Duchy of Opole and Racibórz
Encyclopedia
The Duchy of Opole and Racibórz was one of the numerous Duchies of Silesia
ruled by the Silesian
branch of the royal Polish Piast dynasty
. It was formed in 1202 from the union of the Upper Silesia
n duchies of Opole
and the Racibórz
, in a rare exception to the continuing feudal fragmentation
of the original Duchy of Silesia
.
In 1281 it was split again. In 1521 it was recreated by the last Silesian Piast, Duke Jan II the Good
. After his heirless death the duchy fell to the Kingdom of Bohemia
. It was briefly part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
in the 17th century; eventually like most of Silesia it was annexed by Prussia
after the First Silesian War
in 1742.
had been established in 1173 upon the partition of Silesia among the sons of Duke Władysław II the Exile. The bulk of the Silesian lands around Wrocław had passed to Mieszko's elder brother Duke Bolesław I the Tall, leaving the younger dissatisfied. After Bolesław had died in 1201, Mieszko occupied the Duchy of Opole, that had been created for his deceased nephew Jarosław, forming the united duchy of Opole and Racibórz. Bolesław's heir, Duke Henry I the Bearded
, had to renounce his claims, whereby the centuries-long division of Upper and Lower Silesia
was fixed.
The dukes took their residence at the castellany
of Opole
. Mieszko's son Casimir I of Opole
, Duke from 1211, invited German
settlers immigrating to his duchy in the course of the Ostsiedlung
, and granted German town law
to settlements like Leśnica
, Ujazd
, Gościęcin
, Biała and Olesno
. As Casimir's successor Duke Mieszko II the Fat
was still a minor upon his father's death in 1230, the regency over his duchy was assumed by his uncle Henry I the Bearded, who thereby once again ruled over all Silesia. In 1233 Henry, then High Duke of Poland, granted Mieszko's younger brother Władysław the Greater Polish lands of Kalisz
, which he had seized from Duke Władysław Odonic. However, Henry's plans to push off his nephews ultimately failed: when Mieszko II came of age he took over the rule of Opole-Racibórz, defying the claims riased by Henry 's heir, High Duke Henry II the Pious
. The Greater Polish territories were finally lost to Duke Przemysł I until 1249.
In 1246 Mieszko II was succeeded by his brother Władysław, who began to interfere in European politics: at first he supported King Béla IV of Hungary
in his conflict with King Ottokar II of Bohemia
around the possession of the Imperial Duchy of Austria
, not least to attack the neihbouring Moravian lands of Troppau
. Nevertheless King Ottokar prevailed and Władysław switched sides, fighting with his Silesian cousin Duke Henry III the White against King Béla at the 1260 Battle of Kressenbrunn
. He also conspired with local nobles in the Polish Seniorate Province
of Kraków
against High Duke Bolesław V the Chaste resulting in a 1273 rebellion. Władysław failed to gain the Polish throne, nevertheless he could seize large Lesser Polish
territories. He helped to free the young Silesian Duke Henry IV Probus
from custody, whom his daughter (Constance
?) married in 1280. Władysław further encouraged the Ostsiedlung establishing numerous towns like Bytom
, Lędziny
, Cieszyn
, Pszów
, Żory
, Gliwice
and Wodzisław, named after him. He also had to rebuilt his residence Opole that had been devastated during the Mongol invasion
in 1241.
Upon Władysław's death in 1281, his four sons again divided the duchy among themselves. In 1282 both the Duchies of Opole and Racibórz were recreated, with Opole assigned to Bolko
, and Racibórz to Przemysław
. Those entities which were further split in 1284 and 1290 created the Duchy of Bytom
(assigned to Casimir
) and Duchy of Cieszyn
(assigned to Mieszko).
In 1521 the Duchy was recreated due to actions of the last Silesian Piast, Jan II the Good
. Jan however died without issue in 1532 and the Opole line of the Piasts became extinct, whereafter Opole and Racibórz as reverted fiefs were fully under the sovereignty of the Bohemian Crown
. It would then fall to Margrave George of Brandenburg-Ansbach
from the House of Hohenzollern
, who had signed an inheritance treaty with Jan in 1522 and finally reached the consent of the Bohemian king Ferdinand I of Habsburg
. From 1645 until 1666 Opole was held in pawn by the Polish House of Vasa
, as it was a dowry of the Polish queen Cecylia Renata, afterward fell back to the Habsburg kings of Bohemia and finally in 1742 it would be annexed and incorporated into the Kingdom of Prussia
.
