Bolko II of Swidnica
Encyclopedia
Bolko II the Small was the last independent Duke of the Piast dynasty
in Silesia
. He was Duke of Świdnica from 1326, Duke of Jawor
and Lwówek
from 1346, Duke of Lusatia
from 1364, Duke over half of Brzeg
and Oława from 1358, Duke of Siewierz
from 1359, and Duke over half of Głogów and Ścinawa
from 1361.
He was the oldest son of Bernard
, Duke of Świdnica, by his wife Kunigunde
, daughter of Władysław I the Elbow-high, Duke of Kuyavia
and since 1320 King of Poland. Like his grandfather, King Elbow-high
, Bolko II was of small stature; his nickname, "the Small" (Mały), reflects this and was used in contemporary sources.
as co-ruler. Because both princes were still in their teenage years, they were at first aided by their two paternal uncles, Dukes Bolko II of Ziębice
and Henry I of Jawor
, as well as their mother Kunigunde, who in 1328 remarried to Rudolf I, Duke of Saxe
-Wittenberg
. Through this union, Bolko II gained a half-brother, Mieszko of Saxe-Wittenberg (b. ca. 1330 - d. 1350). Kunigunde died in 1331, when Bolko II was able to rule by himself.
of his small Duchy. It became a separate identity during the fragmentation of Poland, not under the control of the Polish Kingdom, nor by its other neighbors. In particular King John of Bohemia, hoped to gain control of the small Silesia
n duchies. The first serious attempt of King John to forced the Duke of Świdnica to accepted his overlordship was made already in 1329. He succeeded in gaining control of much of Silesia as almost all the Piast rulers paid him homage. However, two of the Silesian rulers strongly refused to became his vassals: Bolko II and his brother-in-law (husband of his sister Constance
), Duke Przemko II of Głogów.
Bolko II needed more troops in order to preserve his position, so he decided to visit the court of the King Charles Robert of Hungary
, where he strongly defended the independence of his sovereignty. Shortly after, he also established contacts with his grandfather, the Polish King Władysław I the Elbow-high, and in August of 1329 he went to Italy
to the camp of Louis IV of Bavaria
, recently crowned Holy Roman Emperor
.
over Niemcza
and the disputed Głogów took longer than he expected, and his forces were delayed in reaching Kalisz
, where was made a peace meeting. In the end, all King John could incorporated to Bohemia
was the Duchy of Głogów.
put himself under King John's rule. This submission was in return for a lifelong reign over the Kłodzko region, and was influenced by the declaration of the new Polish king, Casimir III the Great, who renounced some of his claims over Silesia.
. In order to enhance his international position, on 1 June 1338 Bolko II married with Agnes (b. 1322 - d. 2 February 1392), daughter of Leopold I
, a member of the Habsburgs, who were among the chief rivals of the Luxembourgs and had recently won over Austria
and Styria
. He gained some significant results, among them a trade agreement allowing merchants from his lands access to the Halych
region. Eventually, on 1 January 1345, his mediation resulted in the official alliance between the Wittelsbachs, Poland and Hungary.
, Margrave
of Moravia
(future Holy Roman Emperor). King John in turn responded by invading Bolko II's lands, and the Polish and Hungarian Kings declared the war. This allowed Bolko II to repulse the now divided Bohemian forces during the siege of Świdnica
. However, the Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV quickly signed a temporary truce with the Bohemian King. The war continue with varying fortunes, without any major successes of both parties. On the Świdnica side, Bolko II lost the fortress in Kamienna Góra
in 1345, but recaptured it in 1348, using subterfuge and disguising his troops as merchants. The war ended in a draw. King John didn't live to see the end of it; he died in 1346, in a different war, at the Battle of Crécy
. The Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV died one year later. On 22 November 1348, the peace was signed in Namysłów, although Bolko II, for unknown reasons, didn't take part in those negotiations, and was represented by King Casimir III the Great. The final normalization of the relations between Bolko II and the new Holy Roman Emperor and German King Charles IV (also King of Bohemia after he succeeded his father) only occurred as a result of the mediation of Duke Albert II of Austria
on 16 August 1350.
, but without sacrificing his good relations with the Kings Casimir III of Poland and Louis I of Hungary.
