Duchy of Masovia
Encyclopedia
The Duchy of Masovia with its capital at Płock was a medieval duchy
formed when the Polish Kingdom of the Piasts
fragmented in 1138. It was located in the historic Masovian region of northeastern Poland. Masovia was reincorporated into the Jagiellon Polish kingdom
in 1526.
east of the Vistula
river had been conquered by Duke Mieszko I of Poland
(960–992) and formed a constituent part of the Civitas Schinesghe
under the Piast dynasty
. The Diocese of Płock had been established in 1075.
Following the death of Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth in 1138, as specified by his testament, the Masovian province was governed by his second son Bolesław IV the Curly, who, after he had expelled his elder half-brother Władysław II, in 1146 became Grand Prince (High Duke) of Poland. His Masovian realm also comprised the adjacent lands of Kuyavia
in the west.
Among the Piast Dukes of Masovia, Bolesław's IV nephew Konrad I
was High Duke from 1229 to 1232 and again from 1241 to 1243; he was the ruler who called the Teutonic Knights
for help against the pagan Old Prussians
threatening the northern borders of his territory. In turn he ceded the Prussian Kulmerland to the Knights in 1230, which according to the 1235 Golden Bull of Rimini
(dated 1226) issued by Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen
became the nucleus of the Order State. In 1233 Konrad gave Kuyavia to his second son Casimir I
, while Masovia passed to the first-born Boleslaus I upon his death in 1247, succeeded by the youngest brother Siemowit I the next year.
While Siemowit's son Duke Konrad II
(1264–1294) moved his residence to Czersk
he and his brother Boleslaus II
entered into a long-term conflict over the Polish seniorate
with their Kuyavian relatives and the Silesian Piasts
, which estranged them from the Piast monarchy. When the kingdom was finally restored in 1295 by the coronation of Duke Przemysł II of Greater Poland
, the Duchy of Masovia remained independent.
Upon the death of Duke Boleslaus II in 1313, Masovia was divided among his sons:
Trojden's son Duke Siemowit III
(1341–1381) was able to re-unite most of the Masovian lands under his rule; in 1351 he and his brother Casimir became vassal
s of the Polish kings, while the Bishopric of Płock had always been part of the Polish Archdiocese of Gniezno. Upon Siemowit's III death in 1381 however, Masovia was again partitioned between his sons:
Since the Polish-Lithuanian Union
of 1385, Masovia was localized between the joined Jagiellonian states. The Dukes of Masovia also ruled the Duchy of Belz until 1462.
After the establishment of the Rawa
and Płock Voivodeships, in 1495 the last surviving son of Boleslaus IV, Duke Konrad III Rudy
, once again united the remaining Masovian lands under his rule. However, the male line of the Masovian Piasts became extinct upon the death of his son Janusz III
, in 1526, whereafter the duchy became the Masovian Voivodeship of the Kingdom of Poland.
Parts of the southern region of neighboring East Prussia
received settlers and Protestant
religious refugees who became known as the Mazurs. By the 18th century the portion of East Prussia in which they settled was sometimes referred to as Masuria
(Masuren), and inhabited by a Protestant population of Germans and Poles.
Duchy
A duchy is a territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess.Some duchies were sovereign in areas that would become unified realms only during the Modern era . In contrast, others were subordinate districts of those kingdoms that unified either partially or completely during the Medieval era...
formed when the Polish Kingdom of the Piasts
Poland during the Piast dynasty
History of Poland during the Piast dynasty is the first major stage in the history of Poland from the 10th to the 14th century when Poland was established as a state and a nation during the medieval period of European history. The history of the Polish state begins with the founding of the Piast...
fragmented in 1138. It was located in the historic Masovian region of northeastern Poland. Masovia was reincorporated into the Jagiellon Polish kingdom
Poland during the Jagiellon dynasty
History of Poland during the Jagiellon dynasty is the period in the history of Poland that spans the late Middle Ages and early Modern Era. Beginning with the Lithuanian Grand Duke Jogaila , the Jagiellon dynasty formed the Polish–Lithuanian union...
in 1526.
