European Kingdoms

Duchy of Czersk (Mazovia) (Poland)
AD 1264 - 1488

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Mieszko Piast became the first documented ruler of a duchy of Poland when he accepted Christianity into the newly created state in AD 966. At this time, the Polish state encompassed territory which was similar to that of modern Poland, but without many of the northern regions which were still tribal. Occasional kings of Poland had to be able to control various, often rebellious, Polish sub-states, early Mazovia included.

Mazovia was an eastern borderland territory which also encompassed western-central parts of Prussia. As one of a series of small states in the region it was probably formed in the ninth or tenth century, contemporaneously with the formation of the Western Polans state on its western flank.

On 28 October 1138, and not for the first time, Poland was divided into several principalities: Great Poland, Mazovia with Kujavia, Silesia, and Sandomierz. Little Poland was reserved for the senior Polish prince who was nominal overlord for all the principalities until 1180.

Further subdivisions occurred in Mazovia throughout the next two centuries which fractured the duchy into several tiny 'statelets' which could be picked off by anyone with an eye to territorial expansion. Konrad I in 1234 subdivided an area of control around Płock for his son, Bolesław I. Bolesław succeeded him to become duke of all Mazovia, but a precedent seems to have been established. Another subdivision took place in 1264 when the duchy of Czersk was established.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information by Krzysiek Popończyk, from The Russian Primary Chronicle (Laurentian Text), Samuel Hazzard Cross & Olgerd P Sherbowitz-Wetzor (Eds and translators, Mediaeval Academy of America), from A History of Poland from its Foundation, M Ross, from Geography, Ptolemy, from The Earliest Icelandic Chronicle of the Norwegian Kings (1030-1157), Theodore Murdock Andersson & Kari Ellen Gade Morkinskinna, from The History of the Baltic Countries, Zigmantas Kiaupa, Ain Mäesalu, Ago Pajur, & Gvido Straube (Eds, Estonia 2008), and from External Link: The Forgotten Kingdom of Lechia (the argument for the mythical 'Kingdom of Lechia').)

1264 - 1294

Son of Ziemowit I (Płock). First duke of Czersk. Died childless.

1294 - 1310

With the death of the heirless Konrad, Czersk is managed by his brother, Bolesław II. Eventually, and by 1310, Czersk is granted to his son, Trojden. New territory which comes with the stronghold of Warsaw goes to Trojden's brother, Ziemowit II, who also holds Rawa.

Prince Konrad of Mazovia challenged continually for control of Poland, finally achieving his purpose in 1241, and also being responsible for inviting the Teutonic Knights into Prussia

1310 - 1341

Son of Bolesław II of Płock. Duke of Czersk & Warsaw.

1313 - 1320

There is a period of uncertainty and division in Poland, during which Mazovia is confirmed as a divided possession between by Bolesław's eldest two sons. Rawa is also confirmed as a brand new subdivision. On 20 January 1320, all of Poland (except for Silesia, Pomerania, and Mazovia) is reunited into the Polish kingdom with the coronation of Wladyslaw. Mazovia remains divided.

1323

Maria, sister of Andrei, is the heiress of Galicia-Lvov (Halych-Lviv) upon her brother's death. Already married to Trojden I of Mazovia, the duchy is drawn closer to the Polish crown and Trojden's son, Bolesław Jerzy, becomes its ruler when he is invited to ascend the throne of Galicia (Halicz) as Yuri II.

Halych town costume was largely invented by twentieth century urbanites of the Polish period of Ukrainian history post-1918, but it harked back to peasant costume of the principality of Halychyna

1325 - 1326

Waclaw I of Płock has played a political balancing game, maintaining good relations with the Teutonic Knights while not antagonising Lithuania. A 1325 attack on Mazovia by Wladyslaw I (IV) Lokietek 'the Short' of Poland results in political Mazovian unity in January 1326. The Polish-Teutonic War of the same year pitches Mazovia and the Teutonic Knights against Wladyslaw I.

1340

Having been provided with a regency by his uncles, Trojden of Czersk and Ziemowit II of Rawa and Warsaw, upon attaining his majority, Bolesław III of Płock is confirmed as a vassal of Bohemia. However, he does begin to court closer ties with Kasimierz III Wielki 'the Great' of Poland.

