The Duke of Silesia was the sons and descendants of the Polish Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth. In accordance with the last will and testament of Bolesław, upon his death his lands were divided into four or five hereditary provinces distributed among his sons, and a royal province of Kraków reserved for the eldest, who was to be High Duke of all Poland. This was known as the fragmentation of Poland. Subsequent developments lead to further splintering of the duchies.

At the beginning of the 14th century, fourteen independent Duchies existed in Silesia: Brzeg, Wrocław, Świdnica, Jawor, Ziębice, Głogów, Ścinawa, Żagan and Oleśnica in Lower Silesia; Koźle, Cieszyn, Bytom, Niemodlin, Opole, Strzelce, Racibórz and Opava in Upper Silesia and the ecclesiastical Duchy of Nysa. Between 1327 and 1329 most dukes accepted the overlordship of Bohemian king John of Bohemia, who acquired the right of succession for all of these duchies. In the coming centuries all branches of the Silesian Piasts died out, and with the death of George William, Duke of Liegnitz the dynasty ceased to exist.

Duchy of Silesia

The Duchy of Silesia, one of the hereditary provinces of Poland, Silesia, was granted to Bolesław III's eldest son, Władysław II the Exile, and was subsequently divided among his sons Bolesław I the Tall (Wrocław/Lower Silesia), Mieszko I Tanglefoot (Racibórz/Upper Silesia) and Konrad Spindleshanks (Głogów). After Konrad's death Głogów was again united with the Duchy of Wrocław/Lower Silesia.

Dukes of Silesia

Piast Dynasty

Ruler		Born	Reign	Death	Ruling Part	Notes
Ladislaus II the Exile		1105	1138–1146	30 May 1159	Silesia	also monarch of Poland exiled by his half-brothers
Boleslaus IV the Curly		1125	1146–1163	5 January 1173	Silesia	half-brother of Ladislaus II also Duke of Masovia and monarch of Poland

Partitions of Silesia

In 1173 Bolesław returned and he agreed to let Mieszko and Bolesław rule in their own Duchies, separated from the Duchy of Silesia. This led to the creation of the Duchy of Racibórz for Mieszko I and the Duchy of Opole for Jarosław, beginning the fragmentation of the Duchy of Silesia. The territories controlled by Mieszko I and Jarosław roughly corresponded to what is known as Upper Silesia, while the territories remaining with Bolesław I roughly corresponded to Lower Silesia.

Lower Silesia

Duchy of Lower Silesia was a direct continuation of the Duchy of Silesia, but without the territories roughly corresponding to Upper Silesia; hence it was composed of the territories roughly corresponding to Lower Silesia. Some sources refer to it as the Duchy of Silesia; some as Duchy of Lower Silesia; others yet as the Duchy of Wrocław (Breslau). Wrocław was the capital of the Duchy of Silesia, yet this early (1172–1248) Duchy of Silesia should not be confused with the smaller Duchy of Wrocław that was created with further fragmentation in 1248. The Duchy went through various border changes in the coming years, sometimes losing and sometimes gaining territory. In 1248 Lower Silesia was divided when Bolesław II had to cede the Duchy of Wrocław to his younger brother Henry III.

Upper Silesia

Upper Silesia was divided into the Duchies of Cieszyn, and Opole-Racibórz. In 1340 the Duchy of Racibórz was united with Opava, a Bohemian fief.

Piast Dukes of Silesia

Partitions of Polish Silesia under Piast dynasty

       Below follows a simplified table of Silesia's partitions:

Duchy of Silesia (1138–1163)

Lower Silesia (1163–1241)

Opole-Racibórz, Upper Silesia (1st creation) (1163–1282)

Wrocław (1241–1335)

Legnica (1st creation) (1241–1449)

Opole (1282–1521)

Bytom (1282–1357)

Racibórz (1282–1336)

Oleśnica (1312–1492)

Żagań (1309–1504)

Głogów (1st creation) (1274–1331)

Świdnica-Jawor[1] (1274–1392)

Ziębice (1312–1442)

Oświęcim (1315–1457)

Annexed to Bohemia (1331-49)[2]

Cieszyn (1281–1653)

Annexed to Bohemia

Shared inheritance of Żagań (1349-1480), with Swidnica-Jawor (1349-68), Bohemia (1368-84) and Cieszyn (1384-1480); full inheritance with Żagań (1480-88)

Annexed to Bohemia Recovered by Opole (1521)

Lubin (1348–1446)

Brzeg [3](1st creation) (1342–1450)

Shared inheritance of Oleśnica (1357-1498) with Cieszyn (1357-1459); Full inheritance with Oleśnica (1459-98); Recovered by Opole

Annexed to Bohemia

Annexed to Bohemia

Annexed to Bohemia

Part of Żagań-Głogów (1446–82)

Opole (1282–1521)

Zator (1445–1513)

Annexed to Poland

Annexed to Poland (1488)

Legnica[4] (2nd creation) (1454–1672)

Annexed to Bohemia

Brzeg[5] (2nd creation) (1488–1672)

Annexed to Saxony

Opole-Racibórz (1521–1532)

Annexed to Poland

Annexed to Ansbach

Annexed to the Holy Roman Empire

Annexed to the Holy Roman Empire

A quick reminder avoiding confusion:

Lower Silesia	Upper Silesia
Duchy of Wrocław Duchy of Legnica Duchy of Głogów Duchy of Świdnica-Jawor Duchy of Wrocław Duchy of Oleśnica	Duchy of Opole-Racibórz (divided after 1282) Duchy of Cieszyn Duchy of Bytom Duchy of Oświęcim Duchy of Zator

