Before the Duchy of Silesia became part of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown By the later 10th century, Silesia was part of Poland; Christianity was introduced around the turn of the century. In 1138, the Kingdom was partitioned in duchies, which were allocated according to the seniorate system; one of the duchies created in this context was Silesia. During the years 1138 to 1335, further partitioning and occasionally the merger of parts of Silesia occurred. In 1241, Legnica (Liegnitz) in Silesia was the site of a battle in which Polish and German knights were crushed by a Tatar army; only the death of the Great Khan saved Silesia and perhaps Europe from further consequences. At the time when a unified Kingdom of Poland was reestablished in the 1330s, the Silesian Duchies became fiefs of the Kingdom of Bohemia (and, as Bohemia was part of the Holy Roman Empire, a part of the latter as well). From the 12th century onward, Silesian Dukes called German settlers into the country (who had skills lacking among the indigenous Slavic population). Ethnic Polish-Silesian and German settlements existed side by side; in Lower Silesia ethnic German settlements became dominant. Cities founded in the 13th and 14th centuries received charters which granted them Magdeburg (i.e. German) law. Silesia a Land of the Bohemian Crown Politically, Silesia, while it was under the Bohemian Crown 1335-1740, was fragmented; it consisted of the Duchies of Auschwitz, Bernstadt, Beuthen, Bielitz, Breslau, Brieg, Cosel, Crossen, Falkenberg, Freudental, Freystadt, Gleiwitz, Glogau, Haynau, Jägerndorf, Klein-Glogau, Leobschütz, Loslau, Löwenberg, Lüben, Münsterberg, Namslau, Oels, Ohlau, Ratibor, Rybnik, Sagan, Schweidnitz-Jauer, Sprottau, Steinau, Strehlitz, Tost, Troppau, Wohlau and Zator, and the Principalities of Neisse and Pless. The Lands of the Bohemian Crown (Bohemia, Moravia, Lusatia and Silesia) maintained separate identities. While they shared an ethnic mix of an indigenous Slavic and an immigrant German population, Silesia had a separate diet, the Silesian Princes' Diet, presided by the Oberlandeshauptmann (supreme captain); this diet was so secure Silesia's autonomy for the coming centuries. The Hussite movement of the early 15th century was a largely Czech (Bohemian) phenomenon; Silesian suffered from Hussite incursions 1425 and 1432-1434. When Bohemia was ruled by Hussite king Jiri z Podiebrad (1458-1471), Moravia, Silesia and Lusatia temporarily (1469-1497) came under the rule of King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary. During the early 16th century, the Lutheran Reformation was introduced in many of Silesia's principalities. In 1618 Silesia followed Bohemia's lead, revoked its homage to the Habsburg Dynasty (who held Bohemia and its dependencies since 1526) and elected the Count Palatine of the Rhine in his place. In 1620 the Habsburgs were victorious in the Battle of the White Mountain; Habsburg rule was restored, and the Catholic Counterreformation introduced. In Silesia it was interrupted during the period of Swedish occupation (Thirty Years' War). The Counterreformation caused 200,000 Silesian Protestants to emigrate. During the Great Northern War 1700-1721, the Convention of Altranstädt 1707 contained statutes providing protection for Silesia's Protestants. A pattern emerged : the German-speaking population largely was Lutheran, the Catholic population largely had returned to Catholicism. Silesia contested between Austria and Prussia In 1740, Emperor Charles VI. died without a male heir. He was succeeded by his daughter Maria Theresia. King Frederick II (the Great) in Prussia, using dubious claims on the inheritance of certain Silesian duchies, declared war and had his army occupy Silesia. In 1742 and in 1745, the Habsburg Dynasty recognized Frederick's claim to most of Silesia; the Seven Years' War 1756-1763 was fought because Maria Theresia wanted to regain Silesia; the attempt failed. As a result, Prussia was able to hold on to the larger part of Silesia, with the County of Glatz (hitherto a part of the Kingdom of Bohemia). The remainder, as Austrian Silesia, remained under the House of Habsburg. |
Silesian Placenames in German, Polish, Czech and Latin The modern spellings in the language of the country to which these places presently belong are underlined. Readers are advised to expect the German spelling in many texts pertaining to Silesian history prior to 1945. |
