1656 AD., German States, Liegnitz-Brieg in Silesia, Georg III., Ludwig and Christian, 3 Kreuzer, Fr.u.S. 1752.

German States, Liegnitz-Brieg in Silesia, Georg III., Ludwig and Christian (1639-1663), struck 1656 AD.,
3 Kreuzer (19-21 mm / 1,61 g),
Obv.: D.G.GEOR.LUDO - (3) & CHRIST.FRAT , facing two-third length armored figures of the Dukes, orb above going into legend.
Rev.: DUCESS IL LIG - BRE & WOL 1656 , Silesian eagle, wings spread, head left.
Fr.u.S. 1752 .

Nach dem Tode des Piasten Heinrichs II. entstand durch die Teilung Niederschlesiens im Jahre 1248 das Herzogtum Liegnitz. Zwischen 1290 und 1311 war es mit dem Herzogtum Breslau vereinigt. Danach war es wieder selbstständig, kam aber 1329 unter die Lehnshoheit Böhmens. Mit dem Tod des Herzogs Wenzel von Liegnitz 1419, der bis 1417 auch Bischof von Breslau war, starben die Liegnitzer Piasten aus, und das Herzogtum kam an das Fürstentum Brieg. Später kam es durch Erbteilungen zu wiederholten Trennungen. 1523 kam durch Kauf das Fürstentum Wohlau bis zum Jahr 1653 hinzu. Es war aber schon 1664 wieder mit Liegnitz vereinigt, ebenso ab 1669 Brieg.
1675 starben die schlesischen Piasten mit dem letzten Piasten-Herzog Georg Wilhelm aus. Die drei Fürstentümer Liegnitz, Wohlau und Brieg kamen als erledigte Lehen an die Krone Böhmen, die seit 1526 die Habsburger innehatten. Preußen erhob ab 1681 Erbansprüche auf die drei Fürstentümer, da es einen Erbvertrag aus dem Jahr 1537 gab. Diese Forderung war letztlich einer der Gründe für die Annexion Schlesiens durch Preußen im Jahr 1742 und den darauf folgenden Siebenjährigen Krieg zwischen Preußen und Österreich.

The three brothers pictured here ruled the separate territories of Silesia, Brieg, and Wohlau. The Duchy of Legnica (Polish: Księstwo Legnickie) or Duchy of Liegnitz (German: Herzogtum Liegnitz) was one of the duchies of Silesia. The capital of the duchy was Legnica (Liegnitz). It became the residence of the dukes of Lower Silesia in 1163 and was the seat of a principality ruled by a Silesian branch of the Piast dynasty from 1248 to 1675. Formed in 1248 by Bolesław II Rogatka in Lower Silesia, it shared the fate of most of the others Silesian duchies, falling into Bohemian, Austrian and eventually, after the Silesian Wars, Prussian spheres of influence.
Legnica became famous for the Battle of Legnica (or Battle of Wahlstatt) that took place at Legnickie Pole near the city on 9 April 1241, during the Mongol invasion of Europe. The Christian army of the Polish duke Henry II the Pious of Silesia, supported by the feudal nobility, included Poles, Bavarian miners and military orders, was decisively defeated by the Mongols. Although the Mongols killed Henry and destroyed his forces, their advance into Europe was halted when they turned back to attend to the election of a new Khagan (Grand Khan) following the death in the same year of Ögedei Khan. Minor celebrations are held annually in Legnica to commemorate the battle.
As the capital of the Duchy of Legnica at the beginning of the 14th century, Legnica was an important city of Central Europe, with a population of approximately 16,000 residents. The city began to expand quickly after the discovery of gold in the Kaczawa
As consequence of conflict between sons of Boleslaus III, Legnica in 1329 became a vassal of the Kingdom of Bohemia. Political weakness, caused by domestic war between Wenzeslaus I and Ludwig I bring influences of Holy Roman Empire. The Protestant Reformation was introduced in the duchy as early as 1522 and the population became Lutheran. After the death of King Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia at Mohács in 1526, Legnica was inherited with the Crown of Bohemia by the Habsburg Monarchy. The first map of Silesia was made by native son Martin Helwig.
In 1676, Legnica passed to direct Habsburg rule after the death of the last Silesian Piast duke, Georg Wilhelm (son of Duke Christian of Brieg), despite the earlier inheritance pact by Brandenburg and Silesia, by which it was to go to Brandenburg.
In 1742 most of Silesia, including Liegnitz, became part of the Kingdom of Prussia after King Frederick the Great's defeat of Austria in the War of the Austrian Succession; it lost most of its privileges after being annexed by Prussia.