Table of rulers

Ruler		Born	Reign	Death	Ruling part	Consort	Notes
Boleslaus I the Tall		1127	1163–1201	8 December 1201	Lower Silesia	Zvenislava of Kiev 1142 two children Christina 1157 seven children
Mieszko III Tanglefoot		1130	1163–1211	6 May 1211	Upper Silesia	Ludmila of Bohemia between 1170 and 1178 five children	First Duke of Upper Silesia, emerged from Silesia with the Duchy of Lower Silesia.
Henry I the Bearded		1165	1201–1238	19 March 1238	Lower Silesia	Hedwig of Merania 1188 seven children	Also monarch of Poland.
Casimir II		1179/80	1211–1230	13 May 1230	Opole-Racibórz (Upper Silesia)	Viola of Bulgaria between 1212 and 1220 four children
Henry II the Pious		1196	1238–1241	9 April 1241	Lower Silesia	Anna of Bohemia 1216 ten children	Also monarch of Poland.
Regencies of Henry I the Bearded (1230–1238) and Henry II the Pious (1238–1239)
Mieszko II the Fat		1220	1230–1246	22 October 1246	Opole-Racibórz (Upper Silesia)	Judith of Masovia c. 1239–1240 no children
Regency of Anna of Bohemia (1241–1242)							Sons of Henry II, made partitions in 1248: Henry got the duchy of Wrocław, and Boleslaus the duchy of Legnica.
Henry III the White[6]		1227 or 1230	1242–1266	3 December 1266	Wrocław	Judith of Masovia 2 June 1252 two children Helena of Saxony before 1266 no children
Boleslaus II the Bald		c. 1220/5	1242–1278	26–31 December 1278	Legnica	Hedwig of Anhalt 1242 seven children Euphemia of Pomerelia 1261 (annulled 1277) no children Sophia of Dyhrn (morganatic) 1277 no children
Ladislaus I		1225	1246–1282	27 August or 13 September 1282	Opole-Racibórz (Upper Silesia)	Euphemia of Greater Poland 1251 five children	In 1282 Opole-Raciborz was divided in various duchies, to the four sons of Władysław.
Conrad I[7]		1228/31	1251–1274	6 August 1274	Głogów	Salome of Greater Poland 1249 six children Sophie of Landsberg 1271 no children	First duke of Głogów. Brother of Henry III the White and Boleslaw II the Bald.
Henry IV the Just[8]		1257/1258	1266–1290	23 June 1290	Wrocław	Constance of Opole March 1280 no children Matilda of Brandenburg-Salzwedel c. 1288 no children	also monarch of Poland.
Wroclaw temporarily annexed to Legnica
Henry III[6][9]		1251/60	1274–1309	3 December 1309	Głogów	Matilda of Brunswick-Lüneburg March 1291 nine children	Children of Conrad I, divided the land. Henry III received Glogow, Przemko ruled Zagan and Conrad inherited Scinawa. Conrad would later inherit his brother Przemko's duchy, but was Henry who reunited the land after Conrasd 's land. After Henry III's won death, the lands were again divided.
Przemko I[10]		1252/65	1274–1284	26 February 1289	Głogów (at Żagań)	Unmarried
Conrad II the Hunchback[11]		1252/65	1274–1304	11 October 1304	Głogów (at Scinawa until 1284; in Żagań since 1284)	Unmarried
Henry V the Fat[12]		1248	1273–1278	22 February 1296	Świdnica-Jawor	Elisabeth of Greater Poland 1277 eight children	Children of Boleslaus II, divided the land. Henry V had been nominated by his father as duke of Świdnica-Jawor, which he gave to his brothers Bolko and Bernard to inherit the entire Legnica. In 1290, after the death of the childless Henry IV, Henry V also inherited Wrocław. In 1296, after Henry V's death, Bolko was appointed regent for his nephews (sons of Henry V).
			1278–1296		Legnica
Bolko I the Strict[13]		1252/6	1278–1301	9 November 1301	Świdnica-Jawor	Beatrice of Brandenburg-Salzwedel 4 October 1284 Berlin ten children
Bernard I the Lightsome		1253/7	1278–1286	25 April 1286	Świdnica-Jawor	Unmarried
Premislaus		12 June 1268	1282–1306	7 May 1306	Racibórz	Anna of Masovia between 1289 and 1290 three children	Sons of Ladislaus I, ruled jointly until 1290, when Mieszko founded his own duchy, Cieszyn.
Mieszko I[14]		1252/6	1282–1315	27 June 1315	Cieszyn	Unknown between 1275 and 1280 three children
Bolko [Boleslaus] I[15]		before 21 October 1258	1282–1313	14 May 1313	Opole	Grimislava? before 1286 Agnes c.1280 three children	Sons of Ladislaus I, ruled jointly. In 1284, they divided the land: Boleslaus retained Opole and Casimir received Bytom, as its first duke.
Casimir[16]		1253/7	1282–1312	10 March 1312	Bytom (in Opole until 1284)	Helena between 1275 and 1278 six children
Regencies of Bolko I the Strict (1296–1301), Heinrich of Würben (1301–02) and Wenceslaus II of Bohemia (1302–05)							Children of Henry V, under regency until 1305. Freed from regency at fourteen, Boleslaus ruled with his younger brothers, Henry and Ladislaus, until 1311, when they divided the land. He received Legnica, together with Ladislaus. After a year of co-rulership, Boleslaus expelled Ladislaus and excluded him from government. Becoming sole ruler, he created, in 1312, the Duchy of Brzeg, which ruled until his death, Abdicating of Legnica for his son in 1342. Henry received Wrocław, but, in 1327 having no male heirs, signed a contract of inheritance with King John of Bohemia and upon his death the Duchy of Wrocław fell to the Kingdom of Bohemia.
Boleslaus III the Generous		23 September 1291	1296–1342	21 April 1352	Legnica	Margaret of Bohemia 1318 three children Katharina of Croatia 1326 no children
		1312–1352	Brzeg
Ladislaus I		6 June 1296	1296–1312	after 13 January 1352	Legnica	Anna of Masovia 1325 (annulled 1329) no children
Henry VI the Good[17]		18 March 1294	1296–1335	24 November 1335	Wrocław (in Legnica until 1311)	Anna of Austria 1310 three children
Annexation to the Kingdom of Bohemia
Leszek		1292	1306–1336	1336	Racibórz	Agnes of Głogów-Żagań 1332 no children	Son of Przemysław I. After his death in 1336, Raciborz was annexed by the Kingdom of Bohemia.
