Duchy of Kraków^[a][b] was aduchy inLesser Poland that existed from 1227 until 1300. Its capital wasKraków. It was formed in 1227 from theSeniorate Province, following the abolishment of theDuchy of Poland. It remained independent until 1300, when it had become afiefdom within theKingdom of Poland. In 1320, it was incorporated into theUnited Kingdom of Poland.

Duchy of Kraków Księstwo krakowskie(Polish) Ducatus Cracoviensis(Latin)
1227–1320
Coat of arms
Map of division of Poland between 1275 and 1300, including the Duchy of Kraków
Status	Independent state (1227–1300) Fiefdom within theKingdom of Poland (1300–1320)
Capital	Kraków
Official languages	Polish,Latin
Religion	Roman Catholic
Government	FeudalDuchy
Duke
• 1228–1229 (first)	Władysław III Spindleshanks
• 1291–1300 (last)	Wenceslaus II of Bohemia
Historical era	High Middle Ages
• Abolishment ofDuchy of Poland	1227
• Becoming afiefdom within theKingdom of Poland	1300
• Unification of theKingdom of Poland	1320
Preceded by Succeeded by Seniorate Province Kingdom of Poland

After the long-term power struggleLeszek the White was killed in 1227 and the Pomerelian lands got lost, when DukeSwietopelk II of Gdańsk declared himself independent. In 1232 the Silesian dukeHenry I the Bearded finally prevailed, re-uniting the thrones of Wrocław and Kraków under his rule as determined by the will of late Duke Bolesław III Krzywousty in 1138. However, a re-establishment of the Polish kingdom under the rule of theSilesian Piasts failed, when Duke Henry's I sonHenry II the Pious was killed during theMongol invasion at the 1241Battle of Legnica. After an interregnum he was succeeded by Leszek's I sonBolesław V the Chaste, who upon his death in 1279 appointed Konrad's grandsonLeszek II the Black of Kuyavia.

The Silesian Piasts once again reached for the Senioral Province, when Leszek II died without heirs in 1288, and Duke Henry IV Probus of Wrocław became High Duke at Kraków but likewise had no issue upon his death in 1290. The Seniorate was again contested between the dukesPrzemysł II of Greater Poland andWładysław I the Elbow-high of Kuyavia. Przemysł II brought the royalPřemyslid dynasty ofBohemia into the Polish affairs, when he allied with KingWenceslaus II, whom he ceded the throne at Kraków. In 1295 however, he switched sides and had himself crowned as King of Poland (the first since the deposition ofBolesław II the Bold in 1079) at Greater Polish Gniezno. As he was killed the next year, Władysław I proclaimed himself his successor, he nevertheless had to deal with the permanent pressure by the claimants of the Bohemian Přemyslid andLuxembourg dynasties, who had begun to vassalize the southwesternSilesian duchies.

In 1320 Władysław I, against the fierce resistance of KingJohn of Bohemia, reached the consent byPope John XXII to have himself crowned Polish king at Kraków. The Duchy of Kraków was finally incorporated into the Lands of thePolish Crown asKraków Voivodeship. Władysław's I successor KingCasimir III the Great had to buy off the Bohemian claims by renouncingSilesia in the 1335Treaty of Trentschin.

• Władysław III Spindleshanks (1228–1229)
• Konrad I of Masovia (1229–1232)
• Henry the Bearded (1232–1238)
• Henry II the Pious (1238–1241)
• Bolesław II the Horned (1241)
• Konrad I of Masovia (1241–1243)
• Bolesław V the Chaste (1243–1279)
• Leszek II the Black (1279–1288)
• Bolesław II of Masovia (1288)
• Henryk IV Probus (1288–1289)
• Bolesław II of Masovia (1289)
• Władysław I Łokietek (1289)
• Henryk IV Probus (1289–1290)
• Przemysł II (1290–1291)
• Wenceslaus II of Bohemia (1291–1300)

• Genealogia Piastów by 0. Balzer. Kraków. 1895.
• Dzieje Polski piastowskiej (VIII w.-1370) by J. Wyrozumski. Kraków. "Fogra". 1999. ISBN 83-85719-38-5, OCLC 749221743.