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Duchy of Bytom Księstwo Bytomskie(pl) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1281–1498 | |||||||||
 Silesian duchies in 1284, Bytom in violet | |||||||||
| Status | Silesian duchy | ||||||||
| Capital | Bytom | ||||||||
| Religion | Catholicism | ||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||||
| 1281 | |||||||||
• Casimir sole ruler | 1284 | ||||||||
• Vassalized byBohemia | 1289 | ||||||||
| 1357–1459 | |||||||||
• Merged with Opole | 1498 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of | Poland | ||||||||
TheDuchy of Bytom (Polish:Księstwo Bytomskie,Czech:Bytomské knížectví,German:Herzogtum Beuthen) was a duchy inUpper Silesia, one of theSilesian duchies of fragmentedPiast-ruled Poland. It was established inUpper Silesia about 1281 during the division of theDuchy of Opole and Racibórz among the sons of DukeWładysław Opolski.[1] The duchy's capital wasBytom, formerly part ofLesser Poland until in 1177 the Polish High DukeCasimir II the Just had attached it to the SilesianDuchy of Racibórz.
When Władysław's second sonCasimir became Duke of Bytom, he at first ruled jointly with his brother DukeBolko I of Opole and from 1284 on alone. The conflict with hisPiast cousin DukeHenryk IV Probus of Silesia-Wrocław led Casimir to seek shelter from KingWenceslaus II of Bohemia and in 1289 he became the first Silesian Piast duke to submit himself underBohemian overlordship.
With the death of Casimir's grandson DukeBolesław in 1355 the Bytom branch of the Piasts became extinct and in the following inheritance dispute his widowMargareta of Sternberg had to cede the northern part of the duchy including the lordship ofKoźle to DukeKonrad I of Oleśnica, while the remaining part was bequested to DukeCasimir I of Cieszyn. Bytom remained divided until in 1459 DukeWenceslaus I of Cieszyn sold his portion to DukeKonrad IX the Black of Oleśnica and the duchy was reunited under his rule.
In 1472Matthias Corvinus of Hungary, then self-declared King of Bohemia, annexed Bytom and pledged it to Lord Jan ofZierotin. In 1498 it was finally merged back into the Duchy of Opole under the rule of DukeJan II the Good. Jan had signed an inheritance treaty with MargraveGeorge of Brandenburg-Ansbach, who in 1526 was enfeoffed with Bytom by KingLouis II Jagiellon of Bohemia.
His rule however was denied by Louis' successors from theHouse of Habsburg, who suspiciously eyed the gain of power of theHouse of Hohenzollern in Silesia. After the 1620Battle of White Mountain EmperorFerdinand II of Habsburg took the opportunity to deprive ElectorGeorge Wiliam of Brandenburg of the rule over Bytom. It then remained astate country within theHabsburg monarchy until its annexation byPrussia in 1742.
Of Bytom (1281/1282-1355/1357):
Oleśnica Piasts (1357-1472/1492):
Opole Piasts
 | Original |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Silesia | |||
| Upper Silesia | |||
| Other | |||
50°21′04″N18°55′04″E / 50.351031°N 18.917853°E /50.351031; 18.917853