Annexation to the Kingdom of Bohemia (1306–1521)
Matilda of Brunswick-Lüneburg		1276	1309–1318	26 April 1318	Głogów	Henry III March 1291 nine children	Widow of Henry III.
Henry IV the Faithful[18]		1292	1309–1342	22 January 1342	Żagań (in Głogów 1318–21)	Matilda of Brandenburg-Salzwedel 5 January 1310 four children	Sons of Henry III, inherited, together, Żagań. In 1312, Conrad and Boleslaus created their own duchy with its capital in Oleśnica, becoming the first dukes of Oleśnica. The death of Boleslaus left Conrad as sole ruler of his duchy. Henry and Premislaus continued the joint rule. They reunited again, and as their father did, the two duchies of the paternal inheritance after the death of their mother. In 1321 the two brothers made new partitions. From 1321, Henry ruled Żagań and Premislaus ruled Głogów. After the childless death of Premislaus, his duchy was briefly annexed by the Kingdom of Bohemia.
Przemko II[19]		1305	1318–1331	11 January 1331	Głogów (in Żagań 1309–21)	Constance of Świdnica 1326 no children
John		1298	1318–1365	19 May 1365	Głogów (in Żagań 1309–18; in Ścinawa since 1318)	Constance of Świdnica 1326 no children
Conrad I[20]		1294	1312–1366	22 December 1366	Oleśnica (in Żagań 1309–12)	Elisabeth of Wroclaw 10 January 1322 no children Euphemia of Bytom 2 March 1333 two children
Boleslaus		1295	1312–1321	before 23 April 1321	Oleśnica (in Żagań 1309–12)	Unmarried
Annexation to the Kingdom of Bohemia (1331–1337) and to the Jawor portion of Świdnica-Jawor (1337–1346); New annexation to the Kingdom of Bohemia (1346–1349/60) In 1349 Henry V of Iron (son of Henry the Fatithful) recovered half of the inheritance of his uncle Przemko in Głogów from Bohemia; the other half was given to Przemko II's widow, Constance, in 1360.
Regency of Herman, Margrave of Brandenburg-Salzwedel (1301–1305)							Henry and Bernard ruled together until 1312, then divided the land between them. Henry kept also Głogów, which he recovered from Bohemia. However, Głogów returns to Bohemian control after Henry's death.
Bernard II the Stable		1291	1301–1326	6 May 1326	Świdnica-Jawor(in Świdnica since 1312)	Kunigunde of Poland 1310 five children
Henry I[21]		1292/6	1301–1346	before 15 May 1346	Świdnica-Jawor(in Jawor since 1312)	Agnes of Bohemia 1316 no children
Siemowit		1292	1312–1316	after 1 July 1342	Bytom	Unmarried	Son of Casimir. Deposed in 1316.
Bolko [Boleslaus] II[15]		before 1300	1313–1356	21 June 1356	Opole	Elisabeth of Świdnica 6 May 1326 seven children	Sons of Bolko I, ruled jointly.
Albert		after 1300	1313–1323	25 September 1373	Opole	Agnes of Magdeburg 1347 one child
Casimir I[22]		1280/90	1315–1358	29 September 1358	Cieszyn	Euphemia of Czersk-Warsaw 1321 nine children
Ladislaus I[23]		1275/80	1315–1324	15 May 1324	Oświęcim	Euphrosyne of Masovia c. 1304 two children	First Duke of Oświęcim, which emerged from Cieszyn.
Ladislaus I[23]		1277/83	1316–1352	8 September 1352	Bytom	Beatrice of Brandenburg-Salzwedel 21 September 1308 two children Ludgarda of Mecklenburg 6 October 1328 six children	Brother of Siemowit. Ruled jointly with his brother George until 1327.
George I		1300	1316–1327	1327	Bytom	Unmarried	Ruled jointly with his brother Ladislaus.
Bolko II[24]		1 February 1300	1322–1341	11 June 1341	Ziębice	Bonne of Savoy-Vaud 21 November 1321 two children	First duke of Ziębice. Son of Bolko the Strict.
Regency of Euphrosyne of Masovia (1324–1325)
John I the Scholastic		1308/10	1324–1372	29 September 1372	Oświęcim	Unknown one child Salome Reuss von Plauen after 12 July 1359 three children
Nicholas I the Small		1327	1341–1358	23 April 1358	Ziębice	Agnes Krusina zu Lichtemburka 23 October 1343 six children
Henry V of Iron[25]		1319	1342–1369	After 8 April 1369	Żagań (with Half A of Głogów from 1349)	Anna of Płock 6 September 1337 five children	Son of Henry IV the Faithful. In 1349 Half A of Głogów reemerges from Bohemia to be annexed by Żagań line of the Piasts.
Katharina of Croatia		?	1352–1358	before 5 March 1358	Brzeg	Boleslaus III the Generous 1326 no children	Widow. After her death the duchy was divided between Louis the Fair (her stepson) and Bolko the Small from Swidnica-Jawor.
Boleslaus I[26]		1330	1352–1355	4 October 1355	Bytom	14 February 1347 three children	Son of Ladislaus IV. After his death his widow inherited the duchy. In 1357 the duchy was divided in two parts, being one annexed by the Duchy of Oleśnica, and the other annexed by the Duchy of Cieszyn.
Margareta of Sternberg		?	1355–1357	after 5 June 1365	Bytom
Definitive annexation to the duchies of Oleśnica and Cieszyn
Ladislaus II[27]		1332	1356–1396	18 May 1401	Opole	Elisabeth of Wallachia c. 1355 three children Euphemia of Masovia 1369 two children	Sons of Bolko II, ruled jointly.
Henry[28]		before 18 August 1338	1356–1365	before 23 October 1365	Opole	Unmarried
Bolko III[29]		1337	1356–1370	21 October 1382	Opole	Anna of Oświęcim c. 1355 five children
Bolko III[29]		1348	1358–1410	13 June 1410	Ziębice	Euphemia of Bytom 1369 eight children	Sons of Nicholas I, ruled jointly.
Henry I[30]		1350	1358–1366	after 8 August 1366	Ziębice	Unmarried
Constance of Świdnica		1313	1360–1361	21 November 1363	Głogów (Half B)	Przemko II 1326 no children	In 1360 Half B of Głogów reemerges from Bohemia to be given to Constance, widow of Przemko II. She renounces the title in favour of her brother Bolko II the Small.