German Auschwitz Beuthen Bielitz Breslau Brieg Cosel Crossen Gleiwitz Glogau Grünberg Hindenburg Jägerndorf Jauer Kattowitz Kreuzburg Lauban Liegnitz Löwenberg Neisse Oppeln Ratibor Sagan Schweidnitz Teschen Troppau Waldenburg |
Polish Oświęcim Bytom Bielsko Wrocław Brzeg Koźle Krosno Odrzańskie Gliwice Głogów Zielona Góra Zabrze Jawor Katowice Kluczbork Lubań Legnica Lwówek Śląski Nysa Opole Racibórz Żagań Świdnica Cieszyn Wałbrzych |
Czech Krnov Těšín Opava |
Latin Osvecimia Bithomia Vratislavia Glogovia Prasia Elysiorum Katovicum Lauba Lusatorum Lignitium Ratiboria Tessinum |
E x t e r n a l . F i l e s |
Country Profiles | Links, Portals | Organizations | Accounts of History | Politics | Military History | Economic History |
Social History | Ethnography | History of Religion | Regional History | Local History | Institutions | Culture |
Biography | Others |
D o c u m e n t s |
Historical Data | Documents | Institutions | National Symbols |
P r i n t e d . R e f e r e n c e |
Bibliographies | Online Libraries | Online Journals | General Accounts | Specific Topics | Historical Dictionaries | Others |
WEB-BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . EXTERNAL FILES |
Country Profiles | current |
Article Duchy of Silesia (1138-1335),
Duchies of Silesia, from Wikipedia Article Herzogtum Schlesien, Herzogtümer in Schlesien, from Wikipedia German edition |
historical |
F.B. Wernher, Topographia oder Prodromus Delineati Silesiae Ducatus, 1755,
Univ. Wroclaw Digital Library |
Links, on History |
Category : History of Silesia, from Wikipedia Kategorie : Geschichte (Schlesien), from Wikipedia German edition Kategoria : Historia Slaska, from Wikipedia Polish edition Kategorie : Dejiny Slezska, from Wikipedia Czech edition Kategorie : Schlesien, GenWiki, in German |
Historical Dictionary |
Online-Lexikon zur Kultur und Geschichte der Deutschen im östlichen Europa,
posted by Universität Oldenburg |
Portals |
Timelines |
Schlesien : Geschichte, from GenWiki, in German |
Accounts of History | General, Modern |
N. Conrads, Abriss der Geschichte Schlesiens bis 1945 Stiftung Kulturwerk Schlesien, Geschichte Schlesiens |
General, Historical |
J.G. Sternagel, Geschichte Schlesiens von den ältesten Zeiten bis zur Besitznahme desselben durch Friedrich den Grossen 1740, 1802, in German,
SDL C.A. Menzel, Geschichte von Schlesien, vol.1: Die Geschichte von den ältesten Zeiten bis 1526, 1808, in German, SDL, vol.2: Die Geschichte von 1526 bis 1740, 1808, in German, SDL M. Morgenbesser, Geschichte Schlesiens. Ein Handbuch, 1829, in German, IA C. Grünhagen, Geschichte Schlesiens, 1884, in German, IA |
Specific Periods |
Administration |
Military |
Economy |
A. Steinbeck, Geschichte des schlesischen Bergbaues, 1857, in German, GB Böhm-Chronik, Bergbaugeschichte in Niederschlesien, hauptsächlich im Waldenburger Revier seit dem 16. Jahrhundert E. von Czihak, Schlesische Gläser. Eine Studie über die schlesische Glasindustrie früherer Zeit, nebst einem beschreibenden Katalog der Gläsersammlung des Museums Schlesischer Altertümer zu Breslau 1891, in German, IA Czecot : Historische Büttenpapier-Maunfaktur Opava, 17th century Rund um CZ : Entstehung der Manufakturen C. d'Elvert, Geschichte der Woll-, Leinen-, Baumwoll- und Seidenwaaren-, der Bier-, Branntwein, Essig- und Zuckerfabrikation und des neuesten Bergbaues in Mähren und Oesterr. Schlesien 1870, in German, GB |
Social History |
O. Kurtz, Beiträge zur Erklärung des volkstümlichen Hexenglaubens in Schlesien
1916, in German, IA |
Ethnography | General |
Slavic |
German |
Religion | General |
J. Chrzaszcz, Kirchengeschichte Schlesiens für Schule und Haus, 1908, in German,
SDL |
Protestant |
Daten zur evangelischen Kirchengeschichte Schlesiens, von Kirchliche Stiftung evangelisches Schlesien A.O. Meyer, Studien zur Vorgeschichte der Reformation. Aus schlesischen Quellen , 1903, in German, IA C.F.D. Erdmann, Luther und seine Beziehungen zu Schlesien, insbesondere zu Breslau 1887, in German, IA J.G. Worbs, Die Rechte der evangelischen Gemeinden in Schlesien an den ihnen im 17. Jahrhunderte gewaltthätig genommenen Kirchen und Kirchengütern geschichtlich dargestellt, 1825, in German, IA |
Jewish |
