Seniorate Province
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For the state of Cracow between 1846 and 1918, see Grand Duchy of Cracow. Fore more modern territorial division of Kraków region, see Kraków Voivodeship.

Fragmentation of Poland betweens the sons of Bolesław:      The Seniorate Province (Duchy of Kraków), composed of the Eastern Greater Poland, Lesser Poland, Western Kuyavia, Łęczyca Land and Sieradz Land      Duchy of Silesia of Władysław II      Duchy of Masovia of Bolesław IV      Duchy of Greater Poland of Mieszko III      Duchy of Sandomir of Henryk      Province of Bolesław's widow, Salomea, composed of Łęczyca Land - to revert to seniorate province upon her death      Pomeranian vassals of the ruler of the seniorate province

Seniorate Province (also known as the Senioral Province, Duchy of Kraków, Duchy of Cracow, Principality of Cracow, Principality of Kraków) was the superior among the five provinces established in Testament of Bolesław III Krzywousty. It existed during the period of fragmentation of Poland (1138 - 1320). It was supposed to be ruled by the rotating head of the Piast dynasty, a principality that he held as the overlord of other Polish dukes.

The principle

The senioral principle established in the testament stated that at all times the eldest member of the dynasty (the Senior Prince, the Princeps, the High duke, the overlord) was to have supreme power over the rest (Dux, the Dukes) and was also to control an indivisible "seniorate province" (composed of Lesser Poland, Eastern Greater Poland, Western Kuyavia, Łęczyca Land and Sieradz Land),a vast strip of land running north-south down the middle of Poland, with Kraków (Kingdom of Poland's capital) its chief city. The Senior's prerogatives also included control over Pomerania, a fief. The Senior was tasked with defense of borders, the right to have troops in provinces of other Dukes, carrying out the foreign policy, supervision over the clergy (including the right to nominate bishops and archbishops), and minting the currency.

The High duke generally had his own principality (province, dukedom), which he had inherited within his own branch of the Piast dynasty, and left to his personal heirs within his own branch, whereas Kraków followed the seniorate (fell to the oldest of them). Kraków was a substantial addition to the resources of the incumbent, whoever it was, and was intended to put him higher in might than his vassal dukes.

However the seniorate soon collapsed, with the first Senior - Władysław II the Exile - failing his bid to take over other provinces. This led to fragmentation of Poland.

The Duchy

The duchy of Kraków, in territorial terms, meant a long strip of lands from south of Kraków (traditional dynastic seat) to over Gniezno (eccleasiastical center of Polish). It neighbored originally each of the four partition duchies (Masovia, Sandomir, Silesia, Greater Poland) and even after many of those were further partitioned, neighbored at least almost all principalities, and was at least close to all.

The Dukes

List of Dukes of Cracow

In this list, titular claims are not noted, not as full rule; only true and real ducal power over Cracow is noted.

• -1138 Boleslaw III, of all Poland, who divided it into duchies to his sons
• 1138-46 Wladyslaw II, Duke of Silesia, deposed by his younger brothers and exiled
• 1146 (possibly already earlier in power in Cracow) - 1173 Boleslaw IV, Duke of Masovia
• 1173-77 Mieszko III, Duke of Greater Poland, deposed
• 1177-(90/90-)94 Casimir II, Duke of Sandomir
  • 1190 briefly Mieszko III again
• 1194-99 Leszek I, Duke of Sandomir, deposed
• 1199-1202 Mieszko III, again
• 1201 Leszek I, again, deposed
• 1202 Conrad, Duke of Masovia, deposed
• 1202-06 Wladyslaw III, Duke of Greater Poland, deposed
  • 1202- Leszek I in strife against Wladyslaw III
• 1206-27 Leszek I, again
  • 1210-11 Mieszko IV, Duke of Upper Silesia
• 1227-29 Wladyslaw III, again, deposed
• 1227-28 Conrad of Masovia, again, deposed (strife against Wladyslaw III)
• 1228-38 Henry I, Duke of Lower Silesia (strife)
  • 1229-32 Conrad, in strife
• 1238-41 Henry II, Duke of Lower Silesia
• 1241 Boleslaw, Duke of Lower Silesia, driven away 1241
  • Mongols (Conrad of Masovia was again overlord, though hardly held Cracow)
• 1243-79 Boleslaw V, Duke of Sandomir
• 1279-88 Leszek II, Duke of Sandomir
• 1288-90 Henry IV, Duke of Wroclaw (in Lower Silesia)
• 1290-91 Przemysl II, Duke of Greater Poland, crowned king 1295
  • 1291-1305 Venceslas II of Bohemia
  • 1305 Venceslas III of Bohemia, deposed
• 1305- Wladyslaw IV, Duke of Kujavia, crowned king 1320

See also

• Lesser Poland (Małopolska)