Editing Piast dynasty (section)

== History  ==
{{main|History of Poland during the Piast dynasty}}
[[File:Ms zanoyskich intro.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Deeds of the Princes of the Poles]]

The first "Piasts", probably of [[Polans (western)|Polan]] descent, appeared around 940 in the territory of [[Greater Poland]] at the stronghold of [[Giecz]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.historiaposzukaj.pl/wiedza,wydarzenia,109,gniezno_czy_giecz_czyli_skad_pochodzi_dynastia.html|title=Gniezno czy Giecz, czyli skąd pochodzi dynastia?|website=Gniezno czy Giecz, czyli skąd pochodzi dynastia? – Gniezno czy Giecz, czyli skąd pochodzi dynastia? – Wydarzenia – Wiedza – Historia Poszukaj |access-date=22 June 2019}}</ref> Shortly afterwards they relocated their residence to [[Gniezno]], where Prince Mieszko I ruled over the ''[[Civitas Schinesghe]]'' from about 960. The Piasts temporarily also ruled over [[Pomerania]], [[Bohemia]] and the [[Lusatia]]s, as well as part of [[Ruthenia]], and the Hungarian [[Spiš]] region in present-day [[Slovakia]]. The ruler bore the title of a [[duke]] or a [[king]], depending on their position of power.

The Polish monarchy had to deal with the expansionist policies of the Holy Roman Empire in the west, resulting in a chequered co-existence, with Piast rulers like Mieszko I, [[Casimir I the Restorer]] or [[Władysław I Herman]] trying to protect the Polish state by treaties, oath of allegiances and marriage alliances with the Imperial [[Ottonian dynasty|Ottonian]] and [[Salian dynasty|Salian]] dynasties. The Bohemian [[Přemyslid dynasty]], the Hungarian [[Árpád dynasty|Arpads]] and their [[Capetian House of Anjou|Anjou]] successors, the [[Kievan Rus']], later also the [[State of the Teutonic Order]] and the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] were mighty neighbours.

[[File:Poland1020-c.png|thumb|200px|right|Lands held by the Piast dynasty (992–1025), with a shaded area corresponding to the territory of present-day Poland]]

The Piast position was decisively enfeebled by an era of fragmentation following the 1138 [[Testament of Bolesław III Krzywousty|Testament of Bolesław III Wrymouth]]. For nearly 150 years, the Polish state shattered into several duchies, with the Piast duke against the formally valid principle of [[agnatic seniority]] fighting for the throne at [[Kraków]], the capital of the Lesser Polish [[Seniorate Province]]. Numerous dukes like [[Mieszko III the Old]], [[Władysław III Spindleshanks]] or [[Leszek I the White]] were crowned, only to be overthrown shortly afterwards, and others restored and ousted, at times repeatedly. The senior branch of the Silesian Piasts, descendants of [[Bolesław III Wrymouth]]'s eldest son Duke [[Władysław II the Exile]], went separate ways and since the 14th century were vassals of the [[Lands of the Bohemian Crown|Bohemian Crown]].

After the Polish royal line and Piast junior branch had died out in 1370, the Polish crown fell to the Anjou king [[Louis I of Hungary]], son of late King Casimir's sister [[Elizabeth of Poland, Queen of Hungary|Elizabeth Piast]]. The [[Masovia]]n branch of the Piasts became extinct with the death of Duke [[Janusz III of Masovia|Janusz III]] in 1526. The last ruling duke of the Silesian Piasts was [[George William, Duke of Liegnitz|George William of Legnica]] who died in 1675. His uncle Count [[August of Legnica]], the last male Piast, died in 1679. The last legitimate heir, Duchess [[Karolina of Legnica-Brieg]] died in 1707 and is buried in [[Sanctuary of St. Jadwiga in Trzebnica|Trzebnica Abbey]]. Nevertheless, numerous families, like the illegitimate descendants of the Silesian duke [[Adam Wenceslaus, Duke of Cieszyn|Adam Wenceslaus of Cieszyn]] (1574–1617), link their genealogy to the dynasty.