Silesia

Silesia (German Schlesien), a district of Germany situated south of Brandenburg and north of Moravia and Bohemia, and having an area of some 18,000 square miles. From the 10th to the 12th century this tract was under Polish government, and from the 12th to the 14th century it was divided into two duchies, Upper and Lower Silesia. After the 14th century it became broken up into a number of petty states: Schweichnitz, Glogav, Oels, Jagerndorf, etc., over most of which Bohemia exercised suzerainty. In 1537 the Duke of Liegnitz left his dominions to Brandenburg, and thus gave rise to the strugg1e between Ausria and Prussia for the possession of this territory, which was only brought to an end with the Seven Years' War. Prussia then got the greater share (15,666 square miles), and Austria about 2,0OO square miles. The capital of the Prussian province, which embraces some of the richest and of the most picturesque land in Germany, is Breslau, Troppau being the chief town of Austrian Silesia.