The Polish Duchy of Silesia was established in 1138. In 1159 it was divided
into the duchies of Lower and Upper Silesia, both later being divided into a
mutltitude of minor duchies, which all became vassals of Bohemia from 1337
onwards.
In 1526 Bohemia was united with Austria and the duchies now became part of
the Habsburg realm.
After their defeat in the Silesian War in 1742, the Habsburgs were forced to
cede most of Silesia to Prussia by the Treaty of Breslau.
The part that remained to the Habsburgs - the Kreise of Teschen and Troppau
- was now administred by the governors of Moravia until 1849, when it became
a separate Austrian Kronland, enjoying some selfgovernment since 1861.
HEADS OF STATE
Dukes of Lower- and Upper - Silesia
House of Habsburg - Lothringen
(ruled since 1780)
1804 - 1918 The Emperors of Austria
(in their capacity of Kings of Bohemia)
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IMPERIAL ADMINISTRATORS
Landespräsidenten
1870 - 1882 Alexander, Ritter Summer
1882 - 1886 Olivier, Marquis de Bacquehem 1847 - 1917
1886 - 1889 Franz Carl, Graf Merweldt 1844 - 1916
1889 - 1894 Karl, Ritter Jaeger
1894 - 1896 Karl Maria, Graf von Coudenhove 1855 - 1913
1896 - 1898 Manfred Alexander Robert Johann Adalbert,
Graf von Clary und Aldringen 1862 - 1928
1898 - 1905 Josef, Graf von Thun und Hohenstein
1905 - 1908 Karl, Freiherr von Heinold-Udynski 1862 - 1942
1908 - 1915 Maximilian "Max", Graf
von Coudenhove 1865 - 1928
1915 - 1918 Adalbert, Freiherr von Widmann 18.. - 1968
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After they had established their rule over Silesia the Habsburgs annexed the
minor duchies to their possessions, soon afterwards granting them as mediate
fiefs to members of the German or Austrian nobility.
In 1742 most of them were annexed to Prussia, only four - Jägerndorf, Neisse,
Teschen and Troppau - remaining under Habsburg suzerainty. (1)
(1) Two other Silesian duchies, Auschwitz and Zator, had been annexed to
Galicia in 1772.
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JÄGERNDORF
The Duchy of Jägerndorf was established in 1278. In 1623 it was annexed to
the Habsburg possessions, but soon afterwards it was granted as a fief to
the House of Liechtenstein.
Dukes
Herzöge
(listed until 1918 when nobility was abolished in the new Czechoslovak State
- also for the other Duchies)
1623 - 1918 The Princes of Liechtenstein
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NEISSE
The Duchy of Neisse was established in 1195 as a possession of the bishops
of Breslau. In 1742 most of it became part of Prussia, but the bishop kept
his rights in the Habsburg part of the Duchy.
Dukes
Herzöge
Prince Bishops of Breslau
Fürstbischöfe von Breslau
1853 - 1881 Heinrich Förster 1799 - 1881
1882 - 1886 Robert Herzog 1823 - 1886
1887 - 1914 Cardinal (1900) Georg Kopp 1837 - 1914
1914 - 1918 Cardinal Adolf Bertram 1859 - 1945
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TESCHEN
The Duchy of Teschen was established in 1281. It became a Habsburg possession
in 1653, but was later granted to the House of Lothringen (in 1722) and to
a branch of the House of Habsburg afterwards.
Dukes
Herzöge
House of Habsburg - Branch of Toscania / Teschen
(since 1822)
1847 - 1895 Feldmarschall (1863) Erzhertog
Albrecht Friedrich Rudolf 1817 - 1895
1895 - 1918 Feldmarschall (1914) Erzhertog
Friedrich Maria Albrecht Wilhelm
Karl, nephew 1856 - 1936
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TROPPAU
The Duchy of Troppau was established in 1278. It became a Habsburg possession
in 1528, but was granted to the House of Liechtenstein in 1614.
Dukes
Herzöge
1614 - 1918 The Princes of Liechtenstein
In 1918 a Czech Silesian National Council assumed power in Ostrava and soon
afterwards most of Silesia became part of the new Czechoslovak state, a part
of the former county of Teschen going to Poland (2)
(2)TESCHEN 1918 - 1945
In 1918, while most of former Austrian Silesia was taken over by the
Czech Silesian National Council, a Polish National Council assumed
power in the eastern parts of the duchy of Teschen (Pol. : Cieszyn)
and the territory was soon afterwards divided between the two states
the eastbank of the Olsa river going to Poland.
Chairman of the Polish National Council of the Duchy of Teschen
1918 - 1920 Józef Londzin 1863 - 1929
Despite the agreement tensions over the region continued until 1920,
when the Allied Conference of Ambassadors confirmed the partition.
In 1938 Poland annexed the Czechoslovak part, but the following year,
after the German occupation of Poland, the whole territory became a
Kreis of the Regierungsbezirk Kattowitz in Prussian (Upper-) Silesia.
Landrat of Teschen
1940 - 1945 Udo Krüger
In 1945, after the German defeat, the situation of before 1938 was
restored.
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