Bolko I of Opole
Encyclopedia
Bolko I of Opole was a Duke of Opole
from 1282 (until 1284 with his brother as co-ruler), Niemodlin
and Strzelce Opolskie
until his death.
He was the third son of Władysław, Duke of Opole
-Racibórz
, by his wife Euphemia
, daughter of Władysław Odonic, Duke of Greater Poland
.
inherited Opole
as co-rulers, while his other two brothers, Mieszko I and Przemysław
inherited Racibórz
also as co-rulers.
The common rule between Bolko I and Casimir lasted two years, until 1284, when the formal division was made of their domains. Bolko I retained the main city of Opole and Casimir received Bytom
.
For unknown reasons, Bolko I chose to follow different politics than his brothers and began a close cooperation with Henry IV Probus, Duke of Wrocław. In particular, this was clearly revealed in the long-time conflict between Henry IV and Bishop Thomas II Zaremba: Bolko I actively supported Henry IV's politics (for example, in 1283 the Duke of Opole took part in the Congress of episcopal rulers in Nysa
). In 1287, in an ongoing conflict with the Church's secular power, Bolko I made mediation attempts between them and Henry IV prior to a full military victory over the Duke of Wrocław.
On 30 September 1288 Leszek II the Black
, Duke of Kraków
and Sandomierz
died without issue. The first pretenders to the Kraków throne were initially the Duke of Płock, Bolesław II and Henry IV Probus. The military assistance of Dukes Władysław I the Elbow-high of Kuyavia
and Casimir II of Łęczyca initially gave the victory to Bolesław II. On 26 February 1289, an unexpected Silesian army under the command of Dukes Henry III of Głogów
, Przemko of Ścinawa
and Bolko I of Opole attacked Siewierz
, counting on the support of the Governor of Kraków, castellan Sulk the Bear (Sułk z Niedźwiedzia). The extremely bloody battle ended with the defeat of the Silesian troops. Duke Przemko of Ścinawa was killed in battle and Bolko I was seriously wounded and captured by Władysław I the Elbow-high, who released him one year later after he paid a large ransom.
On 23 June 1290, Henry IV Probus died unexpectedly, probably poisoned. In his will, he left his inheritance to Dukes Henry III of Głogów and Przemysł II of Greater Poland
(some historians supported the theory of Thomas Jurek who believed that Henry IV's true heir over Wrocław and Kraków was Bolko I). The Duke of Opole then decided on an alliance with King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia. On 17 January 1291 in Olomouc
a formal agreement was signed, in which Bolko I, together with Mieszko I and Casimir agreed to fight with his own troops against any enemy of the Přemyslid dynasty
. With this treaty, homage was also performed to the Bohemian crown; however, it's unknown if that tribute was only to King Wenceslaus II personally, or was extended to his successors (some historians stated that the homage was made one year later, in 1292). In subsequent years Bolko I actively supported the Polish politics of the Bohemian King. In 1292 the Duke of Opole took part in the expedition at Sieradz
against Władysław I the Elbow-high. Once again, war with the Duke of Kuyavia started in 1296, when Bolko I supported Henry III of Głogów in his attempt to conquer Greater Poland
.
The close cooperation between the Bohemian Kingdom and Bolko I soon brought to him a significant increase in international politicsl affairs. In 1297, he took part in the coronation of his protector King Wenceslaus II, and was appointed as a mediator in the conflict between the Church hierarchy of Olomouc and Wrocław. One year later (in 1298), the importance of the Duke of Opole reached his apogee, when he was sent to Mainz
as a representative of King Wenceslaus II, in the Electors meeting that chose Albert I of Habsburg as a new German King. Later that year, Bolko I supported the expedition against the deposed King Adolf of Nassau
.
In 1300 Bolko I took part in the trip of Wenceslaus II to Greater and his coronation as King of Poland. Shortly after, the Duke of Opole's faithful services were rewarded when he was appointed Starost of Kraków.
