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Piast dynasty

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about a Polish dynasty. For other uses, see Piast (disambiguation).

Piast
Country
Foundedc. 9th century
FounderPiast the Wheelwright (legendary)
Mieszko I of Poland (historical)
Final rulerCasimir III the Great (Kingdom of Poland)
Yuri II Boleslav (Galicia-Volhynia)
Janusz III (Masovia)
George IV William of Legnica (Silesia)
Titles
Dissolution1388 (outside Silesia and Masovia)
1675 (male)
1707 (female)
Branches

The House of Piast was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland.[3] The first documented Polish monarch was Duke Mieszko I (c. 960–992).[4] The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of King Casimir III the Great.

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

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The early dukes and kings of Poland are said to have regarded themselves as descendants of the semi-legendary Piast the Wheelwright (Piast Kołodziej),[5] first mentioned in the Cronicae et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum (Chronicles and deeds of the dukes or princes of the Poles), written c. 1113 by Gallus Anonymus. However, the term "Piast Dynasty" was not applied until the 17th century.[6][7] In a historical work, the expression Piast dynasty was introduced by the Polish historian Adam Naruszewicz; it is not documented in contemporary sources.[8][9]

History

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Main article: History of Poland during the Piast dynasty
Deeds of the Princes of the Poles

The first "Piasts", probably of Polan descent, appeared around 940 in the territory of Greater Poland at the stronghold of Giecz.[10] 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.

Lands held by the Piast dynasty (992–1025), with a shaded area corresponding to the territory of present-day Poland

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

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Further information: Coat of arms of the Czech Republic and Coat of arms of Poland

About 1295, Przemysł II used a coat of arms with a white eagle[11] – a symbol later referred to as the Piast coat of arms or as the Piast Eagle.[12] 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

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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

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Name
 Lifespan
 Reign start
 Reign end
 Notes
 Image
Chościsko

 7th century 7th century 8th century A legendary member of the Polans tribe
Piast the Wheelwright
8th century 8th century 9th century A legendary ruler of the Polans
Son of Chościsko, father of Siemowit
Founder of the Piast dynasty

Dukes and Kings of Poland

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Name
 Lifespan
 Reign start
 Reign end
 Notes
 Image
Mieszko I of Poland

 ca. 940 – 25 May 992 ca. 960 992 Son of Siemomysł
First Christian monarch
Misico, dux Wandalorum
Bolesław I the Brave
967 – 17 June 1025 Duke: 992
King: 18 April 1025 		Duke: 18 April 1025
King: 17 June 1025 		Son of Mieszko I and Dobrawa of Bohemia
First to be crowned King
Regnum Sclavorum, Gothorum sive Polonorum

High Dukes of Poland (Fragmentation of the Kingdom)

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Name
 Lifespan
 Reign start
 Reign end
 Notes
 Image
Władysław II the Exile

 1105 – 30 May 1159 1138 1146 Son of Bolesław III and Zbyslava of Kiev
Also Duke of Silesia
Exiled by his brothers
Bolesław IV the Curly
ca. 1125 – 5 January 1173 1146 1173 Son of Bolesław III and Salomea of Berg
Also Duke of Masovia

Kings of Poland (Reunification attempts)

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Name
 Lifespan
 Reign start
 Reign end
 Notes
 Image
Przemysł II

 (1257-10-14)14 October 1257 – 8 February 1296(1296-02-08) (aged 38) High Duke: 1290
King: 1295 		High Duke: 1291
King: 1296 		Grandson of Henryk II
Son of Przemysł I and Elisabeth of Wrocław
Also Duke of Poznań, Greater Poland and Pomerania 		r

Kings of Poland (Reunited Kingdom)

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Name
 Lifespan
 Reign start
 Reign end
 Notes
 Image
Władysław I the Elbow-high

 1261 – 2 March 1333 1320 1333 Restored
Re-united the Kingdom of Poland
Casimir III the Great
(1310-04-30)30 April 1310 – 5 November 1370(1370-11-05) (aged 60) 1333 1370 Son of Władysław I the Elbow-high and Jadwiga of Kalisz
Regarded as one of the greatest Polish monarchs

Female Piasts

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Queens consort

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Denar Princes Polonie, 11th century (in the times of Bolesław I the Brave), one of the most recognizable coins in the history of Polish coinage.

Other

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Priesthood

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Archbishops

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Bishops

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Family tree of Piasts

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Chościsko
Piast the Wheelwright
HOUSE OF PIAST
Siemowit
duke of Polans
Lestek
duke of Polans
Siemomysł
duke of Polans
Mieszko I of Poland
duke of Poland		Czcibor
prince

Bolesław I the Brave
king of Poland		Vladivoj
duke of Bohemia		Mieszko I
prince		Świętopełk
prince		Lambert
prince
Bezprym
duke of Poland
Mieszko II Lambert
king of Poland		Otto
prince		Dytryk
prince
Bolesław the Forgotten
duke of Poland		Casimir I the Restorer
duke of Poland

