TheDuke of Silesia was the title of sons and descendants of thePolish DukeBolesław III Wrymouth. In accordance with thelast 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 ofKraków reserved for the eldest, who was to be High Duke of all Poland. This was known as thefragmentation of Poland. Subsequent developments lead 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 ofBohemian kingJohn 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 ofGeorge William, Duke of Liegnitz the dynasty ceased to exist.
TheDuchy 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 sonsBolesław I the Tall (Wrocław/Lower Silesia),Mieszko I Tanglefoot (Racibórz/Upper Silesia) andKonrad Spindleshanks (Głogów). After Konrad's death Głogów was again united with the Duchy of Wrocław/Lower 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 theDuchy of Racibórz for Mieszko I and theDuchy 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 asUpper Silesia, while the territories remaining with Bolesław I roughly corresponded toLower Silesia.
Duchy ofLower Silesia was a direct continuation of the Duchy of Silesia, but without the territories roughly corresponding toUpper Silesia; hence it was composed of the territories roughly corresponding toLower Silesia. Some sources refer to it as the Duchy of Silesia; some as Duchy of Lower Silesia; others yet as the Duchy ofWrocław (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 was divided into the Duchies of Cieszyn, and Opole-Racibórz. In 1340 the Duchy of Racibórz was united with Opava, a Bohemian fief.
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)[1] | Bytom (1282–1357) | Racibórz (1282–1340) | |||||||||
Głogów (1st creation) (1274–1331) | Oleśnica (1312–1492) | Żagań (1309–1504) | Świdnica-Jawor[2] (1274–1392) | Ziębice (1312–1442) | Oświęcim (1315–1457) andZator (1445–1513)[3] | ||||||||
Annexed to Bohemia (1331–49)[4] | Cieszyn (1281–1653) | ||||||||||||
Annexed to Bohemia | Shared inheritance ofŻagań (1349–1480), withSwidnica-Jawor (1349–68), Bohemia (1368–84) andCieszyn (1384–1480); full inheritance with Żagań (1480–88) | Annexed to Bohemia Recovered byOpole (1521) | |||||||||||
Lubin[5] (1342–1550) | Brzeg[6] (1st creation) (1342–1450) | Shared inheritance ofOleśnica (1357–1498) withCieszyn (1357–1459); Full inheritance with Oleśnica (1459–98); Recovered byOpole | |||||||||||
Annexed to Bohemia | |||||||||||||
Annexed to Bohemia | Annexed toOpole | Annexed to Bohemia | |||||||||||
Annexed to Poland (1488) | |||||||||||||
Annexed to Bohemia | Legnica[7] (2nd creation) (1454–1672) | Brzeg[8] (2nd creation) (1488–1672) | |||||||||||
Annexed to Saxony | Opole-Racibórz (Upper Silesia) (2nd creation) (1521–1532) | Annexed to Poland | |||||||||||
Annexed toAnsbach | |||||||||||||
Annexed to the Holy Roman Empire | Annexed to the Holy Roman Empire |
A quick reminder avoiding confusion:
Lower Silesia | Upper Silesia |
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Ruler | Born | Reign | Ruling part | Consort | Death | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ladislaus (II)the Exile | ![]() | 1105 Son ofBoleslaus III of Poland andZbyslava Sviatopolkovna of Kyiv | 28 October 1138 – 1146 | Duchy of Silesia | Agnes of Austria 1125 five children | 30 May 1159 aged 53–54 | Also monarch of Poland. Exiled by his half-brothers. |
Boleslaus (IV)the Curly | ![]() | 1122 Son ofBoleslaus III of Poland andSalomea of Berg | 1146–1163 | Duchy of Silesia | Viacheslava Vsevolodovna of Novgorod 1137 three children Maria c.1170 no children | 5 January 1173 aged 50–51 | Also Duke of Masovia and monarch of Poland. |
Boleslaus Ithe Tall | 1127 First son ofLadislaus II of Poland andAgnes of Austria | 1163 – 8 December 1201 | Duchy of Wrocław (Lower Silesia) | Zvenislava Vsevolodovna of Kyiv 1142 two children Christina 1157 seven children | 8 December 1201 Wrocław aged 73–74 | Children ofLadislaus II of Poland, divided their inheritance in Silesia. | |
Mieszko ITanglefoot | 1130 Second son ofLadislaus II of Poland andAgnes of Austria | 1163 – 6 May 1211 | Duchy of Opole and Racibórz (Upper Silesia) | Ludmila c.1175 five children | 6 May 1211 aged 80–81 | ||
Henry Ithe Bearded | ![]() | 1165 Głogów Son ofBoleslaus I andChristina | 8 December 1201 – 19 March 1238 | Duchy of Wrocław (Lower Silesia) | Hedwig of Merania 1188 seven children | 19 March 1238 Krosno Odrzańskie aged 72–73 | Also monarch of Poland. |
Casimir I | 1179 Son ofMieszko I andLudmila | 6 May 1211 – 13 May 1230 | Duchy of Opole and Racibórz (Upper Silesia) | Viola c.1215 four children | 13 May 1230 aged 50–51 | ||
Regencies ofViola (1230–1233),Henry I, Duke of Wrocław (1233–1238) andHenry II, Duke of Wrocław (1238–1239) | |||||||
Mieszko IIthe Fat | ![]() | 1220 First son ofCasimir I andViola | 13 May 1230 – 22 October 1246 | Duchy of Opole and Racibórz (Upper Silesia) | Judith of Masovia c.1240 no children | 22 October 1246 aged 25–26 | |
Hedwig of Merania | ![]() | 1174 Andechs Son ofBoleslaus I andChristina | 19 March 1238 – 15 October 1243 | Duchy of Wrocław (atNiemcza) | Henry I 1188 seven children | 15 October 1243 Trzebnica Abbey aged 68–69 | Heirs of Henry I. His widow kept a seat at the town ofNiemcza, while his son inherited the main duchy, and was also monarch of Poland. |
Henry IIthe Pious | 1196 Son ofHenry I andHedwig of Merania | 19 March 1238 – 9 April 1241 | Duchy of Wrocław (Lower Silesia) | Anna of Bohemia 1216 ten children | 9 April 1241 Legnickie Pole aged 44–45 | ||
Regency ofAnna of Bohemia (1241–1242) | Children of Henry II, ruled initially under regency of their mother, and jointly until 1248, whe they made official the division of their inheritance. | ||||||
Boleslaus IIthe Bald | 1220 First son ofHenry II andAnna of Bohemia | 9 April 1241 – 31 December 1278 | Duchy of Legnica | Hedwig of Anhalt 1242 seven children Euphemia of Pomerelia 1261 (annulled 1277) no children Sophia of Dyhrn 1277 (morganatic) no children | 31 December 1278 Legnica aged 57–58 | ||
Henry IIIthe White[9] | 1222 Third son ofHenry II andAnna of Bohemia | 9 April 1241 – 3 December 1266 | Duchy of Wrocław | Judith of Masovia 2 June 1252 two children Helena of Saxony c.1255/60? no children | 3 December 1266 aged 43–44 | ||
Conrad I[10] | ![]() | 1228 Fourth son ofHenry II andAnna of Bohemia | 9 April 1241 – 6 August 1274 | Duchy of Głogów | Salome of Greater Poland 1249 six children Sophie of Landsberg 1271 no children | 6 August 1274 Głogów aged 45–46 | |
Ladislaus I | 1225 Second son ofCasimir I andViola | 22 October 1246 – 13 September 1282 | Duchy of Opole and Racibórz (Upper Silesia) | Euphemia of Greater Poland 1251 five children | 13 September 1282 Racibórz aged 56–57 | In 1282 Opole-Racibórz was divided in various duchies, to the four sons of Władysław. | |
Henry IVthe Righteous[11] | 1257 Son ofHenry III andJudith of Masovia | 3 December 1266 – 23 June 1290 | Duchy of Wrocław | Constance of Opole March 1280 no children Matilda of Brandenburg-Salzwedel c. 1288 no children | 23 June 1290 Wrocław aged 32–33 | Also monarch of Poland. Left no descendants, and his portion reverted to his cousin from Legnica. | |
Wroclaw temporarily annexed to Legnica | |||||||
Henry III[9][12] | 1251 First son ofConrad I andSalome of Greater Poland | 6 August 1274 – 9 December 1309 | Duchy of Głogów | Matilda of Brunswick-Lüneburg March 1291 nine children | 9 December 1309 aged 57–58 | Children of Conrad I, divided their inheritance. In 1284, the younger brothers exchanged properties, but, as none left descendants, both were reunited with the main duchy of Głogów. | |
Conrad IIthe Hunchback[13] | ![]() | 1252 Second son ofConrad I andSalome of Greater Poland | 6 August 1274 – 11 October 1304 | Duchy of Głogów (atŚcinawa until 1284; inŻagań since 1284) | Unmarried | 11 October 1304 aged 51–52 | |
Przemko [Premislaus] I[14] | ![]() | 1255 Third son ofConrad I andSalome of Greater Poland | 6 August 1274 – 26 February 1289 | Duchy of Głogów (at Żagań; inŚcinawa since 1284) | 26 February 1289 aged 33–34 | ||
Żagań and Scinawa remerged in Glogow | |||||||
Henry Vthe Fat[15] | 1248 First son ofBoleslaus II andHedwig of Anhalt | 31 December 1278 – 22 February 1296 | Duchy of Legnica[16] | Elisabeth of Greater Poland 1277 eight children | 22 February 1296 aged 47–48 | Children of Boleslaus II, divided their inheritance. In 1290, after the death of his childless cousin Henry IV, Henry V also inherited Wrocław. In 1296, after Henry V's death, Bolko was appointed regent for his nephews. | |
Bolko I [Boleslaus I]the Strict[17] | ![]() | 1252 Second son ofBoleslaus II andHedwig of Anhalt | 31 December 1278 – 9 November 1301 | Duchy of Świdnica-Jawor | Beatrice of Brandenburg-Salzwedel 4 October 1284 Berlin ten children | 9 November 1301 Legnica aged 48–49 | |
Bernard Ithe Lightsome | 1253 Third son ofBoleslaus II andHedwig of Anhalt | 31 December 1278 – 25 April 1286 | Duchy of Świdnica-Jawor (atLwówek Śląski) | Unmarried | 25 April 1286 aged 32–33 | ||
Lwówek annexed to Świdnica-Jawor | |||||||
Mieszko I[18] | 1252 First son ofLadislaus I andEuphemia of Greater Poland | 13 September 1282 – 27 June 1315 | Duchy of Cieszyn | Grimislava Vsevolodovna of Belz (?) between 1275 and 1280 three children | 27 June 1315 aged 62–63 | Children of Ladislaus I, divided their inheritance. | |
Casimir[19] | 1253 Second son ofLadislaus I andEuphemia of Greater Poland | 13 September 1282 – 10 March 1312 | Duchy of Bytom | Helena Lvovna of Halych-Volhynia (?) c.1275 six children | 10 March 1312 aged 58–59 | ||
Bolko [Boleslaus] I[20] | ![]() | October 1258 Third son ofLadislaus I andEuphemia of Greater Poland | 13 September 1282 – 13 May 1313 | Duchy of Opole | Agnes (of Brandenburg?) c.1280 three children | 14 May 1313 aged 54 | |
Premislaus | 12 June 1268 Fourth son ofLadislaus I andEuphemia of Greater Poland | 13 September 1282 – 7 May 1306 | Duchy of Racibórz | Anna of Masovia c.1290 three children | 7 May 1306 aged 37 | ||