The extinction of the Přemyslid dynasty in 1306 broke the existing alliance of Bolek I with the Bohemian Kingdom and began to improve the already significantly tightening relations with his neighbors. Soon after the death of King Wenceslaus II, Bolko I could only obtain Wieluń
. The Duke of Opole tried to return to the political scene in 1311, at the beginning of the Rebellion of wójt Albert
. It's unknown if the Duke heard the complains of the burghers of Kraków against Władysław I the Elbow-high and appeared in Lesser Poland
on April of 1312 following his own interests, or just as the new Governor appointed by the new Bohemian King John of Luxembourg. In any event, Bolko I couldn't cope with Wawel castle
and soon returned to Opole, where he imprisoned the leader of the rebellion, wójt (Mayor) Albert.
In internal politics, Bolko I was known mainly for his extraordinary generosity to the Church. In particular, he supported the Cistercian monastery in Jemielnica
, and the Franciscan
Church, where he built the chapel of St. Anna. He also made the economic development of his Duchy after granted to many localities German laws (Magdeburg Law).
Bolko I died on 14 May 1313 and was buried in the Franciscan church in Opole.
On the other hand, the Obituary of the Church of St. Vincent in Wrocław showed the existence of a certain "Grzymisława, Duchess of Opole" (Grimizlaua ducissa Opuliensis) who was buried there around 13 September 1286. Her parentage is also unknown, but her name suggests a Russia
n origin, probably member of the Rurikids. Her title suggests that she maybe was the first wife of Bolko I, or maybe the wife of Mieszko I of Cieszyn, Bolko I's older brother, or even a different person.
Opole
Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...
from 1282 (until 1284 with his brother as co-ruler), Niemodlin
Niemodlin
Niemodlin is a town in Opole County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 6,911 inhabitants .It was first mentioned as Nemodlin in a 1224 deed and received town privileges in 1283. Originally a part of the Duchy of Opole, after the death of Duke Bolko I Niemodlin became the capital of a duchy in his...
and Strzelce Opolskie
Strzelce Opolskie
Strzelce Opolskie is a town in south-western Poland with 19,628 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Strzelce County. Strzelce Opolskie is one of the biggest centers of German minority in Poland....
until his death.
He was the third son of Władysław, Duke of Opole
Opole
Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...
-Racibórz
Racibórz
Racibórz is a town in southern Poland with 60,218 inhabitants situated in the Silesian Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship...
, by his wife Euphemia
Euphemia of Greater Poland
Euphemia of Greater Poland , was a Polish princess member of the House of Piast from the Greater Poland branch and by marriage was Duchess of Kalisz, Wieluń and Opole-Racibórz....
, daughter of Władysław Odonic, Duke of Greater Poland
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
.
Life
Around 1277 Bolko I was named co-ruler of the Duchy of Opole-Racibórz by his father, despite the fact that he was the third child. After Duke Władysław's death in 1282, Bolko I and his brother CasimirCasimir of Bytom
Casimir of Bytom was a Duke of Opole during 1282–1284 and Duke of Bytom from 1284 until his death....
inherited Opole
Opole
Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...
as co-rulers, while his other two brothers, Mieszko I and Przemysław
Przemysław of Racibórz
Przemysław of Racibórz was a Duke of Racibórz since 1282 until his death ....
inherited Racibórz
Racibórz
Racibórz is a town in southern Poland with 60,218 inhabitants situated in the Silesian Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship...
also as co-rulers.
The common rule between Bolko I and Casimir lasted two years, until 1284, when the formal division was made of their domains. Bolko I retained the main city of Opole and Casimir received Bytom
Bytom
Bytom is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The central-western district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Bytom is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Bytomka river .The city belongs to the Silesian Voivodeship since...
.
For unknown reasons, Bolko I chose to follow different politics than his brothers and began a close cooperation with Henry IV Probus, Duke of Wrocław. In particular, this was clearly revealed in the long-time conflict between Henry IV and Bishop Thomas II Zaremba: Bolko I actively supported Henry IV's politics (for example, in 1283 the Duke of Opole took part in the Congress of episcopal rulers in Nysa
Nysa
- People :*Nysa , daughter of Laodice IV and Antiochus, wife of Pharnaces I of Pontus* Nysa of Cappadocia, daughter of Pharnaces I of Pontus and Nysa, wife of Ariarathes V of Cappadocia and mother Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia...
