Duchy of Opole: Map & History
The Duchy of Opole was one of the duchies of Silesia ruled by the branch of Polish Piast dynasty, formed during the medieval fragmentation of Poland into provincial duchies.
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The Duchy of Opole was one of the duchies of Silesia ruled by the branch of Polish Piast dynasty, formed during the medieval fragmentation of Poland into provincial duchies. Its capital was Opole in Upper Silesia.
Modern Countries Once Part of Duchy of Opole
At its mapped extent, Duchy of Opole 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 Opole'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 Opole in Depth
History
Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth had restored Polish fortunes to some extent but having endured terrific internal strife, he decreed in his will (1138) that the Polish kingdom would be better divided into four hereditary principalities for each of his four sons as a kind of family federation. One became Duke of Greater Poland (around Gniezno), another Silesia, another Lesser Poland (around Kraków), another, Masovia. The rising local magnates, dowered with estates, preferred provincial princes. But the division of loyalties among these princes brought on a long period of dynastic struggle, intrigue, and national weakness. By this time Silesia had been divided into sixteen minuscule principalities and was finally annexed by Bohemia. Civil wars followed which encouraged foreign intervention.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Duchy of Opole (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Duchy of Opole Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Duchy of Opole appears, with the other states of the time.
Duchy of Opole Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 95,164 km² in 1212 CE.
Duchy of Opole: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Duchy of Opole exist?
Duchy of Opole is dated to 1177 CE – 1304 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Duchy of Opole?
The capital of Duchy of Opole was Opole.
How large was Duchy of Opole at its peak?
At its peak in 1212 AD Duchy of Opole covered about 95,164 km².
How did the map of Duchy of Opole change over time?
Duchy of Opole appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1200 CE to 1300 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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