The Duchy of Sandomierz was a district principality and a

fief A fief (; ) was a central element in medieval contracts based on feudal law. It consisted of a form of property holding or other rights granted by an overlord to a vassal, who held it in fealty or "in fee" in return for a form of feudal alle ...

dom of the

Kingdom of Poland The Kingdom of Poland (; Latin: ''Regnum Poloniae'') was a monarchy in Central Europe during the Middle Ages, medieval period from 1025 until 1385. Background The West Slavs, West Slavic tribe of Polans (western), Polans who lived in what i ...

. It was formed in 1138 from the territories of the Kingdom of Poland, following its fragmentation, that was started by the testament of Bolesław III Wrymouth. The Duchy existed until 1320 when it was incorporated into the Kingdom of Poland. Its capital was the city of

Sandomierz Sandomierz (pronounced: ; , ) is a historic town in south-eastern Poland with 23,863 inhabitants (), situated on the Vistula River near its confluence with the San, in the Sandomierz Basin. It has been part of Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship (Holy ...

. The territory was centred around Sandomierz Land in the southeastern corner of Poland, between the rivers of Pilica,

Vistula The Vistula (; ) is the longest river in Poland and the ninth-longest in Europe, at in length. Its drainage basin, extending into three other countries apart from Poland, covers , of which is in Poland. The Vistula rises at Barania Góra i ...

, San, and

Dunajec The Dunajec (; Goral dialects: ''Dónajec''; ) is a river running through northeastern Slovakia and southern Poland. It is also regarded as the main river of the Goral Lands. It is a right tributary of the Vistula River. It begins in Nowy Targ at ...

History

The period of fragmentation of Poland began in 1138, after the

Testament of Bolesław III Krzywousty A testament is a document that the author has sworn to be true. In law it usually means last will and testament. Testament or The Testament can also refer to: Books * ''Testament'' (comic book), a 2005 comic book * ''Testament'', a thriller nov ...

. According to the testament, Duke Henry of Sandomierz was granted the

Land Land, also known as dry land, ground, or earth, is the solid terrestrial surface of Earth not submerged by the ocean or another body of water. It makes up 29.2% of Earth's surface and includes all continents and islands. Earth's land sur ...

of Sandomierz. Since the duke was too young, the newly created province was temporarily ruled by High Duke

Władysław II the Exile Władysław II the Exile (; 1105 – 30 May 1159) was the high duke of Poland and duke of Silesia from 1138 until his expulsion in 1146. He is the progenitor of the Silesian Piasts. Governor of Silesia He was the eldest son of Duke Bolesław III W ...

. In 1146, after another conflict with the junior dukes, Wladyslaw II was forced to flee abroad, and the Duchy of Sandomierz was transferred to Henry. Henry died in 1166, killed by the

Old Prussians Old Prussians, Baltic Prussians or simply Prussians were a Balts, Baltic people that inhabited the Prussia (region), region of Prussia, on the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea between the Vistula Lagoon to the west and the Curonian Lagoon ...

. Since he was childless and had no wife, part of his province, with Wislica, was inherited by his youngest brother, Casimir II the Just, while Sandomierz was seized by

Bolesław IV the Curly Bolesław IV the Curly (; 1122 – 5 January 1173), a member of the Piast dynasty, was Duke of Masovia from 1138 and High Duke of Poland from 1146 until his death in 1173. Early life Bolesław was the third son of Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth ...

. The province remained divided until 1173, when Casimir II the Just reunited it. Casimir II died in 1194, and the Duchy of Sandomierz was inherited by

Leszek I the White Leszek the White (; c. 1184/85 – 24 November 1227) was Prince of Sandomierz and High Duke of Poland in the years 1194–1198, 1199, 1206–1210, and 1211–1227. During the early stages of his reign, his uncle Duke Mieszko III the Old and cou ...

, and his younger brother,

Konrad I of Masovia Konrad I of Masovia (ca. 1187/88 – 31 August 1247), from the Polish Piast dynasty, was the sixth Duke of Masovia and Kuyavia from 1194 until his death as well as High Duke of Poland from 1229 to 1232 and again from 1241 to 1243. Life Konrad w ...

. In c. 1200 the brothers divided their properties, with Konrad receiving

Mazovia Mazovia or Masovia ( ) is a historical region in mid-north-eastern Poland. It spans the North European Plain, roughly between Łódź and Białystok, with Warsaw being the largest city and Płock being the capital of the region . Throughout the ...

and Kujawy, while Leszek remained in Sandomierz. In 1205, the two brothers united their forces, defeating

Roman the Great Roman Mstislavich ( – 19 June 1205), also known as Roman the Great, was Prince of Novgorod (1168–1170), Volhynia (1170–1189; 1189–1205), and Galicia (1189; 1198/99–1205). He founded the ''Romanovichi'' branch of Rurikids, which wou ...

in the

Battle of Zawichost The Battle of Zawichost also called Zawichost campaign fought on 19 June or 14 October 1205, was a key clash between the troops of Duke Roman the Great of Galicia-Volhynia and the Polish forces led by Leszek the White, Duke of Sandomierz, and his ...

