Duke of Silesia

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 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 Piast dynasty

Below follows a simplified table of Silesia's partitions:

A quick reminder avoiding confusion:

Table of rulers

[[Přemyslid]] Dukes of Silesia

Partitions of Bohemian Silesia under Přemyslid dynasty

Below follows a simplified table of Silesia's partitions:

Table of rulers

Notes:

• The numbering of the Silesian Premyslid rulers is a problematic matter between scholars, as different sources numbers and orders them differently.

[[Podiebrad family|Podiebrad]] Dukes of Silesia

Partitions of Silesia under Podiebrad dynasty

Table of rulers

The Ecclesiastical [[Duchy of Nysa]]

Established in 1290 by High Duke Henry IV Probus, held by the Bishops of Wrocław

• 1302–1319 Henry of Wiebrzno
• 1326–1341 Nankier
• 1342–1376 Przecław of Pogarell
• 1382–1417 Wenceslaus II of Legnica
• 1417–1447 Konrad IV of Oleśnica
• 1447–1456 Peter II Nowak
• 1456–1467 Jošt of Rožmberk
• 1468–1482 Rudolf of Rüdesheim
• 1482–1506 Jan IV Roth
• 1506–1520 Jan V Thurzo
• 1520–1539 Jacob of Salza
• 1539–1562 Balthazar of Promnitz
• 1562–1574 Caspar of Logau
• 1574–1585 Martin Gerstmann
• 1585–1596 Andreas Jerin
• 1596–1599 Bonaventura Hahn
• 1599–1600 Paul Albert of Radolfzell
• 1600–1608 Jan VI of Sitsch
• 1608–1624 Charles of Austria, son of Charles II, Archduke of Austria
• 1625–1655 Karol Ferdynand Vasa, Duke of Opole from 1648
• 1656–1662 Leopold Wilhelm of Habsburg
• 1663–1664 Charles Joseph of Habsburg, also Grand Master of the Teutonic Order from 1662
• 1665–1671 Sebastian von Rostock
• 1671–1682 Frederick of Hesse-Darmstadt
• 1683–1732 Franz Ludwig von Pfalz-Neuburg
• 1732–1747 Philipp Ludwig von Sinzendorf Major part annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia after the First Silesian War in 1742.
• 1747–1795 Philipp Gotthard von Schaffgotsch
• 1795–1817 Joseph Christian Franz zu Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Bartenstein Prussian part secularised in 1810.
• 1823–1832 Emanuel von Schimonsky
• 1835–1840 Leopold von Sedlnitzky
• 1843–1844 Joseph Knauer
• 1845–1850 Melchior von Diepenbrock Theocracy abolished in 1850.

Notes

Bibliography

• Neue deutsche Biographie, Berlin 2001, Bd.: 20, p. 403–407
• Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon, Leipzig 1905–1909, Bd.: 17, p. 845–847