Regencies ofBolko I, Duke of Świdnica-Jawor (1296–1301),Heinrich of Würben (1301–02) andWenceslaus II of Bohemia (1302–05) | Children of Henry V, ruled under regency until 1305, and divided their inheritance. Boleslaus received Legnica together with Ladislaus. Shortly after, Ladislaus was excluded from government. In 1342, abdicated of the majority of the duchy to his sons, and ruled in Brzeg, which he left to his widow. Henry received Wrocław, but, having no male heirs, signed, in 1327, a contract of inheritance with KingJohn of Bohemia and upon his death Wrocław fell toBohemia. | ||||||
Boleslaus IIIthe Generous | ![]() | 23 September 1291 First son ofHenry V andElisabeth of Greater Poland | 22 February 1296 – 21 April 1352 | Duchy of Legnica (only in theDuchy of Brzeg since 1342) | Margaret of Bohemia 1318 three children Catharina Šubić 1326 no children | 21 April 1352 Brzeg aged 60 | |
Ladislaus I | 6 June 1296 Third son ofHenry V andElisabeth of Greater Poland | 22 February 1296 – 1312 | Duchy of Legnica | Anna of Masovia 1325 (annulled 1329) no children | January 1352 aged 55 | ||
Henry VIthe Good[21] | 18 March 1294 Second son ofHenry V andElisabeth of Greater Poland | 22 February 1296 – 24 November 1335 | Duchy of Wrocław | Anna of Austria 1310 three children | 24 November 1335 Wrocław aged 41 | ||
Wrocław annexed to theKingdom of Bohemia | |||||||
Regency ofHerman, Margrave of Brandenburg-Salzwedel (1301–1305) | Children of Bolko/Boleslaus Ithe Strict, divided their inheritance. Bolko was under his elder brother tutelage until his majority, attained in 1322. Henry annexed Głogów in 1337, which he recovered from Bohemia. However, after Henry's death, Głogów returns to Bohemian control; Jawor also returns to Swidnica. | ||||||
Bernard IIthe Stable | 1291 First son ofBolko I [Boleslaus I] andBeatrice of Brandenburg-Salzwedel | 9 November 1301 – 6 May 1326 | Duchy of Świdnica-Jawor (inŚwidnica) | Kunigunde of Poland 1310 five children | 6 May 1326 aged 34–35 | ||
Henry I[22] | 1292 Second son ofBolko I [Boleslaus I] andBeatrice of Brandenburg-Salzwedel | 9 November 1301 – 15 May 1346 | Duchy of Świdnica-Jawor (inJawor andDuchy of Głogów since 1337) | Agnes of Bohemia 1316 no children | 15 May 1346 aged 53–54 | ||
Bolko [Boleslaus] II[23] | ![]() | 1 February 1300 Third son ofBolko I [Boleslaus I] andBeatrice of Brandenburg-Salzwedel | 9 November 1301 – 11 June 1341 | Duchy of Ziębice | Bonne-Judith of Savoy-Vaud 21 November 1321 two children | 11 June 1341 Ziębice aged 41 | |
Jawor was reincorporated in Swidnica | |||||||
Głogów was re-annexed to Bohemia | |||||||
Regency ofMieszko I, Duke of Cieszyn (1306–1308) | After his death without descendants in 1336, Raciborz was inherited by his sister. | ||||||
Leszek | 1292 Son ofPremislaus andAnna of Masovia | 7 May 1306 – 1336 | Duchy of Racibórz | Agnes of Głogów-Żagań 1332 no children | 1336 aged 43–44 | ||
Matilda of Brunswick-Lüneburg | ![]() | 1276 Daughter ofAlbert I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg andAlessina of Montferrat | 9 December 1309 – 26 April 1318 | Duchy of Głogów | Henry III March 1291 nine children | 26 April 1318 aged 41–42 | Heirs of Henry III. The widow received the main part of the duchy (Głogów), while their sons divided their inheritance. Henry IV stayed with Przemko in Żagań, John received Scinawa, and Conrad and Boleslaus inherited Oleśnica jointly. In 1318, Przemko assumed his mother's inheritance at Głogów. After the childless death of Przemko II, it was stipulated that his widow should succeed him, but financial complications led the duchy's temporary annexation theKingdom of Bohemia. After John's death, Scinawa was partitioned between Swidnica-Jawor and Żagań. |
Henry IVthe Faithful[24] | 1292 First son ofHenry III andMatilda of Brunswick-Lüneburg | 9 December 1309 – 22 January 1342 | Duchy of Żagań | Matilda of Brandenburg-Salzwedel 5 January 1310 four children | 22 January 1342 Żagań aged 49–50 | ||
Conrad I[10] | ![]() | 1294 Second son ofHenry III andMatilda of Brunswick-Lüneburg | 9 December 1309 – 22 December 1366 | Duchy of Oleśnica (withDuchy of BytomHalf A, since 1357,jure uxoris) | Elisabeth of Wroclaw 10 January 1322 no children Euphemia, Duchess of Bytom 2 March 1333 two children | 22 December 1366 aged 71–72 | |
Boleslaus | ![]() | 1295 Third son ofHenry III andMatilda of Brunswick-Lüneburg | 9 December 1309 – April 1321 | Unmarried | April 1321 aged 25–26 | ||
John | 1298 Fourth son ofHenry III andMatilda of Brunswick-Lüneburg | 9 December 1309 – 19 May 1365 | Duchy of Głogów (atŚcinawa) | Margaret of Pomerania-Wolgast 14 January 1316 no children | 19 May 1365 aged 66–67 | ||
Przemko [Premislaus] II[25] | 1305 Fifth son ofHenry III andMatilda of Brunswick-Lüneburg | 26 April 1318 – 11 January 1331 | Duchy of Głogów (atDuchy of Żagań in 1309–1318) | Constance of Świdnica 1326 no children | 11 January 1331 aged 25–26 | ||
Głogów was annexed to theKingdom of Bohemia (1331–1337) and to theJawor portion ofŚwidnica-Jawor (1337–1346); a new annexation followed, to theKingdom of Bohemia (1346–1349/60). In 1349 Henry V of Iron (son of Henry the Fatithful) recovered half of the inheritance of his uncle Przemko in Głogów from Bohemia; the other half was given to Przemko II's widow, Constance, in 1360, passed to her brother Bolko II of Swidnica, and passed briefly to Bohemia before being annexed to Cieszyn. | |||||||
Scinawa was divided in 1365; half of it was inherited to Żagań and in 1395 sold to Oleśnica; the other part was inherited by Swidnica, and passed briefly to Bohemia before being annexed to Cieszyn. | |||||||
Ladislaus[26] | 1277 Second son ofCasimir and Helena Lvovna of Halych-Volhynia (?) | 10 March 1312 – 8 September 1352 | Duchy of Bytom (inKoźle until 1316; atBytom proper since 1316) | Beatrice of Brandenburg-Salzwedel 21 September 1308 two children Ludgarda of Mecklenburg 6 October 1328 six children | 8 September 1352 age 74–75 | Children of Casimir, divided their inheritance. In 1316, Siemowit, the middle brother, exchanged the main duchy with the eldest, and took a smaller town for himself; | |
George | 1300 Fourth son ofCasimir and Helena Lvovna of Halych-Volhynia (?) | 10 March 1312 – 1327 | Unmarried | 1327 age 26–27 | |||
Siemowit | 1292 Third son ofCasimir and Helena Lvovna of Halych-Volhynia (?) | 10 March 1312 – July 1342 | Duchy of Bytom (inBytom proper until 1316; atGliwice since 1316[27]) | July 1342 age 49–50 | |||
Gliwice and Kozle returned to Bytom | |||||||
Boleslaus Ithe Elder | 1293 First son ofBolko [Boleslaus] I and Agnes | 13 May 1313 – 21 June 1356 | Duchy of Opole (atNiemodlin) | Euphemia of Wrocław 29 October 1325 eight childrend | 21 March 1365 aged 71–72 | Children of Bolko I, divided their inheritance. | |
Bolko [Boleslaus] II[20] | ![]() | c.1295? Second son ofBolko [Boleslaus] I and Agnes | 13 May 1313 – 21 June 1356 | Duchy of Opole | Elisabeth of Świdnica 6 May 1326 seven children Margaret (?) one child | 21 June 1356 aged 60–61? | |
Albert | c.1305? Third son ofBolko [Boleslaus] I and Agnes | 13 May 1313 – 25 September 1375 | Duchy of Opole (atStrzelce) | Agnes of Hardegg 1347 one child | 25 September 1375 aged 69–70? | ||
Ladislaus I[26] | 1275 First son ofMieszko I and Grimislava Vsevolodovna of Belz (?) | 27 June 1315 – 15 May 1324 | Duchy of Oświęcim | Euphrosyne of Masovia 1304 two children | 15 May 1324 aged 48–49 | Children of Mieszko I, divided their inheritance. | |
Casimir I | 1280 Second son ofMieszko I and Grimislava Vsevolodovna of Belz (?) | 27 June 1315 – 29 September 1358 | Duchy of Cieszyn | Euphemia of Masovia 1321 nine children | 29 September 1358 aged 77–78 | ||
Regency ofEuphrosyne of Masovia (1324–1325) | |||||||
John Ithe Scholastic | ![]() | 1308 Son ofLadislaus I andEuphrosyne of Masovia | 15 May 1324 – September 1372 | Duchy of Oświęcim | Unknown one child Salomea Reuss of Plauen July 1359 three children | September 1372 aged 63–64 | |
Bolko [Boleslaus] IIthe Small[28] | 1312 First son ofBernard II andKunigunde of Poland | 6 May 1326 – 28 July 1368 | Duchy of Świdnica-Jawor (inŚwidnica; atJawor since 1346; inDuchy of BrzegHalf B since 1358, andDuchy of GłogówHalf B since 1361) | Agnes of Austria 1 June 1338 no children | 28 July 1368 Świdnica aged 55–56 | Sons of Bernard II, ruled jointly until Henry's death in 1343. In 1346, after his uncle Henry I's death with no male heirs, he reunitesŚwidnica-Jawor in one duchy. Bolko also bought half of Brzeg in 1358. Brother of Constance, widow duchess of Głogów, inherited part of the duchy from her. After his death in 1368, the half of Głogów returned theKingdom of Bohemia, and the half of Brzeg to Louis the Fair. | |
Henry II | 1316 Second son ofBernard II andKunigunde of Poland | 6 May 1326 – 28 June 1345 | Duchy of Świdnica-Jawor (inŚwidnica) | Catharina of Hungary 1 June 1338 one child | 28 June 1345 Kamienna Góra aged 28–29 | ||
Annexation of Half B of Glogow to theKingdom of Bohemia (1368–1384) | |||||||
Half A annexed to Lubin | |||||||
Anna | 1298 Daughter ofPremislaus andAnna of Masovia | 1336 – 21 August 1340 | Duchy of Racibórz | Nicholas II, Duke of Opava 1318 six children | 21 August 1340 aged 41–42 | Her husband claimed the duchy, and she managed to inherit it. | |
Racibórz annexed to theDuchy of Opava (1306–1521) | |||||||
Nicholasthe Small | 1327 Son ofBolko [Boleslaus] II andBonne-Judith of Savoy-Vaud | 11 June 1341 – 23 April 1358 | Duchy of Ziębice | Agnes of Lichtenburk 23 October 1343 six children | 23 April 1358 inHungary aged 30–31 | ||
Henry Vof Iron[15] | ![]() | 1319 Son ofHenry IV andMatilda of Brandenburg-Salzwedel | 22 January 1342 – 13 April 1369 | Duchy of Żagań (withDuchy of GłogówHalf A since 1349) | Anna of Płock 6 September 1337 five children | 13 April 1369 aged 49–50 | Children of Henry IV, divided their inheritance. In 1349, Henry V annexed half of the previousDuchy of Głogów reemerges from Bohemia to be annexed byŻagań line of the Piasts. As for Agnes, she "legitimized" the pledge of Lubin that her uncleJohn, Duke of Ścinawa had made in 1337 withBoleslaus III the Generous, by marrying (secondly) Boleslaus' son. In this perspective, she can be considered the heiress of Lubin. |
