Duchy of Legnica

Duchy of Legnica
Księstwo Legnickie (Polish)
Herzogtum Liegnitz (German)
Lehnické knížectví (Czech)
1248–1675
Greatest extent of territory of the Duchy during the reign of Henry V (orange)
Greatest extent of territory of the Duchy during the reign of Henry V (orange)
Helwig map from 1561 (south)
Helwig map from 1561 (south)
StatusDistrict duchy of Poland
Fiefdom of the Bohemian Crown (from 1348)
CapitalLegnica
Historical eraMiddle Ages
Early modern period
• Partitioned from the Duchy of Wrocław
1248
• Split off Duchy of Głogów
1251
• Split off Duchy of Jawor
1274
• Split off Duchy of Brzeg
1311
• Vassalized by Bohemia
1329
• Reunited with the Duchy of Brzeg
1419
• Inheritance treaty with Brandenburg
1537
• Seized by Habsburgs
1675
• Annexed by Prussia
1763
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Duchy of Silesia
Lands of the Bohemian Crown
Today part ofPoland
Germany¹
¹ Portion of Lubusz Land on the left bank of the Oder River

The Duchy of Legnica (Polish: Księstwo Legnickie, Czech: Lehnické knížectví) or Duchy of Liegnitz (German: Herzogtum Liegnitz) was one of the Duchies of Silesia, formed during the fragmentation of Poland into smaller provincial duchies, ruled by a local line of the Piast dynasty between 1248 and 1675. Its capital was Legnica in Lower Silesia.

Legnica Castle had become a residence of the Silesian dukes in 1163 and from 1248 was the seat of a principality in its own right, ruled by the Silesian branch of the Piast dynasty until the extinction of the line in 1675. Formed by Bolesław II the Bald, Duke of Lower Silesia at Wrocław, Legnica shared the fate of most of the others Silesian duchies, falling into Bohemian, Austrian and eventually—after the First Silesian WarPrussian spheres of influence.