References

1. As Opole kept the original capital of Opole-Racibórz, the duchy will be pictured with the same color.
2. divided into '''Świdnica''' and '''Jawor''' between 1312 and 1346
3. Zator split 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.
4. Briefly recovered by '''Jawor''' between 1337 and 1346.
5. The 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 the Legnica. Lubin re-emerged in 1488, but was definitely annexed to Legnica in 1550
6. Shared a half, between 1358 and 1368, with '''Świdnica-Jawor'''; Olawa split between 1400 and 1454 and eventually joined '''Legnica'''
7. '''Brzeg''' was bought from Opole in 1481 and '''Lubin''' from Głogów in 1482
8. Olawa split from Brzeg in three periods: 1586–1595, 1602–1605, 1672–1680. The latter two were dowries as well.
9. Avoid confusion between [[Henry III the White]] and [[Henry III, Duke of Silesia-Glogau. Henry III, duke of Głogów]]
10. Avoid confusion between [[Konrad I, Duke of Silesia-Glogau. Conrad I of Głogów]] and [[Konrad I of Oleśnica. Conrad I of Oleśnica]], later inheritor of a part of Głogów.
11. Avoid confusion with the later duke of Żagań, [[Henry IV the Faithful]]
12. A new line of dukes started with Conrad I, and Henry was his son. As Henry was, like his uncle [[Henry III the White]], descendant of Henry II, he was numbered, not according to his uncle, but independently as a new line.
13. Avoid confusion between dukes [[Konrad II the Hunchback. Conrad II of Żagań, known as ''the Hunchback'']] and [[Konrad II the Gray. Conrad II of Oleśnica, known as ''the Gray'']].
14. Albeit more known as Przemko, his true name was probably Premislaus
15. Avoid confusion between dukes [[Henry V the Fat. Henry V of Legnica]] and [[Henry V of Żagań]]
16. Ruled in Swidnica-Jawor since 1273, and abdicated at his father's death, when the partitions were made.
17. Albeit more known as Bolko, his true name was probably Boleslaus. Avoid confusion with his contemporary, [[Bolko I of Opole]].
18. A new line of dukes starts with Mieszko I, who is thereby counted as I.
19. A new line of dukes starts with Casimir, who is thereby counted as I.
20. Applied for Bolko I and Bolko II of Opole. Albeit more known as Bolko, their true name was probably Boleslaus, name with they are also stated in sources. Bolko I was the first Boleslaus/Bolko in Upper Silesia and he was numbered as such. However, avoid confusion with his Lower Silesian contemporary, [[Bolko I the Strict]]. The same can be said to Bolko II of Opole. Avoid confusiom between him and his Lower Silesian contemporaries, [[Bolko the Small]] and [[Bolko II of Ziębice]].
21. Avoid confusion between dukes [[Henry VI the Good. Henry VI of Wrocław, known as ''the Good'']] and [[Henry VI the Elder. Henry VI of Żagań, known as ''the Elder'']]
22. A new line of dukes started with Bolko I, and Henry was his son. However, unlike Głogów line, who followed Henry the Pious, this Henry didn't follow any numbering of his ancestors, and styled himself as the I.
23. Albeit known as Bolko, his true name was probably Boleslaus. Starter of a new line of dukes, he recognized his father's numbering
24. Avoid confusion with the prior duke of Wrocław, [[Henry IV Probus. Henry IV the Just]]
25. Albeit more known as Przemko, probably his true name was Premislaus.
26. Documented as such in 1340.
27. Applied to [[Władysław of Oświęcim]] and [[Władysław of Bytom]]. They styled themselves I, ignoring the numbering of their ancestor and last duke of the united Opole-Racibórz, [[Władysław Opolski. Ladislaus I of Opole-Racibórz]]. Avoid confusion with this two contemporary dukes
28. Albeit known as Bolko, his true name was probably Boleslaus. Avoid confusion with his Lower Silesian uncle, [[Bolko II of Ziębice]], and the Upper Silesian [[Bolko II of Opole]].
29. Avoid confusion between the Lower Silesian [[Wenceslaus I of Legnica]], and the Upper Silesians [[Wenceslaus I, Duke of Cieszyn. Wenceslaus I of Cieszyn]] and [[Wenceslaus I of Zator]]
30. Ladislaus, as ruler of Opole and a direct descendant of [[Władysław Opolski. Ladislaus I of Opole-Racibórz]], numbered himself II.
31. Not counting the regents of Opole-Racibórz, Henry was in fact the first (and only) ruler in Upper Silesia to bear this name, more usual in Lower Silesia. In fact, his mother, [[Elisabeth of Świdnica]], was Lower Silesian.
32. Applied to Upper Silesian [[Bolko III of Strzelce]] and Lower Silesian [[Bolko III of Ziębice]]. Albeit more known as Bolko, their true name must have been Boleslaus. Avoid confusion between these two contemporary dukes.
33. Albeit following the numberings of the rulers named Bolko, the same is not applied to the dukes Henry in Ziębice. Henry is styled the I, ignoring the numbering of [[Henry II the Pious]].
34. Avoid confusion between Lower Silesian [[Wenceslaus II of Legnica]] and the Upper Silesians [[Wenceslaus II of Zator]] and [[Wenceslaus II, Duke of Cieszyn. Wenceslaus II of Cieszyn]]
35. Numbered higher, as [[Henry VII of Brzeg]], despite succeeding to his father only in 1398, was co-ruling with his father since 1361, sooner than Henry VIII's ascension.
36. Avoid confusion between contemporary dukes [[Henry VIII of Legnica]] and [[Henry VIII the Sparrow. Henry VIII of Głogów, known as ''the Sparrow'']]
37. Avoid confusion between contemporary dukes of Legnica-Brzeg, [[Henry VII of Brzeg. Henry VII of Brzeg known as ''the Courageous'' or ''with a Scar'']] and [[Henry VII Rumpold. Henry VII of Głogów, known as ''Rumpold'' or ''the Middle'']]
38. Albeit more known as Bolko, his true name was probably Boleslaus.
39. Bernard was the first Upper Silesian ruler to bear this name.
40. Avoid confusion between the contemporary dukes [[Jan I of Żagań. John I of Żagań]] and [[Jan I of Opole. John I of Opole]]
41. Avoid confusion between contemporary dukes [[Henry IX of Lubin]] and [[Henry IX the Elder]] of Żagań. Henry IX the Elder has also the same sobriquet as his uncle, Henry VI.
42. Avoid confusion between dukes [[Henry X of Haynau. Henry X of Lubin]] and [[Henry X Rumpold. Henry X of Głogów]].
43. Note that both Henry VII and his nephew Henry X bore the surname ''Rumpold''
44. Numbered lower than Henry VIII of Legnica (who ascended in 1364) because he was co-ruling with his father since 1361.
45. ''Kantner'' refers to this town, possibly the one where he was born.
46. [[Prusice]] was ceded by Conrad V to his brother Conrad VII, in 1421.
47. [[Wołów]] was ceded by Conrad VI to his brother Conrad V, in 1420.
48. In fact, the half of Ścinawa inherited from [[John, Duke of Ścinawa]] in 1365.
49. Her rule was contested by the Častolovice family, apparently invested with the duchy by the Bohemian king, until 1435.
50. ''Silesiacarum Rerum Scriptores'' (1729), ''Codicis Silesiæ Diplomatici'', CXXV, p. 1004.
51. Ruled jointly with his sister-in-law, [[Margareta of Celje]].
52. Strangely he was not numbered II, when he had an uncle with this name who co-ruled in the same duchy.
53. Avoid confusion between [[Henry XI of Głogów]] and [[Henry XI of Legnica]].
54. John adopted the numbering V, after his uncle, [[Jan IV of Oświęcim]]
55. [http://www.morganlefay.ca/CD/Windsor%20tree/INDIs80/II40461.html Helena Osvětimská, 2020-03-06]