Succession to the Throne after Bolesław V the Chaste, Duke of Krakow and Sandomierz

Abstract

Bolesław the Chaste, the prince of Cracow did not have children, perhaps as a result of the weddings of chastity he made with his wife. In 1265, prince Bolesław, probably during the illness, adopted his relative – Leszek the Black – and made him the successor to the throne in Cracow. The second title of Leszek to the throne was the election of the mighty. During the Piast period, in the Cracow-Sandomierz Duchy, the ruling prince was elected. The first such elected ruler of Cracow, called princeps, was Kazimierz the Just and then his minor son Leszek the White. Successive monarchs were also elected by electionbut, the elections were maintained in the Piast dynasty and were usually only a confirmation of the election, as in the case of Leszek the Black. Bolesław selected Leszek among others because they had starded to cooperate with him during the war between Bohemia and Hungary. Leszek the Black as the heir of the Chaste married Gryfina, the niece of Kinga. It seems that the mighty have accepted the decision of Bolesław on the succession of the throne.

Keywords

• Bolesław the Chaste
• Leszek the Black
• Lesser Poland
• choice of the ruler
• succession to the throne