Piast dynasty
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| Country | Poland, Duchy of Mazovia, Duchy of Silesia, and several Duchies of Silesia |
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| Titles | Duke of the Polans, Duke of Poland, King of Poland, King of Rus', Duke of Mazovia, Duke of Silesia, and several other ducal titles (see Dukes of Silesia) |
| Founder | semi-legendary Piast, son of legendary Chościsko |
| Final sovereign | Casimir the Great, in the Kingdom of Poland, and George IV William, Duke of Leignitz, in the Silesian duchies |
| Founding | 960 |
| Dissolution | 1370, in the Kingdom of Poland, and 1675, in the Duchies of Silesia |
| Cadet branches | Silesian Piasts, later became the oldest surviving branch of the dynasty |
The Piast dynasty was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. It began with the semi-legendary Piast Kołodziej (Piast the Wheelwright). The first historical ruler was Prince Mieszko I (tenth century). The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of king Casimir the Great. Branches of the Piast dynasty continued to rule in the Duchy of Masovia and in the duchies of Silesia after 1370, 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.
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[edit] Origin of the name
Although the early dukes and kings of Poland regarded themselves as descendants of Piast, the term "Piast Dynasty" originated in the 17th century:[1][2] historians working for a number of rulers who governed duchies in Silesia invented the concept. In a historical book the term was first used by Adam Naruszewicz in his History of the Polish Nation (1780–86).
[edit] History of the dynasty
Piast Kołodziej (Piast the Wheelwright) was the legendary founder of the Piast dynasty. His name is first mentioned in the Cronicae et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum of Gallus Anonymus, written c. 1113. The last Silesian Piast George William of Liegnitz-Brieg-Wohlau (Brzeg and Legnica) died in 1675, although numerous families link their genealogy to the Piasts. His son August Freiherr von Liegnitz (1628) and Graf von Liegnitz (1664), the last legitimate male, died in 1679 and the last male through illegitimate line Ferdinand II Freiherr von und zu Hohenstein of the Dukes of Teschen died in 1706. Another illegitimate branch, the Grafen von Karlinsmarck zu Friedland und Strehlitz, born of Bernhard of Silesia-Oppeln, duke of Falkenberg, by a lady Karlinska of Karlowice, died out at the beginning of the 19th century in a French family.
About 1295 Przemysł II used as a coat of arms a white eagle – a symbol later referred to as the Piast coat of arms (see depiction) or as the Piast Eagle.[3]
For more information about the history of Poland under the Piasts, see History of Poland (966–1385).
Piast kings and rulers of Poland are listed in the following table. For a list of all rulers, see List of Polish monarchs.
| Name | Reigned |
|---|---|
| Chościsko (legendary) | 9th century |
| Piast Kołodziej (legendary) | 9th century |
| Siemowit/Ziemowit (semi-legendary) | 9th – 10th century |
| Lestko/Leszek (semi-legendary) | 9th – 10th century |
| Siemomysł/Ziemomysł (semi-legendary) | 10th c.–ca.960 |
| Mieszko I (first historical ruler, see Dagome Iudex) | ca.960–92 |
| Boleslaus I of Poland (the Brave) | 992–1025 |
| Mieszko II Lambert | 1025–34 |
| Bezprym | 1031 |
| Casimir the Restorer | 1034–58 |
| Boleslaus II the Bold | 1058–79 |
| Ladislaus Herman of Poland | 1079–1102 |
| Zbigniew and Boleslaus III of Poland (the Wrymouthed) | 1102–07 |
| Boleslaus III of Poland the Wrymouthed | 1107–38 |
| Ladislaus the Exile | 1138–46 |
| Boleslaus the Curly | 1146–73 |
| Mieszko the Old | 1173–77 |
| Casimir the Just | 1177–94 |
| Leszek the White and Ladislaus Spindleshanks | 1194–1202 |
| Ladislaus Spindleshanks | 1202 |
| Leszek the White | 1202–10 |
| Mieszko IV Tanglefoot | 1210–11 |
| Leszek the White | 1211–27 |
| Ladislaus Spindleshanks | 1228 |
| Konrad of Masovia | 1229–32 |
| Henry the Bearded | 1232–38 |
| Henry the Pious | 1238–41 |
| Konrad of Masovia | 1241–43 |
| Boleslaus the Bashful | 1243–79 |
| Leszek the Black | 1279–88 |
| Henry IV Probus | 1288–90 |
| Przemysl II | 1290–91 |
| Ladislaus the Short | 1306–33 |
| Casimir the Great | 1333–70 |
[edit] See also
- Category:House of Piast
- List of Polish rulers
- Dukes of Silesia and Silesian Piasts
- Dukes of Masovia
- Dukes of Greater Poland
- Dukes of Cuiavia
- Dukes of Leczyca
- Dukes of Sieradz
- Poland during the Piast dynasty
[edit] References
- ^ Encyklopedia Powszechna PWN Warsaw 1975 vol. III p. 505
- ^ "Piast Dynasty". Encyclopædia Britannica. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/459196/Piast-dynasty. Retrieved 30 March 2011. "The name Piast was not applied to the dynasty until the 17th century."
- ^ Górczyk, Wojciech, "Półksiężyc, orzeł, lew i smok. Uwagi o godłach napieczętnych Piastów"[1]
[edit] External links
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