). In 1287, in an ongoing conflict with the Church's secular power, Bolko I made mediation attempts between them and Henry IV prior to a full military victory over the Duke of Wrocław.
On 30 September 1288 Leszek II the Black
Leszek II the Black
Leszek the Black , named after his black hair, was one of the High Dukes of the fragmented Kingdom of Poland. He ruled from 1279 to 1288, and was married to Agrippina of Slavonia with no children.- Life :...
, Duke of Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
and Sandomierz
Sandomierz
Sandomierz is a city in south-eastern Poland with 25,714 inhabitants . Situated in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship , previously in Tarnobrzeg Voivodeship . It is the capital of Sandomierz County . Sandomierz is known for its Old Town, a major tourist attraction...
died without issue. The first pretenders to the Kraków throne were initially the Duke of Płock, Bolesław II and Henry IV Probus. The military assistance of Dukes Władysław I the Elbow-high 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 Casimir II of Łęczyca initially gave the victory to Bolesław II. On 26 February 1289, an unexpected Silesian army under the command of Dukes Henry III of Głogów
Henry III, Duke of Silesia-Glogau
Henry III of Głogów was a Duke of Głogów from 1274 to his death and also Duke of parts of Greater Poland during 1306–1309....
, Przemko of Ścinawa
Przemko of Ścinawa
Przemko of Ścinawa was Duke of Żagań from 1278 to 1284 and Duke of Ścinawa from 1284 until his death.He was the third and youngest son of Konrad I, Duke of Głogów by his first wife Salome, daughter of Duke Władysław of Greater Poland.-Duke of Żagań and later of Ścinawa:After his father's death in...
and Bolko I of Opole attacked 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...
, counting on the support of the Governor of Kraków, castellan Sulk the Bear (Sułk z Niedźwiedzia). The extremely bloody battle ended with the defeat of the Silesian troops. Duke Przemko of Ścinawa was killed in battle and Bolko I was seriously wounded and captured by Władysław I the Elbow-high, who released him one year later after he paid a large ransom.
On 23 June 1290, Henry IV Probus died unexpectedly, probably poisoned. In his will, he left his inheritance to Dukes Henry III of Głogów and Przemysł II of Greater Poland
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
(some historians supported the theory of Thomas Jurek who believed that Henry IV's true heir over Wrocław and Kraków was Bolko I). The Duke of Opole then decided on an alliance with King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia. On 17 January 1291 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...
a formal agreement was signed, in which Bolko I, together with Mieszko I and Casimir agreed to fight with his own troops against any enemy of the Přemyslid dynasty
Premyslid dynasty
The Přemyslids , were a Czech royal dynasty which reigned in Bohemia and Moravia , and partly also in Hungary, Silesia, Austria and Poland.-Legendary rulers:...
. With this treaty, homage was also performed to the Bohemian crown; however, it's unknown if that tribute was only to King Wenceslaus II personally, or was extended to his successors (some historians stated that the homage was made one year later, in 1292). In subsequent years Bolko I actively supported the Polish politics of the Bohemian King. In 1292 the Duke of Opole took part in the expedition at Sieradz
Sieradz
Sieradz is a town on the Warta river in central Poland with 44,326 inhabitants . It is situated in the Łódź Voivodship , but was previously the eponymous capital of the Sieradz Voivodship , and historically one of the minor duchies in Greater Poland.It is one of the oldest towns in Poland,...
against Władysław I the Elbow-high. Once again, war with the Duke of Kuyavia started in 1296, when Bolko I supported Henry III of Głogów in his attempt to conquer Greater Poland
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
.
The close cooperation between the Bohemian Kingdom and Bolko I soon brought to him a significant increase in international politicsl affairs. In 1297, he took part in the coronation of his protector King Wenceslaus II, and was appointed as a mediator in the conflict between the Church hierarchy of Olomouc and Wrocław. One year later (in 1298), the importance of the Duke of Opole reached his apogee, when he was sent to Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
as a representative of King Wenceslaus II, in the Electors meeting that chose Albert I of Habsburg as a new German King. Later that year, Bolko I supported the expedition against the deposed King Adolf of Nassau
Adolf of Nassau-Weilburg
Adolf was the King of Germany from 1292 until 1298. Though his title in his lifetime was Rex Romanorum , he is usually known as Adolf of Nassau...
