Piast Dynasty

Piast
Country	Kingdom of Poland Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia Duchy of Mazovia Duchy of Silesia several Duchies of Silesia Duchy of Bohemia
Titles	King of Poland King of Rus' Duke of the Polans Duke of Poland Duke of Krakow Duke of Kuyavia Duke of Mazovia Duke of Sandomierz Duke of Greater Poland Duke of Silesia and several other ducal titles (see Dukes of Silesia) Duke of Sieradz-Łęczyca Duke of Bohemia
Founded	960
Founder	semi-legendary Piast, son of legendary Chościsko
Final ruler	Casimir the Great, in the Kingdom of Poland, and George IV William of Legnica, in the Silesian duchies
Dissolution	1370, in the Kingdom of Poland, and 1675, in the Duchies of Silesia
Cadet branches	Silesian Piasts, later became the oldest surviving branch of the dynasty House of Griffins

The Piast dynasty was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. The first documented Polish monarch was Prince Mieszko I (c. 930–992). The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of king Casimir III the Great.

Branches of the Piast dynasty continued to rule in the Duchy of Masovia and in the Duchies of Silesia until the last male Silesian Piast died in 1675. The Piasts intermarried with several noble lines of Europe, and possessed numerous titles, some within the Holy Roman Empire.

The early dukes and kings of Poland regarded themselves as descendants of the semi-legendary Piast the Wheelwright (Piast Kołodziej), first mentioned in the Cronicae et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum (Chronicles and deeds of the dukes or princes of the Poles), written c. 1113 by Gallus Anonymus. However, the term "Piast Dynasty" was not applied until the 17th century. In a historical work the expression Piast dynasty was introduced by the Polish historian Adam Naruszewicz, it is not documented in contemporary sources.

The first "Piasts", probably of Polan descent, appeared around 940 in the territory of Greater Poland at the stronghold of Giecz. Shortly afterwards they relocated their residence to Gniezno, where Prince Mieszko I ruled over the Civitas Schinesghe from about 960. The name Polani, from Slavic: pole ("field"), did not appear until 1015. The Piasts temporarily also ruled over Pomerania, Bohemia and the Lusatias, as well as Ruthenia, and the Hungarian Spiš region in present-day Slovakia. The ruler bore the title of a duke or a king, depending on their position of power.

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