Duchy of Oświęcim coat of arms in the 13th century

Duchy of Oświęcim coat of arms after 1457

The Duchy of Oświęcim, or the Duchy of Auschwitz, was one of many duchies of Silesia, formed in the aftermath of the fragmentation of Poland. The Duchies of Silesia resulted from divisions of the original Duchy of Silesia after 1138. In the first centuries of its existence the Polish nation was led by a series of strong rulers who converted the Poles to Christendom, created a strong Central European It was established around 1315 by the Polish Piast dynasty. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Piast dynasty is the name used since the 17th century for Polish Royal Dynasty that ruled Poland from its beginnings as Duchy ruled by Mieszko Briefly semi-autonomus, with its capital in Oświęcim, it was reattached to the Kingdom of Poland in the 16th century. Oświęcim (Auschwitz Yiddish Oshpitsin אָשפּיצין Romany: Aushvitsa, Osvyenchim, Czech: Osvětim Annexed by the Habsburg Empire in 1772, it ceased to exist with its dissolution in 1918, its lands being reincorporated into the Second Polish Republic. Habsburg Monarchy (alternatively Habsburg Empire) refers to the territories ruled by the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg, and then by the successor The Second Polish Republic or interwar Poland is the Republic of Poland between World War I and World War II.

History

The Duchy was created in 1315 in the aftermath of the ongoing 12th century fragmentation of Poland. In the first centuries of its existence the Polish nation was led by a series of strong rulers who converted the Poles to Christendom, created a strong Central European Its lands were a part of the larger Duchy of Teschen (Cieszyn) until the Duchy of Oświęcim was split off from it as a separate entity in 1315 with Władysław I Oświęcimski becoming its first Duke. The Duchy of Teschen or Duchy of Cieszyn or Duchy of Těšín (Těšínské knížectví Herzogtum Teschen Ducatus Tessinensis Księstwo Cieszyńskie was

In 1445 the duchies Zator and Toszek were created from some the lands of the Duchy. The Duchy of Zator was one of many Duchies of Silesia. In 1454 the Duchy of Zator with its capital in Zator, was split from the lands of Duchy of Oświęcim ^[1] At first, the Duchy of Oświęcim fell under the Bohemian sphere of influence, but was reunited with Poland in 1454, when the last prince of Oświęcim, Jan IV Oświęcimski, declared himself to be a vassal of Polish king Kazimierz IV Jagiellończyk. Bohemians are the people of Bohemia, in the Czech Republic, inhabitants of the former Kingdom of Bohemia located in the modern day Czech Republic Jan (or' Janusz') IV Oświęcimski ( of Oświęcim, or Gliwicki - of Gliwice) (between 1426 and 1430 – around 1496 was the A vassal (also called feodary or fedary) in the terminology that both preceded and accompanied the feudalism of Medieval Europe, Casimir IV Jagiellon (Kazimierz IV Jagiellończyk; Kazimieras Jogailaitis Kazimir Jahajłavič 30 November 1427 &ndash Three years later he sold his Duchy to Kazimierz.

At the Sejm of 1564, King Sigismund August issued privileges of incorporation recognizing both Duchies of Oświęcim and Zator as part of the Crown of Polish Kingdom, voivodeship of Kraków, although both retained their ducal titles. For other nobles of the same name please see Sigismund. Sigismund II Augustus I (Zygmunt II August Kraków Voivodeship refers to several historical Voivodeships of Poland.

Oświęcim and the lands of the former Duchy would become part of the Austrian Empire after the first partition of Poland in 1772, and were reattached to the recreated Polish state in 1918. For the history of these states before 1804 see Holy Roman Empire, Habsburg Monarchy, and articles on each of the component countries. The First Partition of Poland or First Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in 1772 as the first of three partitions that ended the existence The Second Polish Republic or interwar Poland is the Republic of Poland between World War I and World War II.

Dukes of Oświęcim

Dukes of Oświęcim belonged to the Silesian branch of the Piast dynasty (see also Dukes of Silesia). Silesian Piasts - line of Piast dynasty started by Władysław II the Exile, son of Bolesław III Wrymouth. Piast dynasty is the name used since the 17th century for Polish Royal Dynasty that ruled Poland from its beginnings as Duchy ruled by Mieszko In accordance with the last will and testament of Poland's Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth, Poland was upon his death divided into 4-5 hereditary provinces distributed among his

Rulers claiming the title of Duke during Austrian partition of Poland

In the aftermath of the First Partition of Poland, until 1918, the Holy Roman Emperors, later Emperors of Austria had the title of Duke of Auschwitz (German: Herzog zu Auschwitz) which constituted part of their official grand title. The First Partition of Poland or First Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in 1772 as the first of three partitions that ended the existence The Holy Roman Emperor (Römischer Kaiser or Römisch-Deutscher Kaiser Romanorum Imperator was the elected monarch ruling over the many varying numbers of states The phrase Emperor of Austria describes an Hereditary Imperial title and position proclaimed in 1804 by the Austrian Habsburg The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. The phrase Emperor of Austria describes an Hereditary Imperial title and position proclaimed in 1804 by the Austrian Habsburg

References

1. ^ The History of the City of Oswiecim www.auschwitz.org.pl (based on "Auschwitz 1940-1945. Central Issues in the History of the Camp", published by the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, Poland)