Duke of Silesia
The Duke of Silesia was the sons and descendants of the Polish Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth. In accordance with the last 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 of Kraków reserved for the eldest, who was to be High Duke of all Poland. This was known as the fragmentation 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 of Bohemian king John 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 of George William, Duke of Liegnitz the dynasty ceased to exist.
Duchy of Silesia
The Duchy 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 sons Bolesław I the Tall, Mieszko I Tanglefoot and Konrad Spindleshanks. After Konrad's death Głogów was again united with the Duchy of Wrocław/Lower Silesia.Dukes of Silesia
[Piast Dynasty]
Partitions of 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 the Duchy of Racibórz for Mieszko I and the Duchy 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 as Upper Silesia, while the territories remaining with Bolesław I roughly corresponded to Lower Silesia.Lower Silesia
Duchy of Lower Silesia was a direct continuation of the Duchy of Silesia, but without the territories roughly corresponding to Upper Silesia; hence it was composed of the territories roughly corresponding to Lower Silesia. Some sources refer to it as the Duchy of Silesia; some as Duchy of Lower Silesia; others yet as the Duchy of Wrocław. Wrocław was the capital of the Duchy of Silesia, yet this early 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
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.Partition table
Below follows a simplified table of Silesia's partitions:
Dukes of Lower and Upper Silesia
A quick reminder avoiding confusion:| Lower Silesia | Upper Silesia |
| Duchy of Wrocław Duchy of Legnica Duchy of Głogów Duchy of Świdnica-Jawor Duchy of Wrocław Duchy of Oleśnica | Duchy of Opole-Racibórz Duchy of Cieszyn Duchy of Bytom Duchy of Oświęcim Duchy of Zator |
[Piast Dynasty]
Ecclesiastical [Duchy of Nysa]
Established in 1290 by High Duke Henry IV Probus, held by the Bishops of Wrocław- 1302–1319 Henry of Wiebrzno
- 1326–1341 Nankier
- 1342–1376 Przecław of Pogarell
- 1382–1417 Wenceslaus II of Legnica
- 1417–1447 Konrad IV of Oleśnica
- 1447–1456 Peter II Nowak
- 1456–1467 Jošt of Rožmberk
- 1468–1482 Rudolf of Rüdesheim
- 1482–1506 Jan IV Roth
- 1506–1520 Jan V Thurzo
- 1520–1539 Jacob of Salza
- 1539–1562 Balthazar of Promnitz
- 1562–1574 Caspar of Logau
- 1574–1585 Martin Gerstmann
- 1585–1596 Andreas Jerin
- 1596–1599 Bonaventura Hahn
- 1599–1600 Paul Albert of Radolfzell
- 1600–1608 Jan VI of Sitsch
- 1608–1624 Charles of Austria, son of Charles II, Archduke of Austria
- 1625–1655 Karol Ferdynand Vasa, Duke of Opole from 1648
- 1656–1662 Leopold Wilhelm of Habsburg
- 1663–1664 Charles Joseph of Habsburg, also Grand Master of the Teutonic Order from 1662
- 1665–1671 Sebastian von Rostock
- 1671–1682 Frederick of Hesse-Darmstadt
- 1683–1732 Franz Ludwig von Pfalz-Neuburg
- 1732–1747 Philipp Ludwig von Sinzendorf
- 1747–1795 Philipp Gotthard von Schaffgotsch
- 1795–1817 Joseph Christian Franz zu Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Bartenstein
- 1823–1832 Emanuel von Schimonsky
- 1835–1840 Leopold von Sedlnitzky
- 1843–1844 Joseph Knauer
- 1845–1850 Melchior von Diepenbrock