Agnes | ![]() | 1321 Daughter ofHenry IV andMatilda of Brandenburg-Salzwedel | 22 January 1342 – 7 July 1362 | Duchy of Lubin | Leszek, Duke of Racibórz 1332 no children Louis I 18 November 1341 six children | 7 July 1362 aged 40–41 | |
Wenceslaus I[29] | ![]() | 1318 First son ofBoleslaus III andMargaret of Bohemia | 1342 – 2 June 1364 | Duchy of Legnica | Anna of Cieszyn 1338 five children | 2 June 1364 aged 45–46 | Sons of Boleslaus III, divided their inheritance within their father's life. Louis was already ruling in Lubin, while Wenceslaus did the same in Legnica. In 1358, Louis inherited half of Brzeg from his stepmother Catharina (see below). Reunited Brzeg after the death of the owner of the other part,Bolko the Small (1368). |
Louis Ithe Fair | ![]() | 1321 Second son ofBoleslaus III andMargaret of Bohemia | 22 January 1342 – 23 December 1398 | Duchy of Lubin (jure uxoris; withDuchy of BrzegHalf A since 1358; in the whole duchy since 1368) | Agnes of Głogów-Żagań 18 November 1341 six children | 23 December 1398 aged 76–77 | |
Catharina Šubić | c.1310? Daughter ofMladen III Šubić, Lord of Bribir andJelena Nemanjić | 21 April 1352 – February 1358 | Duchy of Brzeg | Boleslaus III 1326 no children | February 1358 Brzeg aged 47–48? | Inherited Brzeg from her husband. After her death the duchy was divided between Louis the Fair (her stepson) and Bolko the Small from Swidnica-Jawor. | |
Brzeg divided between Lubin and Swidnica-Jawor | |||||||
Boleslaus | 1330 Son ofLadislaus andLudgarda of Mecklenburg | 8 September 1352 – 4 October 1355 | Duchy of Bytom | 14 February 1347 three children | 4 October 1355 aged 24–25 | Son of Ladislaus, Boleslaus left his duchy to his widow Margareta after his death. In 1357, after two years of war for the duchy, a settlement was made; Margareta abdicated of the duchy, which was split between its heiresses. | |
Margareta of Sternberg | c.1330 Daughter ofJaroslav of Sternberg and Margareta of Bílina | 4 October 1355 – 8 December 1357 | Duchy of Bytom | June 1365 aged 34–35 | |||
Ladislaus IINaderspan[30] | ![]() | 1332 First son ofBolko [Boleslaus] II andElisabeth of Świdnica | 21 June 1356 – 18 May 1401 (onlyde jure from 1396) | Duchy of Opole | Elisabeth of Wallachia c. 1355 three children Euphemia of Masovia 1369 two children | 18 May 1401 Opole aged 68–69 | Children of Bolko II, ruled jointly. In 1375, Bolko III was Albert of Strzelce's heir, and split Strzelce from Opole again, leaving the main duchy for his elder brother Ladislaus. |
Henry[31] | August? 1338 Third son ofBolko [Boleslaus] II andElisabeth of Świdnica | 21 June 1356 – October 1365 | Unmarried | October 1365 aged 27? | |||
Bolko [Boleslaus] III[32] | ![]() | 1337 Second son ofBolko [Boleslaus] II andElisabeth of Świdnica | 21 June 1356 – 21 October 1382 | Duchy of Opole (atStrzelce since 1375) | Anna of Oświęcim c. 1355 five children | 21 October 1382 aged 44–45 | |
Euphemia (I) | c.1310 Daughter ofLadislaus andBeatrice of Brandenburg-Salzwedel | 8 December 1357 – 3 January 1378 | Duchy of Bytom (half A) | Conrad I, Duke of Oleśnica 2 March 1333 two children | 3 January 1378 aged 67–68 | In 1357, the duchy was divided between heiresses, one annexed by theDuchy of Oleśnica, the other annexed by theDuchy of Cieszyn, and a third part, ruled by the duke ofNiemodlinjure uxoris was also annexed to Oleśnica. | |
Elisabeth | 1347 First daughter ofBoleslaus andMargareta of Sternberg | 8 December 1357 – 1374 | Duchy of Bytom (half B) | Premislaus I, Duke of Cieszyn 1360 three children | 1374 aged 26–27 | ||
Euphemia (II) | c.1350 Second daughter ofBoleslaus andMargareta of Sternberg | 8 December 1357 – 26 August 1411 | Duchy of Bytom (atGliwice) | Wenceslaus, Duke of Cieszyn 1364 no children Bolko [Boleslaus] III, Duke of Ziębice 1369 eight children | 26 August 1411 aged 60–61 | ||
Bytom divided between the duchies ofOleśnica andCieszyn | |||||||
Regency ofAgnes of Lichtenburk (1358–1360) | Children of Nicholas I, ruled jointly. | ||||||
Bolko [Boleslaus] III[32] | 1348 Ziębice First son ofNicholas andAgnes of Lichtenburk | 23 April 1358 – 13 June 1410 | Duchy of Ziębice | Euphemia of Bytom, Duchess of Gliwice 1369 eight children | 13 June 1410 Ziębice aged 61–62 | ||
Henry I[33] | 1350 Ziębice Second son ofNicholas andAgnes of Lichtenburk | 23 April 1358 – August 1366 | Unmarried | August 1366 Ziębice aged 15–16 | |||
Premislaus INoszak | ![]() | 13 February 1334 Cieszyn Son ofCasimir I andEuphemia of Masovia | 29 September 1358 – 23 May 1410 | Duchy of Cieszyn (withDuchy of BytomHalf B since 1359,jure uxoris, andDuchy of GłogówHalf B in 1384–1404 and 1406–1410) | Elisabeth, Duchess of Bytom 1360 three children | 23 May 1410 Cieszyn aged 76 | In 1384 recovered part of the Lower Silesian duchy of Głogów from Bohemia. Abdicated of Głogów for his son, Premislaus, in 1404, but recovered it in 1406. |
Constance of Świdnica | 1313 Daughter ofBernard II, Duke of Świdnica andKunigunde of Poland | 1360–1361 | Duchy of Głogów (Half B) | Przemko [Premislaus] II 1326 no children | 21 November 1363 aged 49–50 | In 1360Half B ofGłogów reemerges as Constance, widow of Przemko II; recovers half of the dowry that was left by her husband; however, she quickly gives it to her brother, Bolko IIthe Small. | |
Half B of Głogów was annexed to Swidnica-Jawor, then, in 1368, to Bohemia, and, in 1384, it was bought by theDuchy of Cieszyn. | |||||||
Rupert I | 27 March 1347 First son ofWenceslaus I andAnna of Cieszyn | 2 June 1364 – 12 January 1409 | Duchy of Legnica | Hedwig of Żagań 10 February 1372 two children | 12 January 1409 aged 61 | Sons of Wenceslaus I, ruled jointly. Wenceslaus II was alsoDuke of Nysa asBishop of Wrocław, and abdicated in 1413. | |
Wenceslaus II[34] | 1348 Second son ofWenceslaus I andAnna of Cieszyn | 2 June 1364 – 16 March 1413 | Unmarried | 30 December 1419 Otmuchów aged 61 | |||
Boleslaus IV | 1349 Third son ofWenceslaus I andAnna of Cieszyn | 2 June 1364 – 4 March 1394 | 4 March 1394 aged 61 | ||||
Henry VIII[35][36] | ![]() | 1355 Fourth son ofWenceslaus I andAnna of Cieszyn | 2 June 1364 – 12 December 1398 | 12 December 1398 Legnica aged 61 | |||
Boleslaus II | 1326 First son ofBoleslaus I andEuphemia of Wrocław | 21 March 1365 – 25 June 1368 | Duchy of Opole (atNiemodlin) | Unmarried | 25 June 1368 aged 41–42 | Children of Boleslaus the Elder of Niemodlin, ruled jointly, and none left descendants. | |
Wenceslaus | 1336 Second son ofBoleslaus I andEuphemia of Wrocław | 21 March 1365 – June 1369 | Euphemia of Bytom, Duchess of Gliwice 1364 no children | June 1369 aged 32–33 | |||
Henry | c.1350 Third son ofBoleslaus I andEuphemia of Wrocław | 21 March 1365 – 14 September 1382 | Catharina of Moravia c.1370 no children | 14 September 1382 aged 31–32 | |||
Niemodlin annexed to Strzelce | |||||||
Conrad IIthe Gray[13] | ![]() | 1340 Son ofConrad I andEuphemia of Bytom | 22 December 1366 – 10 June 1403 | Duchy of Oleśnica (withDuchy of BytomHalf A | Agnes of Cieszyn 23 February 1354 one child | 10 June 1403 Trzebnica aged 62–63 | |
Agnes of Austria | ![]() | 1322 Vienna Daughter ofLeopold I, Duke of Austria andCatherine of Savoy | 28 July 1368 – 2 February 1392 | Duchy of Świdnica-Jawor | Bolko [Boleslaus] II 1 June 1338 no children | 2 February 1392 Świdnica aged 69–70 | Widow, succeeded her husband according to his will. After her death the duchy was annexed to theKingdom of Bohemia. |
Swidnica-Jawor annexed to theKingdom of Bohemia | |||||||
Henry VIthe Elder[21] | ![]() | c.1345 First son ofHenry V andAnna of Płock | 13 April 1369 – 5 December 1393 | Duchy of Żagań | Hedwig of Legnica 10 February 1372 no children | 5 December 1393 Włoszczowa aged 47–48 | Children of Henry V, divided their inheritance. While after his death Henry VI left his property to his wife, Henry VIII eventually succeeded in Henry VII's domains. |
Henry VIIRumpold[37][38] | 1350 Second son ofHenry V andAnna of Płock | 13 April 1369 – 24 December 1395 | Duchy of Głogów (Half A) | Unmarried | 24 December 1395 Bolesławiec aged 44–45 | ||
Henry VIIIthe Sparrow[36] | ![]() | 1357 Third son ofHenry V andAnna of Płock | 13 April 1369 – 14 March 1397 | Duchy of Głogów (atZielona Góra,Przemków andSzprotawa; in the wholeHalf A since 1395) | Catherine of Opole 1382 five children | 14 March 1397 Szprotawa aged 39–40 | |
John II | 1344 Son ofJohn I | September 1372 – 19 February 1376 | Duchy of Oświęcim | Hedwig of Brzeg 1366 three children | 19 February 1376 aged 31–32 | ||
Regency ofPremislaus I, Duke of Cieszyn (1376-c.1380) | Left no descendants. The duchy went to a son of Premislaus Noszak. | ||||||
John III | 1366 Son ofJohn II andHedwig of Brzeg | 19 February 1376 – 19 August 1405 | Duchy of Oświęcim | Hedwig of Lithuania 1394 no children | 19 August 1405 aged 38–39 | ||
Jan Kropidło | 1360 First son ofBolko [Boleslaus] III and Anna of Oświęcim | 21 October 1382 – 3 March 1421 | Duchy of Opole (atStrzelce andNiemodlin until 1401; inOpole asregent since 1396; officially since 1401) | Unmarried | 3 March 1421 Opole aged 60–61 | Children of Bolko III, ruled first jointly, and after their uncle Ladislaus's resignation and death (1396–1401), they divided their whole inheritance. | |
Bolko [Boleslaus] IV[39] | 1363 Second son ofBolko [Boleslaus] III and Anna of Oświęcim | 21 October 1382 – 6 May 1437 | Margaret of Gorizia 1398 five children | 6 May 1437 aged 73–74 | |||
Henry II | 1374 Third son ofBolko [Boleslaus] III and Anna of Oświęcim | 21 October 1382 – 22 December 1394 | Duchy of Opole (atStrzelce andNiemodlin) | Unmarried | 22 December 1394 aged 19–20 | ||
Bernard[40] | 1378 Fourth son ofBolko [Boleslaus] III and Anna of Oświęcim | 21 October 1382 – 1450 | Hedwig of Melsztyń two children | 2/4 April 1455 aged 76–77 | |||
Hedwig of Legnica | 1351 Daughter ofWenceslaus I, Duke of Legnica andAnna of Cieszyn | 5 December 1393 – 1403 | Duchy of Żagań | Henry VI 10 February 1372 no children | 1 August 1409 Legnica aged 57–58 | Inherited the property of her husband (with whom she was apparently estranged with). In 1403 she abdicated of her inheritance to her nephewss, sons of her brother-in-law Henry VIII. | |
