Duchy of Masovia: Map & History
The Duchy of Masovia was a district principality and a fiefdom of the Kingdom of Poland, existing during the Middle Ages.
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The Duchy of Masovia was a district principality and a fiefdom of the Kingdom of Poland, existing during the Middle Ages. The state was centered in Mazovia in the northeastern Kingdom of Poland, and during its existence, its capital was located in Płock, Czersk and Warsaw. 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 country existed in the years: 1138–1275, 1294–1310, 1370–1381, and 1495–1526, between that time, going through fragmentations of its territory into smaller duchies and its unification. The states formed during its fragmentation were duchies of Kuyavia, Dobrzyń, Czersk, Płock, Warsaw, Rawa and Belz. In 1526, the country was incorporated into the Kingdom of Poland.
Modern Countries Once Part of Duchy of Masovia
At its mapped extent, Duchy of Masovia covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Duchy of Masovia's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Duchy of Masovia in Depth
History
The lands of the Masovians east of the Vistula river had been conquered by the Piast duke Mieszko I of Poland (960–992) and formed a constituent part of his Civitas Schinesghe. The Masovian Diocese of Płock was established in 1075.
Following the death of Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth in 1138, as specified by his testament, the Masovian province was governed by his second son Bolesław IV the Curly, who, after he had expelled his elder half-brother Władysław II, in 1146 became Duke of Poland. His Masovian realm also comprised the adjacent lands of Kujawy (Kuyavia) on the west bank of the Vistula.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Duchy of Masovia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Duchy of Masovia Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Duchy of Masovia appears, with the other states of the time.
Duchy of Masovia Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 166,473 km² in 1158 CE.
Duchy of Masovia: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Duchy of Masovia exist?
Duchy of Masovia is dated to 1139 CE – 1351 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Duchy of Masovia?
The capital of Duchy of Masovia was Płock, Czersk (from 1262), Warsaw (from 1413).
How large was Duchy of Masovia at its peak?
At its peak in 1158 AD Duchy of Masovia covered about 166,473 km².
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