By 1346, after the death of his last surviving uncle, Duke Henry I of Jawor
, Bolko II inherited his domains, the Duchies of Jawor
and Lwówek
. Soon before, Bolko II's younger brother and co-ruler Henry II
died, leaving only one daughter, Anna
. Bolko II, as the closest male relative, obtain Anna's legal guardianship and began to considered his niece as the heiress of all his lands.
In 13 December 1350 was performed the betrothal between the eleven-years-old Anna and the eleven-months-old Wenceslaus, eldest son and heir of Emperor Charles IV. Under the terms of the engagement contract, the couple would inherit Bolko II's lands in the (likely) case of his heirless death (however, was stipulated that they only could take formal possession of the Duchies after the death of Bolko II's wife Agnes of Austria, who, under her husband's will received his domains as her Oprawa wdowia). However, fifteen days later, on 28 December, the young Wenceslaus died and the settlement was broken. Nevertheless, the Emperor decided not to abandon his intentions to take control in a peaceful way over Bolko II's heritage. The death of his second wife Anna of Bavaria
-mother of the late Wenceslaus- on 2 February 1353 gave him a new opportunity to obtain the Duchies; almost immediately, he asked to Bolko II the hand of his niece in marriage and the former agreement was renewed. The wedding took place in Buda
, Hungary
(were Anna live with her mother after the death of her father) on 27 May 1353. Besides Bolko II, the wedding was attended by: Duke Albert II of Austria, King Louis I of Hungary, Margrave Louis VI of Brandenburg
, Duke Rudolf I of Saxe-Wittenberg (Bolko II's stepfather) and envoys of King Casimir III of Poland
and the Republic of Venice
.
On 28 July Anna was crowned Queen of Bohemia in Prague
by Archbishop Ernst of Pardubitz. On 9 February 1354, in Aachen
, she was crowned German Queen. As part of the coronation of Charles IV as Holy Roman Emperor
on 5 April 1355, in the Roman Basilica of Saint Peter, Anne was crowned Empress of the Holy Roman Empire. She was thereby the first Queen of Bohemia to become Empress.
and Oława from Duke Wenceslaus I of Legnica
; soon after, he also buy half to Ścinawa
to Duke Jan
. In 1359 the Emperor allowed him to buy territories near the Bohemian border, including Frydlant, and shortly after Bolko II also buy the town of Siewierz
to the Dukes of Cieszyn by the amount of 2,300 fines. In 1360 Bolko II bought Kąty Wrocławskie and in the same year, his positive relations with the Emperor were demonstrated when, after almost thirty years, where finally accepted the rights of Przemko II's widow Constance over the half of Głogów who remained under Bohemian control (the other half was given to the Dukes of Żagań in 1349). One year later, in 1361, Constance (who was a nun since the death of her husband) renounced to her domains on behalf of his brother Bolko II. The Emperor, increasingly sure he would soon gain the property back, was now willing to pass it to his putative father-in-law.
Bolko II's biggest asset, however, proved to be the acquisition, together with the Emperor on 14 April 1364 for the enormous sum of 21,000 fine silver the large town and lands near Łużyce, which became one of the most important and prestigious of his possessions.
In 1364 he was one of the monarchs invited to the Congress of Cracow, where he took part in the famous Wierzynek Feast, where, along with the host, King Casimir III of Poland, also assisted the Kings Louis I of Hungary, Valdemar III of Denmark
and Peter I of Cyprus
; and the Dukes Otto of Bavaria
, Władysław of Opole and Bogislaw V of Pomerania-Stolp (Słupsk)
.
. He was the last of the independent Silesian dukes from the Piast dynasty
, the line started by Władysław II the Exile. His lands were held by his wife until 1392; after her death they were incorporated into the lands of Bohemia
by Wenceslaus, King of the Romans
, only son of Emperor Charles IV and Anna of Świdnica.
