Bernard of Świdnica
Encyclopedia
Bernard of Świdnica (ca. 1291 – 6 May 1326) was a Duke of Jawor
-Lwówek
-Świdnica
-Ziębice
during 1301–1312 (with his brothers as co-rulers), of Świdnica-Ziębice during 1312–1322 (with his brother as co-ruler), and sole Duke of Świdnica since 1322 until his death.
He was the second son of Bolko I the Strict
, Duke of Jawor
-Lwówek
-Świdnica
-Ziębice
, by his wife Beatrix
, daughter of Otto V the Long, Margrave of Brandenburg
-Salzwedel
.
and Bolko II
as co-rulers. However, because the three princes are minors, their guardianship was taken over by their maternal uncle Herman, Margrave of Brandenburg-Salzwedel, who also held the regency of the Duchy until 1305, when Bernard was proclaimed an adult and took by himself the government and the custody of his brothers.
In 1312 the first division of the Duchy was made between Bernard and his brothers: Henry I obtained Jawor
and Lwówek
; Bernard and Bolko II retained Świdnica and Ziębice as co-rulers. Bernard and Bolko II ruled together until 1322, when the second and final division of the Duchy was made: Bolko II received Ziębice
and Bernard kept Świdnica
.
In foreign politics, Bernard became the guardian of the independence of his sovereignty against his powerful neighbors. The marriage of his sister Beatrix to Duke Louis IV of Bavaria
(later German King and Holy Roman Emperor) in 1308 give Bernard a powerful alliance. Two years later, in 1310, Bernard's marriage to Kunigunde, daughter of Władysław I the Elbow-high re-enforced his bonds with the Kingdom of Poland.
In 1311 Bernard took part in the negotiations in Olomouc
as a mediator between Duke Bolesław III the Generous of Legnica
and King John of Bohemia for the possession of the Duchy of Opawa
(Troppau). The dispute ended in a compromise: King John took the Duchy, but had to pay 8,000 fines to Bolesław III as compensation. The contact with the Duke of Legnica allowed him to retake Niemcza
.
In the early years of the 1320s, Bernard was involved in an alliance with Władysław I the Elbow-high in a war against the Dukes of Głogów. In the battle of Mühldorf
of 1322, Bernard fought with King John and Louis IV, now King of Germany. Shortly afterwards he left for Masuria
, where he took part in the expedition organized by the Teutonic Knights
against Lithuania
.
Bernard died on 6 May 1326 and was buried in Grüssau Abbey
. His effective government helped to increase the power of his Duchy, which allowed his son Bolko II to became the last (and most notorious) independent ruler of the Piast dynasty.
(ca. 1298 – 9 April 1331), daughter of Władysław I the Elbow-high, Duke of Kuyavia
and since 1320 King of Poland. They had five children:
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Jawor
Jawor is a town in south-western Poland with 24,347 inhabitants . It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship . It is the seat of Jawor County, and lies approximately west of the regional capital Wrocław.In the town can be found a Protestant Church of Peace...
-Lwówek
Lwówek
Lwówek is a town in Nowy Tomyśl County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,939 inhabitants ....
-Świdnica
Swidnica
Świdnica is a city in south-western Poland in the region of Silesia. It has a population of 60,317 according to 2006 figures. It lies in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, being the seventh largest town in that voivodeship. From 1975–98 it was in the former Wałbrzych Voivodeship...
-Ziębice
Ziebice
Ziębice is a town in Ząbkowice Śląskie County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Ziębice. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany...
during 1301–1312 (with his brothers as co-rulers), of Świdnica-Ziębice during 1312–1322 (with his brother as co-ruler), and sole Duke of Świdnica since 1322 until his death.
He was the second son of Bolko I the Strict
Bolko I the Strict
Bolko I the Strict also known as the Raw or of Jawor , was a Duke of Lwówek during 1278-81 and Jawor since 1278 , sole Duke of Lwówek since 1286, Duke of Świdnica-Ziębice since 1291.He was the second son of Bolesław II the Bald, Duke of Legnica by his first wife Hedwig, daughter of...