Wladyslaw I (IV) Lokietek 'the Short', opposed as heir to the senior position in the Polish duchy but a regional duke himself, did end up holding supreme power on three occasions, the last leading to him becoming king in 1320

1341 - 1355

Son. Duke of Czersk & Warsaw.

1341 - 1351

Brother. Gained Płock in 1351.

1351

As a prisoner of Bolesław III of Płock, Grand Duke Kestutis of Samogitia manages to escape in defiance of his own promise to remain cooperative, during which time Bolesław is killed by an arrow.

The childless duke's lands are sub-divided between the other Mazovian possessions and with Poland proper thanks to an agreement with Kasimierz III 'the Great'. Kasimierz gains Płock and Wizna, but grants the duchy of Płock to the newly-submissive brothers, Ziemowit III and Kazimierz I of Czersk.

1351 - 1381

Now sole senior duke of Mazovia.

1370 - 1373

Having also held Czersk since the death of his brother in 1355, Ziemowit III manages to unite all of Mazovia by 1370 and the death of Kasimierz 'the Great'. Then in 1373 and/or 1374 he sub-divides it again, between two sons: Ziemowit IV gains Płock and Rawa, while Janusz I gains Czersk.

Construction of a stone castle for the dukes of Masovia began in Rawa in 1355, probably by Ziemowit III, and originally as a defensive point for the duchy of Czersk

1373 - 1429

Son. Co-ruled Mazovia with his brothers.

1426

With Mazovia's stability now rather uncertain, the death of Ziemowit 'the Younger' allows his sons to individually govern their own areas of responsibility while agreeing to share unified responsibility for Mazovia as a whole. The brothers are Trojden II and Wladyslaw I of Płock, Janusz I of Czersk, Ziemowit V of Rawa, and Kazimierz I of Belz.

1427

The death of the childless Trojden II of Płock means that his younger brother, Wladyslaw, succeeds him there as Wladyslaw I. In fact, this process is the first step in a fuller reunification of Mazovia.

1429 - 1454

Ruled Czersk & Warsaw.

1434

Political divisions have emerged between the various surviving sons of Ziemowit 'the Younger'. Wladyslaw I of Płock has especially diverged from the pro-Polish monarchy view of his brothers.

Now, upon the coronation of King Wladyslaw III (VI), they formally divide Mazovia between them, with Wladyslaw secure in Płock, Wizna, and Zawkrze, Bolesław IV in Czersk, Ziemowit V in Rawa, and Kazimierz I in Belz.

The medieval city of Belz was originally part of Halicia-Volyn, located fifteen kilometres to the west of Sheptytskyi and seventy kilometres to the north of Lviv, near today's Polish border

1442

While engaged in supporting - with reluctance - a campaign by Bolesław IV of Czersk and Warsaw against the Lithuanians, Wladyslaw I of Płock is able to gain Rawa and Belz following the deaths of Ziemowit V and Kazimierz I respectively.

Mazovia is now almost fully reunited, aside from Gostynin  which is granted to Margareth of Raciborz, widow of Ziemowit V, for the remainder of her lifetime. After that it is drawn back into Mazovia.

1454 - 1462

Son of Wladyslaw I. Gained Płock (1455).

1459

Margareth of Raciborz formally receives Gostynin as her dowry while the remainder of her late husband's holdings in and around Rawa are fully drawn back into Mazovia under Kazimierz III of Płock and his younger brother, Konrad III 'the Red'.

During the Poland of the post-'Succession Statute', Czersk castle in Mazovia was one of the land's most important ducal residences

c.1462

Widow of Bolesław IV. Regent of Czersk.

c.1462

Regent and bishop of Płock and of Czersk.

1462

Internally the duchy of Mazovia has been consolidating its territory. Belz had been gained by Płock in 1442. Rawa had been similarly gained in 1459 while its constituent region of Gostynin had gone to Margareth of Raciborz as her dowry for the duration of her lifetime.

Now all three regions are annexed by the Polish crown. Further Mazovian territories follow over the course of the next half century or so as Kazimierz IV consolidates his hold over the Polish lands.

The first royal castle in Mazovia was built as a wooden fortress in the fourteenth century but this was replaced by the present building by later kings of Poland

1471 - 1488

Son of Bolesław IV. Died without legitimate heir.

1488

Following the death on 27 April 1488 of the childless and divorced Bolesław V, the duchy of Czersk is united under his brother, Konrad III 'the Red', to the remainder of Mazovia.