Bolko II the Small[31]		1312	1326–1368	28 July 1368	Świdnica-Jawor (in Świdnica until 1346; in Half A of Brzeg since 1358, and Half B of Głogów since 1361)	Agnes of Austria 1 June 1338 no children	Sons of Bernard II, ruled jointly until Henry's death in 1343. In 1346, after his uncle Henry I's death with no male heirs, he reunites Świdnica-Jawor in one duchy. Bolko also bought half of Brzeg in 1358. Brother of Constance, widow duchess of Głogów, inherited part of the duchy from her. After his death in 1368, the half of Głogów returned the Kingdom of Bohemia, and the half of Brzeg to Louis the Fair.
Henry II		1316	1334–1343	28 June 1345	Świdnica	Katharina of Hungary 1 June 1338 one child
Annexation of Half B to the Kingdom of Bohemia (1368–1384)
Reintegration of Half A in Brzeg
Wenceslaus I		1318	1342–1364	2 June 1364	Legnica	Anna of Cieszyn c.1338 five children	Sons of Boleslaus IV, ruled jointly until 1346, when Louis created his own duchy, Lubin, which he ruled until his death. In 1358 inherited half of Brzeg from his stepmother Katharina. Reunited Brzeg after the death of the owner of the other part, Bolko the Small (1368).
Louis I the Fair		1321	1348–1398	6–23 December 1398	Lubin (in Legnica 1342–1346)	Agnes of Głogów-Żagań 1341 six children
			1358–1398		Brzeg (in Half B until 1368)
Henry VII the Courageous[32]		1343/5	1361–1399	11 July 1399	Brzeg (in Half B until 1368; with Lubin since 1398)	Helena of Orlamunde 1369 one child Margaret of Masovia July 1379 one child	Duke of Brzeg jointly with his father Louis I, inherited Lubin from him.
Rupert I		27 March 1347	1364–1409	before 12 January 1409	Legnica	Hedwig of Zagan 10 February 1372 two children	Sons of Wenceslaus I, ruled jointly.
Wenceslaus II		1348	1364–1413	30 December 1419	Legnica	Unmarried
Boleslaus IV		1349	1364–1394	3/4 March 1394	Legnica	Unmarried
Henry VIII[33]		1355	1364–1398	12 December 1398	Legnica	Unmarried
Conrad II the Gray[34]		1340	1366–1403	10 June 1403	Oleśnica	Agnes of Cieszyn 23 February 1354 one child	Son of Conrad I.
Agnes of Austria		1322	1368–1392	2 February 1392	Świdnica-Jawor	Bolko II the Small 1 June 1338 no children	Widow, succeeded her husband according to his will. After her death the duchy was annexed to the Kingdom of Bohemia.
Annexation to the Kingdom of Bohemia
Henry VI the Elder[35]		before 1345	1369–1393	5 December 1393	Żagań (in Głogów Half A until 1378)	Hedwig of Legnica 10 February 1372 no children	Sons of Henry V, ruled jointly until 1378. In that year, they made partitions: Henry VI retained Żagań and Henry VII the half of Głogów. Henry VIII received a few towns, but he eventually succeeded his heirless brother Henry VII in 1395.
Henry VII Rumpold[36]		1350	1369–1395	24 December 1395	Głogów (Half A) (in Żagań until 1378)	Unmarried
Henry VIII the Sparrow[37]		1357	1369–1378 1395–1397	14 March 1397	Głogów (Half A) (in Żagań until 1378)	Catherine of Opole 1382 five children
John II		1344/51	1372–1376	19 February 1376	Oświęcim	Hedwig of Brieg 1366 three children	Son of John I.
John III		1366	1376–1405	19 August 1405	Oświęcim	Hedwig of Lithuania 1394 no children	Son of John II. Left no descendants. The duchy went to a son of Premislaus IV.
Premislaus I Noszak		1332/6	1358–1410	23 May 1410	Cieszyn	Elisabeth of Bytom 1360 three children	Upper Duke of Cieszyn, in 1284 recovered part of the Lower Silesian duchy of Głogów from Bohemia. Abdicated of Głogów for his son, Premislaus, in 1404, but recovered it in 1406.
			1384–1404 1406–1410		Głogów (Half B)
Premislaus The Younger[38]		1362	1404–1406	1 January 1406	Głogów (Half B)	Unknown one child	Received, in his father's lifetime, the duchy of Głogów. In the next year also inherited Oświęcim from John III. Preceded his father in death, but left descendants to rule in Oświęcim, while Głogów returned to his father.
			1405–1406		Oświęcim
Hedwig of Legnica		1351	1393–1403	1 August 1409	Żagań	Henry VI the Elder 10 February 1372 no children	Widow of Henry VI.
Bolko IV[39]		1363/7	1396–1437	6 May 1437	Opole	Margaret of Gorizia 1398 five children	Sons of Bolko III, ruled jointly. In 1422, Bolko V, Bolko IV's son, joined the co-rulership, but abdicated two years after, to rule Niemodlin and Strzelce, vassal towns of Opole.
Bishop Jan Kropidło		1360/4	1396–1421	3 March 1421	Opole	Unmarried
Bernard I[40]		1374/8	1396–1400	2/4 April 1455	Opole	Hedwig of Melsztyna two children
Bolko V the Hussite[39]		c.1400	1422–1424	29 May 1460	Opole	Elisabeth Granowski c. 1418 one child
Catherine of Opole		16 March 1367	1397–1420	6 June 1420	Głogów (Half A) (in Prudnik, Kożuchów and Zielona Góra)	Henry VIII the Sparrow 1382 five children	Ruled in her dowry lands, which reverted to her sons after her death.
John I[41]		1385	1403–1439	12 April 1439	Żagań (in Głogów Half A 1397–1412)	Scholastika of Saxe-Wittenberg c.1405 ten children	Sons of Henry VIII, ruled jointly in the half of Głogów, inherited from their uncle Henry VIII. In 1403 inherited Żagań from their mother Hedwig. In 1412 divided the land between them. After the partition, John ruled alone in Żagań, and the other brothers continued the joint rule in Głogów. With the abdication of Wenceslaus and the death of Henry X, Henry IX became sole ruler from 1423. In 1446 he inherited Lubin.
Henry IX the Elder[42]		1387	1397–1467	11 November 1467	Głogów (Half A) (in Żagań 1403–1412)	Hedwig of Oleśnica c. 1432 six children
Henry X Rumpold[43]		1390	1397–1423	18 January 1423	Głogów (Half A) (in Żagań 1403–1412)	Unmarried
Wenceslaus I[44]		1391	1397–1417	before 4 February 1431	Głogów (Half A) (in Żagań 1403–1412)	Unmarried
