皮雅斯特王朝

The House of Piast (Polish: Piastowie) was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. The first documented Polish monarch was Duke Mieszko I (c. 960–992). The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of King Casimir III the Great.

Branches of the Piast dynasty continued to rule in the Duchy of Masovia (until 1526) and in the Duchies of Silesia 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. The Jagiellonian kings ruling after the death of Casimir IV of Poland were also descended in the female line from Casimir III's daughter.

Origin of the name

The early dukes and kings of Poland are said to have regarded themselves as descendants of the semi-legendary Piast the Wheelwright (Piast Kołodziej), first mentioned in the Cronicae et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum (Deeds of the Princes of the Poles), written c. 1113 by Gallus Anonymus. However, the term "Piast Dynasty" was not applied until the 17th century. In a historical work, the expression Piast dynasty was introduced by the Polish historian Adam Naruszewicz; it is not documented in contemporary sources.

History

The first "Piasts", probably of Polan descent, appeared around 940 in the territory of Greater Poland at the stronghold of Giecz. Shortly afterwards they relocated their residence to Gniezno, where Prince Mieszko I ruled over the Civitas Schinesghe from about 960. The Piasts temporarily also ruled over Pomerania, Bohemia and the Lusatias, as well as part of Ruthenia, and the Hungarian Spiš region in present-day Slovakia. The ruler bore the title of a duke or a king, depending on their position of power.

The Polish monarchy had to deal with the expansionist policies of the Holy Roman Empire in the west, resulting in a chequered co-existence, with Piast rulers like Mieszko I, Casimir I the Restorer or Władysław I Herman trying to protect the Polish state by treaties, oath of allegiances and marriage alliances with the Imperial Ottonian and Salian dynasties.……

Coat of arms

About 1295, Przemysł II used a coat of arms with a white eagle – a symbol later referred to as the Piast coat of arms or as the Piast Eagle.

The Silesian Piasts in the 14th century used an eagle modified by a crescent, which became the coat of arms of the Duchy of Silesia.

Piast rulers

Piast kings and rulers of Poland appear in list form in the following table. For a list of all rulers, see List of Polish monarchs.

Female Piasts

Queens consort

Świętosława, supposed daughter of Mieszko I of Poland, Queen consort of Denmark, allegedly also of Norway and Sweden, mother of Cnut the Great, King of all England, Denmark and Norway

Świętosława of Poland, daughter of Casimir I the Restorer, Queen consort of Bohemia

Richeza of Poland, Queen of Sweden, daughter of Bolesław III Wrymouth, Queen consort of Sweden, mother of Canute V of Denmark, King of Denmark and Sophia of Minsk, Queen consort of Denmark

Richeza of Poland, Queen of Castile, daughter of Władysław II the Exile, Queen consort of León and Galicia, Queen consort of Castile, Empress of All Spains

Salomea of Poland, daughter of Leszek I the White, Queen consort of Halych

Fenenna of Kuyavia, daughter of Ziemomysł of Kuyavia, Queen consort of Hungary

Elizabeth Richeza of Poland, daughter of Przemysł II, Queen consort of Poland and Bohemia

Priesthood

Archbishops

• Bolesław of Toszek – Archbishop of Esztergom
• Władysław of Wroclaw – Archbishop of Salzburg

Bishops

• Jarosław of Opole – Bishop of Wrocław
• Mieszko of Bytom – Bishop of Nitra and of Veszprém
• Henry of Masovia – Bishop of Płock

Jan Kropidło – Bishop of Poznań, Włocławek, Kamień and Chełmno, Archbishop of Gniezno (only formally)

• Wenceslaus II of Legnica – Bishop of Lebus and of Wrocław
• Henry VIII of Legnica – Bishop of Wrocław
• Konrad IV the Elder – Bishop of Wrocław
• Alexander of Masovia – Bishop of Trento
• Casimir III of Płock – Bishop of Płock