Duchy of Bytom

Duchy of Bytom Księstwo Bytomskie(pl)
1281–1498
Coat of arms
Silesian duchies in 1284, Bytom in violet
Status	Silesian duchy
Capital	Bytom
Religion	Catholicism
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Partitioned from Opole and Racibórz	1281
•Casimirsole ruler	1284
• Vassalized byBohemia	1289
• Divided between OleśnicaandCieszyn	1357–1459
• Merged with Opole	1498
Preceded by Succeeded by Duchy of Opole and Racibórz Duchy of Opole
Today part of	Poland

TheDuchy of Bytom(Polish:Księstwo Bytomskie,Czech:Bytomské knížectví,German:Herzogtum Beuthen) was a duchy inUpper Silesia,one of theSilesian duchiesof fragmentedPiast-ruled Poland. It was established inUpper Silesiaabout 1281 during the division of theDuchy of Opole and Racibórzamong the sons of DukeWładysław Opolski.The duchy's capital wasBytom,formerly part ofLesser Polanduntil in 1177 the Polish High DukeCasimir II the Justhad attached it to the SilesianDuchy of Racibórz.

History

When Władysław's second sonCasimirbecame Duke of Bytom, he at first ruled jointly with his brother DukeBolko I of Opoleand from 1284 on alone. The conflict with hisPiastcousin DukeHenryk IV Probusof Silesia-Wrocławled Casimir to seek shelter from KingWenceslaus II of Bohemiaand in 1289 he became the first Silesian Piast duke to submit himself underBohemianoverlordship.

With the death of Casimir's grandson DukeBolesławin 1355 the Bytom branch of the Piasts became extinct and in the following inheritance dispute his widowMargareta of Sternberghad to cede the northern part of the duchy including the lordship ofKoźleto DukeKonrad I of Oleśnica,while the remaining part was bequested to DukeCasimir I of Cieszyn.Bytom remained divided until in 1459 DukeWenceslaus I of Cieszynsold his portion to DukeKonrad IX the Blackof Oleśnica and the duchy was reunited under his rule.

In 1472Matthias Corvinus of Hungary,then self-declared King of Bohemia, annexed Bytom and pledged it to Lord Jan ofZierotin.In 1498 it was finally merged back into the Duchy of Opole under the rule of DukeJan II the Good.Jan had signed an inheritance treaty with MargraveGeorge of Brandenburg-Ansbach,who in 1526 was enfeoffed with Bytom by KingLouis II Jagiellonof Bohemia.

His rule however was denied by Louis' successors from theHouse of Habsburg,who suspiciously eyed the gain of power of theHouse of Hohenzollernin Silesia. After the 1620Battle of White MountainEmperorFerdinand II of Habsburgtook the opportunity to deprive ElectorGeorge Wiliam of Brandenburgof the rule over Bytom. It then remained astate countrywithin theHabsburg monarchyuntil its annexation byPrussiain 1742.

Dukes

Of Bytom(1281/1282-1355/1357):

• Kazimierz(1281/1282-1312);
• Siemowit(1312-1316);
• Jerzy(1316-1327);
• Władysław(1316-1352);
• Bolesław I(1352-1355);
• Małgorzata ze Šternberka(1355-1357);

Cieszyn Piasts(1357-1459):

• Kazimierz I cieszyński(1357-1358);
• Przemysław I Noszak(1358-1405)
• Bolesław II(1405-1431)
• Wacław(1431/1442-1452i1452-1459);
• Bolesław III(1452);

Oleśnica Piasts(1357-1472/1492):

• Konrad I oleśnicki(1357-1366);
• Konrad II Siwy(1366-1403);
• Konrad III Stary(1403-1412);
• Konrad IV Starszy(1412/1413-1416),Konrad V Kącki(1412/1413-1427),Konrad VI Dziekan(1416-1427),Konrad VII Biały(1316-1450),Konrad VIII Młody(1416-1427);
• Konrad IX Czarny(1450-1471,Konrad X);
• Konrad X Biały(1450-1452,1471-1472,de facto1492);

Opole Piasts

• Jan II Dobry(1498-1532)

See also

• Dukes of Silesia