Branches of the Piast dynasty continued to rule in theDuchy of Masovia (until 1526) and in theDuchies of Silesia until the last maleSilesian Piast died in 1675. The Piasts intermarried with several noble lines of Europe, and possessed numerous titles, some within theHoly Roman Empire. TheJagiellonian kings ruling after the death ofCasimir IV of Poland were also descended in the female line from Casimir III's daughter.
The early dukes and kings of Poland are said to have regarded themselves as descendants of the semi-legendaryPiast the Wheelwright (Piast Kołodziej),[5] first mentioned in theCronicae et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum (Deeds of the Princes of the Poles), written c. 1113 byGallus Anonymus. However, the term "Piast Dynasty" was not applied until the 17th century.[6][7] In a historical work, the expression Piast dynasty was introduced by the Polish historianAdam Naruszewicz; it is not documented in contemporary sources.[8][9]
The first "Piasts", probably ofPolan descent, appeared around 940 in the territory ofGreater Poland at the stronghold ofGiecz.[10] Shortly afterwards they relocated their residence toGniezno, where Prince Mieszko I ruled over theCivitas Schinesghe from about 960. The Piasts temporarily also ruled overPomerania,Bohemia and theLusatias, as well as part ofRuthenia, and the HungarianSpiš region in present-daySlovakia. The ruler bore the title of aduke or aking, depending on their position of power.
After the Polish royal line and Piast junior branch had died out in 1370, the Polish crown fell to the Anjou kingLouis I of Hungary, son of late King Casimir's sisterElizabeth Piast. TheMasovian branch of the Piasts became extinct with the death of DukeJanusz III in 1526. The last ruling duke of the Silesian Piasts wasGeorge William of Legnica who died in 1675. His uncle CountAugust of Legnica, the last male Piast, died in 1679. The last legitimate heir, DuchessKarolina of Legnica-Brieg died in 1707 and is buried inTrzebnica Abbey. Nevertheless, numerous families, like the illegitimate descendants of the Silesian dukeAdam Wenceslaus of Cieszyn (1574–1617), link their genealogy to the dynasty.
About 1295,Przemysł II used a coat of arms with a whiteeagle[11] – a symbol later referred to as the Piast coat of arms or as thePiast Eagle.[12]TheSilesian Piasts in the 14th century used an eagle modified by a crescent, which became the coat of arms of theDuchy of Silesia.
^A. Małecki, Studya heraldyczne [Heraldic Studies], vol. I, Lwów 1890, pp. 268–285; M. L. Wójcik, Ród Gryfitów do końca XIII wieku. Pochodzenie – genealogia – rozsiedlenie, Historia CVII, Wrocław 1993, p. 39.
^Rodowód książąt pomorskich Edward Rymar Książnica Pomorska, 2005, page 53
^"Gniezno czy Giecz, czyli skąd pochodzi dynastia?".Gniezno czy Giecz, czyli skąd pochodzi dynastia? – Gniezno czy Giecz, czyli skąd pochodzi dynastia? – Wydarzenia – Wiedza – Historia Poszukaj. Retrieved22 June 2019.
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