Masovia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Mazovia may also refer to Mazovia encoding for DOS.
Masovia (Polish: Mazowsze) is a geographical and historical region situated in eastern Poland with its capital at Warsaw. The region has also been known in Latin as Mazovia.
[edit] History
Masovia was probably conquered by Duke Mieszko I of the Polans, the first historical ruler of Poland in the 10th century. During the chaos following the death of Mieszko II in 1034 and the subsequent invasion by the Bohemians, it split temporarily from Poland under an independent ruler. It was then subdued by Casimir I in 1047 with help from Ruthenian units.
Following the fragmentation of Poland after the death of Bolesław III Masovia was governed by his son Bolesław IV, the later high-duke of Poland, and other dukes of Masovia from the local branch of the Piast dynasty. Masovia was not incorporated into the Polish kingdom until the death of the last regional duke in 1526.
Following the partitions of Poland of the 18th century, Masovia became part of Congress Poland in 1815 and the Imperial Russia in 1831. In 1918 Masovia was included within the newly formed Second Polish Republic.
In 1999 the Masovian Voivodeship was created as one of 16 administrative regions of Poland.