Duchies of Silesia

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The Duchies of Silesia resulted from divisions of the original Duchy of Silesia after 1138.

In accordance with the last will and testament of Poland's Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth, Poland was upon his death in 1138 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 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 descendants and successors, until they died out in 1675. Those Silesian Piasts, known as Dukes of Silesia, and territories they ruled were known as Duchies of Silesia.

Many of the Duchies shared similar fate: falling away from Kingdom of Poland sphere of influence, vassalization by John I of Bohemia in 1327, falling into Bohemian sphere of influence, their local Piast dynasty dying out, becoming a "State Country", falling into Austrian sphere of influence, and in 1742, annexation by Prussia following the Silesian Wars.

Duchies of Silesia should not be confused with larger singular entities known as the Duchy of Silesia.

[edit] Duchies of Silesia

Note: this list may not be complete.

[edit] Maps

The following maps illustrate continuing fragemtarization of the Duchy of Silesia, and shifting borders of the individual smaller Duchies.

1172-1177

1177-1185

1185-1201

1201-1202

1206-1217

1217-1230

1241-1243

1243-1248

1248-1249

1249-1273

1273-1277

1277-1278

1278-1281

1281-1284

1284-1287

1287-1290

1290-1291

1294-1296

1296-1301

1306-1309

1309-1311
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