Duchy of Wiślica | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1166–1173 1230–c. 1234 | |||||||||
 Duchy of Wiślica in 1166 within theKingdom of Poland | |||||||||
| Status | Fiefdom ofKingdom of Poland | ||||||||
| Capital | Wiślica | ||||||||
| Official languages | Polish,Latin | ||||||||
| Religion | Roman Catholic | ||||||||
| Government | District principality | ||||||||
| Duke | |||||||||
• 1166–1173 | Casimir II the Just | ||||||||
• 1230–c. 1234 | Bolesław V the Chaste (de jure) Grzymisława of Łuck (regent) | ||||||||
| Historical era | High Middle Ages | ||||||||
• Established | 1166 | ||||||||
• Incorporation intoDuchy of Sandomierz | 1173 | ||||||||
• Reestablishment of the duchy | 1230 | ||||||||
• Last known mention of the duchy in the records | 1234 | ||||||||
• Destruction ofWiślica duringFirst Mongol invasion of Poland | 1241 | ||||||||
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Duchy of Wiślica[a] was adistrict principality and afiefdom within theKingdom of Poland. It was formed in 1166 from the territories of theDuchy of Sandomierz, following its fragmentation onto three parts.[1] The state was ruled byCasimir II the Just,[1] and it existed until 1173, when Casimir had assumed the throne of the Duchy of Sandomierz, uniting two states together. Its capital wasWiślica and it was located in the southernSandomierz Land in the southeastern corner of theKingdom of Poland.[2] The state was later shortly reestablished in 1230 byGrzymisława of Łuck who ruled it as aregent in the name of her son,Bolesław V the Chaste. In 1234, they had become rulers of the whole Duchy of Sandomierz, with that year being the last mention of the duchy in the documents.[3][4]
Most likely before 1166, and before his war expedition toPrussia,Henry of Sandomierz, duke ofDuchy of Sandomierz, had appointed in his willCasimir II the Just as his successor as the Duke of Sandomierz.[5] After his death in the battle againstPrussians, Casimir's brothers,Bolesław IV the Curly andMieszko III the Old, had intervened in the succession, separating the duchy into 3 parts, as opposed to the whole state being ruled by Casimir himself. Bolesław IV had become the ruler of theDuchy of Sandomierz, while Mieszko III was given closely unknown territory of the duchy. Casimir II was given the smallest part of the state, forming the Duchy of Wiślica.[1] The capital of the state wasWiślica and the duchy had stretched fromMałogoszcz on the north toPołaniec on the south.[2]
In 1167, with the decreasing support to the rule Bolesław IV the Curly, the rebellion was organized against him. According to most historians, the reason for the rebellion was the succession to the throne of Sandomierz as well as the defeat of his expedition against Prussians, which, according toWincenty Kadłubek, had generated dissatisfaction among the magnates. According to him, the rebellion was organized byJaksa Gryfita and Świętosław Piotrowic, who had encouraged Casimir II to rebel together with them. Under the pressure of the rebellion, Bolesław IV had given lands to his brothers.[6]
Bolesław IV died in 1173 was succeeded as Duke of Sandomierz by his brother, Mieszko III the Old. Mieszko decided to give the entire duchy to Casimir, who, by becoming the duke had united theDuchy of Sandomirz and incorporated Duchy of Wiślica into it. The city of Wiślica itself had become the co-capital of the Duchy of Sandomierz.[2]
In 1229, after the unsuccessful fight for the throne succession of duchies ofKraków andSandomierz againstHenry the Bearded,Grzymisława of Łuck together with her son,Bolesław V the Chaste, had retreated to Wiślica.[3] Year later, 4 years old Bolesław was crowned the duke of reestablished Duchy of Wiślica, with Grzymisława ruling the state as aregent.[2] In 1234, Grzymisława had recognised Henry as the ruler of Duchy of Kraków in exchange for the rule of Duchy of Sandomierz.[3] 1234 remains the last mention of Duchy of Wiślica in the documents.[4]
In 1241, the town of Wiślica got destroyed and burned down during theFirst Mongol invasion of Poland.[4]