Catherine of Opole | 16 March 1367 Daughter ofLadislaus II, Duke of Opole andEuphemia of Masovia | 14 March 1397 – 6 June 1420 | Duchy of Głogów (inPrudnik,Kożuchów andZielona Góra) | Henry VIIIthe Sparrow 1382 five children | 6 June 1420 aged 53 | Heirs of Henry VIII. Catharina remained at her dowry lands, while the rest of the property was divided, at least since 1403, when Hedwig of Legnica passed her own property to her nephews, who proceeded to a new partition of the whole inheritance. John inherited Żagań alone, while the rest of the brothers kept Glogow. With the abdication of Wenceslaus and the death of Henry X, Henry IX became sole ruler of Glogow, and in 1446 he bought Lubin. | |
Regency ofRupert I, Duke of Legnica (1397–1401) | |||||||
John I[41] | ![]() | 1385 First son ofHenry VIII andCatherine of Opole | 14 March 1397 – 12 April 1439 | Duchy of Żagań (inDuchy of GłogówHalf A until 1412; inŻagań proper since 1403) | Scholastica of Saxe-Wittenberg 1408 ten children | 12 April 1439 aged 53–54 | |
Henry IXthe Elder[42] | 1387 Second son ofHenry VIII andCatherine of Opole | 14 March 1397 – 11 November 1467 | Duchy of Głogów (Half A) | Hedwig of Oleśnica 1432 six children | 11 November 1467 Krosno Odrzańskie aged 79–80 | ||
Henry XRumpold[43][38] | 1390 Third son ofHenry VIII andCatherine of Opole | 14 March 1397 – 18 January 1423 | Unmarried | 18 January 1423 Flensburg aged 32–33 | |||
Wenceslaus | 1391 Fourth son ofHenry VIII andCatherine of Opole | 14 March 1397 – January 1431 | Duchy of Głogów (atKrosno Odrzańskie,Świebodzin andBytnica) | January 1431 aged 39–40 | |||
Krosno Odrzańskie,Świebodzin andBytnica annexed to Głogów. | |||||||
Henry VIIthe Courageous[44][37] | 1343 Son ofLouis I andAgnes | 23 December 1398 – 11 July 1399 | Duchy of Lubin (withDuchy of Brzeg) | Helena of Orlamünde 1369 one child Margaret of Masovia July 1379 two children | 11 July 1399 aged 55–56 | Co-ruled with his father since 1361. | |
Henry IX[42] | 1369 Son ofHenry VII andHelena of Orlamünde | 11 July 1399 – 10 July 1420 | Duchy of Lubin (with the wholeDuchy of Brzeg until 1400; inOlawa since 1400) | Anna of Cieszyn 20 September 1396 six children | 10 July 1420 aged 50–51 | Children of Henry VII, divided their inheritance. Brzeg was exchanged between the brothers in 1400 (Henry gave it to Louis). However, Oława (in Brzeg) remained in Henry IX's possession. In 1413, Legnica was inherited by Louis II. | |
Louis II | ![]() | 1380 Son ofHenry VII andMargaret of Masovia | 11 July 1399 – 30 May 1436 | Duchy of Brzeg (inChojnów; inBrzeg proper since 1400; withDuchy of Legnica since 1413) | Hedwig Zapólya before 14 August 1409 no children Elisabeth of Brandenburg 9 April 1418 Konstanz no children | 30 May 1436 aged 55–56 | |
Euphemia of Masovia | 1344 Daughter ofSiemowit III, Duke of Masovia andEuphemia of Opava | 18 May 1401 – 1424 | Duchy of Opole (atGłogówek) | Ladislaus II 1369 two children | 1424 aged 79–80? | Widow of Ladislaus II, received a dower seat after her husband's death. | |
Głogówek remerged in Opole | |||||||
Conrad IIIthe Old | ![]() | 1359 Son ofConrad II andAgnes of Cieszyn | 10 June 1403 – 28 December 1412 | Duchy of Oleśnica (withDuchy of BytomHalf A) | Judith (d.24 June 1416) c.1380 seven children | 28 December 1412 aged 52–53 | |
Premislausthe Younger | 1362 First son ofPremislaus I andElisabeth of Bytom | 19 August 1405 – 1 January 1406 | Duchy of Oświęcim (in theDuchy of GłogówHalf B in 1404–1406) | Unknown one child | 1 January 1406 aged 43–44 | Received, in his father's lifetime, the duchy ofGłogów. In the next year also inherited Oświęcim from John III. Preceded his father in death, but left descendants to rule in Oświęcim, while Głogów returned to his father. | |
Regencies ofPremislaus I, Duke of Cieszyn (1406–1410) andBoleslaus I, Duke of Cieszyn (1410–1414) | |||||||
Casimir I | 1396 Son ofPremislausthe Younger | 1 January 1406 – 7 April 1434 | Duchy of Oświęcim | Anna of Żagań 1417 three children Margareta of Racibórz 1433 no children | 7 April 1434 aged 37–38 | ||
Boleslaus I | 1363 Second son ofPremislaus I andElisabeth of Bytom | 23 May 1410 – 6 May 1431 | Duchy of Cieszyn (withDuchy of GłogówHalf B andDuchy of BytomHalf B) | Margareta of Opava 1 January 1406 no children Euphemia of Masovia 20 November 1412 five children | 6 May 1431 aged 67–68 | ||
John | 1380 First son ofBolko [Boleslaus] III andEuphemia of Bytom | 13 June 1410 – 27 August 1428 | Duchy of Ziębice | Elizabeth Lackfi 19 March 1408 one child | 27 August 1428 Stary Wielisław aged 47–48 | Children of Bolko III, ruled jointly. | |
Henry II | 1396 Second son ofBolko [Boleslaus] III andEuphemia of Bytom | 13 June 1410 – 11 March 1420 | Unmarried | 11 March 1420 inLivonia aged 23–24 | |||
Conrad IVthe Elder | ![]() | 1384 First son ofConrad III and Judith | 28 December 1412 – 9 August 1447 | Duchy of Oleśnica (in the whole duchy, plusDuchy of BytomHalf A until 1416; inKąty,Bierutów,Prudnik andSyców from 1416) | Unmarried | 9 August 1447 Jelcz aged 62–63 | In 1416, abdicated to his younger brothers, but not without retaining some towns for himself. |
Conrad VKantner | 1385 Oleśnica orKąty (?)[45] Second son ofConrad III and Judith | 1412 – 10 September 1439 | Duchy of Oleśnica (inOleśnica,Milicz,Prusice,[46]Trzebnica,Wasosz,Zmigrod andWołów,[47] withDuchy of BytomHalf A) | Margaret (?) 9 October 1411 five children | 10 September 1439 aged 53–54 | Younger brothers of Conrad IV, divided their domains; Conrad VI left his possessions to his younger brother Conrad VIII, and Conrad V did the same to his brother Conrad VII, who ended up inheriting all of his brothers' possessions (Conrad V's in 1439, Conrad VI and VIII's in 1444, and Conrad IV's in 1447). In 1450, Conrad VII, now ruling alone, abdicated of all his possessions to his nephews and heirs. | |
Conrad VIthe Dean | 1391 Oleśnica Third son ofConrad III and Judith | 1416 – 3 September 1427 | Duchy of Oleśnica (inŚcinawa,[48]Lubiąż andWołów[47]) | Unmarried | 3 September 1427 aged 35–36 | ||
Conrad VIIthe White | ![]() | 1396 Oleśnica Fourth son ofConrad III and Judith | 1416–1450 | Duchy of Oleśnica (inKoźle,Gliwice andPrusice;[46] in the whole duchy from 1447) | Katharina (?) 2 February 1437 no children Dorothea of Warsaw? 7 March 1450 no children | 14 February 1452 Wrocław aged 55–56 | |
Conrad VIIIthe Younger | 1397 Oleśnica Fifth son ofConrad III and Judith | 1416 – 5 September 1444 | Duchy of Oleśnica (inRudna; atŚcinawa andLubiąż since 1427) | Unmarried | 5 September 1444 aged 46–47 | ||
Rupert II | 1396 First son ofHenry IX andAnna of Cieszyn | 10 July 1420 – 24 August 1431 | Duchy of Lubin (atLubin proper) | Unmarried | 24 August 1431 aged 34–35 | Children of Henry IX, divided their possessions. Wenceslaus kept Olawa and Rupert ruled in Lubin. Louis, the younger son, ascended later, reuniting the possessions of his brothers. | |
Wenceslaus III | 1400 Second son ofHenry IX andAnna of Cieszyn | 10 July 1420 – 28 May 1423 | Duchy of Lubin (atOława) | 28 May 1423 aged 22–23 | |||
Louis III | c.1405 Third son ofHenry IX andAnna of Cieszyn | 28 May 1423 – June 1441 | Duchy of Lubin (atOława; in Lubin since 1431) | Margareta of Opole c.1423 two children | June 1441 aged 35–36 | ||
Euphemia | 1385 Daughter ofBolko [Boleslaus] III andEuphemia of Bytom | 27 August 1428 – 1443[49] | Duchy of Ziębice | Frederick III, Count of Oettingen 1397 nine children | 17 November 1447 aged 57–58 | Faced opposition to her succession by the Častolovice family, with whom she had to negotiate her succession. Despite being in Ziebice/Munsterberg since the death of her husband (1423) and prior to her brother's death (1428), and being cited asEuphemia...Herczoginne czu Monstirbergk in 1429,[50] only in 1435 she saw her rights recognized by Bohemia. In 1443, after years of conflict, she abdicated to her nephew, the Duke of Opava, who was also married to a Častolovice heiress. | |
Ziębice was annexed to theDuchy of Opava | |||||||
Regency ofEuphemia of Masovia (1431–1442) | Divided their inheritance after the end of the regency of their mother. After Ladislaus' death, Premislaus retained co-rulership in Cieszyn, with his brother Wenceslaus, and in Głogów, associated with his widowed sister-in-law. Wenceslaus inherited the half of Bytom the family had, exchanging it with his brother Boleslaus, but returning to him after Boleslaus death shortly after the exchange. Wenceslaus resigned this half in 1459, returning it to Oleśnica, which reunited Bytom under Oleśnica rule. | ||||||
Wenceslaus I[29] | 1413 First son ofBoleslaus I andMargareta of Opava | 6 May 1431 – 1468 | Duchy of Cieszyn (withDuchy of BytomHalf B 1431–1452 and 1452–1459) | Elisabeth of Brandenburg 17 February 1439 (annulled 1445) no children | 1474 aged 60–61 | ||
Ladislaus I | 1420 Second son ofBoleslaus I andMargareta of Opava | 6 May 1431 – 14 February 1460 | Duchy of Głogów (Half B) | Margareta of Celje December 1444 no children | 14 February 1460 aged 39–40 | ||
Premislaus II | 1422 Third son ofBoleslaus I andMargareta of Opava | 6 May 1431 – 18 March 1477 | Duchy of Cieszyn (withDuchy of GłogówHalf B since 1460[51]) | Anna of Warsaw c.1465 one child | 18 March 1477 aged 54–55 | ||
Boleslaus II | 1425 Fourth son ofBoleslaus I andMargareta of Opava | 6 May 1431 – 4 October 1452 | Duchy of Cieszyn (atBielsko andFrysztat; inDuchy of BytomHalf B in 1452) | Anna of Bielsk 28 January 1448 three children | 4 October 1452 aged 26–27 | ||
Wenceslaus I[29] | 1418 First son ofCasimir I andAnna of Żagań | 7 April 1434 – 28 July 1468 | Duchy of Zator | Margareta Kopczowski c.1450 seven children | 28 July 1468 aged 49–50 | Children of Casimir I, divided their inheritance. The main duchy went to John IV, who sold it to Poland in 1456. However, Zator remained active for another generation. | |
Premislaus | 1425 Second son ofCasimir I andAnna of Żagań | 7 April 1434 – December 1484 | Duchy of Oświęcim (atToszek) | Margaret of Opole 23 February 1463 one child | December 1484 aged 58–59 | ||