Duchies of Silesia
The Duchies of Silesia resulted from divisions of the original Duchy of Silesia after 1138.In accordance with the last will and testament of Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth, the Kingdom of Poland was, upon his death in 1138, divided into five hereditary provinces distributed among his sons, including...
ruled by the Silesian
Silesian Piasts
The Silesian Piasts were the oldest line of the Piast dynasty beginning with Władysław II the Exile, son of Bolesław III Wrymouth, Duke of Poland...
branch of the royal Polish Piast dynasty
Piast dynasty
The Piast dynasty was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. It began with the semi-legendary Piast Kołodziej . The first historical ruler was Duke Mieszko I . The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of king Casimir the Great...
. It was formed in 1202 from the union of the Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
n duchies of Opole
Duchy of Opole
Duchy of Opole was one of the duchies of Silesia ruled by the Piast dynasty. Its capital was Opole in Upper Silesia.After Bolesław I the Tall and his younger brother Mieszko I Tanglefoot backed by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa had retained their Silesian heritage in 1163, they divided the...
and the Racibórz
Duchy of Racibórz
Duchy of Racibórz was one of the duchies of Silesia. Its capital was Racibórz in Upper Silesia.-History:After Bolesław I the Tall and his younger brother Mieszko I Tanglefoot backed by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa had retained their Silesian heritage in 1163, the Duchy of Racibórz was formed in...
, in a rare exception to the continuing feudal fragmentation
Feudal fragmentation
Feudal fragmentation is a stage in the development of certain feudal states, in which it is split into smaller regional state structures, each characterized by significant autonomy if not outright independence and ruled by a high-ranking noble such as a prince or a duke...
of the original Duchy of Silesia
Duchy of Silesia
The Duchy of Silesia with its capital at Wrocław was a medieval duchy located in the historic Silesian region of Poland. Soon after it was formed under the Piast dynasty in 1138, it fragmented into various Duchies of Silesia. In 1327 the remaining Duchy of Wrocław as well as most other duchies...
.
In 1281 it was split again. In 1521 it was recreated by the last Silesian Piast, Duke Jan II the Good
Jan II the Good
Jan II of Opole was a Duke of Opole-Brzeg -Strzelce-Niemodlin in 1476 , ruler over Gliwice , Toszek , Niemodlin , Bytom , Koźle , and Racibórz .He was the second son of Duke Nicholas I of Opole by his wife Agnes, daughter of Duke Louis II of...
. After his heirless death the duchy fell to the Kingdom of Bohemia
Kingdom of Bohemia
The Kingdom of Bohemia was a country located in the region of Bohemia in Central Europe, most of whose territory is currently located in the modern-day Czech Republic. The King was Elector of Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806, whereupon it became part of the Austrian Empire, and...
. It was briefly part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
in the 17th century; eventually like most of Silesia it was annexed by Prussia
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
after the First Silesian War
Silesian Wars
The Silesian Wars were a series of wars between Prussia and Austria for control of Silesia. They formed parts of the larger War of the Austrian Succession and Seven Years' War. They eventually ended with Silesia being incorporated into Prussia, and Austrian recognition of this...
in 1742.
First duchy
The Duchy of Racibórz under Duke Mieszko TanglefootMieszko IV Tanglefoot
Mieszko IV Tanglefoot was a Duke of Silesia from 1163 to 1173 , Duke of Racibórz from 1173, Duke of Opole from 1202 and from 9 June 1210 until his death, Duke of Kraków and High Duke of Poland....
had been established in 1173 upon the partition of Silesia among the sons of Duke Władysław II the Exile. The bulk of the Silesian lands around Wrocław had passed to Mieszko's elder brother Duke Bolesław I the Tall, leaving the younger dissatisfied. After Bolesław had died in 1201, Mieszko occupied the Duchy of Opole, that had been created for his deceased nephew Jarosław, forming the united duchy of Opole and Racibórz. Bolesław's heir, Duke Henry I the Bearded
Henry I the Bearded
Henry I the Bearded , of the Silesian line of the Piast dynasty, was Duke of Silesia at Wrocław from 1201 and Duke of Kraków and thus High Duke of all Poland - internally divided - from 1232 until his death.-Heir of Wroclaw:...