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Piast dynasty
The Piast dynasty was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. It began with the semi-legendary Piast Kołodziej . The first historical ruler was Duke Mieszko I . The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of king Casimir the Great...
in Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
. He was Duke of Świdnica from 1326, 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...
and Lwówek
Lwówek
Lwówek is a town in Nowy Tomyśl County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,939 inhabitants ....
from 1346, Duke of Lusatia
Lusatia
Lusatia is a historical region in Central Europe. It stretches from the Bóbr and Kwisa rivers in the east to the Elbe valley in the west, today located within the German states of Saxony and Brandenburg as well as in the Lower Silesian and Lubusz voivodeships of western Poland...
from 1364, Duke over half of Brzeg
Brzeg
Brzeg is a town in southwestern Poland with 38,496 inhabitants , situated in Silesia in the Opole Voivodeship on the left bank of the Oder...
and Oława from 1358, Duke of Siewierz
Siewierz
Siewierz is a town in the Silesian Voivodeship in Poland.-History:In history, Sewerien was first mentioned in 1125, which was administered by the Castellan of Bytom. In 1177, Casimir II granted Sewerien to Mieszko IV Tanglefoot duke of Silesia and Racibórz, together with the duchy of Bytom. The...
from 1359, and Duke over half of Głogów and Ścinawa
Scinawa
Ścinawa is a town and municipality on the Oder river in the Lower Silesian region of Poland. The town features a number of historic monuments including city hall and the town church . The Ścinawa train station is a key gateway for travel throughout the region, connecting major destinations such...
from 1361.
He was the oldest son of Bernard
Bernard of Świdnica
Bernard of Świdnica was a Duke of Jawor-Lwówek-Świdnica-Ziębice during 1301–1312 , of Świdnica-Ziębice during 1312–1322 , 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...
, Duke of Świdnica, by his wife Kunigunde
Kunigunde 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 :...
, 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. Like his grandfather, King Elbow-high
Ell
An ell , is a unit of measurement, approximating the length of a man's arm.Several national forms existed, with different lengths, includingthe Scottish ell ,the Flemish ell ,the French ell...
, Bolko II was of small stature; his nickname, "the Small" (Mały), reflects this and was used in contemporary sources.
Early Years
After the death of his father in 1326, Bolko II succeeded him in all his domains, but together with his younger brother Henry IIHenry II of Swidnica
Henry 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...
as co-ruler. Because both princes were still in their teenage years, they were at first aided by their two paternal uncles, Dukes Bolko II of Ziębice
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,...
and Henry I of Jawor
Henry 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....
, as well as their mother Kunigunde, who in 1328 remarried to Rudolf I, Duke of Saxe
Saxe
Saxe may refer to* Adrian Saxe , an American ceramist* Maurice de Saxe , military figure, Marshal General of France* Edward Saxe , War intelligence, CBS executive, MOMA director, New York Harvard Club President...
-Wittenberg
Wittenberg
Wittenberg, officially Lutherstadt Wittenberg, is a city in Germany in the Bundesland Saxony-Anhalt, on the river Elbe. It has a population of about 50,000....
. Through this union, Bolko II gained a half-brother, Mieszko of Saxe-Wittenberg (b. ca. 1330 - d. 1350). Kunigunde died in 1331, when Bolko II was able to rule by himself.
Attempts to secure the Independence of his Duchy
One of the first problems that Bolko II had to face during the first years of his personal reign was the preservation of the independenceIndependence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
of his small Duchy. It became a separate identity during the fragmentation of Poland, not under the control of the Polish Kingdom, nor by its other neighbors. In particular King John of Bohemia, hoped to gain control of the small Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
n duchies. The first serious attempt of King John to forced the Duke of Świdnica to accepted his overlordship was made already in 1329. He succeeded in gaining control of much of Silesia as almost all the Piast rulers paid him homage. However, two of the Silesian rulers strongly refused to became his vassals: Bolko II and his brother-in-law (husband of his sister Constance
Constance of Świdnica
Constance of Świdnica was a member of the Piast dynasty in the Świdnica-Jawor branch and by marriage Duchess of Głogów....
), Duke Przemko II of Głogów.
Bolko II needed more troops in order to preserve his position, so he decided to visit the court of the King Charles Robert of Hungary
Charles I of Hungary
Charles I , also known as Charles Robert , was the first King of Hungary and Croatia of the House of Anjou. He was also descended from the old Hungarian Árpád dynasty. His claim to the throne of Hungary was contested by several pretenders...
, where he strongly defended the independence of his sovereignty. Shortly after, he also established contacts with his grandfather, the Polish King Władysław I the Elbow-high, and in August of 1329 he went to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to the camp of 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....
, recently crowned Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
.