John IV | ![]() | 1426 Third son ofCasimir I andAnna of Żagań | 7 April 1434 – 11 October 1456 1490 – 21 February 1497 | Duchy of Oświęcim (atOświęcim proper until 1456; atKrnovjure uxoris since 1490) | Catharina 30 December 1465 no children Barbara of Karniów c. 1475 one child | 21 February 1497 aged 70–71 | |
Oświęcim annexed to theKingdom of Poland; Toszek annexed to Poland (1484–1495), and recovered by theDuchy of Opole and Racibórz | |||||||
Elisabeth of Brandenburg | 29 September 1403 Daughter ofFrederick I, Elector of Brandenburg andElisabeth of Bavaria-Landshut | 30 May 1436 – 31 October 1449 | Duchy of Brzeg (atDuchy of Legnica only since 1443) | Louis II 9 April 1418 Konstanz no children Wenceslaus I, Duke of Cieszyn 17 February 1439 (annulled 1445) no children | 31 October 1449 aged 45 | Widow of Louis II. In 1443 is forced to give Brzeg to John I and Henry X of Lubin, reuniting the Lubin inheritance. After her death in 1449, Legnica was annexed by theKingdom of Bohemia. | |
Legnica annexed to theKingdom of Bohemia (1449–1454) | |||||||
John I[41] | 1410 Second son ofBolko [Boleslaus] IV andMargaret of Gorizia | 6 May 1437 – 5 September 1439 | Duchy of Opole (withDuchy of Brzeg since 1450) | Unmarried | 5 September 1439 aged 28–29 | Children of Bolko IV, ruled jointly. After John's death in 1439, Nicholas ruled alone. In 1450 Nicholas bought Brzeg, possibly in virtue of his marriage. | |
Nicholas I | 1424 Fourth son ofBolko [Boleslaus] IV andMargaret of Gorizia | 6 May 1437 – 3 July 1476 | Magdalena of Brzeg February 1442 ten children | 3 July 1476 aged 51–52 | |||
Scholastica of Saxe-Wittenberg | 1391 Daughter ofRudolf III, Duke of Saxe-Wittenberg andAnna of Meissen | 12 April 1439 – 12 May 1461 | Duchy of Żagań (inNowogród Bobrzański) | John I 1408 ten childrenº | 12 May 1461 Żagań aged 69–70 | Heirs of John I. Scholastica inherited her dower seat, and her sons managed the rest of the duchy, dividing it in two parts. In 1461–1472, Balthasar and John were involved in a feudal war that ended with Balthasar's death. However, John was endebted and in the end had to sell the duchy he fought to obtain. In 1476–1480, he managed to gain both parts of Głogów, which he reunited, but he surrendered to theKingdom of Poland in 1488. | |
Balthasar | 1415 First son ofJohn I andScholastica of Saxe-Wittenberg | 12 April 1439 – 1461 1468 – 15 July 1472 | Duchy of Żagań (inŻagań proper) | Agnes c.1460 one child Barbara of Cieszyn 11 September 1469 no children | 15 July 1472 Przewóz aged 56–57 | ||
Rudolph | 1418 Second son ofJohn I andScholastica of Saxe-Wittenberg | 12 April 1439 – 18 September 1454 | Unmarried | 18 September 1454 Chojnice aged 35–36 | |||
Wenceslaus[52] | ![]() | 1434 Third son ofJohn I andScholastica of Saxe-Wittenberg | 12 April 1439 – 12 December 1472 | Duchy of Żagań (atPrzewóz) | 29 April 1488 Wrocław aged 53–54 | ||
John IIthe Mad | ![]() | 16 April 1435 Fourth son ofJohn I andScholastica of Saxe-Wittenberg | 12 April 1439 – 1468 15 July – 12 December 1472 | Duchy of Żagań (atPrzewóz until 1461; atŻagań in 1461–1468 and 1472) | Catharina of Opava 1462 five children | 22 September 1504 Wołów aged 69 | |
22 February 1476 – November 1488 | Duchy of Głogów (both halves reunited 1480) | ||||||
Nowogród Bobrzański remerged into Żagań (since 1461); Żagań sold to theDuchy of Saxony (since 1472) | |||||||
Głogów surrendered and annexed to theKingdom of Poland; at the same time,Lubin, since 1446 part ofGłogów, reverted toLegnica | |||||||
Margaret | c.1390? ? | 10 September 1439 – 15 March 1449 | Duchy of Oleśnica (inWołów) | Conrad V 9 October 1411 five children | 15 March 1449 aged 58–59? | Widow of Conrad V, inherited Wołów as dowry, which after her death reverted, similarly to the rest of Conrad V's possessions, to Conrad VII. | |
Wołów remerged in Oleśnica | |||||||
Margareta of Opole | 1412 Daughter ofBolko [Boleslaus] IV, Duke of Opole andMargaret of Gorizia | June 1441 – 15 January 1454 | Duchy of Lubin (atOława) | Louis III 1423 two children | 15 January 1454 aged 41–42 | Heirs of Louis III. Margareta inherited Olawa as a dower seat, and her children ruled jointly. In 1443 they inherited Brzeg from Elisabeth of Brandenburg, but, in 1446, due to the difficult financial situation, had to sell Lubin to the Duchy of Głogów. In 1450 Brzeg is also sold toOpole. Chojnow was the only main town kept by the brothers, and the one they left to Frederick I, John I's son. Olawa was also inherited by Frederick (Margareta's grandson). The duchy recentered, since 1454, aroundLegnica. | |
John I | ![]() | 1425 First son ofLouis III andMargareta of Opole | June 1441 – November 1453 | Duchy of Lubin (atChojnów; inLubin proper until 1446; withDuchy of Brzeg since 1443) | Hedwig of Brzeg February 1445 one child | November 1453 aged 27–28 | |
Henry X[43] | 1426 Second son ofLouis III andMargareta of Opole | June 1441 – May 1452 | Unmarried | May 1452 aged 25–26 | |||
Olawa returned to Chojnów/Legnica; Lubin was bought byHenry IX the Elder, duke of Głogów | |||||||
Brzeg was bought by dukeNicholas I of Opole | |||||||
Bolko [Boleslaus] Vthe Hussite[39] | c.1400 First son ofBolko [Boleslaus] IV andMargaret of Gorizia | 1450 – 29 May 1460 | Duchy of Opole (atStrzelce andNiemodlin) | Elisabeth Granowski 1418 (annulled 1451) one child Hedwig Beess of Kujawy 27 June 1451 no children | 29 May 1460 Głogówek aged 59–60 | Inherited his portion from his uncle, and left to his younger brothers the main duchy of Opole, leaving them his own lands after his death. | |
Niemodlin and Strzelce annexed to Opole | |||||||
Conrad IXthe Black | 1415 First son ofConrad V and Margaret | 1450 – 14 August 1471 | Duchy of Oleśnica (inOleśnica,Bierutów,Gliwice andKoźle, withDuchy of BytomHalf A) | Margareta of Rawa 1453 one child | 14 August 1471 aged 55–56 | Children of Conrad V, divided their inheritance. After Conrad IX's death, and save some exceptions (inherited by Conrad IX's widow and daughter), the majority of Conrad IX's inheritance went to Conrad X. Those excdptions eventually also ended uo in Conrad X's possession in 1478, reuniting all the duchy, which, after his death, was annexed by theKingdom of Bohemia. | |
Conrad Xthe White | 1420 Second son ofConrad V and Margaret | 1450 – 21 September 1492 | Duchy of Oleśnica (inMilicz,Prusice,Ścinawa,Syców,Wasosz,Zmigrod andWołów; in the whole duchy since 1478) | Dorothea Reynkenberg before 1492 (morganatic) no children | 21 September 1492 small>aged 71–72 | ||
Oleśnica was annexed, in 1492, to theKingdom of Bohemia | |||||||
Regency ofHedwig of Brzeg (1453–1466) | Frederick I was responsible for the recovery the patrimony lost to other polities: Legnica became independent from Bohemia in 1454. In the same year, Frederick inherited Olawa from his grandmother Margareta of Opole. In 1481 Frederick I of Legnica purchased Brzeg from Opole, and recovered Lubin from John the Mad in 1482. | ||||||
Frederick I | ![]() | 3 May 1446 Brzeg Son ofJohn I andHedwig of Brzeg | November 1453 – 9 May 1488 | Duchy of Legnica (atChojnów; inLegnica proper andOława since 1454; withDuchy of Lubin andDuchy of Brzeg since 1481)) | Ludmila of Poděbrady 5 September 1474 three children | 9 May 1488 Legnica aged 42 | |
Margareta of Celje | ![]() | 1411 Daughter ofHerman III, Count of Celje, and Elisabeth of Abensberg | 14 February 1460 – 22 July 1480 | Duchy of Głogów (Half B) | Herman I, Count of Montfort-Pfannberg 15 March 1430 four children Ladislaus I December 1444 no children | 22 July 1480 aged 68–69 | Widow of Ladislaus I, ruled with her brother-in-law Premislaus II, until his death in 1477, after which she continued her rule alone. After her death, both parts of Glogow were reunited under the ex-duke of Żagań. |
Głogów half B was inherited byJan II the Mad | |||||||
Henry XI[53] | 1435 Son ofHenry IX andHedwig of Oleśnica | 11 November 1467 – 22 February 1476 | Duchy of Głogów (Half A) | Barbara of Brandenburg 11 October 1472 Berlin no children | 22 February 1476 | Possibly poisoned. After his death the majority of his patirmony was inherited by his cousin, the disposssessed ex-Żagań duke John the Mad (see above). | |
Głogów half A (with exceptions) was inherited byJan II the Mad | |||||||
Casimir II | c.1450 First son ofWenceslaus I andMargareta Kopczowski | 28 July 1468 – 7 July 1490 | Duchy of Zator | Margaret of Karniów 12 August 1482 one child | 7 July 1490 aged 39–40 | Sons of Wenceslaus I, ruled jointly. In 1490 John became sole ruler. In 1513, after John V's death with no descendants, the Duchy was annexed by theKingdom of Poland. | |
Wenceslaus II[34] | c.1450 Second son ofWenceslaus I andMargareta Kopczowski | 28 July 1468 – 1487 | Unmarried | 1487 aged 36–37 | |||
John V[54] | c.1455 Third son ofWenceslaus I andMargareta Kopczowski | 28 July 1468 – 17 September 1513 | 17 September 1513 aged 57–58 | ||||
Ladislaus (II) | c.1455 Fourth son ofWenceslaus I andMargareta Kopczowski | 28 July 1468 – 21 September 1494 | Anna before 1488 one child | 21 September 1494 aged 38–39 | |||
Zator annexed to theKingdom of Poland | |||||||
Margareta of Rawa | 1441 Daughter ofSiemowit V, Duke of Rawa and Margareta of Racibórz | 14 August 1471 – 1475 | Duchy of Oleśnica (Oleśnica andBierutów, withDuchy of BytomHalf A) | Conrad IX 1453 one child | 1 September 1485 aged 43–44 | Widow of Conrad IX, inherited part of the properties of her husband, which passed to her daughter. | |
Regency ofConrad X, Duke of Oleśnica (1475–1478) | Deposed in 1478 by her regent and died in the next year. Her possessions, inherited from her mother, were inherited by her uncle. | ||||||
Barbara | 1465 Daughter ofConrad IX andMargareta of Rawa | 1475–1478 | Duchy of Oleśnica (Oleśnica andBierutów, withDuchy of BytomHalf A) | Unmarried | 30 November 1479 aged 13–14 | ||
Barbara's possessions were inherited by her uncle Conrad X, who reunited Oleśnica in 1478 (see above) | |||||||
