The Duchy of Masovia (Polish: Księstwo Mazowieckie) was a duchy formed when the Kingdom of Poland fragmented in 1138. It was reincorporated into the Polish kingdom in 1526.
History
Following the death of Bolesław III Wrymouth in 1138, as specified by his testament, Masovia was governed by his son Bolesław IV, the later Grand Prince of Poland, and other dukes of Masovia from the local branch of the Piast dynasty.
Among the dukes of Masovia, Bolesław IV the Curly was High Duke of Poland from 1146-77, while Konrad I was High Duke from 1229-32 and 1241-43; Konrad I was the ruler who called the Teutonic Order for help against the pagan Old Prussians. When the Polish kingdom was restored in 1295 by the coronation of Przemysł II, the Duchy of Masovia remained independent. In 1351 the dukes of Masovia became vassals of the Polish kings, while the Bishopric of Płock was always part of the Polish Archdiocese of Gniezno. Since the Polish-Lithuanian Union of 1385, it was localized between the joined Jagiellonian states. From 1385 to 1462 the Duchy of Belz became part of the Duchy of Masovia. After the death of the last Masovian Piast, Janusz III, in 1526, Masovia became a voivodeship of the Kingdom of Poland.
Parts of the southern region of neighboring eastern Prussia had received many settlers and religious refugese colonists from Masovia. By the 18th century that region of East Prussia became unofficially referred to as Masuren Masuria, Prussians who were Lutherans in contrast to Polish Masovians.
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