1163–1335)
       Legnica
(1st creation)
(1241–1449)
       Opole
(1282–1521)[1]
Bytom
(1282–1357)
Racibórz
(1282–1340)
      
Głogów
(1st creation)
(1274–1331)
Oleśnica
(1312–1492)
Żagań
(1309–1504)
Świdnica-Jawor[2]
(1274–1392)
Ziębice
(1312–1442)
       Oświęcim
(1315–1457)
and Zator
(1445–1513)[3]
Annexed to Bohemia (1331–49)[4] Cieszyn
(1281–1653)
Annexed to Bohemia Shared inheritance of Żagań (1349–1480), with Świdnica-Jawor (1349–1368), Bohemia (1368–1384) and Cieszyn (1384–1480); full inheritance with Żagań (1480–1488) Annexed to Bohemia
Recovered by Opole (1521)
       Lubin[5]
(1342–1550)
       Brzeg[6]
(1st creation)
(1342–1450)
Shared inheritance of Oleśnica (1357–1498) with Cieszyn (1357–1459); Full inheritance with Oleśnica (1459–1498); Recovered by Opole
       Annexed to Bohemia
Annexed to Bohemia Annexed to Opole Annexed to Bohemia
      
Annexed to Poland (1488)       
Annexed to Bohemia Legnica[7]
(2nd creation)
(1454–1672)
Brzeg[8]
(2nd creation)
(1488–1672)
      
Annexed to Saxony Opole-Racibórz
(Upper Silesia)
(2nd creation)

(1521–1532)
Annexed to Poland
Annexed to Ansbach
Annexed to the Holy Roman Empire Annexed to the Holy Roman Empire

A quick reminder, avoiding confusion:

Table of rulers

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Přemyslid, Dukes of Silesia

Partitions of Bohemian Silesia under the Přemyslid dynasty

Below follows a simplified table of Silesia's partitions:

       Piast Ráciborz
(1282–1336)
      
Opava
(1269–1456)
(brief annexation to
Piast Legnica in 1308–1311
      
Ráciborz
(1378–1521)
Krnov
(1424–1493)
(brief annexation to
Hungary in 1474–1490)
Glubczyce
(1433–1485)
      
Pledged to
Opole and
annexed to
Bohemia
Annexed to
Bohemia
Annexed to
Bohemia
Annexed to
Opole

Table of rulers

Notes:
  • The numbering of the Silesian Premyslid rulers is a problematic matter between scholars, as different sources number and order them differently.
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Podiebrad, Dukes of Silesia

Partitions of Silesia under the Podiebrad dynasty

       Part of
Piast dynasty
property
County of
Kladsko

(1471–1501)
Duchy of
Ziębice

(1456–1569)
Duchy of
Oleśnica

(1498–1686)
Annexed to the
Hardegg family
property
       Duchy of
Bierutów

(1536–1587)
Annexed to the
Holy Roman
Empire
      

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The Ecclesiastical Duchy of Nysa

Established in 1290 by High Duke Henry Probus, held by the Bishops of Wrocław

A major part annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia after the First Silesian War in 1742.

Prussian part secularised in 1810.

  • 1823–1832 Emanuel von Schimonsky
  • 1835–1840 Leopold von Sedlnitzky
  • 1843–1844 Joseph Knauer
  • 1845–1850 Melchior von Diepenbrock

Theocracy was abolished in 1850.

See also

References

Bibliography

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