Barbara of Brandenburg | 30 May 1464 Ansbach Daughter ofAlbert Achilles, Elector of Brandenburg andAnna of Saxony, Electress of Brandenburg | 22 February 1476 – 4 September 1515 | Duchy of Głogów (atKrosno Odrzańskie,Kożuchów,Sulechów andLubsko) | Henry XI 11 October 1472 Berlin no children Vladislaus II, King of Hungary and Bohemia 20 August 1476 Frankfurt (Oder) (separated 1490, annulled 1500) no children | 4 September 1515 Ansbach aged 51 | Received a dower from her husband, which after her death was annexed to Brandenburg. | |
Krosno Odrzańskie,Kożuchów,Sulechów andLubsko were annexed to Brandenburg | |||||||
Louis | 1450 First son ofNicholas I andMagdalena of Brzeg | 3 July – September 1476 | Duchy of Opole (until 1521; withBrzeg until 1481) Duchy of Opole and Racibórz (from 1521) | Unmarried | September 1476 aged 25–26 | Children of Nicholas I, ruled jointly. In 1481 they sold Brzeg to Frederick I of Legnica. From 1497, John ruled alone, purchasing back, in 1521, the lostRacibórz from Bohemia, and restoring theDuchy of Opole and Racibórz. However, as he left no descendants the duchy reverted to the Margraviate of Brandenburg-Ansbach. | |
John IIthe Good | ![]() | 1460 Second son ofNicholas I andMagdalena of Brzeg | 3 July 1476 – 27 March 1532 | 27 March 1532 aged 71–72 | |||
Nicholas II | ![]() | 1462 Third son ofNicholas I andMagdalena of Brzeg | 3 July 1476 – 27 June 1497 | 27 June 1497 aged 34–35 | |||
Brzeg returned to Legnica | |||||||
Opole-Racibórz annexed to theMargraviate of Brandenburg-Ansbach | |||||||
Casimir II | 1449 Son ofBoleslaus II andAnna of Bielsk | 18 March 1477 – 13 December 1528 | Duchy of Cieszyn | Johanna of Poděbrady 15 February 1480 six children | 13 December 1528 Cieszyn aged 78–79 | Father and son, ruled jointly. Wenceslaus predeceased his father and never came to rule alone. | |
Wenceslaus II[34] | ![]() | 1488 Cieszyn Son ofCasimir II andJohanna of Poděbrady | 1518 – 17 November 1524 | Anna of Brandenburg-Ansbach 1 December 1518 three children | 17 November 1524 Cieszyn aged 35–36 | ||
Ludmila of Poděbrady | ![]() | 16 October 1446 Daughter ofGeorge of Poděbrady, King of Bohemia andJohana of Rožmitál | 9 May 1488 – 20 January 1503 | Duchy of Brzeg | Frederick I, Duke of Legnica 5 September 1474 three children | 20 January 1503 Legnica aged 56 | Heirs of Frederick I. His widow, Ludmila, retained Brzeg as dower seat and also the regency over her minor children. John died as a minor, and the partition was made between the younger sons, Frederick and George. It was George who eventually inherited his mother's dower, and transferred it to his brother after his death with no descendants. George's widow retained Lubin, which after her death would join Frederick's patrimony, again united. |
Regency ofLudmila of Poděbrady (1488–1495) | |||||||
John II | 1477 First son ofFrederick I andLudmila of Poděbrady | 9 May 1488 – 6 March 1495 | Duchy of Legnica (withDuchy of Brzeg since 1521) | Unmarried | 6 March 1495 aged 17–18 | ||
Frederick IIthe Great | ![]() | 12 February 1480 Legnica Second son ofFrederick I andLudmila of Poděbrady | 9 May 1488 – 17 September 1547 | Elisabeth Jagiellon 21 November 1515 one child Sophie of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Kulmbach 14 November 1519 three children | 17 September 1547 Legnica aged 67 | ||
George I | ![]() | 1481 Third son ofFrederick I andLudmila of Poděbrady | 9 May 1488 – 30 May 1521 | Duchy of Lubin (withDuchy of Brzeg since 1503) | Anna of Pomerania 9 June 1516 no children | 30 May 1521 aged 39–40 | |
Helena | 1478 Daughter ofJohn IV andBarbara, Duchess of Krnov | 27 April 1510 – 1523 | Duchy of Oświęcim (atKrnov only) | George, Baron of Schellenberg 1492 four children | 1525 aged 46–47 | Inherited the property of her mother at Krnov (see next table below), but her husband eventually sold it in 1523 to Brandenburg. | |
Krnov sold to Brandenburg-Ansbach | |||||||
Anna of Pomerania | ![]() | 1492 Daughter ofBogislaw X, Duke of Pomerania andAnna Jagiellon | 30 May 1521 – 25 April 1550 | Duchy of Lubin | George I 9 June 1516 no children | 25 April 1550 aged 57–58 | Inherited Lubin from her husband. As she didn't have children, the land passed, at her death, permanently to Legnica. |
Lubin was definitely annexed toLegnica | |||||||
Regencies ofAnna of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1528–1539) andJohn III of Pernstein (1528–1545) | |||||||
Wenceslaus III Adam | ![]() | December 1524 Cieszyn Son ofWenceslaus II andAnna of Brandenburg-Ansbach | 13 December 1528 – 4 November 1579 | Duchy of Cieszyn | Maria of Pernstein 8 February 1540 three children Sidonia Catharina of Saxe-Lauenburg 25 November 1567 Cieszyn six children | 4 November 1579 Cieszyn aged 54 | |
Frederick Casimir | ![]() | December 1541 Cieszyn Son ofWenceslaus III Adam andMaria of Pernstein | 1560 – 4 May 1571 | Catharina of Legnica 28 December 1563 Legnica one child | 4 May 1571 Cieszyn aged 29 | Son of Wenceslaus, co-ruled with him from 1560 but preceded his father in death. | |
Frederick III | ![]() | 22 February 1520 Legnica First son ofFrederick II andSophie of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Kulmbach | 17 September 1547 – 1551 1556 – 1559 | Duchy of Legnica(withLubin since 1550) | Catherine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 3 March 1538 Legnica six children | 15 December 1570 Legnica aged 50 | Children of Frederick II, divided the land: Frederick III kept Legnica (and absorbed Lubin in 1550), and George II inherited Brzeg. Frederick was deposed two times byCharles V, Holy Roman Emperor, and laterFerdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor, and put definitely under house arrest since 1559. Despite being deprived of power, after his death his wife received a dower seat. |
George IIthe Pious | ![]() | 18 July 1523 Legnica Second son ofFrederick II andSophie of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Kulmbach | 17 September 1547 – 7 May 1586 | Duchy of Brzeg | Barbara of Brandenburg 15 February 1545 Berlin seven children | 7 May 1586 Brzeg aged 62 | |
Council of Regency presided byGeorge II, Duke of Brzeg (1551–1556) | Victim of the manouvers of the Holy Roman Emperors, who sought to depose his father. Installed very young, was deposed by his father, and restored again, when his father became imprisioned for life. He went abroad and left his brother Frederick on his stead, but he seized the opportunity to be recognized as the legitimate duke, in 1576. Thanks to the efforts of Sophie of Brandenburg, Henry XI was restored to the duchy in 1580, with Frederick as a co-ruler in Chojnów. However, after he disrespected the imperial authority, was again dispossessed, and took refuge in Poland. | ||||||
Henry XI[53] | ![]() | 23 February 1539 Legnica First son ofFrederick III andCatherine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | 1551 – 1556 1559 – 13 March 1576 5 October 1580 – August 1581 | Duchy of Legnica | Sophie of Brandenburg-Ansbach 11 November 1560 Legnica six children | 3 March 1588 Kraków aged 49 | |
Catherine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | ![]() | 14 April 1518 Daughter ofHenry V, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin andHelen of the Palatinate | 15 December 1570 – 17 November 1581 | Duchy of Legnica(inChojnów) | Frederick III 3 March 1538 Legnica six children | 17 November 1581 aged 63 | Widow of Frederick III. Despite being the wife of a dispossessed duke, she received a dower seat after his death. |
Frederick IV | ![]() | 20 April 1552 Legnica Second son ofFrederick III andCatherine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | 13 March 1576 – 27 March 1596 | Duchy of Legnica (inLegnica proper in 1576–1580 and since 1581; atChojnów in 1580–1581) | Maria Sidonia of Cieszyn 20 January 1587 no children Dorothea of Holstein-Sonderburg 23 November 1589 no children Anna of Württemberg 24 October 1594 no children | 27 March 1596 Legnica aged 44 | After his brother's definitive and forced retirement in Poland, Frederick could ascend as the new duke, without opposition. Left no descendants. |
Legnica temporarily annexed to Brzeg | |||||||
Regency ofSidonia Catharina of Saxe-Lauenburg (1579–1594) | |||||||
Adam Wenceslaus | 12 December 1574 Cieszyn Son ofWenceslaus III Adam andSidonia Catharina of Saxe-Lauenburg | 4 November 1579 – 13 July 1617 | Duchy of Cieszyn | Elisabeth of Courland 17 September 1595 five children | 13 July 1617 Cieszyn aged 42 | ||
Barbara of Brandenburg | ![]() | 10 August 1527 Berlin Daughter ofJoachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg andMagdalena of Saxony | 7 May 1586 – 2 January 1595 | Duchy of Brzeg (atBrzeg proper) | George II 15 February 1545 Berlin seven children | 2 January 1595 Brzeg aged 67 | Heirs of George II. Barbara received Brzeg as her widow's seat. The rest of the patrimony was shared by the two sons of George and Barbara, withOława andWołów as the main towns. The brothers ruled always jointly. In 1592, John George died and leftOława to his widow, Anna, confining Joachim Frederick's power to Wołów. However, Anna remarried in 1594, which meant her widow seat returned to her brother-in-law. In the following years, Joachim annexed his mother's dower in Brzeg (1595), and also Legnica in 1596. |
Joachim Frederick | ![]() | 29 September 1550 Brzeg First son ofGeorge II andBarbara of Brandenburg | 7 May 1586 – 25 March 1602 | Duchy of Brzeg (atOława (1586–92 and since 1594) andWołów; in the entire Brzeg since 1595; inDuchy of Legnica since 1596) | Anna Maria of Anhalt 19 May 1577 Brzeg six children | 25 March 1602 Brzeg aged 51 | |
John George | 17 June 1552 Wołów Second son ofGeorge II andBarbara of Brandenburg | 7 May 1586 – 6 July 1592 | Duchy of Brzeg (atOława andWołów) | Anna of Württemberg 16 September 1582 Brzeg no children | 6 July 1592 Oława aged 40 | ||
Anna of Württemberg | ![]() | 12 June 1561 Stuttgart Daughter ofChristoph, Duke of Württemberg andAnna Maria of Brandenburg-Ansbach | 6 July 1592 – 24 October 1594 | Duchy of Brzeg (atOława) | John George 16 September 1582 Brzeg no children Frederick IV, Duke of Legnica 24 October 1594 no children | 7 July 1616 Chojnów aged 55 | |
