| History of Legnica and Theatre |
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Page 1 of 3 Legnica is not a big city, but it is ambitious, and theatre is a considerable part of its hopes for the future. The city was first mentioned in chronicles from 1004. It became the residence of the dukes of Lower Silesia in 1163, when the emperor granted ducal titles and liens to Silesian dukes, and was the seat of a principality ruled from 1248 – 1675. By the 17th century, the dukes used the name “Silesian Piasts” and in 1847 a Polish historian used for the first time the term Piast Dynasty. Legnica became famous for the Battle of Legnica (or Battle of Wahlstatt) that took place at Legnickie Pole near the city of 9 April 1241 during the Mongol invasion of Europe. The Christian army of the Polishduke Henry II the Pious of Silesia, supported by the feudal nobility, included Poles, Bavarian miners and military orders, was defeated by the Mongols. Although the Mongols killed Henry and destroyed his forces, their advance into Europe was halted. As the capital of the Duchy of Legnica at the beginning of the 14th century, Legnica was one of the most important cities of Central Europe, with a population of about 16,000. It is supposed that there were performances of traveling theatres at the castle and in the street. Legnica, along with other Silesian duchies, became a vassal of he Kingdom of Bohemia during the 14th century and was part of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1526 Legnica was inherited by the Habsburg monarchy of Austria, and 150 years later, it passed to direct Habsburg rule after the death of the last Silesian Piast duke (despite the earlier inheritance pact by Brandenburh and Silesia, by which it was to go to Brandenburg.
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