The Duke of Silesia was the title of sons and descendants of the Polish Duke Bolesà Âaw III Wrymouth. In accordance with the last will and testament of Bolesà Âaw, 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, Wrocà Âaw, à Âwidnica, Jawor, ZiÃÂbice, Gà Âogów, à Âcinawa, à »agan and Oleà Ânica in Lower Silesia; Koà ºle, 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.
The Duchy of Silesia, one of the hereditary provinces of Poland, Silesia, was granted to Bolesà Âaw III's eldest son, Wà Âadysà Âaw II the Exile, and was subsequently divided among his sons Bolesà Âaw I the Tall (Wrocà Âaw/Lower Silesia), Mieszko I Tanglefoot (Racibórz/Upper Silesia) and Konrad Spindleshanks (Gà Âogów). After Konrad's death Gà Âogów was again united with the Duchy of Wrocà Âaw/Lower Silesia.
In 1173 Bolesà Âaw returned and he agreed to let Mieszko and Bolesà Âaw 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 Jarosà Âaw, beginning the fragmentation of the Duchy of Silesia. The territories controlled by Mieszko I and Jarosà Âaw roughly corresponded to what is known as Upper Silesia, while the territories remaining with Bolesà Âaw I roughly corresponded to 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 Wrocà Âaw (Breslau). Wrocà Âaw was the capital of the Duchy of Silesia, yet this early (1172âÂÂ1248) Duchy of Silesia should not be confused with the smaller Duchy of Wrocà Âaw 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 Bolesà Âaw II had to cede the Duchy of Wrocà Âaw to his younger brother Henry III.
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.
Below follows a simplified table of Silesia's partitions:
A quick reminder avoiding confusion:
Below follows a simplified table of Silesia's partitions:
Established in 1290 by High Duke Henry IV Probus, held by the Bishops of Wrocà Âaw
Major part annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia after the First Silesian War in 1742.
Prussian part secularised in 1810.
Theocracy abolished in 1850.