M. Heitmann, H. Lordick, Zur Geschichte des Judentums in Schlesien Bohemia, Moravia et Silesia Judaica G. Bondy, F. Dworsky, Zur Geschichte der Juden in Böhmen, Mähren und Schlesien von 906 bis 1620, vol.1 1906, vol.2 1906, in German, IA |
Catholic |
Article : Erzbistum Breslau : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition |
History of Regions | Predecessors |
Administrative Divisions |
Article : Duchy of Bernstadt, from Wikipedia Article : Duchy of Bielsko, from Wikipedia Article : Duchy of Brzeg, from Wikipedia Article : Duchy of Bytom, from Wikipedia Article : Duchy of Glogow, from Wikipedia Article : Duchy of Glubczyce, from Wikipedia Article : Duchy of Jawor, from Wikipedia Article : County of Kladsko, from Wikipedia Article : Duchy of Krnov, from Wikipedia Article : Duchy of Legnica, from Wikipedia Article : Duchy of Münsterberg, from Wikipedia Article : Duchy of Nysa, from Wikipedia Article : Duchy of Opole, from Wikipedia Article : Duchy of Opole and Raciborz, from Wikipedia Article : Duchy of Oswiecim, from Wikipedia Article : Duchy of Pless, from Wikipedia Article : Duchy of Raciborz, from Wikipedia Article : Duchy of Siewierz, from Wikipedia Article : Duchy of Teschen, from Wikipedia Article : Duchy of Troppau, from Wikipedia Article : Duchy of Zagan, from Wikipedia Article : Duchy of Zator, from Wikipedia |
Other |
P. Knötel, Geschichte Oberschlesiens, 1906, in German, SDL |
Local History |
F. Gramer, Chronik der Stadt Beuthen in Ober-Schlesien, 1863, in German,
SDL Von Breslau. Dokumentirte Geschichte und Beschreibung, vol.1 1781, SDL, vol.2.1 1781, SDL, vol.2.2 1781, SDL, vol.3.1 1782, SDL, vol.3.2 1783, SDL G. Hoffmann, Geschichte der Stadt Kattowitz, 1895, in German, SDL W. Schirrmann, Chronik der Stadt Schweidnitz, 1909, in German, SDL Article : Bielsko-Biala : Bielsko, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Breslau : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Brzeg : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Bytom : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Ciescyn : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Gliwice : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Jawor : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Kattowitz : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Kluczbork : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Kozle : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Krnov : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Legnica : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Luban : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Lwowek Slaski : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Opava : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Opole : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Raciborz : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Swidnica : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Walbrzych : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Zabrze : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Zagan : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition Article : Zielona Gora : Geschichte, from Wikipedia German edition |
Institutions |
Binnenschifffahrtsmuseum Oderberg, Geschichte der Oderschifffahrt.
Einblicke in die Entwicklung der Oderschifffahrt von der Vergangenheit bis in die Neuzeit |
Culture |
J.E. Scheibel, Geschichte der seit dreihundert Jahren in Breslau befindlichen Stadtbuchdruckerey, als ein Beitrag zur allgemeinen Geschichte der Buchdruckerkunst, 1504, in German, IA |
Biographies |
Others |
WEB-BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . EXTERNALLY POSTED DOCUMENTS |
Historical Data | Lists of Statesmen |
Documents | Links |
Historical Newspapers |
Image Databanks |
Archive Deposits | Catalogus primus Residentiae Wartenbergensis Societatis Jesu, 1756-1775, in Latin, University of Wroclaw Digital Library |
Laws |
Document Surveys |
K. Kletke, Quellenkunde der Geschichte des preussischen Staats
vol.1 1858,
vol.2 1861, in German, GB H.F. Jacobson, Geschichte der Quellen des Kirchenrechts des Preussischen Staats vol.s 1-2 1839, vol.s 2-4 1844, in German, GB Dokumenty Slaska, Bibliografia |
Cartularia |
Codez Diplomaticus Silesiae, 36 vols. 1857-1933, list
