1653 - Habsburgs become rulers of the duchy after the Piast dynasty dies out

In 1625, the Duke of Cieszyn, Frederick William, the last male representative of the Piast line in Cieszyn, died. With the consent of the emperor, the sister of the deceased, duchess Elisabeth Lucretia (1625-1653), became the next ruler of the duchy with the reservation that after her death the duchy was to become the property of the Habsburgs. The Habsburgs remained in possession of the Cieszyn Duchy until 1918, except for several decades in the 18th century, when they gave the duchy to their allies from the Lorraine dynasty.