Anna Maria of Anhalt | ![]() | 29 September 1550 Zerbst Daughter ofJoachim Ernest, Prince of Anhalt andAgnes of Barby-Mühlingen | 25 March 1602 – 14 November 1605 | Duchy of Brzeg (atOława) | Joachim Frederick 19 May 1577 Brzeg six children | 14 November 1605 Brzeg aged 55 | Heirs of Joachim Frederick. His widow, Anna Maria, received Olawa as dower seat, and retained the regency for her minor children, together with her sister-in-law, Elisabeth Magdalena, and her husband, who ruled until the brothers came of age, in 1609. George Rudolf left no descendants and his patrimony was divided between his nephews. |
Regencies ofAnna Maria of Anhalt (1602–1605),Elisabeth Magdalena of Brzeg andCharles II of Poděbrady (1602–1609) | |||||||
John Christian | ![]() | 28 August 1591 Oława First son ofJoachim Frederick andAnna Maria of Anhalt | 25 March 1602 – 25 December 1639 (onlyde jure from 1633) | Duchy of Brzeg (atBrzeg proper) | Dorothea Sibylle of Brandenburg 12 December 1610 Berlin thirteen children Anna Hedwig Sitzsch 13 September 1626 Brzeg (morganatic) seven children | 25 December 1639 Ostróda aged 48 | |
George Rudolph | ![]() | 12 January 1595 Oława Second son ofJoachim Frederick andAnna Maria of Anhalt | 25 March 1602 – 14 January 1653 | Duchy of Legnica | Sophie Elisabeth of Anhalt-Dessau 4 November 1614 Dessau no children Elisabeth Magdalena of Ziębice-Oleśnica 5 December 1624 no children | 14 January 1653 Wrocław aged 58 | |
Regency ofCharles of Austria, Bishop of Wroclaw (1617–24) | |||||||
Frederick William | ![]() | 9 November 1601 Cieszyn Son ofAdam Wenceslaus andElisabeth of Courland | 13 July 1617 – 13 August 1625 | Duchy of Cieszyn | Unmarried | 19 August 1625 Cologne aged 23 | |
Elizabeth Lucretia | ![]() | 1 June 1599 Cieszyn Daughter ofAdam Wenceslaus andElisabeth of Courland | 13 August 1625 – 19 May 1653 | Duchy of Cieszyn | Gundakar, Prince of Liechtenstein 23 April 1618 no children | 19 May 1653 Cieszyn aged 53 | After her death, Cieszyn was annexed by theHoly Roman Empire. |
Cieszyn efinitively annexed to theHoly Roman Empire | |||||||
George III | ![]() | 4 September 1611 Brzeg First son ofJohn Christian andDorothea Sibylle of Brandenburg | 25 December 1639 – 4 July 1664 (co-rulingde facto as regent since 1633) | Duchy of Brzeg (inDuchy of Legnica in 1653–1654 and 1663–1664) | Sophia Catharina of Ziębice-Oleśnica 23 February 1638 Bernstadt one child Elisabeth Marie Charlotte of Palatinate-Kaiserslautern 19 October 1660 Brzeg no children | 4 July 1664 Brzeg aged 52 | Sons of John Christian, ruled jointly in Legnica. George was already duke of Brzeg since his father's death. As George had no descendants, he was succeeded in his domains by his brother Christian. The latter, after his own death, left Oława for his widow, and the remaining lands were inherited by his own son. |
Louis IV | ![]() | 19 April 1616 Brzeg Fifth son ofJohn Christian andDorothea Sibylle of Brandenburg | 25 December 1639 – 24 November 1663 (co-rulingde facto inBrzeg as regent since 1633) | Duchy of Legnica (inDuchy of Brzeg until 1653; at Legnica since 1653) | Anna Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow 8 May 1649 Brzeg one child | 24 November 1663 Legnica aged 47 | |
Christian | 9 April 1618 Oława Seventh son ofJohn Christian andDorothea Sibylle of Brandenburg | 25 December 1639 – 28 February 1672 (co-rulingde facto in Brzeg as regent 1633–1639) | Duchy of Brzeg (atOława; inDuchies of Legnica andBrzeg since 1664) | Louise of Anhalt-Dessau 24 November 1648 Dessau four children | 28 February 1672 Oława aged 53 | ||
Louise of Anhalt-Dessau | ![]() | 10 February 1631 Dessau Daughter ofJohn Casimir, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau andAgnes of Hesse-Kassel | 28 February 1672 – 25 April 1680 | Duchy of Brzeg (atOława) | Christian 24 November 1648 Dessau four children | 25 April 1680 Oława aged 49 | Heirs of Christian. Louise retained her dower seat atOława and the regency for her son over the rest of the duchies. George William was the last male representative of the House of Piast, as he died without descendants. After their deaths, their duchies were annexed by theHoly Roman Empire. |
Regency ofLouise of Anhalt-Dessau (1672–1675) | |||||||
George William | ![]() | 29 September 1660 Oława Son ofChristian andLouise of Anhalt-Dessau | 28 February 1672 – 21 November 1675 | Duchy of Brzeg (atBrzeg proper; withDuchy of Legnica) | Unmarried | 21 November 1675 Brzeg aged 15 | |
Oława, Legnica and Brzeg annexed to theHoly Roman Empire |
Below follows a simplified table of Silesia's partitions:
Piast Ráciborz (1282–1336) | |||
Opava (1269–1456) (brief annexation to PiastLegnica in 1308–11 | |||
Ráciborz (1378–1521) | Krnov (1424–1493) (brief annexation to Hungary in 1474–90) | ||
Glubczyce (1433–1485) | |||
Pledged to Opole and annexed to Bohemia | |||
Annexed to Bohemia | Annexed to Bohemia | ||
Annexed to Opole |
Ruler | Born | Reign | Ruling part | Consort | Death | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nicholas I | 1255 Natural son ofPremysl Ottokar II, King of Bohemia andAgnes of Kuenring | 1269 – 25 July 1318 | Duchy of Opava | Adelaide of Habsburg 1283 three children | 25 July 1318 Brno aged 62–63 | Inherited from his father the Silesian duchy of Opava, which was independent from the Piast territory in Silesia. | |
Nicholas II | ![]() | 1288 Son ofNicholas I andAdelaide of Habsburg | 25 July 1318 – 8 December 1365 | Duchy of Opava | Anna, Duchess of Racibórz 1318 six children Hedwig of Oleśnica (d.1359) May 1342 one child Judith of Opole 1360 three children | 8 December 1365 aged 76–77 | |
John I | 1332 First son ofNicholas II andHedwig of Oleśnica | 8 December 1365 – 1382 | Duchy of Racibórz | Anna of Głogów-Żagań (d.1369) 1361 three children | 1382 aged 49–50 | Children of Nicholas II, divided their inheritance; After Nicholas III's death, Glubczyce returned to Opava. | |
Nicholas III | 1339 Second son ofNicholas II andHedwig of Oleśnica | 8 December 1365 – 9 July 1394 | Duchy of Opava (atGlubczyce) | Unmarried | 9 July 1394 aged 54–55 | ||
Premislaus I | ![]() | c.1350 Third son ofNicholas II andHedwig of Oleśnica | 8 December 1365 – 28 September 1433 | Duchy of Opava | Anna of Lutz (d.1405) 1395 three children Catherine of Ziębice c.1405 three children Helena of Bosnia 1425 three children | 28 September 1433 Opava aged 82–83? | |
Wenceslaus I | 1361 Fourth son ofNicholas II andHedwig of Oleśnica | 8 December 1365 – 1381 | Unmarried | 1381 aged 19–20 | |||
Glubczyce returned to Opava | |||||||
John IIof Iron | c.1365 First son ofJohn I andAnna of Głogów-Żagań | 1382–1424 | Duchy of Racibórz (atRacibórz proper) | Helena of Lithuania 16 January 1407 three children | 1424 aged 58–59 | Children of John I, divided the land. John kept the main Ráciborz and Krnov, and Nicholas was given Bruntál. John lost Krnov in 1388, but recovered it in 1422. | |
Nicholas IV | c.1370 Second son ofJohn I andAnna of Głogów-Żagań | 1382–1406 | Duchy of Racibórz (atBruntál) | Unmarried | 1406 aged 35–36 | ||
Bruntál remerged in Racibórz | |||||||
Wenceslaus II | 1405 First son ofJohn II andHelena of Lithuania | 1424 – 29 October 1456 | Duchy of Racibórz | Margaret of Szamotuł 1437 four children | 29 October 1456 aged 50–51 | Children of John II, divided their inheritance. | |
Nicholas V | 1409 Second son ofJohn II andHelena of Lithuania | 1424 – 22 December 1452 | Duchy of Krnov | Margaret Clemm of Ellguth three children Barbara Rockemberg 1451 Kraków two children | 22 December 1452 aged 42–43 | ||
Wenceslaus II | 1397 First son ofPremislaus I and Anna of Lutz | 28 September 1433 – 1449 | Duchy of Głubczyce | Elisabeth of Kravař 1420 two children | 1449 aged 51–52 | Children of Premislaus I, divided the land. William and Ernest inherited the duchy of Ziebice in succession, alongside Opava, where they ruled together with their half- brother Nicholas IV (and possibly also Premislaus II). In 1452, after William's death, Ernest and his brothers associated William's sons as co-rulers. Wenceslaus II, another half-brother, inherited a part of Opava centered aroundGlubczyce. In 1456, Ziebice was annexed to the Podebrady family's patrimony. In 1464, the duchy of Opava was sold to Bohemia. | |
Nicholas IV | 1400 Second son ofPremislaus I and Anna of Lutz | 28 September 1433 – 1437 | Duchy of Opava (atZlaté Hory) | Unmarried | 1437 aged 36–37 | ||
William | 1410 First son ofPremislaus I andCatherine of Ziębice | 28 September 1433 – 15 August 1452 | Duchy of Opava (withDuchy of Ziębice since 1443) | Salomea of Častolovice five children | 15 August 1452 aged 41–42 | ||
Ernest | 1415 Second son ofPremislaus I andCatherine of Ziębice | 28 September 1433 – 8 March 1456 | Duchy of Opava (withDuchy of Ziębice 1452–1456) | Unmarried | 1464 aged 48–49 | ||
Premislaus IIthe Elder | ![]() | c.1425 Son ofPremislaus I andHelena of Bosnia | 28 September 1433 – 8 March 1456 | Duchy of Opava | 16 June 1478 Wrocław aged 52–53 | ||
Frederick | 1440 First son ofWilliam andSalomea of Častolovice | 15 August 1452 – 8 March 1456 | 1470 aged 29–30 | ||||
Wenceslaus III | 1445 Second son ofWilliam andSalomea of Častolovice | 1474 aged 28–29 | |||||
Premislaus IIIthe Younger | 1450 Third son ofWilliam andSalomea of Častolovice | 17 February 1493 aged 42–43 | |||||
Zlaté Hory remerged in Opava; Opava pledged to Opole by debt, later transferred in 1464 to Bohemia: annexation to Bohemia; Ziębice was annexed to thePodiebrad family | |||||||
Janusz | 1420 First son ofWenceslaus II and Elisabeth of Kravař | 1449–1454 | Duchy of Glubczyce (inFulnek) | Unmarried | 1454 aged 59–60 | Children of Wenceslaus II, divided the land, which was reunited shortly by John III. | |
John IIIthe Pious | 1425 Second son ofWenceslaus II and Elisabeth of Kravař | 1449–1485 | Duchy of Głubczyce (inGłubczyce proper) | Catherine (d.1485) no children | 1485 aged 59–60 | ||
Fulnek remerged in Glubczyce | |||||||
