Duchy of Legnica

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Coat of Arms of Duchy of Legnica

The Duchy of Legnica (Polish: Księstwo Legnickie) or Duchy of Liegnitz (German: Herzogtum Liegnitz) was one of the duchies of Silesia. The capital of the duchy was Legnica (Liegnitz). It became the residence of the dukes of Lower Silesia in 1163 and was the seat of a principality ruled by a Silesian branch of the Piast dynasty from 1248 to 1675. Formed in 1248 by Bolesław II Rogatka in Lower Silesia, it shared the fate of most of the others Silesian duchies, falling into Bohemian, Austrian and eventually, after the Silesian Wars, Prussian spheres of influence.

Piast Duchy of Silesia, split between Henryk III Biały (orange), Władysław Opolski (yellow) and Bolesław II Rogatka (purple - Duchy of Legnica).

Legnica became famous for the Battle of Legnica (or Battle of Wahlstatt) that took place at Legnickie Pole near the city on 9 April 1241, during the Mongol invasion of Europe. The Christian army of the Polish duke Henry II the Pious of Silesia, supported by the feudal nobility, included Poles, Bavarian miners and military orders, was decisively defeated by the Mongols. Although the Mongols killed Henry and destroyed his forces, their advance into Europe was halted when they turned back to attend to the election of a new Khagan (Grand Khan) following the death in the same year of Ögedei Khan. Minor celebrations are held annually in Legnica to commemorate the battle.

As the capital of the Duchy of Legnica at the beginning of the 14th century, Legnica was an important city of Central Europe, with a population of approximately 16,000 residents. The city began to expand quickly after the discovery of gold in the Kaczawa

Legnica, along with other Silesian duchies, became a vassal of the Kingdom of Bohemia during the 14th century and was included within the Holy Roman Empire. The Protestant Reformation was introduced in the duchy as early as 1522 and the population became Lutheran. After the death of King Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia at Mohács in 1526, Legnica was inherited with the Crown of Bohemia by the Habsburg Monarchy. The first map of Silesia was made by native son Martin Helwig.

In 1676, Legnica passed to direct Habsburg rule after the death of the last Silesian Piast duke, Georg Wilhelm (son of Duke Christian of Brieg), despite the earlier inheritance pact by Brandenburg and Silesia, by which it was to go to Brandenburg.

In 1742 most of Silesia, including Liegnitz, became part of the Kingdom of Prussia after King Frederick the Great's defeat of Austria in the War of the Austrian Succession; it lost most of its privileges after being annexed by Prussia.