Piast dynasty
First ruling dynasty of Poland (960–1370)
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Through Dynasty, Poland and Holy Roman Empire
Branches of the Piast dynasty continued to rule in the Duchy of Masovia (until 1526) and in the Duchies of Silesia until the last male Silesian Piast died in 1675. The Piasts intermarried with several noble lines of Europe, and possessed numerous titles, some within the Holy Roman Empire. The Jagiellonian kings ruling after the death of Casimir IV of Poland were also descended in the female line from Casimir III's daughter.
Origin of the name
The early dukes and kings of Poland are said to have regarded themselves as descendants of the semi-legendary Piast the Wheelwright (Piast Kołodziej), first mentioned in the Cronicae et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum (Deeds of the Princes of the Poles), written c. 1113 by Gallus Anonymus. However, the term "Piast Dynasty" was not applied until the 17th century. In a historical work, the expression Piast dynasty was introduced by the Polish historian Adam Naruszewicz; it is not documented in contemporary sources.
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History
The first "Piasts", probably of Polan descent, appeared around 940 in the territory of Greater Poland at the stronghold of Giecz. Shortly afterwards they relocated their residence to Gniezno, where Prince Mieszko I ruled over the Civitas Schinesghe from about 960. The Piasts temporarily also ruled over Pomerania, Bohemia and the Lusatias, as well as part of Ruthenia, and the Hungarian Spiš region in present-day Slovakia. The ruler bore the title of a duke or a king, depending on their position of power.
The Polish monarchy had to deal with the expansionist policies of the Holy Roman Empire in the west, resulting in a chequered co-existence, with Piast rulers like Mieszko I, Casimir I the Restorer or Władysław I Herman trying to protect the Polish state by treaties, oath of allegiances and marriage alliances with the Imperial Ottonian and Salian dynasties. The Bohemian Přemyslid dynasty, the Hungarian Arpads and their Anjou successors, the Kievan Rus', later also the State of the Teutonic Order and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were mighty neighbours.
The Piast position was decisively enfeebled by an era of fragmentation following the 1138 Testament of Bolesław III Wrymouth. For nearly 150 years, the Polish state shattered into several duchies, with the Piast duke against the formally valid principle of agnatic seniority fighting for the throne at Kraków, the capital of the Lesser Polish Seniorate Province. Numerous dukes like Mieszko III the Old, Władysław III Spindleshanks or Leszek I the White were crowned, only to be overthrown shortly afterwards, and others restored and ousted, at times repeatedly. The senior branch of the Silesian Piasts, descendants of Bolesław III Wrymouth's eldest son Duke Władysław II the Exile, went separate ways and since the 14th century were vassals of the Bohemian Crown.
After the Polish royal line and Piast junior branch had died out in 1370, the Polish crown fell to the Anjou king Louis I of Hungary, son of late King Casimir's sister Elizabeth Piast. The Masovian branch of the Piasts became extinct with the death of Duke Janusz III in 1526. The last ruling duke of the Silesian Piasts was George William of Legnica who died in 1675. His uncle Count August of Legnica, the last male Piast, died in 1679. The last legitimate heir, Duchess Karolina of Legnica-Brieg died in 1707 and is buried in Trzebnica Abbey. Nevertheless, numerous families, like the illegitimate descendants of the Silesian duke Adam Wenceslaus of Cieszyn (1574–1617), link their genealogy to the dynasty.
Coat of arms
About 1295, Przemysł II used a coat of arms with a white eagle – a symbol later referred to as the Piast coat of arms or as the Piast Eagle. The Silesian Piasts in the 14th century used an eagle modified by a crescent, which became the coat of arms of the Duchy of Silesia.
Piast rulers
Piast kings and rulers of Poland appear in list form in the following table. For a list of all rulers, see List of Polish monarchs.
Legendary dukes of the Polans
Dukes and Kings of Poland
High Dukes of Poland (Fragmentation of the Kingdom)
Kings of Poland (Reunification attempts)
Kings of Poland (Reunited Kingdom)
Female Piasts
Queens consort
- Świętosława, supposed daughter of Mieszko I of Poland, Queen consort of Denmark, allegedly also of Norway and Sweden, mother of Cnut the Great, King of all England, Denmark and Norway
- Świętosława of Poland, daughter of Casimir I the Restorer, Queen consort of Bohemia
- Richeza of Poland, Queen of Sweden, daughter of Bolesław III Wrymouth, Queen consort of Sweden, mother of Canute V of Denmark, King of Denmark and Sophia of Minsk, Queen consort of Denmark
- Richeza of Poland, Queen of Castile, daughter of Władysław II the Exile, Queen consort of León and Galicia, Queen consort of Castile, Empress of All Spains
- Salomea of Poland, daughter of Leszek I the White, Queen consort of Halych
- Fenenna of Kuyavia, daughter of Ziemomysł of Kuyavia, Queen consort of Hungary
- Elizabeth Richeza of Poland, daughter of Przemysł II, Queen consort of Poland and Bohemia
- Viola of Cieszyn, daughter of Mieszko I, Duke of Cieszyn, Queen consort of Hungary, Bohemia and Poland
- Maria of Bytom, daughter of Casimir of Bytom, Queen consort of Hungary
- Beatrice of Silesia, daughter of Bolko I the Strict, Queen of the Romans
- Hedwig of Kalisz, daughter of Bolesław the Pious, Queen consort of Poland, mother of Casimir III the Great King of Poland and Elizabeth of Poland Queen consort of Hungary
- Elizabeth of Poland, daughter of Władysław I the Elbow-high, Queen consort of Hungary, mother of Louis I, King of Poland, Hungary and Croatia and Charles I of Hungary, King of Hungary and Croatia
- Anna of Świdnica, daughter of Henry II, Duke of Świdnica, Queen consort of Germany, of Bohemia and Holy Roman Empress, mother of Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia, King of the Romans and of Bohemia
- Hedwig of Sagan, daughter of Henry V of Iron, Queen consort of Poland
Other
- Karolina of Legnica-Brieg, last legitimate member of the entire dynasty, Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Wiesenburg
Priesthood
Archbishops
- Bolesław of Toszek – Archbishop of Esztergom
- Władysław of Wroclaw – Archbishop of Salzburg
Bishops
- Jarosław of Opole – Bishop of Wrocław
- Mieszko of Bytom – Bishop of Nitra and of Veszprém
- Henry of Masovia – Bishop of Płock
- Jan Kropidło – Bishop of Poznań, Włocławek, Kamień and Chełmno, Archbishop of Gniezno (only formally)
- Wenceslaus II of Legnica – Bishop of Lebus and of Wrocław
- Henry VIII of Legnica – Bishop of Wrocław
- Konrad IV the Elder – Bishop of Wrocław
- Alexander of Masovia – Bishop of Trento
- Casimir III of Płock – Bishop of Płock