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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 Duke Mieszko I (10th cent.). The Piasts royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of king Casimir the Great. Branches of the Piasts dynasty continued to rule in the Duchy of Masovia and in the duchies of Silesia after 1370, until the last Silesian Piast died in 1675. The Piasts intermarried with several noble lines of Europe, and possessed numerous titles, including those within Holy Roman Empire.
Origin of the name
Although the early dukes and kings of Poland considered themselves Piast's descendants, the term "Piast Dynasty" was invented in the 17th century 1 2 by historians, working for a number of rulers who governed duchies in Silesia. In a historical book the term was first used by Adam Naruszewicz in his History of the Polish Nation.
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 (Korfantów) 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.
A White Eagle was used about 1295 as arms by Przemysł II, which was later referred to as Piast coat of arms (see depiction) or as Piast Eagle.
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.
See also
- Boleslaus of Masovia
- List of Polish rulers
- Dukes of Silesia and Silesian Piasts
- Dukes of Masovia
- Dukes of Greater Poland
- Dukes of Kraków, Princes of Poland (Collier's)
- Dukes of Cuiavia
- Dukes of Leczyca
- Dukes of Sieradz
References
- ^ Encyklopedia Powszechna PWN Warsaw 1975 vol. III page 505
- ^ Encyclopedia Britannica: Piast Dynasty
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