Duchy of Ziębice

Duchy of Ziębice was one of the Duchies of Silesia. It was created during fragmentation of Poland in Lower Silesia, it existed from 1321/1322 to 1742. Its territory is similar to modern Ząbkowice Śląskie County in Poland.

It was created from further fragmentation of Duchy of Świdnice, after the death of Bolko I Surowy, who had three sons and divided his lands accordingly; it's first ruler, in 1321, was Bolko II Ziębicki. Soon afterwards, Bolko, like many other Dukes of Silesia, was forced to accept vassalization by John I of Bohemia and the Duchy entered the Bohemian sphere of influence. Last Piast ruler of Ziębice, Jan Ziębicki, died in 1428. In 1454 Poděbrady dynasty took control of the Duchy; in 1570 it was vassalized by Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor; following the Silesian Wars in 17th century, in 1742, it was annexed by Prussia, losing most of its privileges.

Capital: Ziębice