Bolesław II the Generous
king of Poland		Władysław I Herman
duke of Poland		Mieszko
prince
Mieszko
prince of Cracow		Zbigniew
prince		Bolesław III Wrymouth
duke of Poland
Władysław II the Exile
duke of Silesia
BRANCH OF SILESIA		Bolesław IV the Curly
high duke of Poland		Mieszko III the Old
duke of Greater Poland
BRANCH OF
GREATER POLAND		Henry
duke of Sandomierz		Casimir II the Just
duke of Masovia
BRANCH OF LESSER POLAND
Leszek
duke of Masovia		Odon
duke of Greater Poland		Stephen
prince		Mieszko the Younger
duke of Kalisz		Władysław III Spindleshanks
duke of Greater Poland		Leszek the White
duke of Sandomierz		Konrad I
duke of Masovia
Władysław
duke of Greater Poland		Bolesław V the Chaste
duke of Sandomierz		Bolesław I
duke of Masovia		Casimir I
duke of Kuyavia		Siemowit I
duke of Masovia
BRANCH OF MASOVIA
Przemysl I
duke of Greater Poland		Bolesław the Pious
duke of Greater Poland		Leszek II the Black
duke of Sieradz		Ziemomysł
duke of Inowrocław
Władysław I the Elbow-high
king of Poland		Casimir II
duke of Łęczyca		Siemowit
duke of Dobrzyń		Konrad II
duke of Masovia		Bolesław II
duke of Masovia

Przemysł II
king of Poland		Leszek
duke of Inowrocław		Przemysł
duke of Inowrocław		Kazimierz III
duke of Inowrocław
Casimir III the Great
king of Poland		Leszek
duke of Dobrzyń		Władysław the Hunchback
duke of Dobrzyń		Bolesław
duke of Dobrzyń		Siemowit II
duke of Warsaw		Trojden I
duke of East Masovia		Wenceslaus
duke of Plock
Anna of Poland
∞ William, Count of Celje		Bolesław-Jerzy II
king of Galicia-Volhynia		Siemowit III, Duke of Masovia
duke of Masovia		Casimir I
duke of Warsaw
Anna of Cilli

∞ Władysław II Jagiełło
king of Poland		Janusz I
duke of Warsaw		Siemowit IV
duke of Plock
BRANCH OF PLOCK		Henry
bishop of Plock
Janusz the Younger
heir		Bolesław
heir		Konrad Januszowic
prince		Siemovit V
duke of Plock		Alexander
bishop of Trento		Casimir III
duke of Plock		Trojden II
duke of Plock		Wladysław I
duke of Plock
Boleslaw IV
duke of Warsaw		Siemovit VI
duke of Plock		Wladysław II
duke of Plock
Konrad III Rudy
duke of Warsaw		Casimir III
bishop of Plock		Bolesław V
duke of Plock		Janusz II
duke of Plock
Stanisław
duke of Warsaw		Janusz III
duke of Warsaw

See also

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Silesian Piasts Coat of Arms

References

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  1. ^ A. Małecki, Studya heraldyczne [Heraldic Studies], vol. I, Lwów 1890, pp. 268–285; M. L. Wójcik, Ród Gryfitów do końca XIII wieku. Pochodzenie – genealogia – rozsiedlenie, Historia CVII, Wrocław 1993, p. 39.
  2. ^ Rodowód książąt pomorskich Edward Rymar Książnica Pomorska, 2005, page 53
  3. ^ "FamilyTreeDNA – Genetic Testing for Ancestry, Family History & Genealogy". www.familytreedna.com. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  4. ^ Ring, Trudy; Watson, Noelle; Schellinger, Paul (28 October 2013). Northern Europe: International Dictionary of Historic Places. Routledge. ISBN 9781136639517.
  5. ^ Ulwencreutz, Lars (2013). Ulwencreutz's the Royal Families in Europe. Lulu.com. p. 191. ISBN 9781304581358.
  6. ^ Encyklopedia Powszechna PWN Warsaw 1975 vol. III p. 505
  7. ^ "Piast Dynasty". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 30 March 2011. The name Piast was not applied to the dynasty until the 17th century.
  8. ^ Juliusz Bardach (1957). Historia państwa i prawa Polski do roku 1795: Bardach, J. Historia państwa i prawa Polski do połowy XV wieku. Państwowe Wydawn. Naukowe. p. 68.
  9. ^ Jacek Hertel (1980). Imiennictwo dynastii piastowskiej we wcześniejszym średniowieczu. Państwowe Wydawn. Naukowe. pp. 31, 160. ISBN 978-83-01-01662-3.
  10. ^ "Gniezno czy Giecz, czyli skąd pochodzi dynastia?". Gniezno czy Giecz, czyli skąd pochodzi dynastia? – Gniezno czy Giecz, czyli skąd pochodzi dynastia? – Wydarzenia – Wiedza – Historia Poszukaj. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
  11. ^ Tomaney, William. "Poland Today » White eagle regains its crown". Poland Today » White eagle regains its crown. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  12. ^ Górczyk, Wojciech, "Półksiężyc, orzeł, lew i smok. Uwagi o godłach napieczętnych Piastów" http://histmag.org/?id=3057&act=ac [clarification needed][year needed]
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