, had to renounce his claims, whereby the centuries-long division of Upper and Lower Silesia
Lower Silesia
Lower Silesia ; is the northwestern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia; Upper Silesia is to the southeast.Throughout its history Lower Silesia has been under the control of the medieval Kingdom of Poland, the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy from 1526...
was fixed.
The dukes took their residence at the castellany
Castellany
A castellany was a district administered by a castellan.Castellanies appeared during the Middle Ages and in most current states are now replaced by a more modern type of country subdivision....
of Opole
Opole
Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...
. Mieszko's son Casimir I of Opole
Casimir I of Opole
Casimir I of Opole was a Duke of Opole-Racibórz from 1211 until his death.He was the eldest child and only son of Mieszko I Tanglefoot, Duke of Opole-Racibórz and High Duke of Poland, and his wife Ludmilla, probably a Přemyslid princess.-Early life:Little is known about his early years of life,...
, Duke from 1211, invited German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
settlers immigrating to his duchy in the course of the Ostsiedlung
Ostsiedlung
Ostsiedlung , also called German eastward expansion, was the medieval eastward migration and settlement of Germans from modern day western and central Germany into less-populated regions and countries of eastern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The affected area roughly stretched from Slovenia...
, and granted German town law
German town law
German town law or German municipal concerns concerns town privileges used by many cities, towns, and villages throughout Central and Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages.- Town law in Germany :...
to settlements like Leśnica
Lesnica
Lesnica may refer to the following places:*Lesnica, Stará Ľubovňa, Slovakia*Lešnica, Serbia*Leśnica, a town in Opole Voivodeship *Leśnica, a district of Wrocław, Poland*Leśnica, Greater Poland Voivodeship...
, Ujazd
Ujazd
Ujazd is a town in Strzelce County in Opole Voivodeship of Poland. Population 1,647.70% of the town infrastructure was destroyed in the Second World War....
, Gościęcin
Gosciecin
Gościęcin is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Pawłowiczki, within Kędzierzyn-Koźle County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland...
, Biała and Olesno
Olesno
Olesno is a town in Opole Voivodship, Poland about north-east of the city of Opole. It is the capital of Olesno County and seat of the Gmina Olesno.-History:The area near the ancient Amber Road had been settled since the Neolithic era...
. As Casimir's successor Duke Mieszko II the Fat
Mieszko II the Fat
Mieszko II the Fat was a Duke of Opole-Racibórz since 1230 until his death, and Duke of Kalisz-Wieluń during 1234–1239 ....
was still a minor upon his father's death in 1230, the regency over his duchy was assumed by his uncle Henry I the Bearded, who thereby once again ruled over all Silesia. In 1233 Henry, then High Duke of Poland, granted Mieszko's younger brother Władysław the Greater Polish lands of Kalisz
Kalisz
Kalisz is a city in central Poland with 106,857 inhabitants , the capital city of the Kalisz Region. Situated on the Prosna river in the southeastern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship, the city forms a conurbation with the nearby towns of Ostrów Wielkopolski and Nowe Skalmierzyce...
, which he had seized from Duke Władysław Odonic. However, Henry's plans to push off his nephews ultimately failed: when Mieszko II came of age he took over the rule of Opole-Racibórz, defying the claims riased by Henry 's heir, High Duke Henry II the Pious
Henry II the Pious
Henry II the Pious , of the Silesian line of the Piast dynasty was Duke of Silesia at Wrocław and Duke of Kraków and thus High Duke of all Poland as well as Duke of Southern Greater Poland from 1238 until his death. During 1238–1239 he also served as a regent of two other Piast duchies: Sandomierz...
. The Greater Polish territories were finally lost to Duke Przemysł I until 1249.
In 1246 Mieszko II was succeeded by his brother Władysław, who began to interfere in European politics: at first he supported King Béla IV of Hungary
Béla IV of Hungary
Béla IV , King of Hungary and of Croatia , duke of Styria 1254–58. One of the most famous kings of Hungary, he distinguished himself through his policy of strengthening of the royal power following the example of his grandfather Bela III, and by the rebuilding Hungary after the catastrophe of the...
in his conflict with King Ottokar II of Bohemia
Ottokar II of Bohemia
Ottokar II , called The Iron and Golden King, was the King of Bohemia from 1253 until 1278. He was the Duke of Austria , Styria , Carinthia and Carniola also....
around the possession of the Imperial Duchy of Austria
Archduchy of Austria
The Archduchy of Austria , one of the most important states within the Holy Roman Empire, was the nucleus of the Habsburg Monarchy and the predecessor of the Austrian Empire...