.
In 1300 Bolko I took part in the trip of Wenceslaus II to Greater and his coronation as King of Poland. Shortly after, the Duke of Opole's faithful services were rewarded when he was appointed Starost of Kraków.
The extinction of the Přemyslid dynasty in 1306 broke the existing alliance of Bolek I with the Bohemian Kingdom and began to improve the already significantly tightening relations with his neighbors. Soon after the death of King Wenceslaus II, Bolko I could only obtain Wieluń
Wielun
Wieluń is a city in central Poland with 24,347 inhabitants . Situated in the Łódź Voivodeship , it was previously in Sieradz Voivodeship .- History :...
. The Duke of Opole tried to return to the political scene in 1311, at the beginning of the Rebellion of wójt Albert
Rebellion of wójt Albert
The Rebellion of wójt Albert was an uprising of burghers of the Polish city of Kraków against the duke Władysław I the Elbow-high in the years 1311–12...
. It's unknown if the Duke heard the complains of the burghers of Kraków against Władysław I the Elbow-high and appeared in Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland is one of the historical regions of Poland, with its capital in the city of Kraków. It forms the southeastern corner of the country, and should not be confused with the modern Lesser Poland Voivodeship, which covers only a small, southern part of Lesser Poland...
on April of 1312 following his own interests, or just as the new Governor appointed by the new Bohemian King John of Luxembourg. In any event, Bolko I couldn't cope with Wawel castle
Wawel Castle
The Gothic Wawel Castle in Kraków in Poland was built at the behest of Casimir III the Great and consists of a number of structures situated around the central courtyard. In the 14th century it was rebuilt by Jogaila and Jadwiga of Poland. Their reign saw the addition of the tower called the Hen's...
and soon returned to Opole, where he imprisoned the leader of the rebellion, wójt (Mayor) Albert.
In internal politics, Bolko I was known mainly for his extraordinary generosity to the Church. In particular, he supported the Cistercian monastery in Jemielnica
Jemielnica
Jemielnica is a village in Strzelce County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Jemielnica...
, and the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
Church, where he built the chapel of St. Anna. He also made the economic development of his Duchy after granted to many localities German laws (Magdeburg Law).
Bolko I died on 14 May 1313 and was buried in the Franciscan church in Opole.
Marriage and issue
By 1280, Bolko I married a certain Agnes (d. by 1301), whose origins are unknown. According to some sources, she was probably the daughter of Margrave Otto III of Brandenburg. They had three sons:- Bolesław the ElderBolesław the ElderBolesław the Elder , was a Duke of Wieluń during 1313-1326, Duke of Niemodlin from 1313 and ruler over Prudnik since 1336 until his death.He was the eldest son of Duke Bolko I of Opole by his wife Agnes, probably daughter of Margrave Otto III of Brandenburg...
(b. ca. 1293 - d. by 1365). - Bolko IIBolko 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:...
(b. bef. 1300 - d. 21 June 1356). - AlbertAlbert of StrzelceAlbert of Strzelce , was a Duke of Opole during 1313-1323 and Duke of Strzelce since 1323 until his death.He was the third and youngest son of Duke Bolko I of Opole by his wife Agnes, probably daughter of Margrave Otto III of Brandenburg...
(b. aft. 1300 - d. by 25 September 1375).
On the other hand, the Obituary of the Church of St. Vincent in Wrocław showed the existence of a certain "Grzymisława, Duchess of Opole" (Grimizlaua ducissa Opuliensis) who was buried there around 13 September 1286. Her parentage is also unknown, but her name suggests a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n origin, probably member of the Rurikids. Her title suggests that she maybe was the first wife of Bolko I, or maybe the wife of Mieszko I of Cieszyn, Bolko I's older brother, or even a different person.