Dukes of Greater Poland

The Duchy of Greater Poland was a historical state of Poland

Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

, which existed from 1138 until 1320.

History

At the death of Polish duke Boleslaus III the Wrymouth (1138), according to his testament, his country was divided by his will into 4-5 hereditary provinces distributed among his sons, and the royal province 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...

(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...

) for the eldest, to be the High duke of the whole Poland.

One of these provinces, Greater Poland

Greater Poland

Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...

was given to the Mieszko III the Old

Mieszko III the Old

Mieszko III the Old , of the royal Piast dynasty, was Duke of Greater Poland from 1138 and High Duke of Poland, with interruptions, from 1173 until his death....

, the third oldest son of Boleslaus, and subsequently divided among his descendants and successors, until they died out in 1296. After a short period of rule by the dukes from various branches of Piast dynasty and the kings of Bohemia

Bohemia

Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...

, the province fell to Władysław I the Elbow-high (crowned king 1320) and turned into the Poznań Voivodship

Poznan Voivodeship (14th century–1793)

Poznań Voivodeship 14th c.-1793 ) was a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland from the 14th century to the Second Partition of Poland in 1793. It was part of the Greater Polish prowincja....

and Kalisz Voivodship

Kalisz Voivodeship (1314–1793)

Kalisz Voivodeship 1314–1793 was an administrative unit of Poland from 1314 to the Second Partition of Poland in 1793...

of the united Kingdom of Poland.

In 1177 Mieszko III the Old

Mieszko III the Old

Mieszko III the Old , of the royal Piast dynasty, was Duke of Greater Poland from 1138 and High Duke of Poland, with interruptions, from 1173 until his death....

, also High Duke of Poland from 1173, faced a rebellion instigated by 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...

magnates and led by his younger brother Casimir II the Just

Casimir II the Just

Casimir II the Just was a Lesser Polish duke at Wiślica during 1166–1173, and at Sandomierz since 1173. He became ruler over the Polish Seniorate Province at Kraków and thereby High Duke of Poland in 1177; a position he held until his death, interrupted once by his elder brother and predecessor...

, who assumed the title of a High Duke. Mieszko fled to the Pomerania

Pomerania

Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...

, his lands were seized by Casimir, while the lands of Poznań

Poznan

Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...

were ruled by Mieszko's son Odon. With support by the Pomeranian tribes, Mieszko was able to reconquer the lands of Gniezno

Gniezno

Gniezno is a city in central-western Poland, some 50 km east of Poznań, inhabited by about 70,000 people. One of the Piasts' chief cities, it was mentioned by 10th century A.D. sources as the capital of Piast Poland however the first capital of Piast realm was most likely Giecz built around...

and 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 ceded to his son Mieszko the Younger in 1191. As Mieszko outlived his sons Odon and Mieszko the Younger, the Greater Polish lands were reunited under his rule by 1194 and together with the high ducal title inherited by his youngest son Władysław III Spindleshanks in 1202.