Expedition of King John of Bohemia to Silesia in 1331
Bolko II's efforts proved unsuccessful in deterring King John, who allied with the Teutonic Order (which was supposed to distract the Poles) and invaded Silesia in 1331. Details of Bolko II's actions during that time are unknown, but King John's progress through Silesia was not easy: the siegeSiege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
over 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....
and the disputed Głogów took longer than he expected, and his forces were delayed in reaching Kalisz
Kalisz
Kalisz is a city in central Poland with 106,857 inhabitants , the capital city of the Kalisz Region. Situated on the Prosna river in the southeastern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship, the city forms a conurbation with the nearby towns of Ostrów Wielkopolski and Nowe Skalmierzyce...
, where was made a peace meeting. In the end, all King John could incorporated to Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
was the Duchy of Głogów.
Bolko II of Ziębice's homage to the Kingdom of Bohemia
In 1336, Bolko II's obtain a political goal when his uncle Bolko II of ZiębiceBolko 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,...
put himself under King John's rule. This submission was in return for a lifelong reign over the Kłodzko region, and was influenced by the declaration of the new Polish king, Casimir III the Great, who renounced some of his claims over Silesia.
Alliance with Poland, Hungary and the House of Wittelsbach
Bolko II nonetheless continued his attempts of pursuing an alliance with Poland and Hungary against BohemiaBohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
. In order to enhance his international position, on 1 June 1338 Bolko II married with Agnes (b. 1322 - d. 2 February 1392), daughter of Leopold I
Leopold I, Duke of Austria
Leopold I from the House of Habsburg was Duke of Austria and Styria – as co-ruler with his elder brother Frederick the Fair – from 1308 until his death...
, a member of the Habsburgs, who were among the chief rivals of the Luxembourgs and had recently won over Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Styria
Styria (state)
Styria is a state or Bundesland, located in the southeast of Austria. In area it is the second largest of the nine Austrian federated states, covering 16,401 km². It borders Slovenia as well as the other Austrian states of Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Burgenland, and Carinthia. ...
. He gained some significant results, among them a trade agreement allowing merchants from his lands access to the Halych
Halych
Halych is a historic city on the Dniester River in western Ukraine. The town gave its name to the historic province and kingdom of Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia, of which it was the capital until the early 14th century, when the seat of the local princes was moved to Lviv...
region. Eventually, on 1 January 1345, his mediation resulted in the official alliance between the Wittelsbachs, Poland and Hungary.
War of King Casimir III of Poland against Bohemia (1345-1348)
Soon afterwards, King Casimir III the Great of Poland used this new alliance in his favor. The Polish King imprisoned King John's eldest son and heir CharlesCharles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
, Margrave
Margrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
of Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
(future Holy Roman Emperor). King John in turn responded by invading Bolko II's lands, and the Polish and Hungarian Kings declared the war. This allowed Bolko II to repulse the now divided Bohemian forces during the siege of 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...
. However, the Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV quickly signed a temporary truce with the Bohemian King. The war continue with varying fortunes, without any major successes of both parties. On the Świdnica side, Bolko II lost the fortress in Kamienna Góra
Kamienna Góra
Kamienna Góra is a town in south-western Poland with 21,440 inhabitants . It is the seat of Kamienna Góra County, and also of the rural district called Gmina Kamienna Góra, although it is not part of the territory of the latter .Kamienna Góra on the Bóbr river is situated in Lower Silesian...
in 1345, but recaptured it in 1348, using subterfuge and disguising his troops as merchants. The war ended in a draw. King John didn't live to see the end of it; he died in 1346, in a different war, at the Battle of Crécy
Battle of Crécy
The Battle of Crécy took place on 26 August 1346 near Crécy in northern France, and was one of the most important battles of the Hundred Years' War...
. The Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV died one year later. On 22 November 1348, the peace was signed in Namysłów, although Bolko II, for unknown reasons, didn't take part in those negotiations, and was represented by King Casimir III the Great. The final normalization of the relations between Bolko II and the new Holy Roman Emperor and German King Charles IV (also King of Bohemia after he succeeded his father) only occurred as a result of the mediation of Duke Albert II of Austria
Albert II, Duke of Austria
Albert II of Austria , known as the Wise or the Lame, was Duke of Austria.-Life:Albert II was born at Habsburg, the son of Albert I of Germany, Rex Romanorum, and Elisabeth of Tirol...
on 16 August 1350.