, Duke of Jawor
Jawor
Jawor is a town in south-western Poland with 24,347 inhabitants . It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship . It is the seat of Jawor County, and lies approximately west of the regional capital Wrocław.In the town can be found a Protestant Church of Peace...
-Lwówek
Lwówek
Lwówek is a town in Nowy Tomyśl County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,939 inhabitants ....
-Świdnica
Swidnica
Świdnica is a city in south-western Poland in the region of Silesia. It has a population of 60,317 according to 2006 figures. It lies in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, being the seventh largest town in that voivodeship. From 1975–98 it was in the former Wałbrzych Voivodeship...
-Ziębice
Ziebice
Ziębice is a town in Ząbkowice Śląskie County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Ziębice. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany...
, by his wife Beatrix
Beatrice of Brandenburg
Beatrice of Brandenburg , was a German princess and a member of the House of Ascania in the Brandenburg branch. By her two marriages she was Duchess of Świdnica and Koźle-Bytom-Siewierz....
, daughter of Otto V the Long, Margrave of Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
-Salzwedel
Salzwedel
Salzwedel of Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, and has a population of approximately 21,500. Salzwedel is located on the German Framework Road.-Geography:...
.
Life
The death of his older brother Bolko (30 January 1300) made him the heir apparent to the Duchy and future Head of the family. Twenty-three months later (9 November 1301), the unexpected death of his father left Bernard as ruler of all his domains, together with his younger brothers Henry IHenry I of Jawor
Henry I of Jawor , was a Duke of Jawor-Lwówek-Świdnica-Ziębice during 1301-1312 , sole Duke of Jawor-Lwówek since 1312 and Duke of Głogów since 1337 until his death....
and Bolko II
Bolko II of Ziębice
Bolko II of Ziębice was a Duke of Jawor-Lwówek-Świdnica-Ziębice in Poland from 1301 to 1312 , of Świdnica-Ziębice from 1312 to 1322 , and sole Duke of Ziębice from 1322 until his death.He was the fourth son of Bolko I the Strict, Duke of Jawor-Lwówek-Świdnica-Ziębice, by his wife Beatrix,...
as co-rulers. However, because the three princes are minors, their guardianship was taken over by their maternal uncle Herman, Margrave of Brandenburg-Salzwedel, who also held the regency of the Duchy until 1305, when Bernard was proclaimed an adult and took by himself the government and the custody of his brothers.
In 1312 the first division of the Duchy was made between Bernard and his brothers: Henry I obtained Jawor
Jawor
Jawor is a town in south-western Poland with 24,347 inhabitants . It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship . It is the seat of Jawor County, and lies approximately west of the regional capital Wrocław.In the town can be found a Protestant Church of Peace...
and Lwówek
Lwówek
Lwówek is a town in Nowy Tomyśl County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,939 inhabitants ....
; Bernard and Bolko II retained Świdnica and Ziębice as co-rulers. Bernard and Bolko II ruled together until 1322, when the second and final division of the Duchy was made: Bolko II received Ziębice
Ziebice
Ziębice is a town in Ząbkowice Śląskie County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Ziębice. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany...
and Bernard kept Świdnica
Swidnica
Świdnica is a city in south-western Poland in the region of Silesia. It has a population of 60,317 according to 2006 figures. It lies in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, being the seventh largest town in that voivodeship. From 1975–98 it was in the former Wałbrzych Voivodeship...
.
In foreign politics, Bernard became the guardian of the independence of his sovereignty against his powerful neighbors. The marriage of his sister Beatrix to Duke Louis IV of Bavaria
Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Louis IV , called the Bavarian, of the house of Wittelsbach, was the King of Germany from 1314, the King of Italy from 1327 and the Holy Roman Emperor from 1328....
(later German King and Holy Roman Emperor) in 1308 give Bernard a powerful alliance. Two years later, in 1310, Bernard's marriage to Kunigunde, daughter of Władysław I the Elbow-high re-enforced his bonds with the Kingdom of Poland.