Henry IX[42]		1369	1399–1420	10 July 1420	Lubin	Anna of Cieszyn 20 September 1396 six children	Reunited for a brief period the regional duchy of Lubin and Brzeg under his rule. In 1400 divided the inherited land with his brother Louis, who received Brzeg. However Henry also retained a part of this duchy, called Oława.
			1399–1420		Brzeg (only in Oława from 1400)
Louis II		1380/5	1400–1436	30 May 1436	Brzeg	Hedwig Zapólya before 14 August 1409 no children Elisabeth of Brandenburg 9 April 1418 Konstanz no children	Received Brzeg, and reunited it with Legnica in 1413. However, died without descendants. His lands were inherited by his widow.
			1413–1436		Legnica
Conrad III the Old		1359	1403–1412	28 December 1412	Oleśnica	Judith (?) c.1380 seven children	Son of Conrad IV.
Casimir I[45]		1396	1406–1434	7 April 1434	Oświęcim	Anna of Zagan before 28 May 1417 three children Margareta of Racibórz 1433 no children	Son of Premislaus V.
Boleslaus I		1363	1410–1431	6 May 1431	Cieszyn (with Głogów Half B)	Margareta of Opava-Raciborz 1 January 1406 no children Euphemia of Masovia 20 November 1412 five children
John I		1358	1410–1428	27 August 1428	Ziębice	Elizabeth Lackfi 19 March 1408 one child	Sons of Bolko III, ruled jointly. From 1420 ruled alone. After his death the duchy was annexed to the Kingdom of Bohemia, and later mortgaged it to Půta III of Častolovice during 1429–1435.
Henry II		1396	1410–1420	11 March 1420	Ziębice	Unmarried
Conrad IV the Elder		1384	1412–1416	9 August 1447	Oleśnica	Unmarried	Sons of Conrad III, ruled jointly.
Conrad V Kantner		1385	1412–1439	10 September 1439	Oleśnica	Margaret (?) 9 October 1411 five children
Conrad VI the Dean		1391	1416–1427	3 September 1427	Oleśnica	Unmarried
Conrad VII the White		after 1396	1416–1427 1439–1450	14 February 1452	Oleśnica	Katharina (?) 2 February 1437 no children Dorothea of Warsaw? 7 March 1450 no children
Conrad VIII the Younger		after 1397	1416–1444	5 September 1444	Oleśnica (only in Ścinawa since 1427)	Unmarried
Wenceslaus III		1400	1420–1423	14 January/28 May 1423	Brzeg (at Oława)	Unmarried	Children of Henry IX, divided their possessions. Wenceslaus kept Olawa (in Brzeg) and Rupert and Louis ruled in Lubin. Louis reunited his father's possessions. After his death his lands were divided between his sons and his widow.
Rupert II		1396/1402	1420–1431	24 August 1431	Lubin	Unmarried
Louis III		before 1405	1420–1441	before 18 June 1441	Lubin	Margareta of Opole c.1423 two children
			1423–1441		Brzeg (at Oława)
Wenceslaus I[46]		1418	1434–1468	c.28 July 1368	Zator (in Oświęcim until 1445)	Maria Kopczowski c. 1450 seven children	Sons of Casimir I, ruled jointly. In 1445 Wenceslaus created for himself the duchy of Zator. Premislaus abdicated from power, and John became sole ruler over Oświęcim, which was annexed to the Kingdom of Poland in 1457.
Premislaus		1425	1434–1445	December 1484	Oświęcim	Margareta of Opole 23 February 1463 one child
John IV		1426/30	1434–1457	c.21 February 1497	Oświęcim	Katharina 30 December 1465 no children Barbara of Karniów c. 1475 one child
Definitive annexation to the Kingdom of Poland
Ziębice was recovered to the Piasts
Euphemia		1385	1435–1442	17 November 1447	Ziębice	Frederick III of Oettingen 1397 nine children	Daughter of Bolko III. In 1435 she bought the Duchy to the Emperor and Častolovice's heiresses. In 1442 it was sold to the Kingdom of Bohemia.
Annexation to the Kingdom of Bohemia
Elisabeth of Brandenburg		29 September 1403	1436–1449	31 October 1449	Legnica	Louis II 9 April 1418 Konstanz no children Wenceslaus I, Duke of Cieszyn 17 February 1439 (annulled 1445) no children	Widow of Louis II. In 1443 is forced to give Brzeg to John I and Henry X of Lubin. After her death in 1449, Legnica was annexed by the Kingdom of Bohemia.
			1436–1443		Brzeg
Annexation to the Kingdom of Bohemia (1449–1454)
Margareta of Opole		1412/4	1441–1454	15 January 1454	Brzeg (at Oława)	Louis III c. 1423 two children	Widow of Louis III.
Olawa annexed to Legnica
John I		1425	1441–1446	after 21 November 1453	Lubin	Hedwig of Brzeg February 1445 one child	Sons of Louis III, ruled jointly. In 1443 they inherit Brzeg from Elisabeth of Brandenburg. In 1446, due to the difficult financial situation, Lubin was sold to the Duchy of Głogów. In 1450 Brzeg is sold to Opole.
			1443–1450		Brzeg
Henry X[47]		1426	1441–1446	before 28 May 1452	Lubin	Unmarried
			1443–1450		Brzeg
Lubin was bought by Henry IX the Elder, duke of Głogów
Brzeg was bought by duke Nicholas I of Opole
Regency of Euphemia of Masovia (1431–1442)							After the partition following the end of the regency of their mother, Ladislaus retained Głogów and Wenceslaus and Premislaus Cieszyn. Boleslaus received only a few towns in Cieszyn (Bielsko and Frysztat). After Ladislaus' death, Premislaus retained co-rulership Cieszyn and Głogów, with his widowed sister-in-law. From 1468 ruled over all Cieszyn.
Ladislaus I[48]		1420	1431–1460	14 February 1460	Głogów (Half B) (in Cieszyn until 1442)	Margareta of Celje December 1444 no children
Wenceslaus I[49]		1413/8	1431–1468	1474	Cieszyn	Elisabeth of Brandenburg 17 February 1439 (annulled 1445) no children
Premislaus II		1422/5	1431–1442 1468–1477	18 March 1477	Cieszyn	Anna of Warsaw c.1465 one child
			1460–1477		Głogów (Half B)
Boleslaus II		1425/8	1431–1452	4 October 1452	Cieszyn	Anna of Bielsk 28 January 1448 three children