Settlement with Charles IV of Luxembourg (1353)
After the sign of the treaty of 1350, Bolko II began the process of approaching to the House of LuxembourgHouse of Luxembourg
The House of Luxembourg was a late medieval German dynasty, which between 1308 and 1437 ruled the Holy Roman Empire, twice interrupted by the rivaling House of Wittelsbach.-History:...
, but without sacrificing his good relations with the Kings Casimir III of Poland and Louis I of Hungary.
By 1346, after the death of his last surviving uncle, Duke Henry I of Jawor
Henry 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....
, Bolko II inherited his domains, the Duchies 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...
and Lwówek
Lwówek
Lwówek is a town in Nowy Tomyśl County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,939 inhabitants ....
. Soon before, Bolko II's younger brother and co-ruler Henry II
Henry II of Swidnica
Henry 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...
died, leaving only one daughter, Anna
Anna von Schweidnitz
Anna of Schweidnitz was Queen of Bohemia, German Queen, and Empress of the Holy Roman Empire. She was the third wife of Emperor Charles IV.-Biography:...
. Bolko II, as the closest male relative, obtain Anna's legal guardianship and began to considered his niece as the heiress of all his lands.
In 13 December 1350 was performed the betrothal between the eleven-years-old Anna and the eleven-months-old Wenceslaus, eldest son and heir of Emperor Charles IV. Under the terms of the engagement contract, the couple would inherit Bolko II's lands in the (likely) case of his heirless death (however, was stipulated that they only could take formal possession of the Duchies after the death of Bolko II's wife Agnes of Austria, who, under her husband's will received his domains as her Oprawa wdowia). However, fifteen days later, on 28 December, the young Wenceslaus died and the settlement was broken. Nevertheless, the Emperor decided not to abandon his intentions to take control in a peaceful way over Bolko II's heritage. The death of his second wife Anna of Bavaria
Anna of Bavaria
Anna of Bavaria was a Queen consort of Bohemia. She was the daughter of Rudolf II, Duke of Bavaria and Count Palatine of the Rhine, and of Anna, daughter of Otto II, Duke of Carinthia....
-mother of the late Wenceslaus- on 2 February 1353 gave him a new opportunity to obtain the Duchies; almost immediately, he asked to Bolko II the hand of his niece in marriage and the former agreement was renewed. The wedding took place in Buda
Buda
For detailed information see: History of Buda CastleBuda is the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest on the west bank of the Danube. The name Buda takes its name from the name of Bleda the Hun ruler, whose name is also Buda in Hungarian.Buda comprises about one-third of Budapest's...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
(were Anna live with her mother after the death of her father) on 27 May 1353. Besides Bolko II, the wedding was attended by: Duke Albert II of Austria, King Louis I of Hungary, Margrave Louis VI of Brandenburg
Louis VI the Roman
Louis the Roman was the eldest son of Emperor Louis IV the Bavarian by his second wife, Margaret II, Countess of Hainault, and a member of the House of Wittelsbach. Louis was Duke of Bavaria as Louis VI and Margrave of Brandenburg as Louis II...
, Duke Rudolf I of Saxe-Wittenberg (Bolko II's stepfather) and envoys of King Casimir III of Poland
Casimir III of Poland
Casimir III the Great , last King of Poland from the Piast dynasty , was the son of King Władysław I the Elbow-high and Hedwig of Kalisz.-Biography:...
and the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
.
On 28 July Anna was crowned Queen of Bohemia in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
by Archbishop Ernst of Pardubitz. On 9 February 1354, in Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
, she was crowned German Queen. As part of the coronation of Charles IV as Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
on 5 April 1355, in the Roman Basilica of Saint Peter, Anne was crowned Empress of the Holy Roman Empire. She was thereby the first Queen of Bohemia to become Empress.
Cooperation with Emperor Charles IV. Expasion of Bolko II's domains
The politic of close cooperation with Charles IV of Luxemburg brought to the Duke of Świdnica a considerable benefits, especially in the expansion of his frontiers. Due to the prosperity of his domains, Bolko II could bought much land from less prosperous Dukes of Silesia. In 1358 he bought the gold mine in Złoty Stok, and half of BrzegBrzeg
Brzeg is a town in southwestern Poland with 38,496 inhabitants , situated in Silesia in the Opole Voivodeship on the left bank of the Oder...
and Oława from Duke Wenceslaus I of Legnica
Wenceslaus I of Legnica
Wenceslaus I of Legnica was a Duke of Namysłów since 1338 and of Legnica-Brieg since 1342 until his death, but with further divisions with his brother Louis I....
