European Kingdoms

Duchy of Mazovia (Restored) (Poland)
AD 1454 - 1526

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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. As Poland began to annexe Mazovian territory, and the number of divisions was reduced, a single Mazovia began to re-emerge in the fifteenth century.

Belz had been gained by Płock in 1442. Rawa had similarly been gained in 1459 while its constituent region of Gostynin had gone to Margareth of Raciborz, widow of Ziemowit V of Rawa, as her dowry for the duration of her lifetime. After that it was drawn back into Mazovia proper.

King Kazimierz IV of Poland in 1462 was able to annexe Belz, a division of Rawa, and Gostynin, while Płock, Płońsk, and Zawkrze were taken by Konrad III 'the Red' of the junior Warsaw line. Further Mazovian territories would also fall over the course of the next half century or so as Kazimierz IV consolidated his hold over the Polish lands.

(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').)

1454 - 1503

Son of Bolesław IV of Czersk & Warsaw.

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'.

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

1462

Internally the duchy of Mazovia has been consolidating its territory. Belz had been gained by Płock in 1442. Rawa had similarly been gained in 1459. Now Belz, a division of Rawa, and Gostynin are annexed by the Polish crown.

Płock, Płońsk, and Zawkrze are taken by Konrad III 'the Red' of the junior Warsaw line as he attains his majority and ends the regency of Barbara Ruska, his mother, and Paul of Gizycko.

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.

1495

The death of the childless Janusz II means that his holdings around Płock should in fact go to his brother, Konrad III 'the Red', the unifier of the remainders of Mazovia. Instead the duchy is annexed by King Jan I Albert of Poland despite Konrad 'the Red' initially putting up a small show of military resistance.

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

1504 - 1524

Son. Minor until 1518. Died unexpectedly, a heavy drinker.

1504 - 1526

Brother and co-ruler. Also died young. The last duke.

1504 - 1518

Mother and regent. Died 1522.

1519 - 1520

As Polish vassals, Stanislaw and Janusz are required to take part in the Polish-Teutonic War. Their auxiliary troops join the Polish king and, during the winter of 1519-1520, they personally capture several towns in Masuria.

Stanislaw, though, enters into secret talks with the Teutonic Knights to arrange a ceasefire. This is enacted in December 1520, a few months prior to a peace treaty ending the war between Poland and the Teutonic Order.

1526

The unexpected deaths in quick succession of Stanislaw and Janusz are initially attributed to poison, and a suitable scapegoat is found in the form of the once-seduced Katarzyna Radziejowska. She is suitably tortured for several hours before being burned alive.

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

The king is forced to conduct an investigation which finds no substantiation of murder and instead attributes the deaths to 'the Almighty', although inherited tuberculosis is suspected. Mazovia is absorbed into Poland, bringing the duchy to an end.