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Piast

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
(pyäst), 1st dynasty of Polish dukes and kings. Its name was derived from that of its legendary ancestor, a simple peasant. The first historic member, Duke Mieszko I (reigned 962–92), began the unification of Poland and introduced Christianity. His son, Boleslaus I , was crowned king in 1025 with papal approval. However, some of his successors did not claim the royal crown. His successors were Mieszko II (reigned 1025–34), Casimir I (reigned c.1040–1058), Boleslaus II (reigned 1058–79), Ladislaus Herman (reigned 1079–1102), and Boleslaus III (reigned 1102–38). For his four sons Boleslaus III created four hereditary duchies— Silesia , Mazovia , Great Poland (with Gniezno and Poznan), and Sandomierz . In addition, the royal throne at Kraków and the rest of the Polish territory was to be held by the oldest member of the dynasty; thus the supreme power would pass in rotation to the different branches. This law of succession caused the temporary disintegration of the kingdom. However, …
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Full text Article Piast Dynasty

From Chambers Dictionary of World History
The first rulers of Poland, a line of princes descended from a legendary Polish ploughman named Piast (fl. c.870), whose name was only applied to the dynasty 800 years later. Piast's son, Siemowit, was first of the new line of princes of Gniezno (Gnesen), commencing the loose consolidation of Great…
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10th–14th centuries ce Central Europe imperialism and conquest Lithuania Northern Europe Piasts Poland Mieszko I entered onto the Central European geopolitical stage in 963 and soon became a major player there. The state he established was reinforced and enlarged by his son Boleslaw (Bolesław) …
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Full text Article Piast

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
(pyäst), 1st dynasty of Polish dukes and kings. Its name was derived from that of its legendary ancestor, a simple peasant. The first historic member, Duke Mieszko I (reigned 962–92), began the unification of Poland and introduced Christianity. His son, Boleslaus I , was crowned king in 1025 with…
| 330 words
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Full text Article Piast

From Chambers Biographical Dictionary
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Full text Article Poland

From Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
There are many legends of early Poland. One is that Prince Popiel invited all his family to a banquet and when they were drunk killed them with poisoned wine. He was duly punished when millions of mice entered his castle and devoured him. The chiefs then elected one Piast, a wheelmaker, to be their…
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Full text Article PROCHOWNIK, ABRAHAM

From Encyclopedia of Jewish Folklore and Traditions
Abraham Prochownik, a legendary figure, was, according to a Polish-Jewish folk legend, a Jewish king of Poland. He was called “Prochownik” because of his occupation as a merchant in gunpowder ( proch ). The legend, which relates to the accession of the legendary King Piast (ca. 860), the founder of…
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Full text Article Silesia

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
(sĭlē'zhӘ, –shӘ, sī–), Czech Slezsko , Ger. Schlesien , Pol. Śląsk , region of E central Europe, extending along both banks of the Oder River and bounded in the south by the mountain ranges of the Sudetes—particularly the Krkonoše (Ger. Riesengebirge )—and the W Carpathians. Politically, almost all…
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Full text Article Casimir III

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
1310–70, king of Poland (1333–70), son of Ladislaus I and last of the Piast dynasty. Called Casimir the Great, he brought comparative peace to Poland. By the Congress of Visegrad (1335) he promised to recognize the suzerainty over Silesia of John of Luxemburg, king of Bohemia; in return John…
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Full text Article Legnica

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
(lĕgnē'tsä), Ger. Liegnitz , city (1992 est. pop. 106,300), Dolnośląskie prov., SW Poland, on the Kaczawa River. A center of a vegetable-growing region, it also has manufactures of metal goods, textiles, and foodstuffs. Chartered in 1252, it was until 1675 the capital of a duchy ruled by a branch of…
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Full text Article Poznań

From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
Industrial city on the river Warta in western Poland ; population (2001 est) 580,200. Poznan was the capital of Poland until the 13th century and is the capital of the Great Poland Province. It is the centre of the Wielkopolska region and is located 300 km/186 mi from Berlin, Germany. The city is…
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