Treaty of Namslau
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of Namslau or Namysłów, also known as the Peace of Namslau, was a peace treaty
between King Charles IV of Bohemia
and King Casimir III of Poland
. It was signed at Namysłów in Silesia
, on 22 November 1348.
Since the restoration of a Polish kingdom under Przemysł II in 1295, the Crown had again disputed sovereignty over the many Duchies of Silesia
with the neighbouring Kingdom of Bohemia
. As King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia had been crowned Polish king in 1300, his successors from the House of Luxembourg
, Bohemian rulers since 1310, also claimed the Polish Crown as their heritage. They took advantage of the tensions within the Piast dynasty
and the fragmentation of the former Duchy of Silesia
north of the Bohemian borders. By promises as well as by pressure, with the exception of Duke Bolko II the Small, an increasing number of the Silesian Piasts
had recognized the sovereignty of Charles' father and predecessor, King John the Blind, from 1327–35.
When King Casimir III succeeded his father Władysław I the Elbow-high in 1333, he found the Polish borders threatened not only by the Bohemian kingdom, but also by the Margraves of Brandenburg
, who had extended their territory further eastwards into the Neumark
region, and foremost by the State of the Teutonic Order, whose plans for expansion had sparked the Polish–Teutonic War (1326–1332)
over Pomerelia
, Kuyavia
and the Dobrzyń Land
. In view of the hostile superiority, the Polish king sought for peaceful conflict resolutions: he concluded the Treaty of Trentschin in 1335, renouncing the suzerainty over Silesia, and in 1343 signed the Treaty of Kalisz with the Teutonic Order, which sealed the loss of Pomerelia.
After tensions had settled, Casimir acted cleverly in the rising conflict between the Luxembourgs and the Imperial House of Wittelsbach around the heritage of Countess Margaret of Tyrol. He was able to convert Emperor Louis IV
to his column and occupied several Silesian territories south of the Polish border, including the castle of Namysłów. However, the Luxembourgs gained the upper hand, when King John's son Charles IV was elected King of the Romans
in 1346. Casimir III had to sign the peace treaty at Namysłów, which affirmed the previous Treaty of Trentschin ratified at Cracow (1339) and Prague
(1341). In the Namslau treaty, Casimir again renounced all Polish claims on Silesia, in return for Charles waving all Bohemian claims on the Polish throne. After the 1368 death of Duke Bolko II, all of Silesia passed to the Lands of the Bohemian Crown
.
Peace treaty
A peace treaty is an agreement between two or more hostile parties, usually countries or governments, that formally ends a state of war between the parties...
between King Charles IV of Bohemia
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
and King Casimir III of Poland
Casimir III of Poland
Casimir III the Great , last King of Poland from the Piast dynasty , was the son of King Władysław I the Elbow-high and Hedwig of Kalisz.-Biography:...
. It was signed at Namysłów in Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
, on 22 November 1348.
Since the restoration of a Polish kingdom under Przemysł II in 1295, the Crown had again disputed sovereignty over the many Duchies of Silesia
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...
with the neighbouring 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...
. As King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia had been crowned Polish king in 1300, his successors from the House of Luxembourg
House of Luxembourg
The House of Luxembourg was a late medieval German dynasty, which between 1308 and 1437 ruled the Holy Roman Empire, twice interrupted by the rivaling House of Wittelsbach.-History:...
, Bohemian rulers since 1310, also claimed the Polish Crown as their heritage. They took advantage of the tensions within the 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...
and the fragmentation of the former 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...
north of the Bohemian borders. By promises as well as by pressure, with the exception of Duke Bolko II the Small, an increasing number of the Silesian Piasts
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...
had recognized the sovereignty of Charles' father and predecessor, King John the Blind, from 1327–35.
When King Casimir III succeeded his father Władysław I the Elbow-high in 1333, he found the Polish borders threatened not only by the Bohemian kingdom, but also by the Margraves of Brandenburg
Margraviate of Brandenburg
The Margraviate of Brandenburg was a major principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1157 to 1806. Also known as the March of Brandenburg , it played a pivotal role in the history of Germany and Central Europe....
, who had extended their territory further eastwards into the Neumark
Neumark
Neumark comprised a region of the Prussian province of Brandenburg, Germany.Neumark may also refer to:* Neumark, Thuringia* Neumark, Saxony* Neumark * Nowe Miasto Lubawskie or Neumark, a town in Poland, situated at river Drwęca...
region, and foremost by the State of the Teutonic Order, whose plans for expansion had sparked the Polish–Teutonic War (1326–1332)
Polish–Teutonic War (1326–1332)
Polish–Teutonic War was the war between the Kingdom of Poland and the State of the Teutonic Order over Pomerelia, fought from 1326 to 1332.-Background:...
over Pomerelia
Pomerelia
Pomerelia is a historical region in northern Poland. Pomerelia lay in eastern Pomerania: on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea and west of the Vistula and its delta. The area centered on the city of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula...
, Kuyavia
Kuyavia
Kujawy , is a historical and ethnographic region in the north-central Poland, situated in the basin of the middle Vistula and upper Noteć Rivers, with its capital in Włocławek.-Etymology:The origin of the name Kujawy was seen differently in history...
and the Dobrzyń Land
Dobrzyn Land
Dobrzyń Land is a historic region around the town of Dobrzyń nad Wisłą in Poland, east of the Vistula River and south of the Drwęca, where it borders on the Kulmerland...
. In view of the hostile superiority, the Polish king sought for peaceful conflict resolutions: he concluded the Treaty of Trentschin in 1335, renouncing the suzerainty over Silesia, and in 1343 signed the Treaty of Kalisz with the Teutonic Order, which sealed the loss of Pomerelia.
After tensions had settled, Casimir acted cleverly in the rising conflict between the Luxembourgs and the Imperial House of Wittelsbach around the heritage of Countess Margaret of Tyrol. He was able to convert Emperor Louis IV
Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Louis IV , called the Bavarian, of the house of Wittelsbach, was the King of Germany from 1314, the King of Italy from 1327 and the Holy Roman Emperor from 1328....
to his column and occupied several Silesian territories south of the Polish border, including the castle of Namysłów. However, the Luxembourgs gained the upper hand, when King John's son Charles IV was elected King of the Romans
King of the Romans
King of the Romans was the title used by the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire following his election to the office by the princes of the Kingdom of Germany...
in 1346. Casimir III had to sign the peace treaty at Namysłów, which affirmed the previous Treaty of Trentschin ratified at Cracow (1339) and Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
(1341). In the Namslau treaty, Casimir again renounced all Polish claims on Silesia, in return for Charles waving all Bohemian claims on the Polish throne. After the 1368 death of Duke Bolko II, all of Silesia passed to the Lands of the Bohemian Crown
Lands of the Bohemian Crown
The Lands of the Bohemian Crown , also called the Lands of the Crown of Saint Wenceslas or simply the Bohemian Crown or Czech Crown lands , refers to the area connected by feudal relations under the joint rule of the Bohemian kings...
.
See also
- Treaty of Trentschin
- History of SilesiaHistory of SilesiaSilesia has been inhabited from time immemorial by people of multiple ethnic groups. Germanic tribes were first recorded within Silesia in the 1st century. Slavic White Croats arrived in this territory about the 6th century establishing White Croatia. The first known states in Silesia were those of...
- Congress of Visegrád (1335)Congress of Visegrád (1335)The first Congress of Visegrád was a 1335 summit in Visegrád in which Casimir III of Poland, Charles I of Hungary, and John I of Bohemia formed an anti-Habsburg alliance...