Piasts
The Piasts, or Piastowie, were the first ruling dynasty of Poland, traditionally dating from the 9th or 10th century. The name derives from a legendary progenitor, Piast the Wheelwright, though the dynasty’s historical core centers on the rulers who established and sustained the Polish state. Over time the Piasts became associated with various Polish and Silesian principalities and ultimately with the Polish crown.
The most influential early Piast was Mieszko I, who ruled from the mid-10th century and united several
After Bolesław III Wrymouth, who reigned in the early 12th century, issued a testament dividing Poland among
Casimir III the Great, who reigned from 1333 to 1370, is often regarded as the last king
A separate Piast lineage persisted in the Silesian duchies (including Legnica, Brzeg, and Opole) until the death