, not least to attack the neihbouring Moravian lands of Troppau
Duchy of Troppau
The Principality or Duchy of Troppau or Opava was based for centuries around the Upper Silesian city of Troppau . In the final four centuries of its existence, the Duchy belonged to the Austrian Habsburg dynasty, and it was dissolved with the Habsburg Empire in 1918...
. Nevertheless King Ottokar prevailed and Władysław switched sides, fighting with his Silesian cousin Duke Henry III the White against King Béla at the 1260 Battle of Kressenbrunn
Battle of Kressenbrunn
The Battle of Kressenbrunn was fought in July of 1260 near Groissenbrunn in Lower Austria between the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Kingdom of Hungary for the possession of the duchies of Austria and Styria...
. He also conspired with local nobles in the Polish Seniorate Province
Seniorate Province
Seniorate Province, also known as the Senioral Province , Duchy of Kraków , Duchy of Cracow, Principality of Cracow, Principality of Kraków, was the superior among the five provinces established in 1138 according to the Testament of Bolesław III Krzywousty...
of Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
against High Duke Bolesław V the Chaste resulting in a 1273 rebellion. Władysław failed to gain the Polish throne, nevertheless he could seize large Lesser Polish
Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland is one of the historical regions of Poland, with its capital in the city of Kraków. It forms the southeastern corner of the country, and should not be confused with the modern Lesser Poland Voivodeship, which covers only a small, southern part of Lesser Poland...
territories. He helped to free the young Silesian Duke Henry IV Probus
Henryk IV Probus
Henryk IV Probus was a member of the Silesian branch of the royal Polish Piast dynasty...
from custody, whom his daughter (Constance
Constance, Duchess of Wodzisław
Constance was a Polish princess member of the House of Piast and sovereign Duchess of Wodzisław Śląski from 1324 until her death....
?) married in 1280. Władysław further encouraged the Ostsiedlung establishing numerous towns like Bytom
Bytom
Bytom is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The central-western district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Bytom is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Bytomka river .The city belongs to the Silesian Voivodeship since...
, Lędziny
Ledziny
Lędziny is a town in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. It borders the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million which is located in the Silesian Highlands....
, Cieszyn
Cieszyn
Cieszyn is a border-town and the seat of Cieszyn County, Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland. It has 36,109 inhabitants . Cieszyn lies on the Olza River, a tributary of the Oder river, opposite Český Těšín....
, Pszów
Pszów
Pszów is a town in Wodzisław County, Silesian Voivodeship, Poland, with 14,035 inhabitants .- External links :*...
, Żory
Zory
Żory is a town and city county in Silesian Voivodeship, Poland with 62,625 inhabitants . Previously it was in Katowice Voivodeship . It is located in the historic Upper Silesia region about southwest of Katowice.- History :...
, Gliwice
Gliwice
Gliwice is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Gliwice is the west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union – a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
and Wodzisław, named after him. He also had to rebuilt his residence Opole that had been devastated during the Mongol invasion
Mongol invasion of Europe
The resumption of the Mongol invasion of Europe, during which the Mongols attacked medieval Rus' principalities and the powers of Poland and Hungary, was marked by the Mongol invasion of Rus starting in 21 December 1237...
in 1241.
Upon Władysław's death in 1281, his four sons again divided the duchy among themselves. In 1282 both the Duchies of Opole and Racibórz were recreated, with Opole assigned to Bolko
Bolko I of Opole
Bolko I of Opole , was a Duke of Opole from 1282 , Niemodlin and Strzelce Opolskie until his death.He was the third son of Władysław, Duke of Opole-Racibórz, by his wife Euphemia, daughter of Władysław Odonic, Duke of Greater Poland.-Life:Around 1277 Bolko I was named co-ruler of the Duchy of...
, and Racibórz to Przemysław
Przemysław of Racibórz
Przemysław of Racibórz was a Duke of Racibórz since 1282 until his death ....
