European Kingdoms

Duchy of Rawa (Mazovia) (Poland)
AD 1310 - 1459

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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, and yet another after the reign of Bolesław II following his reunification of the entire duchy. Rawa, now in central Poland, was located to the south-east of Płock and to the south-west of Warsaw which itself was becoming an important centre.

(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').)

1310 - 1345

Son of Bolesław II of Płock. First duke of Rawa.

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.

Bolesław II Płocki managed to become sole ruler in 1294 over a divided Mazovia, and then founded the stronghold of Warsaw in the early 1300s

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.

1345

Ziemowit II dies childless and without a recognised heir. His holdings are divided between his three surviving nephews, Bolesław III of Płock, Ziemowit III of Czersk, and Kazimierz I of Czersk and Warsaw.

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

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.

1373 - 1426

Son of Ziemowit III of Płock. Gained Płock in 1381.

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.

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

1426 - 1442

Son. Co-ruled Mazovia with his brothers.

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.

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.

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

1442 - 1459

Widow. In Gostynin only. Confirmed in 1459.

1442 - 1459

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.

Gostynin alone is granted to Margareth of Raciborz, widow of Ziemowit V, for the remainder of her lifetime. After that it is drawn back into Mazovia under Kazimierz III of Płock and his younger brother, Konrad III 'the Red'.