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Duke of Masovia (Polish: Książę Mazowsza) was a title born by 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 to 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.
Contents
The following is a list of all rulers of the Duchy of Masovia and its parts. Although not all incumbents listed here had titular rights to the title of Duke of Masovia, they are all listed as such for simplicity's sake.
Also take note that some of the dates are merely approximate and the ownership of certain lands might be disputed. Finally, this table does not include lands ruled by dukes of other parts of partitioned Poland or Wenceslaus II and Wenceslaus III.
Partitions of Masovia
The Duchy went through various border changes in the coming years, sometimes losing and sometimes gaining territory.
In 1233, the Duchy of Kujavia emerged from Masovia.
Duchy of Kujavia
In 1313, Masovia is divided in the Duchies of Płock, Czersk and Rawa.
Duchy of Czersk Duchy of Rawa Duchy of Płock
In 1327, Kujavia is annexed by Poland
In 1349, Warsaw emerged form Czersk
In 1434, Belz emerged form Płock,tobe annexed again in 1442
Duchy of Belz
In 1462, Rawa is annexed to Poland. The same happens with Płock in 1495.
Konrad III reunites Czersk and Warsaw, to recreate the Duchy of Masovia, annexed by Poland in1526.
Piast Dynasty
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