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| 1177–94 |
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| CASIMIR II (the Just) was elected by the practical magnates, who extorted privileges from him. In the Assembly of Lenczyca (1180) the clergy was also given far-reaching concessions. Casimir attempted to preclude further strife by making the principality of Kraków hereditary in his own line. | 1 |
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| 1194–1227 |
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| Leszek I (the White), whose reign was punctuated by constant wars against Mieszko III, who attempted to regain the throne (d. 1202), and against the latter's son Vladislav Laskonogi (1202–6). The period was one of complete feudal anarchy, with the nobility and clergy controlling the situation. | 2 |
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| 1227–79 |
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| Boleslav V, whose unhappy reign was marked by complete disruption and by constant aggression from neighboring states. | 3 |
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| 1228 |
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| Arrival of the Teutonic Knights, called to Prussia by Duke Conrad of Masovia (See 1229). Within the next 50 years, they conquered Prussia and erected a most formidable barrier to Polish access to the sea. | 4 |
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| 1240 |
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| Beginning of great Mongol expansion westward. | 5 |
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| 1241, April 9 |
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Mongols smashed combined Polish and German forces at Legnica (Leignitz) in southwestern Poland (now Silesia). Although the Mongol leader Batu withdrew for consultation after the death of the Great Khan, enabling the Poles to stave off complete domination, the country was devastated. One result was that large numbers of German settlers were called in, some of whom cleared forest land and colonized new areas in Silesia and Posen (Pozna ), others of whom settled in the towns, while the aristocratic parliament (the Sejm) became an ever more powerful institution. In all cases, large concessions in the direction of autonomy were made (Magdeburg law). The German influence meant greater and more efficient exploitation of the soil, development of trade, cultural advance. | 6 |
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| 1288–90 |
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| Further dynastic and feudal warfare with the brief reign of Henry Probus. | 7 |
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| 1290–96 |
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| Przemyslav II. He was crowned king with the consent of the pope (1295) but was murdered soon afterward. | 8 |
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| 1300–1305 |
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| Wenceslas I, king of Bohemia, elected by the nobility but challenged by claimants of the Piast family. He soon resigned the position and returned home. (See Poland) | 9 |
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