Barbara Rockemberg | c.1410? ? Rockemberg? | 1452 – November 1463 | Krnov (atPszczyna) | Wilhelm Willandt no children Jerzy Orient one child Nicholas V 1451 Kraków two children | November 1463 aged 52–53 | Heirs of Nicholas V. Barbara, Nicholas' widow, inherited a dower seat and the position of regent for her stepsons, who inherited the main duchy and divided it after attaining majority. In 1474, John lost the main duchy (later claimed by his sister) but kept some towns for himself. | |
Regency ofBarbara Rockemberg (1452–1462) | |||||||
John IVthe Elder | 1440 First son ofNicholas V andMargaret Clemm of Ellguth | 1452–1483 | Krnov (atKrnov proper until 1474; atWodzisław Śląski in since 1474) | Unmarried | 1483 aged 42–43 | ||
Wenceslaus III | 1442 Second son ofNicholas V andMargaret Clemm of Ellguth | 1452–1478 | Krnov (atRybnik) | Unmarried | 1478 aged 35–36 | ||
Pszczyna annexed to Krnov; Krnov temporarily annexed to Bohemia (1474–1490); Rybnik and Wodzisław Śląski definitely annexed to Bohemia | |||||||
Regency ofMargaret of Szamotuł (1456–1464) | |||||||
John Vthe Younger | ![]() | 1446 Son ofWenceslaus II andMargaret of Szamotuł | 29 October 1456 – 14 April 1493 | Duchy of Racibórz | Magdalena of Opole 13 January 1478 Opole four children | 14 April 1493 aged 46–47 | |
Anna | c.1430 Daughter ofWenceslaus II and Elisabeth of Kravař | 1485 | Duchy of Głubczyce | Jan Zajic of Hasenburg (d.1485) no children | 29 April 1478 or 15 May 1505 aged 74–75? | Traditionally dead in 1478, the duchy, without heirs, would have been returned to Bohemia. However, according toother sources, she died in 1505, which opens the possibility of her claiming of the duchy. | |
Głubczyce annexed to Bohemia | |||||||
Barbara | 1445 Daughter ofNicholas V andMargaret Clemm of Ellguth | 1490 – 27 April 1510 | Duchy of Krnov | John IV, Duke of Oświęcim 1475 one child | 27 April 1510 aged 64–65 | Claimed (and ruled, effectively) her family's duchy from 1490, co-ruling with her son-in-law since 1493[55] | |
Krnov annexed to Oswiecim (1510–1524) and later sold to Brandenburg (see table above) | |||||||
Regency ofMagdalena of Opole (1493–1499) | Children of John V, ruled jointly. In 1521, after the childless brothers' death, the duchy returned to Opole. | ||||||
Nicholas VI | 1478 First son ofJohn V andMagdalena of Opole | 14 April 1493 – 3 November 1506 | Duchy of Racibórz | Unmarried | 3 November 1506 Kraków aged 27–28 | ||
John VI | 1484 Second son ofJohn V andMagdalena of Opole | 14 April 1493 – December 1506 | December 1506 aged 21–22 | ||||
Valentinthe Hunchback | 1485 Third son ofJohn V andMagdalena of Opole | 14 April 1493 – 13 November 1521 | 13 November 1521 Racibórz aged 35–36 | ||||
Racibórz reunited with Opole |
Part of Piast dynasty property | |||
County of Kladsko (1471–1501) | Duchy of Ziębice (1456–1569) | ||
Duchy of Oleśnica (1498–1686) | |||
Annexed to the Hardegg family property | |||
Duchy of Bierutów (1536–1587) | |||
Annexed to the Holy Roman Empire | |||
Ruler | Born | Reign | Ruling part | Consort | Death | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
George (I) | ![]() | 23 April 1420 Poděbrady Castle Son ofVictor, Lord of Kunštát and Poděbrady andAnna of Wartenberg | 8 March 1456 – 22 March 1471 | Duchy of Ziębice | Kunigunde of Sternberg 1441 three children Johana of Rožmitál 1450 four children | 22 March 1471 Prague aged 50 | AlsoKing of Bohemia. |
Victor | ![]() | 29 May 1443 Poděbrady Castle Second son ofGeorge (I) andKunigunde of Sternberg | 22 March 1471 – 1485 | Duchy of Ziębice (atOpava; inPszczyna until 1480) | Margaret Ptáček of Pirkstein 1463 one child Sophie of Cieszyn 1464 three children Elena-Margaret Palaiologina of Montferrat 1480 three children | 30 August 1500 Český Těšín aged 57 | Children of George, divided their inheritance. Victor also inherited Pszczyna, but gave it to his daughter and son-in-law in 1480 |
Henry Ithe Elder | ![]() | 15 May 1448 Poděbrady Castle Third son ofGeorge (I) andKunigunde of Sternberg | 22 March 1471 – 24 June 1498 | Duchy of Ziębice | Ursula of Brandenburg 9 September 1467 Cheb eight children | 24 June 1498 Kłodzko aged 50 | |
Henry (II)the Younger | ![]() | 18 May 1452 Prague Son ofGeorge (I) andJohana of Rožmitál | 22 March 1471 – 1 July 1492 | County of Kłodzko | Catherine of Thuringia 26 February 1471 one child | 1 July 1492 Poděbrady Castle aged 40 | |
Opava annexed to Hungary | |||||||
Kłodzko briefly annexed to Ziębice | |||||||
Johanna | 1463 Poděbrady Castle Daughter ofVictor, Duke of Münsterberg and Margaret Ptáček of Pirkstein | 15 February 1480 – 24 July 1496 | Duchy of Ziębice (inPszczyna) | Casimir II, Duke of Cieszyn 15 February 1480 two children | 24 July 1496 aged 32–33 | She was given Pszczyna possibly at the time of her wedding with the Duke of Cieszyn. | |
Pszczyna annexed to Cieszyn | |||||||
Albert | 3 August 1468 Kunětická hora Castle First son ofHenry I andUrsula of Brandenburg | 24 June 1498 – 5 May 1501 | County of Kłodzko | Salomea of Głogów-Żagań (1475–1514) 1487 one child | 12 July 1511 Prostějov aged 42 | Children of Henry I, divided their inheritance. In 1501, due to financial problems, Kłodzko was sold to theHardegg family. | |
George I | 2 October 1470 Litice Castle Second son ofHenry I andUrsula of Brandenburg | 24 June 1498 – 10 November 1502 | Duchy of Oleśnica | Hedwig of Głogów-Żagań (1477–1524) 7 January 1488 Głogów no children | 10 November 1502 Oleśnica aged 32 | ||
Charles I | ![]() | 2/4 May 1476 Kłodzko Fourth son ofHenry I andUrsula of Brandenburg | 24 June 1498 – 31 May 1536 | Duchy of Ziębice | Anna of Głogów-Żagań 7 January 1488 Głogów twelve children | 31 May 1536 Ząbkowice Śląskie aged 60 | |
Kłodzko sold to theHardegg family | |||||||
Oleśnica was briefly remerged in Ziębice | |||||||
Joachim | 18 January 1503 Oleśnica Second son ofCharles I andAnna of Głogów-Żagań | 31 May 1536 – 1542 | Duchy of Ziębice | Unmarried | 27 December 1562 Wrocław aged 59 | Children of Charles I, divided their inheritance. In 1542, Joachim and John pledged their duchy to theDuchy of Legnica and was then lost to Hungary; Joachim retired to clergy. However, John, after inheriting his brother George's duchy in 1553, managed to recover the lost Ziębice in 1559. | |
John | 4 November 1509 Oleśnica Fourth son ofCharles I andAnna of Głogów-Żagań | 31 May 1536 – 1542 1559 – 28 February 1565 | Duchy of Ziębice | Christina Catherine of Schidlowitz 20 February 1536 one child Margaret of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 8 September 1561 Oleśnica no children | 28 February 1565 Oleśnica aged 56 | ||
Henry II | 29 March 1507 Oleśnica Third son ofCharles I andAnna of Głogów-Żagań | 31 May 1536 – 2 August 1548 | Duchy of Bierutów | Margaret of Pernštejn 7 February 1529 no children Margaret of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1515–1586) 12 November 1537 seven children | 2 August 1548 Bierutów aged 45 | ||
George II | ![]() | 30 April 1512 Oleśnica Fifth son ofCharles I andAnna of Głogów-Żagań | 31 May 1536 – 13 January 1553 | Duchy of Oleśnica | Elizabeth Kostka of Postupitz no children | 31 May 1536 Oleśnica aged 40 | |
Oleśnica was briefly remerged in Ziębice | |||||||
Regency ofJohn, Duke of Ziębice (1548–1565) | Heirs of Henry II. Co-ruled jointly in Bierutów until 1569, when the death of their cousin Charles Christopher made them divide their possessions: Henry kept Bierutów, and Charles inherited Oleśnica. However, Henry was indebted, had to sell the Bierutów to the von Schindel family. Charles recovered it in 1604. | ||||||
Henry III | 29 April 1542 Oleśnica First son ofHenry II andMargaret of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | 2 August 1548 – 1574 | Duchy of Bierutów | Magdalena Meseritsch of Lomnitz no children | 10 April 1587 Oleśnica aged 44 | ||
Charles II | ![]() | 29 March 1507 Oleśnica Fourth son ofHenry II andMargaret of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | 2 August 1548 – 28 January 1617 | Duchy of Oleśnica (inBierutów until 1574 and from 1604; inOleśnica proper since 1569) | Catherine Berka of Dubá 17 September 1570 Moravská Třebová two children Elisabeth Magdalena of Brzeg 30 September 1585 eight children | 28 January 1617 Oleśnica aged 71 | |
Between 1574 and 1604, Bierutów belonged to the von Schindel family | |||||||
Charles Christopher | 22 May 1545 Oleśnica Son ofJohn and Christina Catherine of Schidlowitz | 28 February 1565 – 17 March 1569 | Duchy of Ziębice | Unmarried | 17 March 1569 Oleśnica aged 23 | After his death, his domains were divided; while Ziębice merged in the Holy Roman Empire, Oleśnica was inherited by the Bierutów line. | |
Ziębice was annexed to theHoly Roman Empire; Oleśnica was inherited by the Bierutów line | |||||||
Henry Wenceslaus | ![]() | 7 October 1592 Oleśnica Third son ofCharles II andElisabeth Magdalena of Brzeg | 28 January 1617 – 21 August 1639 | Duchy of Oleśnica (inBierutów until 1574 and from 1604; inOleśnica proper since 1569) | Anna Magdalena of the Palatinate-Veldenz 7 November 1617 Oleśnica eight children Anna Ursula of Reibnitz (1616 – 1 January 1657) 26 August 1636 (morganatic) three children | 21 August 1639 Bierutów aged 46 | Heirs of Charles II, divided their inheritance. |
Charles Frederick | ![]() | 18 October 1593 Oleśnica Fourth son ofCharles II andElisabeth Magdalena of Brzeg | 28 January 1617 – 31 May 1647 | Duchy of Oleśnica | Anna Sophia of Saxe-Altenburg 24 November 1618 Oleśnica one child Sophia Magdalena of Brzeg 2 December 1642 Wrocław no children | 31 May 1647 Oleśnica aged 53 | |
Bierutów remerged in Oleśnica | |||||||
Elisabeth Marie | 11 May 1625 Oleśnica Daughter ofCharles Frederick andAnna Sophia of Saxe-Altenburg | 31 May 1647 – 17 March 1686 | Duchy of Oleśnica | Silvius I Nimrod, Duke of Württemberg-Oels 1 May 1647 Oleśnica seven children | 17 March 1686 Oleśnica aged 60 | Last heiress of the Podiebrad family. After her death, her duchy was annexed toWürttemberg. | |
Oleśnica annexed to Württemberg |
Established in 1290 by High DukeHenry IV Probus, held by theBishops of Wrocław
Major part annexed by theKingdom of Prussia after the FirstSilesian War in 1742.
Prussian partsecularised in 1810.
Theocracy abolished in 1850.
http://www.tacitus.nu/historical-atlas/regents/poland/silesia.htm