Nicholas I[50]		1424	1437–1476	3 July 1476	Opole (with Brzeg since 1450)	Magdalena of Brieg February 1442 ten children	Children of Bolko IV, ruled jointly. After John's death in 1439, Nicholas ruled alone. In 1450 he bought Brzeg.
John I[51]		1410/3	1437–1439	5 September 1439	Opole	Unmarried
Conrad IX the Black		1415	1450–1471	14 August 1471	Oleśnica	Margareta of Rawa 1453 one child	Son of Conrad VII.
Henry XI[52]		1435	1467–1476	22 February 1476	Głogów (Half A)	Barbara of Brandenburg 11 October 1472 Berlin no children	Son of Henry IX.
Margareta of Celje		1411	1477–1480	22 July 1480	Głogów (Half B)	Herman I of Montfort-Pfannberg-Bregenz 15 March 1430 four children Ladislaus I December 1444 no children	Widow of Ladislaus I, ruled with her brother-in-law Premislaus II since 1460. From 1477 ruled alone.
Balthasar		1415	1439–1461 1468–1472	15 July 1472	Żagań	Agnes before 1460 one child Barbara of Cieszyn 11 September 1469 no children	Sons of John I, ruled jointly. Wenceslaus and John abdicated in 1449, and Balthasar ruled alone, but John came in 1461 and dethroned Balthasar. However the latter dethroned the usurper and ruled again. John put aside his brother in 1472 and ruled once again, but, in that year his duchy was annexed to Saxony. In 1476, John II inherits part of Glogow from his cousin Henry XI, and in 1480 reunites both parts of this duhcy. In 1482 lost Lubin for Legnica. In 1488 Głogów is annexed by the Kingdom of Poland.
Rudolph		1418	1439–1454	18 September 1454	Żagań	Unmarried
Wenceslaus[53]		1434	1439–1449	29 April 1488	Żagań	Unmarried
John II the Mad		16 April 1435	1439–1449 1461–1468 1472	22 September 1504	Żagań	Katharina of Opava c.1462 five children
			1476/1480–1482		Głogów (both halves reunited 1480)
Annexation to the Duchy of Saxony
Annexation to the Kingdom of Poland
Lubin, since 1446 part of Głogów, reverted to Legnica
Casimir II		1450	1468–1490	8 January/7 July 1490	Zator	Margaret of Karniów c. 12 August 1482 one child	Sons of Wenceslaus I, ruled jointly. In 1490 John became sole ruler. In 1513 the Duchy is annexed by the Kingdom of Poland.
Ladislaus		1455	1468–1482	28 May or 21 September 1494	Zator	Anna before 1488 one child
Wenceslaus II[54]		1450/55	1468–1487	before 5 October 1487	Zator	Unmarried
John V[55]		before 1455	1468–1513	17 September 1513	Zator
Annexation to the Kingdom of Poland
Margareta of Rawa		1441	1471–1475	1 September 1485	Oleśnica	Conrad IX the Black 1453 one child	Widow of Conrad IX.
Regency of Conrad X, Duke of Oleśnica (1475–78)							Daughter of Conrad IX. Deposed in 1478 by her regent and died in the next year.
Barbara		1465	1475–1478	30 November 1479	Oleśnica	Unmarried
Nicholas II		1462	1476–1497	27 June 1497	Opole (with Brzeg until 1481)	Unmarried	Sons of Nicholas II, ruled jointly. In 1481 they sold Brzeg to Frederick I of Legnica. From 1497 John ruled alone. In 1521 purchased Racibórz from Bohemia, and restored the Duchy of Opole-Racibórz. However, as he left no descendants the duchy reverted to the Margraviate of Brandenburg-Ansbach.
John II the Good[56]		1460	1476–1521	27 March 1532	Opole (with Brzeg until 1481)	Unmarried
			1521–1532		Opole-Racibórz
Annexation to the Margraviate of Brandenburg-Ansbach
Brzeg returned to Legnica
Casimir II		1449	1477–1528	13 December 1528	Cieszyn	Johanna of Opava 6 October 1328 six children	Father and son, ruled jointly. Wenceslaus predeceased his father and never came to rule alone.
Wenceslaus II[57]		1488/96	1518–1524	17 November 1524	Cieszyn	Anna of Brandenburg-Ansbach 1 December 1518 three children
Conrad X the White		1420	1450–1452 1478–1492	21 September 1492	Oleśnica	Dorothea Reynkenberg before 1492 (morganatic) no children	Adicated of co-rulership with his brother Conrad IX in 1452, but in 1478 expelled his niece and ruled alone. In 1492 Oleśnica was annexed by the Kingdom of Bohemia.
Annexation to the Kingdom of Bohemia
Frederick I		3 May 1446	1454–1488	9 May 1488	Legnica (with Oława)	5 September 1474 three children	Legnica became independent from Bohemia in 1454. In the same year inherited Brzeg-Olawa from his mother Margareta of Opole. In 1481 Frederick I of Legnica purchased Brzeg from Opole, and recovered Lubin in 1482, from John the Mad.
			1481/2–1488		Lubin
			1481/2–1488		Brzeg (reunited with Oława)
Ludmila of Poděbrady		16 October 1446	1488–1503	20 January 1503	Brzeg		Widow of Frederick I. Received Brzeg as her dower, but also served as regent for her sons in Legnica.
Regency of Ludmila of Poděbrady (1488–95)							Ruled jointly until the end of regency. John didn't reach adulthood. In 1503, after their mother's death, George inherited Brzeg from their mother, and Frederick became sole ruler of Legnica, which, after the childless death of George in 1521, was reunited with Brzeg.
John II		1477	1488–1495	6 March 1495	Legnica	Unmarried
George I[58]		1481/3	1488–1521	30 May 1521	Brzeg (with Lubin; in Legnica until 1505)	Anna of Pomerania 9 June 1516 no children
Frederick II the Great		12 February 1480	1488–1547	17 September 1547	Legnica	Elisabeth of Poland-Lithuania 21 November 1515 one child Sophie of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Kulmbach 14 November 1519 three children
			1503–1505 1521–1547		Brzeg
Anna of Pomerania		1492	1521–1550	25 April 1550	Lubin	George I 9 July 1516 no children	Inherited Lubin from her husband. As she didn't have children, the land passed, at her death, permanently to Legnica.
Annexation to Legnica
Regencies of Anna of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1528–1539) and John III of Pernstein (1528–1545)
