Duchy of Opole

The Duchy of Opole (Polish: Księstwo opolskie; Czech: Opolské knížectví; German: Herzogtum Oppeln) was one of the duchies of Silesia ruled by the branch of Polish Piast dynasty, formed during the medieval fragmentation of Poland into provincial duchies. Its capital was Opole in Upper Silesia.

History

Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth had restored Polish fortunes to some extent but having endured terrific internal strife, he decreed in his will (1138) that the Polish kingdom would be better divided into four hereditary principalities for each of his four sons as a kind of family federation. One became Duke of Greater Poland (around Gniezno), another Silesia, another Lesser Poland (around Kraków), another, Masovia. The rising local magnates, dowered with estates, preferred provincial princes. But the division of loyalties among these princes brought on a long period of dynastic struggle, intrigue, and national weakness. By this time Silesia had been divided into sixteen minuscule principalities and was finally annexed by Bohemia. Civil wars followed which encouraged foreign intervention. Boleslaus IV (1146–1173) submitted (1157) as vassal of Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor. The disputes, however, continued.¹

Duke Bolesław I the Tall and his younger brother Mieszko I Tanglefoot divided the territory among themselves into the two duchies of Wrocław and Racibórz. Bolesław originally had the intention to bequest the Duchy of Wrocław as a whole to his son of his second marriage , which caused the protest of his eldest son . After a long-term dispute in 1172 the Duchy of Opole was formed with Jarosław becoming the first . In turn he was obliged to an ecclesiastical career and became in 1198.