. In the 13th century, the Duchy of Sandomierz was several times raided by the Mongol hordes (see, e.g., Sack of Sandomierz (1241) and Sack of Sandomierz (1260)). In the late 1280s, Duke

Władysław I the Elbow-high Władysław is a Polish given male name, cognate with Vladislav. The feminine form is Władysława, archaic forms are Włodzisław (male) and Włodzisława (female), and Wladislaw is a variation. These names may refer to: People Mononym * Włodzis ...

took control over Sandomierz, but in 1292, he was forced by

Wenceslaus II of Bohemia Wenceslaus II Přemyslid (; ; 27 SeptemberK. Charvátová, ''Václav II. Král český a polský'', Prague 2007, p. 18. 1271 – 21 June 1305) was King of Bohemia (1278–1305), Duke of Cracow (1291–1305), and King of Poland (1296–130 ...

to abandon the province. In 1304, Lokietek returned, capturing Wislica, and after the death of Wenceslaus (1305), he seized the whole province. During the reign of Lokietek, the Duchy of Sandomierz was turned into

Sandomierz Voivodeship Sandomierz Voivodeship (, ) was a unit of administration and local government in Poland from the 14th century to the partitions of Poland in 1772–1795. It was part of the Lesser Poland region and the Lesser Poland Province. Originally Sandomier ...

. The Duchy of Sandomierz had twelve castellanies, located in the following towns: Łuków, Lublin, Sieciechów, Radom, Skrzynno,

Żarnów Żarnów is a town in Opoczno County, Łódź Voivodeship, in central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina, administrative district called Gmina Żarnów. It lies approximately south-west of Opoczno and south-east of the regional capital Łódź. ...

Małogoszcz Małogoszcz is a town in the Jędrzejów County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in southern Poland. The Battle of Małogoszcz. one of the biggest battles of the 1863 January Uprising, took place there. Małogoszcz belongs to Lesser Poland; the nam ...

, Czchów, Wislica, Połaniec,

Zawichost Zawichost is a small town (ca. 1,800 inhabitants ) in Sandomierz County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland. It is located by the Vistula River in Lesser Poland, near Sandomierz. It is first mentioned in historical documents from around 1148. In ...

and Sandomierz.

The Dukes of Sandomierz

* Henry of Sandomierz (1146-1166) *

(1166-1173) * Casimir II the Just (1173-1194) *

Leszek the White Leszek the White (; c. 1184/85 – 24 November 1227) was Prince of Sandomierz and High Duke of Poland in the years 1194–1198, 1199, 1206–1210, and 1211–1227. During the early stages of his reign, his uncle Duke Mieszko III the Old and ...

(1194-1227) *

(1194-1200) * (as

regent In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...

) Helen of Znojmo (1194-1200) *

Bolesław V the Chaste Bolesław V the Chaste (; 21 June 1226 – 7 December 1279) was Duke of Sandomierz in Lesser Poland from 1232 and High Duke of Poland from 1243 until his death, as the last male representative of the Lesser Polish branch of Piasts. Birth and n ...

(1227-1279) *

Bolesław I of Masovia Bolesław I of Masovia (; 1208 – ca. 25 February 1248), was Polish prince member of the Polish House of Piast, Duke of Sandomierz (only a part) during 1229–1232, Duke of Dobrzyń during 1233-1247 and Duke over whole Masovia during 1247–1248 ...

(1229-1232) *

Leszek II the Black Leszek II the Black (c. 1241 – 30 September 1288), was a Polish prince of the House of Piast, Duke of Sieradz since 1261, Duke of Łęczyca since 1267, Duke of Inowrocław in the years 1273-1278, Duke of Sandomierz and High Duke of Poland from ...

(1279-1288) * Bolesław II of Masovia (1288-1289) * Konrad II of Masovia (1289) *

(1289-1292) *

(1292-1304) *

(1304-1333)

Notes

References

* ''Genealogia Piastów'' by O. Balzer. Kraków. 1895. * ''Dzieje Polski piastowskiej (VIII w.-1370)'' by J. Wyrozumski. ''Fogra''. Kraków. 1999. ISBN 83-85719-38-5, OCLC 749221743. {{DEFAULTSORT:Sandomierz, Duchy of Former countries in Europe Former monarchies of Europe Duchies of Poland History of Poland during the Piast dynasty 12th-century establishments in Poland 14th-century disestablishments in Poland States and territories established in 1138 States and territories disestablished in 1320 History of Sandomierz Fiefdoms of Poland