History
The lands of the MasoviansMasovians
The Masovians or Mazovians are a Lechitic tribe or an ethnic group associated with the region of Mazovia. They were first referenced by Nestor the Chronicler in the 11th century. Originally, their main settlements were in the area of Płock, Łomża, Wizna, Czersk, Ciechanów, Płońsk, Zakroczym and...
east of the Vistula
Vistula
The Vistula is the longest and the most important river in Poland, at 1,047 km in length. The watershed area of the Vistula is , of which lies within Poland ....
river had been conquered by Duke Mieszko I of Poland
Mieszko I of Poland
Mieszko I , was a Duke of the Polans from about 960 until his death. A member of the Piast dynasty, he was son of Siemomysł; grandchild of Lestek; father of Bolesław I the Brave, the first crowned King of Poland; likely father of Świętosława , a Nordic Queen; and grandfather of her son, Cnut the...
(960–992) and formed a constituent part of the Civitas Schinesghe
Civitas Schinesghe
Civitas Schinesghe is the first officially written down name of Poland originating from 991–992. The original deed is missing, but mentioned in an 11th-century papal regesta called Dagome iudex, according to which the Piast duke Mieszko I of Poland had given the guidance of unam civitatem in...
under 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...
. The Diocese of Płock had been established in 1075.
Following the death of Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth in 1138, as specified by his testament, the Masovian province was governed by his second son Bolesław IV the Curly, who, after he had expelled his elder half-brother Władysław II, in 1146 became Grand Prince (High Duke) of Poland. His Masovian realm also comprised the adjacent lands of 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...
in the west.
Among the Piast Dukes of Masovia, Bolesław's IV nephew Konrad I
Konrad I of Masovia
Konrad I of Masovia , from the Polish Piast dynasty, was the sixth Duke of Masovia from 1194 until his death and High Duke of Poland from 1229 to 1232.-Life:...
was High Duke from 1229 to 1232 and again from 1241 to 1243; he was the ruler who called the Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
for help against the pagan Old Prussians
Old Prussians
The Old Prussians or Baltic Prussians were an ethnic group, autochthonous Baltic tribes that inhabited Prussia, the lands of the southeastern Baltic Sea in the area around the Vistula and Curonian Lagoons...
threatening the northern borders of his territory. In turn he ceded the Prussian Kulmerland to the Knights in 1230, which according to the 1235 Golden Bull of Rimini
Golden Bull of Rimini
The Golden Bull of Rimini was a Golden Bull issued by Emperor Frederick II, at his court in Rimini in March 1226 to confirm the Teutonic Knights' possessions in Prussia...
(dated 1226) issued by Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick II , was one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany, and even to Jerusalem, were enormous...
became the nucleus of the Order State. In 1233 Konrad gave Kuyavia to his second son Casimir I
Casimir I of Kuyavia
Casimir I of Kuyavia was Prince of Kujawy, Mazovia and Wielkopolska, from 1233 until his death. He was the son of Konrad I of Masovia, King of Poland, and his wife Agafia of Rus.- Life :...
, while Masovia passed to the first-born Boleslaus I upon his death in 1247, succeeded by the youngest brother Siemowit I the next year.
While Siemowit's son Duke Konrad II
Konrad II of Masovia
Konrad II of Masovia was the eldest son of Siemowit I of Masovia and his wife Perejesława, daughter of Daniel of Galicia....
(1264–1294) moved his residence to Czersk
Czersk, Masovian Voivodeship
Czersk is a settlement in the administrative district of Gmina Góra Kalwaria, within Piaseczno County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately south-east of Góra Kalwaria, south-east of Piaseczno, and south-east of Warsaw....
he and his brother Boleslaus II
Boleslaus II of Masovia
Boleslaw II of Masovia or Boleslaw II of Płock was a ruler of Masovia. He was the younger brother Konrad II of Masovia and son of Siemowit I of Masovia. His mother was Pereyaslava , daughter of Daniel of Galicia....
entered into a long-term conflict over the Polish seniorate
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...
with their Kuyavian relatives and 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...
, which estranged them from the Piast monarchy. When the kingdom was finally restored in 1295 by the coronation of Duke Przemysł II of 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...
, the Duchy of Masovia remained independent.
