Duchy of Opole

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Coat of arms of the Duchy of Opole

1172-1177. Fragmentation of the Duchy of Silesia begins, divided between: first son of Władysław, Bolesław I the Tall (orange) - Duchy of Wrocław; second son of Władyslaw, Mieszko I Plątonogi (yellow) - Duchy of Racibórz; son of Bolesław, Jarosław Opolski (green) - Duchy of Opole

Duchy of Opole (German: Herzogtum Oppeln) was one of the duchies of Silesia. Its capital was Opole (Oppeln).

The Duchy was formed in 1172 as a territory for the eldest of Bolesław I the Tall sons, Jarosław, Duke of Opole. In the years 1201-1202 it was briefly incorporated into the Duchy of Wrocław. In 1202 it was taken by Mieszko I Tanglefoot, who merged it with his Duchy of Racibórz, creating the Duchy of Opole and Racibórz. In 1290 the Duchy of Opole was recreated, although some of the territory of the Duchy of Opole and Racibórz was used for Duchy of Cieszyn and Duchy of Bytom. The Duchy would suffer various territorial changes in the future, mostly becoming increasingly small until the mid-15th century, when it would start to expand again, eventually resulting in the recreation of the Duchy of Opole and Racibórz in 1511. As a Duchy of Opole and Racibórz it would fall to House of Hohenzollern, then House of Habsburg, briefly to the Polish House of Vasa and finally it would be annexed and incorporated into the Kingdom of Prussia (18th century).