Teschen as a "Polish Piedmont"?

After the Partition of Poland, the only remaining Polish semi-independent state that is not small or insignificant is Teschen/Cieszyn - although it is a vassal of Austria, is it possible for the Duke of Teschen to acquire Krakow which was a condominium between Austria, Prussia and Russia then pull a Piedmont on Poland, gaining Galicia first then getting Congress Poland and Prussian Poland(Posen and Upper Silesia).

Is it possible?
 
Absolutely not.
1. Cieszyn / Teschen was not a Polish state nor a vassal of Austria; the line of Cieszyn Piasts died out in XVIIth century and duchy was ruled directly by the kings of Bohemia (Habsburg emperors).
2. Even if it was, 3 Black Eagles (Prussia, Russia and Austria-Hungary) would have never allowed for something like "Polish Piedmont" to happen; they all had taken Polish lands and had no wish to loose them. It was something they all agreed with. A "Polish Piedmont" would have been tiny, completely surrounded by hostile powers with no chance for help from anywhere
3. Silesian Piasts lost their claim to Polish crown centuries earlier.
 
It would probably fare about as well as the Republic of Cracow, i.e. annexed by some crappy empire at the first sign of any unrest.
 
Absolutely not.
1. Cieszyn / Teschen was not a Polish state nor a vassal of Austria; the line of Cieszyn Piasts died out in XVIIth century and duchy was ruled directly by the kings of Bohemia (Habsburg emperors).
2. Even if it was, 3 Black Eagles (Prussia, Russia and Austria-Hungary) would have never allowed for something like "Polish Piedmont" to happen; they all had taken Polish lands and had no wish to loose them. It was something they all agreed with. A "Polish Piedmont" would have been tiny, completely surrounded by hostile powers with no chance for help from anywhere
3. Silesian Piasts lost their claim to Polish crown centuries earlier.
The Upper Silesian and Mazovian Piasts were the obvious contenders aside from the Luxembourgs after Louis I of Hungary died and one of them is a possible husband to Jadwiga until Jogaila came along, in OTL Jogaila married his sisters to the Upper Silesian and Mazovian Piasts to establish good relations with them - this silenced them and made them not to try to do something against Jogaila.


The Duchy of Teschen was given to the Wettins(descended from the rulers of Poland-Lithuania) as a fief and later as an Appanage of the Habsburg-Lorraine - the question is if can any one of them recreate the Duchy of Warsaw?
 
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Originally posted by kasumigenx
The Upper Silesian and Mazovian Piasts were the obvious contenders aside from the Luxembourgs after Louis I of Hungary died and one of them is a possible husband to Jadwiga until Jogaila came along, in OTL Jogaila married his sisters to the Upper Silesian and Mazovian Piasts to establish good relations with them - this silenced them and made them not to try to do something against Jogaila.

You mean Siemowit IV of Masovia. Indeed, a serious contender, but in XIVth century. However, partitions started almost 400 years later, with Jagiellon dynasty and a whole bunch of eleced kings in a way - and IIRC a Silesian Piast was never a serious candidate then.

The Duchy of Teschen was given to the Wettins(descended from the rulers of Poland-Lithuania) as a fief and later as an Appanage of the Habsburg-Lorraine - the question is if can any one of them recreate the Duchy of Warsaw?

You're right about a Wettin being in XVIIIth century duke of Teschen and a vassal of Austria. However, Albert Casimir Wettin, duke of Teschen, died in 1822, childless; the duchy returned then to Habsburg family (archduke Charles, to be exact).
Even if Albert Casimir had children, they still would have been vassals of Austria and any attempt of their part to create a Polish Piedmont would be stopped quickly and ruthlessly by Austria, with Russian and Prussian help, if necessary.
 
Originally posted by kasumigenx


You mean Siemowit IV of Masovia. Indeed, a serious contender, but in XIVth century. However, partitions started almost 400 years later, with Jagiellon dynasty and a whole bunch of eleced kings in a way - and IIRC a Silesian Piast was never a serious candidate then.

Siemowit IV of Mazovia, Wladyslaw the White and Wladyslaw Opolczyk both wanted the crown of Poland at the death of Casimir III - they were the Piast candidates to the throne of Poland at that time, continuation of Piasts in Poland did not happen because Wladyslaw Opolczyk supported Louis I of Hungary, rather than supporting his fellow Piasts and Casimir of Slupsk, I think for Casimir of Slupsk and Elisabeth of Pomerania they could be used by Charles IV to start a war of Polish succession instead of betrothing his son to Louis I's daughter - I think allowing Elisabeth of Pomerania to marry Charles IV was the worst thing Casimir III did - perhaps he did not think about what would happen if he did not sire a son and aside from that most likely his chosen heir Casimir of Slupsk is most likely impotent or sterile and most likely any of his issues from his second wife would have a doubtful paternity just like what happened to La Beltraneja in Castile, he would just be another Leszek the Black and it would possibly reverse the efforts of Wladyslaw the Elbowhigh, if anything she should be married to someone insignificant or married to the other candidates to the Polish crown, most likely Wladyslaw Opolczyk or Siemowit of Plock.
 
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No Casimir III would always marry his daughter to someone important, so insignificant isn't going to happen. BTW was Elisabeth of Pomerania his granddaughter?

However the house of Piast taking a more Capet-like approach could happen, so marrying his heir to the next in line.
 
No Casimir III would always marry his daughter to someone important, so insignificant isn't going to happen. BTW was Elisabeth of Pomerania his granddaughter?

However the house of Piast taking a more Capet-like approach could happen, so marrying his heir to the next in line.
Elisabeth of Pomerania is his grand daughter and a possible threat if married to the wrong man - she should be married to someone in the House of Piast.
 
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Elisabeth of Pomerania is his grand daughter and a possible threat if married to the wrong man - she should be married to someone in the House of Piast.

Which (other) Piast branch was on friendly terms with the house of Pomerania and the current Royal Kuyavian branch of the house of Piast?
Furthermore he would need to be able to bring something to the match, so ideally one of the more prominent branches.
 
Which (other) Piast branch was on friendly terms with the house of Pomerania and the current Royal Kuyavian branch of the house of Piast?
Furthermore he would need to be able to bring something to the match, so ideally one of the more prominent branches.

The Opole and Mazovian Piasts who are closely related to the Kuyavian Piasts are the best choice, the Opole Piasts are nephews of Casimir III, the Kuyavian Piasts are a branch of the Mazovian Piasts, so the Mazovian Piasts are a choice as well - both the Opole and Mazovian Piasts were quite powerful on the death of Casimir III.
 
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