; soon after, he also buy half to Ścinawa
Scinawa
Ścinawa is a town and municipality on the Oder river in the Lower Silesian region of Poland. The town features a number of historic monuments including city hall and the town church . The Ścinawa train station is a key gateway for travel throughout the region, connecting major destinations such...
to Duke Jan
Jan of Scinawa
John was a Duke of Żagań, Ścinawa, etc. during 1309-1317 , Duke of Poznań during 1312-1314 and sole Duke of Ścinawa since....
. In 1359 the Emperor allowed him to buy territories near the Bohemian border, including Frydlant, and shortly after Bolko II also buy the town of Siewierz
Siewierz
Siewierz is a town in the Silesian Voivodeship in Poland.-History:In history, Sewerien was first mentioned in 1125, which was administered by the Castellan of Bytom. In 1177, Casimir II granted Sewerien to Mieszko IV Tanglefoot duke of Silesia and Racibórz, together with the duchy of Bytom. The...
to the Dukes of Cieszyn by the amount of 2,300 fines. In 1360 Bolko II bought Kąty Wrocławskie and in the same year, his positive relations with the Emperor were demonstrated when, after almost thirty years, where finally accepted the rights of Przemko II's widow Constance over the half of Głogów who remained under Bohemian control (the other half was given to the Dukes of Żagań in 1349). One year later, in 1361, Constance (who was a nun since the death of her husband) renounced to her domains on behalf of his brother Bolko II. The Emperor, increasingly sure he would soon gain the property back, was now willing to pass it to his putative father-in-law.
Bolko II's biggest asset, however, proved to be the acquisition, together with the Emperor on 14 April 1364 for the enormous sum of 21,000 fine silver the large town and lands near Łużyce, which became one of the most important and prestigious of his possessions.
In 1364 he was one of the monarchs invited to the Congress of Cracow, where he took part in the famous Wierzynek Feast, where, along with the host, King Casimir III of Poland, also assisted the Kings Louis I of Hungary, Valdemar III of Denmark
Valdemar III of Denmark
Valdemar III of Denmark was a king of Denmark from 1326 to 1329 briefly when underage, as well as in 1325–26 and from 1330 to 1364 Duke of Schleswig as Valdemar V. He was a rival king set up against the unsuccessful Christopher II and was widely opposed by his many subjects. His term was ended...
and Peter I of Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
; and the Dukes Otto of Bavaria
Otto of Bavaria
Otto , was King of Bavaria from 1886 to 1913. He was the son of Maximilian II and his wife, Marie of Prussia, and younger brother of Ludwig II...
, Władysław of Opole and Bogislaw V of Pomerania-Stolp (Słupsk)
Bogislaw V, Duke of Pomerania
Bogislaw V was a Duke of Pomerania.Eldest son of Duke Wartislaw IV and Elisabeth of Silesia, Bogislaw had two brothers, Barnim IV and Wartislaw V. The brothers were joint rulers from their father's death in 1326. They allied with King Casimir III of Poland, whose daughter Elisabeth married...
.
Death and Succession
Bolko died on 28 July 1368 and was buried in the Grüssau AbbeyGrüssau 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...
. He was the last of the independent Silesian dukes from the Piast dynasty
Piast dynasty
The Piast dynasty was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. It began with the semi-legendary Piast Kołodziej . The first historical ruler was Duke Mieszko I . The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of king Casimir the Great...
, the line started by Władysław II the Exile. His lands were held by his wife until 1392; after her death they were incorporated into the lands of Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
by Wenceslaus, King of the Romans
Wenceslaus, King of the Romans
Wenceslaus ) was, by election, German King from 1376 and, by inheritance, King of Bohemia from 1378. He was the third Bohemian and second German monarch of the Luxembourg dynasty...
, only son of Emperor Charles IV and Anna of Świdnica.
Literature
- Joachim Bahlcke, Schlesien und die Schlesier, Langen-Müller-Verlag, 2000, ISBN 3-7844-2781-2
- Grünhagen, H.: Geschichte Schlesiens, Breslau 1878
External links
- Piastowie Śląscy (Piasts of Silesia) Bolesław II Mały
- SILESIA
- Complete Genealogy of the House of Piast
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