Wenceslaus III Adam		December 1524	1528–1579	4 November 1579	Cieszyn	Maria of Pernstein 8 February 1540 three children Sidonia Katharina of Saxe-Lauenburg 25 November 1567 Cieszyn six children
Frederick Casimir		December 1541/January 1542	1560–1571	4 May 1571	Cieszyn	Katharina of Legnica 28 December 1563 Legnica one child	Son of Wenceslaus, co-ruled with him from 1560 but preceded his father in death.
Frederick III		22 February 1520	1547–1559	15 December 1570	Legnica (with Lubin)	Catherine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 3 March 1538 Legnica six children	Children of Frederick II, divided the land: Frederick III kept Legnica (and absorbed Lubin in 1550), and George II inherited Brzeg.
George II the Pious		18 July 1523	1547–1586	7 May 1586	Brzeg	Barbara of Brandenburg 15 February 1545 Berlin seven children	Jointly with his brother Frederick II.
Henry XI[52]		23 February 1539	1559–1581	3 March 1588	Legnica	Sophie of Brandenburg-Ansbach 11 November 1560 Legnica six children
Catherine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin		14 April 1518	1570–1581	17 November 1581	Legnica (at Chojnów)	Frederick III 3 March 1538 Legnica six children	Widow of Frederick III.
Regency of Sidonia Katharina of Saxe-Lauenburg (1579–1594)
Adam Wenceslaus		12 December 1574	1579–1617	13 July 1617	Cieszyn	Elisabeth of Courland 17 September 1595 five children
Frederick IV		20 April 1552	1581–1596	27 March 1596	Legnica	Maria Sidonia of Cieszyn 20 January 1587 no children Dorothea of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg 23 November 1589 no children Anna of Württemberg 24 October 1594 no children
Barbara of Brandenburg		10 August 1527	1586–1595	2 January 1595	Brzeg	George II 15 February 1545 Berlin seven children	Widow, ruled in Brzeg.
John George		17 June 1552	1586–1592	6 July 1592	Brzeg (at Oława)	Anna of Württemberg 16 September 1582 Brzeg no children
Anna of Württemberg		17 June 1552	1592–1594	7 July 1616	Brzeg (at Oława)	John George 16 September 1582 Brzeg no children Frederick IV 24 October 1594 no children	She married twice, so in 1594 she was stripped from her duchy.
Joachim Frederick		29 September 1550	1586–1592 1594–1602	25 March 1602	Brzeg (at Oława; in the entire Brzeg since 1595)	19 May 1577 Brzeg six children	Initially co-ruler with his brother, John George, after his death the duchy went to his widow, which was stripped from her when she married again. He reunited Brzeg, and then reunited it with Legnica in 1596.
			1596–1602		Legnica
Anna Maria of Anhalt		29 September 1550	1602–1605	14 November 1605	Brzeg (at Oława)		Received Olawa after her husband's death. She also served as regent for her children in the other possessions of her husband. She did not do it by herself. She had co-rulership on her regency. After her death the regency was taken by the sister of Joachim Frederick, Elisabeth Magdalena, and her husband, who ruled until the brothers came of age, in 1609.
Regencies of Anna Maria of Anhalt (1602–05), Elisabeth Magdalena of Brzeg and Charles II of Poděbrady (1602–09)							Sons of Joachim Frederick, ruled jointly until 1612. In that year they made partitions. George Rudolf received Legnica and John Christian Brzeg. George left no descendants, and was succeeded by his nephews.
George Rudolf		12 January 1595	1602–1653	14 January 1653	Legnica (in Brzeg until 1612)	Sophia Elisabeth of Anhalt-Dessau 4 November 1614 Dessau no children Elisabeth Magdalena of Munsterberg 5 December 1624 no children
John Christian		28 August 1591	1602–1633	25 December 1639	Brzeg (in Legnica until 1612)	Dorothea Sibylle of Brandenburg 12 December 1610 Berlin thirteen children Anna Hedwig Sitzsch (morganatic) 13 September 1626 Brzeg seven children
Regency of Charles of Austria, Bishop of Wroclaw (1617–24)
Frederick William		9 November 1601	1617–1625	19 August 1625	Cieszyn	Unmarried
Elizabeth Lucretia		1 June 1599	1625–1653	19 May 1653	Cieszyn	Gundakar, Prince of Liechtenstein 23 April 1618 no children	After her death, Cieszyn was annexed by the Holy Roman Empire.
Definitive annexation to the Holy Roman Empire
Louis IV		19 April 1616	1653–1663	24 November 1653	Legnica	Anna Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow 8 May 1649 Brzeg one child	Sons of John Christian, ruled jointly in Legnica. George was already duke of Brzeg since his father's death. As George didn't have no descendants he was succeeded in his domains by his brother Christian. The latter, after his own death, left Oława for his widow, and the remaining lands were inherited by his own son.
George III		4 September 1611	1633–1664	4 July 1664	Brzeg	Sophia Katharina of Munsterberg 23 February 1638 Bernstadt one child Elisabeth Marie Charlotte of Palatinate-Simmern-Kaiserslautern 19 October 1660 Brzeg no children
			1653–1654 1663–1664		Legnica
Christian		9 April 1618	1653–1654 1663–1672	28 February 1672	Legnica	Louise of Anhalt-Dessau 24 November 1648 Dessau four children
			1664–1672		Brzeg
Regency of Louise of Anhalt-Dessau (1672–1675)							Last male representative of the House of Piast. Died without descendants.
George William		29 September 1660	1672–1675	21 November 1675	Legnica and Brzeg	Unmarried
Annexation to the Holy Roman Empire
Louise of Anhalt-Dessau		10 February 1631	1672–1680	25 April 1680	Brzeg (at Oława)	Christian 24 November 1648 Dessau four children	Regional duchess in Brzeg, widow of Christian. After her death the Duchy was annexed by the Holy Roman Empire.
Annexation to the Holy Roman Empire