- Siemowit IISiemowit II of MasoviaSiemowit II of Masovia was Duke of Masovia from 1310 to 1345. He was a member of the House of Piast. Siemowit was Duke of Warsaw and Liw . In 1313, he became the ruler of Duchy of Rawa...
became Duke at RawaRawa MazowieckaRawa Mazowiecka is a town in central Poland, with 17,765 inhabitants . It lies in the Łódź Voivodeship and is the capital of Rawa County.First mentioned in 1288, it received city rights in 1321....
(until 1345) - Trojden ITrojden I, Duke of MasoviaTrojden I of Masovia was a member of the House of Piast. He was Duke of Czersk from 1310. From 1336 to 1340 he was Regent of the Duchy of Płock...
became Duke at Czersk (until 1341) - WenceslausWenceslaus of PłockWenceslaus of Płock was a member of the House of Piast. He was Duke of Płock from 1313 until his death and was a vassal of Bohemia from 1329.- Duke of Płock :...
became Duke at Płock (until 1336), followed by his son Boleslaus III (until 1351)
Trojden's son Duke Siemowit III
Siemowit III of Masovia
Siemowit III of Masovia was a prince of Masovia and a co-regent of the lands of Warsaw, Czersk, Rawa, Gostynin and other parts of Masovia.- Life :...
(1341–1381) was able to re-unite most of the Masovian lands under his rule; in 1351 he and his brother Casimir became vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
s of the Polish kings, while the Bishopric of Płock had always been part of the Polish Archdiocese of Gniezno. Upon Siemowit's III death in 1381 however, Masovia was again partitioned between his sons:
- Janusz I, Duke at Czersk until 1413, when he moved his residence to WarsawWarsawWarsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, followed by his grandson Duke Boleslaus IV (1429–1454) - Siemowit IVSiemowit IV, Duke of MasoviaSiemowit IV was one of the Dukes of Masovia of the old Polish Piast royal family. His domain included the lands of Czersk, Rawa, Sochaczew, Płock and Gostynin. In 1381 he inherited Wisz and in 1387 Bełz.-Life:Siemowit IV was a son of Siemowit III...
, Duke at Rawa and Płock (until 1426), also Duke of BelzDuchy of BelzDuchy of Belz or principality of Belz was a petty duchy, formed in the late 12th century in Kievan Rus. During its history the duchy was a constituent part of some other political entities such as the Kingdom of Rus, the Kingdom of Hungary, Duchy of Masovia when eventually in the late 14th century...
from 1388
Since the Polish-Lithuanian Union
Polish-Lithuanian Union
The term Polish–Lithuanian Union sometimes called as United Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania refers to a series of acts and alliances between the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania that lasted for prolonged periods of time and led to the creation of the Polish–Lithuanian...
of 1385, Masovia was localized between the joined Jagiellonian states. The Dukes of Masovia also ruled the Duchy of Belz until 1462.
After the establishment of the Rawa
Rawa Voivodeship
Rawa Voivodeship was a unit of administrative division and local government in the Kingdom of Poland since 15th century till the partitions of Poland in 1795. It was part of the Greater Polish prowincja...
and Płock Voivodeships, in 1495 the last surviving son of Boleslaus IV, Duke Konrad III Rudy
Konrad III Rudy
Konrad III Rudy was a Polish duke of Masovia.He reunited most of Masovia still not controlled by Kingdom of Poland, including Płock, Płońsk, Czersk, Wyszogród and Warsaw....
, once again united the remaining Masovian lands under his rule. However, the male line of the Masovian Piasts became extinct upon the death of his son Janusz III
Janusz III of Masovia
Janusz III Mazowiecki was a Polish duke of Masovia, last male of the Masovian Piast dynasty. Son of Konrad III Rudy. Until 1518 Masovia was under regency of his mother Anna Radziwiłł, then he was a co-regent with his brother Stanisław until Stanisław's death in 1524...
, in 1526, whereafter the duchy became the Masovian Voivodeship of the Kingdom of Poland.
Parts of the southern region of neighboring East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
received settlers and Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
religious refugees who became known as the Mazurs. By the 18th century the portion of East Prussia in which they settled was sometimes referred to as Masuria
Masuria
Masuria is an area in northeastern Poland famous for its 2,000 lakes. Geographically, Masuria is part of two adjacent lakeland districts, the Masurian Lake District and the Iława Lake District...
(Masuren), and inhabited by a Protestant population of Germans and Poles.