Duchy of Oświęcim

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The Duchy of Oświęcim, or the Duchy of Auschwitz, was one of many duchies of Silesia, formed in the aftermath of the fragmentation of Poland. It was established around 1315 by the Polish Piast dynasty. Briefly semi-autonomus, with its capital in Oświęcim, it was reattached to the Kingdom of Poland in the 16th century. Annexed by the Habsburg Empire in 1772, it ceased to exist with its dissolution in 1918, its lands being reincorporated into the Second Polish Republic.

Contents 1 History 2 Dukes of Oświęcim 2.1 Rulers claiming the title of Duke during Austrian partition of Poland 3 References

[edit] History

The Duchy was created in 1315 in the aftermath of the ongoing 12th century fragmentation of Poland. Its lands were a part of the larger Duchy of Teschen (Cieszyn) until the Duchy of Oświęcim was split off from it as a separate entity in 1315 with Władysław I Oświęcimski becoming its first Duke.

In 1445 the duchies Zator and Toszek were created from some the lands of the Duchy.^[1] At first, the Duchy of Oświęcim fell under the Bohemian sphere of influence, but was reunited with Poland in 1454, when the last prince of Oświęcim, Jan IV Oświęcimski, declared himself to be a vassal of Polish king Kazimierz IV Jagiellończyk. Three years later he sold his Duchy to Kazimierz.

At the Sejm of 1564, King Sigismund August issued privileges of incorporation recognizing both Duchies of Oświęcim and Zator as part of the Crown of Polish Kingdom, voivodeship of Kraków, although both retained their ducal titles.

Oświęcim and the lands of the former Duchy would become part of the Austrian Empire after the first partition of Poland in 1772, and were reattached to the recreated Polish state in 1918.

[edit] Dukes of Oświęcim

Dukes of Oświęcim belonged to the Silesian branch of the Piast dynasty (see also Dukes of Silesia).

1314/5-1321/4	Władysław I (son of Mieszko cieszyński, from 1290 co-regent, due to division of Oświęcim)
1321/4-1372	Jan I Scholastyk (son of Władysław I)
1321/4-1325	Eufrozyna Mazowiecka (wife of Władysław I, mother of Jan I, regent, d. 1329)
1372-1375/6	Jan II (son Jan I)
1375/6-1405	Jan III (son of Jan II, died childless)
1405-1406	Przemysław Oświęcimski (also known as Przemysław the Younger (Młodszy), son of Przemysł I Noszak (whose uncle was Mieszko cieszyński), from 1404 prince of half of Ścinawa and Głogów, from 1405 also in Toszku)
1410-1433/4	Kazimierz I Oświęcimski (son of Przemysł Młodszy, due to division in 1414 of Oświęcim, Toszek and Strzelin (in Strzelin until 1427))
1433/4-1484	Przemysław Toszecki (son of Kazimierz I, also prince of Toszek due to its division in 1445)
1433/4-1456	Jan IV (Janusz) (brother of Przemysław Toszecki and son of Kazimierz I, also prince of Toszek, from 1445 due to a division of Oświęcim, 1465-1482 Gliwice, abdicated (Oświęcim transferred to Crown of Poland), d. 1496)

[edit] Rulers claiming the title of Duke during Austrian partition of Poland

In the aftermath of the First Partition of Poland, until 1918, the Holy Roman Emperors, later Emperors of Austria had the title of Duke of Auschwitz (German: Herzog zu Auschwitz) which constituted part of their official grand title.

Emperor	Acceded	Deceded
Joseph II	1772	20 February 1790
Leopold II	20 February 1790	1 March 1792
Francis I	1 March 1792	2 March 1835
Ferdinand I	2 March 1835	2 December 1848
Francis Joseph I	2 December 1848	21 November 1916
Charles I	21 November 1916	11 November 1918

[edit] References

1. ^ The History of the City of Oswiecim www.auschwitz.org.pl (based on "Auschwitz 1940-1945. Central Issues in the History of the Camp", published by the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, Poland)