The Duke of Silesia was the title of sons and descendants of the Polish Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth. In accordance with the last will and testament of Bolesław, upon his death, his lands were divided into four or five hereditary provinces distributed among his sons, and a royal province of Kraków was reserved for the eldest, who was to be High Duke of all Poland. This was known as the fragmentation of Poland. Subsequent developments led to further splintering of the duchies.
At the beginning of the 14th century, fourteen independent Duchies existed in Silesia: Brzeg, Wrocław, Świdnica, Jawor, Ziębice, Głogów, Ścinawa, Żagan and Oleśnica in Lower Silesia; Koźle, Cieszyn, Bytom, Niemodlin, Opole, Strzelce, Racibórz and Opava in Upper Silesia and the ecclesiastical Duchy of Nysa. Between 1327 and 1329, most dukes accepted the overlordship of Bohemian king John of Bohemia, who acquired the right of succession for all of these duchies. In the coming centuries, all branches of the Silesian Piasts died out, and with the death of George William, Duke of Liegnitz the dynasty ceased to exist.
Duchy of Silesia
The Duchy of Silesia, one of the hereditary provinces of Poland, Silesia, was granted to Bolesław III's eldest son, Władysław II the Exile, and was subsequently divided among his sons Bolesław I the Tall (Wrocław/Lower Silesia), Mieszko I Tanglefoot (Racibórz/Upper Silesia) and Konrad Spindleshanks (Głogów). After Konrad's death Głogów was again united with the Duchy of Wrocław/Lower Silesia.
Partitions of Silesia
In 1173, Bolesław returned and he agreed to let Mieszko and Bolesław rule in their own Duchies, separated from the Duchy of Silesia. This led to the creation of the Duchy of Racibórz for Mieszko I and the Duchy of Opole for Jarosław, beginning the fragmentation of the Duchy of Silesia. The territories controlled by Mieszko I and Jarosław roughly corresponded to what is known as Upper Silesia, while the territories remaining with Bolesław I roughly corresponded to Lower Silesia.
Lower Silesia
Duchy of Lower Silesia was a direct continuation of the Duchy of Silesia, but without the territories roughly corresponding to Upper Silesia; hence, it was composed of the territories roughly corresponding to Lower Silesia. Some sources refer to it as the Duchy of Silesia; some as the Duchy of Lower Silesia; others yet as the Duchy of Wrocław (Breslau). Wrocław was the capital of the Duchy of Silesia, yet this early (1172–1248) Duchy of Silesia should not be confused with the smaller Duchy of Wrocław that was created with further fragmentation in 1248.
The Duchy went through various border changes in the coming years, sometimes losing and sometimes gaining territory. In 1248, Lower Silesia was divided when Bolesław II had to cede the Duchy of Wrocław to his younger brother Henry III.
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia was divided into the Duchies of Cieszyn and Opole-Racibórz. In 1340, the Duchy of Racibórz was united with Opava, a Bohemian fief.
Piast Dukes of Silesia Partitions of Polish Silesia under the Piast dynasty
Below follows a simplified table of Silesia's partitions:
+Duchy of Silesia(1138–1163) Opole-Racibórz(Upper Silesia)(1st creation)(1163–1282) Wrocław(Lower Silesia)(1163–1335) Legnica(1st creation)(1241–1449) Opole(1282–1521)As Opole kept the original capital of Opole-Racibórz, the duchy will be pictured with the same color.Bytom(1282–1357)Racibórz(1282–1340) Głogów(1st creation)(1274–1331)Oleśnica (1312–1492)Żagań(1309–1504)Świdnica-Jawordivided into Świdnica and Jawor between 1312 and 1346(1274–1392)Ziębice(1312–1442) Oświęcim(1315–1457)and Zator(1445–1513)Zator split a few years before the annexation of Oświęcim to Poland; Zator therefore will be seen as a direct successor duchy, and will be pictured with the same color.Annexed to Bohemia (1331–49)Briefly recovered by Jawor between 1337 and 1346.Cieszyn(1281–1653)Annexed to BohemiaShared inheritance of Żagań (1349–1480), with Świdnica-Jawor (1349–1368), Bohemia (1368–1384) and Cieszyn (1384–1480); full inheritance with Żagań (1480–1488)Annexed to BohemiaRecovered by Opole (1521) LubinThe dukes changed their capital to Chojnów in the early 1440s, and sold the town of Lubin to Głogów, which was bought back in 1482 by Legnica. The recovery of Legnica by Chojnów (1454) recentered the capital to this recovered town, and, until 1488, the territory of Chojnów and later Lubin became part of Legnica. Lubin re-emerged in 1488, but was definitely annexed to Legnica in 1550(1342–1550) BrzegShared a half, between 1358 and 1368, with Świdnica-Jawor; Olawa split between 1400 and 1454 and eventually joined Legnica(1st creation)(1342–1450)Shared inheritance of Oleśnica (1357–1498) with Cieszyn (1357–1459); Full inheritance with Oleśnica (1459–1498); Recovered by Opole Annexed to BohemiaAnnexed to BohemiaAnnexed to OpoleAnnexed to Bohemia Annexed to Poland (1488) Annexed to BohemiaLegnicaBrzeg was bought from Opole in 1481 and Lubin from Głogów in 1482(2nd creation)(1454–1672)BrzegOlawa split from Brzeg in three periods: 1586–1595, 1602–1605, 1672–1680. The latter two were dowries as well.(2nd creation)(1488–1672) Annexed to SaxonyOpole-Racibórz(Upper Silesia)(2nd creation)(1521–1532)Annexed to PolandAnnexed to AnsbachAnnexed to the Holy Roman EmpireAnnexed to the Holy Roman Empire
A quick reminder, avoiding confusion: Lower SilesiaUpper Silesia Duchy of Wrocław Duchy of Legnica Duchy of Głogów Duchy of Świdnica-Jawor Duchy of Wrocław Duchy of Oleśnica Duchy of Opole-Racibórz (divided after 1282) Duchy of Cieszyn Duchy of Bytom Duchy of Oświęcim Duchy of Zator
Table of rulers