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The Piast dynasty was the first Polish historical Royal dynasty that ruled Poland from its beginnings starting with the semi-legendary Piast Kołodziej (Piast the Wheelwright). The first historically undisputed Piast ruler is Mieszko I from 10th century. The dynasty ruled Poland until 1370 which is the date of death of king Casimir the Great.

Branches of the Piasts dynasty continued to rule in the Duchy of Masovia and in the duchies of Silesia after 1370, until the last Silesian Piast died in 1675.

The Piasts intermarried with several noble lines of Europe, and possessed numerous titles, including those within Holy Roman Empire.

Origin of the name

Although the early dukes and kings of Poland are said to have considered themselves Piast's descendants, the term "Piast Dynasty" was invented in the 17th century Encyklopedia Powszechna PWN Warsaw 1975 vol. III page 505 by historians, working for a number of rulers who governed duchies in Silesia. In a historical book the term was first used by Adam Naruszewicz in his History of the Polish Nation.

History of the dynasty

Piast Kołodziej (Piast the Wheelwright) was the legendary founder of the Piast dynasty. His name is first mentioned in the Cronicae et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum of Gallus Anonymus, written c. 1113. The last Silesian Piast George William of Liegnitz-Brieg-Wohlau (Brzeg and Legnica) died in 1675, although numerous families link their genealogy to the Piasts. His son August Freiherr von Liegnitz (1628) and Graf von Liegnitz (1664), the last legitimate male, died in 1679 and the last male through illegitimate line Ferdinand II Freiherr von und zu Hohenstein of the Dukes of Teschen died in 1706. Another illegitimate branch, the Grafen von Karlinsmarck zu Friedland (Korfantów) und Strehlitz, born of Bernhard of Silesia-Oppeln, duke of Falkenberg, by a lady Karlinska of Karlowice, died out at the beginning of the 19th century in a French family.

A White Eagle was used about 1295 as arms by Przemysł II, which was later referred to as Piast coat of arms (see depiction) or as Piast Eagle.

For more information about the history of Poland under the Piasts, see History of Poland (966–1385).

Piast kings and rulers of Poland are listed in the following table. For a list of all rulers, see List of Polish monarchs.

See also