. Those entities which were further split in 1284 and 1290 created the Duchy of Bytom
Duchy of Bytom
The Duchy of Bytom or Duchy of Beuthen was one of many Silesian duchies. It was established in Upper Silesia about 1281 during the division of the Duchy of Opole and Racibórz among the sons of Duke Władysław Opolski...
(assigned to Casimir
Casimir of Bytom
Casimir of Bytom was a Duke of Opole during 1282–1284 and Duke of Bytom from 1284 until his death....
) and Duchy of Cieszyn
Duchy of Cieszyn
The Duchy of Cieszyn or Duchy of Teschen or Duchy of Těšín was an autonomous Silesian duchy centered on Teschen in Upper Silesia. After the feudal division of Poland it was split off in 1281 and ruled by Silesian dukes from the Piast dynasty since 1290...
(assigned to Mieszko).
Dukes of Opole and Racibórz
- 1202-1211 — Mieszko I Tanglefoot
- 1211-1229/30 — Casimir I of OpoleCasimir I of OpoleCasimir I of Opole was a Duke of Opole-Racibórz from 1211 until his death.He was the eldest child and only son of Mieszko I Tanglefoot, Duke of Opole-Racibórz and High Duke of Poland, and his wife Ludmilla, probably a Přemyslid princess.-Early life:Little is known about his early years of life,...
- 1229/30-1246 — Mieszko II the FatMieszko II the FatMieszko II the Fat was a Duke of Opole-Racibórz since 1230 until his death, and Duke of Kalisz-Wieluń during 1234–1239 ....
- 1246-1280/1 — Władysław Opolski
- 1281/2 - 1284 — split between Casimir of BytomCasimir of BytomCasimir of Bytom was a Duke of Opole during 1282–1284 and Duke of Bytom from 1284 until his death....
, Bolko I of OpoleBolko I of OpoleBolko I of Opole , was a Duke of Opole from 1282 , Niemodlin and Strzelce Opolskie until his death.He was the third son of Władysław, Duke of Opole-Racibórz, by his wife Euphemia, daughter of Władysław Odonic, Duke of Greater Poland.-Life:Around 1277 Bolko I was named co-ruler of the Duchy of...
, Przemysław of RacibórzPrzemysław of RacibórzPrzemysław of Racibórz was a Duke of Racibórz since 1282 until his death ....
and Mieszko I, Duke of Cieszyn
Second duchy
Jan II the Good
Jan II of Opole was a Duke of Opole-Brzeg -Strzelce-Niemodlin in 1476 , ruler over Gliwice , Toszek , Niemodlin , Bytom , Koźle , and Racibórz .He was the second son of Duke Nicholas I of Opole by his wife Agnes, daughter of Duke Louis II of...
. Jan however died without issue in 1532 and the Opole line of the Piasts became extinct, whereafter Opole and Racibórz as reverted fiefs were fully under the sovereignty of the Bohemian Crown
Kingdom of Bohemia
The Kingdom of Bohemia was a country located in the region of Bohemia in Central Europe, most of whose territory is currently located in the modern-day Czech Republic. The King was Elector of Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806, whereupon it became part of the Austrian Empire, and...
. It would then fall to Margrave George of Brandenburg-Ansbach
George, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
George of Brandenburg-Ansbach was a Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach from the House of Hohenzollern.- Early life :...
from the House of Hohenzollern
House of Hohenzollern
The House of Hohenzollern is a noble family and royal dynasty of electors, kings and emperors of Prussia, Germany and Romania. It originated in the area around the town of Hechingen in Swabia during the 11th century. They took their name from their ancestral home, the Burg Hohenzollern castle near...
, who had signed an inheritance treaty with Jan in 1522 and finally reached the consent of the Bohemian king Ferdinand I of Habsburg
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...
. From 1645 until 1666 Opole was held in pawn by the Polish House of Vasa
House of Vasa
The House of Vasa was the Royal House of Sweden 1523-1654 and of Poland 1587-1668. It originated from a noble family in Uppland of which several members had high offices during the 15th century....
, as it was a dowry of the Polish queen Cecylia Renata, afterward fell back to the Habsburg kings of Bohemia and finally in 1742 it would be annexed and incorporated into the Kingdom of Prussia
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
.