(Verein für schlesische Geschichte) Codex Diplomaticus Silesiae, Digital Library Wielkopolska 36 vols. Acta publica. Verhandlungen und Correspondenzen der schlesischen Fürsten und Stände 1618 bis 1629, 8 vols. 1865-1906, list (Verein für schlesische Geschichte) Breslauer Urkundenbuch vol.1 1870, Silesian Digital Library Urkunden zur Geschichte des Bisthums Breslau im Mittelalter, 1845, Wroclaw Univ. Digital Library Lehns- und Besitzurkunden Schlesiens und seiner einzelnen Fürstenthümer im Mittelalter. vol.1 1881, SDL, vol.2 1883, SDL Tzschoppe / Stenzel, Urkundensammlung zur Geschichte des Ursprungs der Städte und der Einführung und Verbreitung Deutscher Kolonisten und Rechte in Schlesien und der Ober-Lausitz 1832, IA |
Chronicles |
Scriptores Rerum Silesiacarum, 17 vols. 1835-1902, list
(Verein für schlesische Geschichte) SRS vol.1 1835, SDL, vol.2 1839, SDL, vol.3 1847, SDL, vol.4 1850, SDL, vol.5 1851, SDL, vol.6 1883, SDL, vol.7 1872, SDL, vol.8 1873, SDL, vol.9 1874, SDL, vol.10 1877, SDL, vol.11 1878, SDL |
University Matricula |
Article : Universitätsmatrikel, from GenWiki, in German;
links to web-editions of historic students' rolls Rostocker Matrikelportal 1419-; search for Bremensis, Verdensis Die Matrikel der Universit? Heidelberg 1386 - 1920 digital |
Other Document Collections |
Dokumenty Slaska, covers period 1200-1333, Polish language website |
Individual Documents |
Historical Maps | Responsible Institution |
Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie Herder-Institut für historische Ostmitteleuropa-Forschung, Topographische Kartenwerke |
collections : hindsight |
Category : Maps of the History of Silesia,
from Wikimedia Commons |
collections : contemporary |
Category : Old Maps of Silesia, from Wikimedia Commons Laborator Geoinformatiky, Old Maps of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia Historical Maps of the Czech Lands : Silesia |
entire country, hindsight |
T. Höckmann, Historische Karte von Schlesien, 1763 Spruner / Menke, Hand-Atlas für die Geschichte des Mittelalters und der neueren Zeit, 1880 : Deutschland zur Zeit der Hohenstaufen und bis 1273, 1273-1492, 1492-1618, 1648-1742, maproom Droysens Allgemeiner Historischer Handatlas, 1886 : Deutschland um das Jahr 1000, im XV. Jahrhundert, XV. Jahrhundert, zur Zeit der Reformation, des dreissigjährigen Krieges, im XVIII. Jahrhundert, maproom Putzger, Historischer Schul-Atlas, 1914, Ostdeutsche Kolonisation, Die schlesischen Kriege, maproom |
entire country, contemporary |
detail, hindsight |
detail, contemporary |
Historical Encyclopedia Entries |
General |
Religious |
Articles Breslau,
Silesia, from Catholic Encyclopedia 1907-1914 edition |
Economic |
Political |
Geographical |
Historical |
Historic Tour Guides |
Travelogues |
Institutions | Archives | Lists |
Archive Webpages |
Musea | Lists |
Museum Websites |
Haus Schlesien, Königswinter Oberschlesisches Landesmuseum, Ratingen |
Monuments |
Libraries | Lists |
Library Websites |
Haus Schlesien, Königswinter, Bibliothek |
State Symbols | Flags, Coats of Arms |
Coins |
G. Dewerdeck, Silesia Numismatica, 1711, IA |
PRINTED REFERENCE |
Bibliographies | general |
ISBN Database Deutsche Nationalbibliographie |
on Silesia |
Herder-Institut, Bibliographie-Portal zur Geschichte Ostmitteleuropas
V. von Loewe, Bibliographie der schlesischen Geschichte, 1927, SDL Ch.19 : De Scriptoribus Rerum Hungaricarum, Bohemicarum et Silesicarum, pp.512-532 in B.G. Struve, Selecta bibliotheca historica, 1705, in Latin, GB ; a catalogue of narrative historical sources |
serial publications |
Historische Kommission für Schlesien, Publikationen Verein für Geschichte Schlesiens, Publikationen bis 1945, ab 1971 Stiftung Kulturwerk Schlesien, Veröffentlichungen Stiftung Oberschlesisches Landesmuseum, Schriften Degener Verlag, Geschichte und Genealogie einzelner Regionen : Schlesien |
on Silesia |
Silesian Digital Library,
Lower Silesian Digital Library University of Wroclaw Digital Library GenWiki, Digitalisierte Literatur der Schlesischen Digitalen Bibliothek, Digitalisierte Literatur der Niederschlesischen Digitalen Bibliothek Rolf Freytag, Digitale Bücherei (on Silesian history, links to Polish digital libraries) |
Online Journals | full text online |
contents online |
Schlesische Geschichtsblätter 2010-2012 Magazine Stacks : Zeitschrift des Vereins für Geschichte Schlesiens (ZVGSchlesien) 1856-1886, 1887-1905, 1906-1943 |
General Accounts |
Specific Topics |
Handbook, Yearbook entries |
Territorien-Ploetz : Geschichte der Deutschen Länder, Vol.1, Würzburg 1964 [G] |