duchy · Poland, Lithuania and Russia

Duchy of Krakow

1138 CE – 1320 CE · capital Krakow

The senior duchy of fragmented Poland, whose throne at Krakow carried overlordship of the other Piast dukes.

Origins

In his testament of 1138 Boleslaw III Wrymouth divided Poland among his sons, creating a senior province around Krakow to be held by the eldest Piast with authority over the others. The first senior duke, Wladyslaw II the Exile, tried to rule alone and was driven out by his brothers in 1146.

Rule and society

Krakow passed in turn to Boleslaw IV, Mieszko III and Casimir II the Just, and the seniority principle broke down as rival dukes fought for the city. Lesser Poland's nobles and bishops gained great influence. The Mongols devastated the duchy in 1241, but under Boleslaw V the Chaste Krakow received town rights in 1257 and the salt mines of Wieliczka and Bochnia brought wealth.

Decline and legacy

After the Silesian Henry IV Probus and the Bohemian king Wenceslaus II, who ruled from 1291, Wladyslaw I the Elbow-high took Krakow in 1306. He was crowned there in 1320, and the duchy became the core of the reunited Kingdom of Poland (1025-1385).

Lineage

Kingdom of Poland (1025-1385) 1025 CE – 1385 CEDuchy of KrakowKingdom of Poland (1025-1385) 1025 CE – 1385 CE

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Duchy of Krakow. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/duchy-of-krakow
MLA
“Duchy of Krakow.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/duchy-of-krakow. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Duchy of Krakow.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/duchy-of-krakow.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Duchy of Krakow’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/duchy-of-krakow (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