Duchy of Greater Poland
Poznań Poznan Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...	Gniezno Gniezno Gniezno is a city in central-western Poland, some 50 km east of Poznań, inhabited by about 70,000 people. One of the Piasts' chief cities, it was mentioned by 10th century A.D. sources as the capital of Piast Poland however the first capital of Piast realm was most likely Giecz built around...	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...
1177–1179 Mieszko III the Old Mieszko III the Old Mieszko III the Old , of the royal Piast dynasty, was Duke of Greater Poland from 1138 and High Duke of Poland, with interruptions, from 1173 until his death.... 1179–1194 Odon of Poznań, son of Mieszko 1196–1202 Mieszko III the Old Mieszko III the Old Mieszko III the Old , of the royal Piast dynasty, was Duke of Greater Poland from 1138 and High Duke of Poland, with interruptions, from 1173 until his death.... 1202–1227 Władysław III Spindleshanks 1227–1234 Władysław Odonic 1234–1238 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:... (Henryk I Brodaty) 1238–1241 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... (Henryk II Pobożny) 1241–1247 Przemysl I (Przemysł I) and Boleslaus the Pious (Bolesław Pobożny) 1247–1257 Przemysl I (Przemysł I) 1257–1277 Boleslaus the Pious (Bolesław Pobożny) 1277–1296 Przemysl II (Przemysł II) 1296–1300 Władysław I the Elbow-high (Władysław Łokietek) 1300–1302 Wenceslaus II of Bohemia (Wacław II Czeski) 1302–1309 Henry III of Glogow (Henryk III Głogowski) 1309–1312 Przemko II of Zagan, Henry IV of Zagan, John of Zagan, Boleslaus of Olesnica, Konrad 1309–1312 Przemko II of Zagan, Henry IV of Zagan, John of Zagan from 1314 Władysław I the Elbow-high (Władysław Łokietek) Turned into the Poznań Voivodship, part of the Greater Poland Province of the united Kingdom of Poland	1177–1181 Casimir II the Just 1182–1202 Mieszko III the Old Mieszko III the Old Mieszko III the Old , of the royal Piast dynasty, was Duke of Greater Poland from 1138 and High Duke of Poland, with interruptions, from 1173 until his death.... 1202–1229 Władysław III Spindleshanks 1229–1238 Władysław Odonic 1238–1241 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... (Henryk II Pobożny) 1241–1247 Przemysl I (Przemysł I) and Boleslaus the Pious (Bolesław Pobożny) 1247–1249 Przemysl I (Przemysł I) 1249–1250 Boleslaus the Pious (Bolesław Pobożny) 1250–1253 Przemysl I (Przemysł I) 1253–1279 Boleslaus the Pious (Bolesław Pobożny) 1279–1296 Przemysl II (Przemysł II) 1296–1300 Władysław I the Elbow-high (Władysław Łokietek) 1300–1305 Wenceslaus II of Bohemia (Wacław II Czeski) 1306–1309 Henry III of Glogow (Henryk III Głogowski) 1309–1312 Przemko II of Zagan, Henry IV of Zagan, John of Zagan, Boleslaus of Olesnica, Konrad 1312–1313 Boleslaus of Olesnica and Konrad of Namyslow, 1313–1314 Boleslaus of Olesnica from 1314 Władysław I the Elbow-high (Władysław Łokietek) Together with the Duchy of Kalisz turned into the Kalisz Voivodship, part of the Greater Poland Province of the united Kingdom of Poland	1190–1193 Mieszko the Younger, son of Mieszko the Old 1193–1194 Odon of Poznań, brother 1194–1194 Władysław Odonic 1194–1202 Mieszko III the Old Mieszko III the Old Mieszko III the Old , of the royal Piast dynasty, was Duke of Greater Poland from 1138 and High Duke of Poland, with interruptions, from 1173 until his death.... 1202–1207 Władysław III Spindleshanks 1207–1217 Ladislaus Odonic Plwacz (Władysław Odonic Plwacz) 1217–1227 Ladislaus III Laskonogi (Władysław III Laskonogi) 1227–1234 Ladislaus Odonic Plwacz (Władysław Odonic Plwacz) 1234–1238 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:... (Henryk I Brodaty) 1238–1241 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... (Henryk II Pobożny) 1241–1247 Przemysl I (Przemysł I) and Boleslaus the Pious (Bolesław Pobożny) 1247–1249 Boleslaus the Pious (Bolesław Pobożny) 1249–1253 Przemysl I (Przemysł I) 1253–1279 Boleslaus the Pious (Bolesław Pobożny) 1279–1296 Przemysl II (Przemysł II) 1296–1300 Władysław I the Elbow-high (Władysław Łokietek) 1300–1305 Wenceslaus II of Bohemia (Wacław II Czeski) 1306–1309 Henry III of Glogow (Henryk III Głogowski) 1309–1312 Przemko II of Zagan, Henry IV of Zagan, John of Zagan, Boleslaus of Olesnica, Konrad 1312–1313 Boleslaus of Olesnica and Konrad of Namyslow 1313–1314 Konrad of Namyslow from 1314 Władysław I the Elbow-high (Władysław Łokietek) Together with the Duchy of Gniezno turned into the Kalisz Voivodship, part of the Greater Poland Province of the united Kingdom of Poland

Rulers of all Greater Poland

1202–1207 Ladislaus III Laskonogi (Władysław III Laskonogi)
1229–1234 Ladislaus Odonic Plwacz (Władysław Odonic Plwacz)
1238–1241 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...

(Henryk II Pobożny)
1241–1247 Przemysl I (Przemysł I) and Boleslaus the Pious (Bolesław Pobożny)
1250–1253 Przemysl I (Przemysł I)
1257–1277 Boleslaus the Pious (Bolesław Pobożny)
1279–1296 Przemysl II (Przemysł II)
1296–1300 Władysław I the Elbow-high (Władysław Łokietek)
1300–1305 Wenceslaus II of Bohemia (Wacław II Czeski)
1305–1309 Henry III of Głogów
Henry III, Duke of Silesia-Glogau
Henry III of Głogów was a Duke of Głogów from 1274 to his death and also Duke of parts of Greater Poland during 1306–1309....

(Henryk III Głogowski)
1309–1312 Przemko II of Zagan, Henry IV of Zagan, John of Zagan, Boleslaus of Olesnica, Konrad
from 1314 Władysław I the Elbow-high (Władysław Łokietek)

Turned into the Greater Poland

Greater Poland

province of the united Kingdom of Poland, divided into the Poznań Voivodship and Kalisz Voivodship.

Duchy of Ujscie

Temporary duchy created during the struggle of Ladislaus for control of all Greater Poland province, later part of the Duchy of Gniezno.

1223–1229 Ladislaus Odonic Plwacz (Władysław Odonic Plwacz)

History

Dukes of Greater Poland

See also

Further reading