In 1311 Bernard took part in the negotiations in Olomouc
Olomouc
Olomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
as a mediator between Duke Bolesław III the Generous of Legnica
Legnica
Legnica is a town in south-western Poland, in Silesia, in the central part of Lower Silesia, on the plain of Legnica, riverside: Kaczawa and Czarna Woda. Between 1 June 1975 and 31 December 1998 Legnica was the capital of the Legnica Voivodeship. It is currently the seat of the county...
and King John of Bohemia for the possession of the Duchy of Opawa
Opawa
Opawa is an inner suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, located 2.5 kilometres south-east of the city centre.The name is a contraction of Opaawaho, which means a place of an outer pā or outpost in Māori. Opaawaho or Ōpāwaho is the Māori name for the Heathcote River....
(Troppau). The dispute ended in a compromise: King John took the Duchy, but had to pay 8,000 fines to Bolesław III as compensation. The contact with the Duke of Legnica allowed him to retake Niemcza
Niemcza
Niemcza is a town in Dzierżoniów County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Niemcza....
.
In the early years of the 1320s, Bernard was involved in an alliance with Władysław I the Elbow-high in a war against the Dukes of Głogów. In the battle of Mühldorf
Mühldorf
Mühldorf am Inn is a town in Bavaria, Germany, and the capital of the district Mühldorf on the river Inn. It is located at , and had a population of about 17,808 in 2005.-History:...
of 1322, Bernard fought with King John and Louis IV, now King of Germany. Shortly afterwards he left for Masuria
Masuria
Masuria is an area in northeastern Poland famous for its 2,000 lakes. Geographically, Masuria is part of two adjacent lakeland districts, the Masurian Lake District and the Iława Lake District...
, where he took part in the expedition organized by the Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
against Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
.
Bernard died on 6 May 1326 and was buried in Grüssau Abbey
Grüssau Abbey
Grüssau Abbey also known as Krzeszów Abbey refers to a historical Cistercian monastery in Krzeszów in Lower Silesia, and to a house of the Benedictine Order in the town of Bad Wimpfen in Baden-Württemberg, where the German Grüssau community moved in 1947, after their former abbey had become...
. His effective government helped to increase the power of his Duchy, which allowed his son Bolko II to became the last (and most notorious) independent ruler of the Piast dynasty.
Marriage and issue
In 1310, Bernard married KunigundeKunigunde of Poland
Kunigunde of Poland was a daughter of Władysław I the Elbow-high and his wife Jadwiga of Greater Poland. Her siblings included, Casimir III of Poland and Elisabeth, Queen of Hungary. She was a member of the House of Piast.- Biography :...
(ca. 1298 – 9 April 1331), daughter of Władysław I the Elbow-high, Duke of Kuyavia
Kuyavia
Kujawy , is a historical and ethnographic region in the north-central Poland, situated in the basin of the middle Vistula and upper Noteć Rivers, with its capital in Włocławek.-Etymology:The origin of the name Kujawy was seen differently in history...
and since 1320 King of Poland. They had five children:
- Bolko II the Small (ca. 1312 – 28 July 1368).
- ConstanceConstance of ŚwidnicaConstance of Świdnica was a member of the Piast dynasty in the Świdnica-Jawor branch and by marriage Duchess of Głogów....
(ca. 1313 – by 21 November 1363), married by March 1326 to Duke Przemko II of Głogów. - ElisabethElisabeth of ŚwidnicaElisabeth of Świdnica was a member of the Piast dynasty in the Świdnica-Jawor branch and by marriage Duchess of Opole....
(ca. 1315 – 8/9 February 1348), married by 6 May 1326 to Duke Bolko II of OpoleBolko II of OpoleBolko II of Opole , was a Duke of Opole since 1313 .He was the second son of Duke Bolko I of Opole by his wife Agnes, probably a daughter of Margrave Otto III of Brandenburg.-Life:...
. - Henry IIHenry II of SwidnicaHenry II of Świdnica, , was a Duke of Świdnica since 1326 until his death .He was the second and younger son of Duke Bernard of Świdnica by his wife Kunigunde, daughter of Władysław I the Elbow-high, Duke of Kuyavia and since 1320 King of Poland.-Life:Henry's exact date of birth is unknown, but was...
(ca. 1316 – by 28 June 1345). - Beata (ca. 1320 – after 9 April 1331).
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