Přemyslid Dukes of Silesia

Partitions of Bohemian Silesia under Přemyslid dynasty

       Below follows a simplified table of Silesia's partitions:

		Piast Ráciborz (1282-1336)
Opava (1269-1456) (brief annexation to Piast Legnica in 1308-11; also in Ziębice 1443-56)
		Ráciborz (1378-1521)	Krnov (1424-1493) (brief annexation to Hungary in 1474-90)
Glubczyce (1433-1485)
	Pledged to Opole and annexed to Bohemia
Annexed to Bohemia			Annexed to Bohemia
		Annexed to Opole

Table of rulers

Notes:

• The numbering of the Silesian Premyslid rulers is a problematic matter between scholars, as different sources numbers and orders them differently.

Ruler		Born	Reign	Death	Ruling part	Consort	Notes
Nicholas I		1255	1269-1318	25 July 1318	Opava	Adelaide of Habsburg (d.1313) 1283 three children	Natural son of Premysl Ottokar II of Bohemia and Agnes of Kuenring, inherited from his father the Silesian duchy of Opava.
Nicholas II		1288	1318-1365	8 December 1365	Opava	Anna of Racibórz 1318 six children Hedwig of Olesnica (d.1359) May 1342 one child Jutta of Opole (d.aft.1378) 1360 three children
John I		1288	1365-1382	8 December 1365	Racibórz (in Opava until 1377)	Anna of Głogów-Żagań (d.1369) 1361 three children	Children of Nicholas II, divided the land; After Nicholas III's death, Glubczyce returned to Opava.
Nicholas III		1339	1365-1394	9 July 1394	Opava (at Glubczyce; in Opava until 1377)	Unmarried
Premislaus I		1288	1365-1433	8 December 1365	Opava	Anna of Lutz (d.1405) 1395 three children Catherine of Ziebice (d.23 May 1422) c.1405 three children Elena of Bosnia 1425 three cildren
Wenceslaus I		1361	1365-1381	1381	Opava	Unmarried
John II of Iron		c.1365	1382-1424	1424	Racibórz	Helena of Lithuania (d.c.1450) 16 January 1407 three children	Children of John I, divided the land. John kept the main Ráciborz and Krnov, and Nicholas was given Bruntál. John lost Krnov in 1388, but recovered it in 1422.
Nicholas IV		c.1370	1382-1406	1406	Racibórz (at Bruntál)	Unmarried
Wenceslaus II		1405	1424-1456	29 October 1456	Racibórz	Margaret of Szamotuły (d.5 November 1464) 1437 four children	Children of John II, divided the land.
Nicholas V		1409	1424-1452	22 December 1452	Racibórz	Margaret Clemm of Ellguth three children Barbara Rockemberg 1451 Kraków two children
Wenceslaus II		1397	1433-1445	1445	Glubczyce (in Opava until 1435)	Elisabeth of Kravař 1420 two children	Children of Premislaus I, divided the land. William and Ernest inherited the duchy of Ziebice in succession, alongside Opava, where they ruled together with their half- brother Nicholas IV (and possibly also Premislaus II). In 1452, after William's death, Ernest and his brothers associated William's sons as co-rulers. Wenceslaus II, another half-brother, inherited a part of Opava centered around Glubczyce. In 1464, the duchy of Opava was sold to Bohemia.
William		1410	1433-1452	15 August 1452	Opava	Salome of Častolovice five children
			1443-1452		Ziębice
Ernest		1415	1433-1456	1464	Opava	Unmarried
			1452-1456		Ziębice
Nicholas IV		1400	1433-1437	1437	Opava
Premislaus II the Elder		c.1425	1433-1456	16 June 1478	Opava
Frederick		1440	1452-1456	1470	Opava
Wenceslaus III		1445		1474	Opava
Premislaus III the Younger		1450		17 February 1493	Opava
Pledge to Opole by debt; Debt transferred in 1464 to Bohemia: Annexation to Bohemia
John (III)		1420	1445-1454	1454	Glubczyce (in Fulnek)	Unmarried	Children of Wenceslaus II, divided the land, which was reunited shortly by John III.
John III the Pious		1425	1445-1485	1485	Glubczyce (in Fulnek since 1454)	Catherine (d.1485) no children
Barbara Rockemberg		c.1410?	1452-1462	November 1463	Krnov (at Pszczyna)	Wilhelm Willandt no children Jerzy Orient one child Nicholas V 1451 Kraków two children	Wife of Nicholas V, inherited the town of Pszczyna as widow seat, while ruling as regent in the rest of the duchy for her stepsons.
Regency of Barbara Rockemberg (1452-1462)							Children of Nicholas V, divided the land. In 1474, John lost the duchy, which was then claimed by his sister.
John IV the Elder		1440	1452-1474 1464-1483	1483	Krnov Krnov (at Wodzisław Śląski)	Unmarried
Wenceslaus V		1442	1452-1478	1478	Krnov (at Rybnik)	Unmarried
Annexation to Hungary (1474-1490)
Regency of Margaret of Szamotuły (1456-1464)
John V the Younger		1446	1456-1493	14 April 1493	Racibórz	Magdalena of Opole (c.1465-May 1501) 13 January 1478 Opole four children
Barbara		1445	1490-1510	27 April 1510	Krnov	John IV, Duke of Oświęcim 1475 one child	Claimed (and ruled, effectively) her family's duchy from 1490, co-ruling with her son-in-law since 1493[59]
Annexation to Bohemia
Regency of Magdalena of Opole (1493-1499)							Children of John V, ruled jointly. In 1521, after the childless brothers' death, the duchy returned to Opole.
Nicholas VI		1478	1493-1506	3 November 1506	Racibórz	Unmarried
John VI		1484	1493-1506	November/December 1506	Racibórz
Valentin the Hunchback		1485	1493-1521	13 November 1521	Racibórz
Annexation to Opole

See also

List of Polish rulers

Piast dynasty

Dukes of Masovia

Dukes of Greater Poland

Dukes of Little Poland

Dukes of Cuiavia

Dukes of Sieradz-Łęczyca

References

Bibliography

• Neue deutsche Biographie, Berlin 2001, Bd.: 20, p. 403–407
• Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon, Leipzig 1905–1909, Bd.: 17, p. 845–847

Sites

http://www.tacitus.nu/historical-atlas/regents/poland/silesia.htm