Charles I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
Encyclopedia
Charles I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels (also: Charles I of Podebrady, , ; 2 or 4 May 1476, Kladsko – 31 May 1536, Frankenstein
) was a member of the House of Poděbrady. He was Duke
of Münsterberg and Duke of Oels
as well as Count of Kladsko
. From 1519 to 1523 he held the office of the bailiff
of Upper Lusatia
, in 1523 he was made Obersthauptmann
of Bohemia and in 1524 Landeshauptmann
of Silesia
.
of Bohemia. His parents were Henry the Elder of Munsterberg
and Ursula of Brandenburg, daughter of Margrave Albrecht III Achilles of Brandenburg. In 1488 his father made him marry Anna of Sagan
(1480/83-1541), a daughter of Duke Jan II the Mad
. Charles's elder brothers Albert I
and George
were also married to daughters of John II.
After their father's death in 1498, the three brothers Albert, George and Charles ruled jointly at first, but each lived on his own court: Albert in Kłodzko, George in Oleśnica
, and Charles in Münsterberg
. Charles moved his residence in 1530 in the newly built castle of Frankenstein
.
Since Charles intended to transfer his residence to Frankenstein, he promoted the development of the city. In order to favour people settling in the city, he built new stone houses, and there were freihaus
es for the landed gentry. The city wall was rebuilt and strengthened and in 1511 a stone parsonage was built. Around the same time Charles began construction of a large palace to replace the ruins of the medieval castle of Frankenstein. His successors continued to work on the castle, but it was never finished. By the middle of the 16th Century, the Duchy was so heavily indebted that it had to be pledged at times; the high cost of the palace probably contributed to this problem.
His brothers George and Albert died in 1502 and 1511. So Charles inherited the country and ruled alone as Duke of Münsterberg and Oels. Although Charles and his brothers had sold the county of Kladsko in 1501 to their future brother in law Ulrich of Hardegg
, they and their descendants continue to use the title of Counts of Kladsko, until the House of Münsterberg died out in the male line 1647.
Charles served the Bohemian kings Vladislas II, Louis and Ferdinand I
in various high offices. King Louis appointed him in 1519 by bailiff
of the Upper Lusatia
. He held this position until the death of the king in 1526. In 1523 he was promoted to chief captain of the Kingdom of Bohemia and was one of the high nobles who administered the country when the king was absent (which he was quite often, as he spent most of his time in Hungary, where he was also King). Furthermore Charles was made Landeshauptmann
of Lower Silesia in 1524.
After the death of King Louis, Charles was a leading figure in organizing the election of the next king. He put cupported the candidacy of Ferdinand of Habsburg early, and Ferdinand reward him after the coronation in 1527 with the confirmation of his captaincy in Bohemia and awarding him the post of Oberlandeshauptmann
in Silesia. The exercise of these offices was incurred a significant financial burden for Charles, so he was forced to sell parts of his territories.
Although Charles read Martin Luther's writings with a benevolent interest, he maintained his Catholic faith during the Reformation
.
He died in 1536 and was buried in the St. Anne's Church in Frankenstein, where his sons built a tombstone
for him and his wife (she died in 1541).
Zabkowice Slaskie
Ząbkowice Śląskie is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in south-western Poland. It is the seat of Ząbkowice Śląskie County, and of the smaller administrative district called Gmina Ząbkowice Śląskie....
) was a member of the House of Poděbrady. He was Duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
of Münsterberg and Duke of Oels
Duchy of Oels
The Duchy of Oels or Duchy of Oleśnica was one of the duchies of Silesia, with the capital in Oleśnica, Poland.Initially part of the Piast Duchy of Wrocław, the Oleśnica area became part of the Duchy of Głogów in 1294, following an armed conflict between Duke Henry III and Henry V the Fat, Duke of...
as well as Count of Kladsko
County of Kladsko
The County of Kladsko was a historical administrative unit in the Kingdom of Bohemia and later in the Kingdom of Prussia with its capital at Kłodzko on the Nysa river...
. From 1519 to 1523 he held the office of the bailiff
Vogt
A Vogt ; plural Vögte; Dutch voogd; Danish foged; ; ultimately from Latin [ad]vocatus) in the Holy Roman Empire was the German title of a reeve or advocate, an overlord exerting guardianship or military protection as well as secular justice...
of Upper Lusatia
Upper Lusatia
Upper Lusatia is a region a biggest part of which belongs to Saxony, a small eastern part belongs to Poland, the northern part to Brandenburg. In Saxony, Upper Lusatia comprises roughly the districts of Bautzen and Görlitz , in Brandenburg the southern part of district Oberspreewald-Lausitz...
, in 1523 he was made Obersthauptmann
Landeshauptmann
Landeshauptmann is a former German gubernatorial title equivalent to that of a governor of a province or a state....
of Bohemia and in 1524 Landeshauptmann
Landeshauptmann
Landeshauptmann is a former German gubernatorial title equivalent to that of a governor of a province or a state....
of 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...
.
Life
Charles was a grandson of the King GeorgeGeorge of Podebrady
George of Kunštát and Poděbrady , also known as Poděbrad or Podiebrad , was King of Bohemia...
of Bohemia. His parents were Henry the Elder of Munsterberg
Henry I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
Henry the Elder of Münsterberg was an Imperial Count and Count of Kladsko. He was also Duke of Silesian duchies Münsterberg and Oels and 1465–1472 Duke of Opava...
and Ursula of Brandenburg, daughter of Margrave Albrecht III Achilles of Brandenburg. In 1488 his father made him marry Anna of Sagan
Anna of Sagan
Anna of Sagan was the last surviving member of the Hlohovsko-Zaháňský branch of the Silesian Piasts family, and by marriage duchess of Münsterberg and Oels....
(1480/83-1541), a daughter of Duke Jan II the Mad
Jan II the Mad
Jan II the Mad also known as the Bad, the Wild or the Cruel , was a Duke of Żagań-Przewóz since 1439 , from 1449 Duke of Przewóz , during 1461-1468 and briefly in 1472 Duke of Żagań and during 1476-1488 Duke of half-Głogów .He was the fourth and...
. Charles's elder brothers Albert I
Albert I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
Albert I of Münsterberg-Oels was a member of the House of Poděbrady and a Duke of the Silesian duchies of Münsterberg and Oleśnica and Count of Kladsko.- Life :Albert was a grandson of the King George of Podebrady of Bohemia...
and George
George I of Ziębice
George I of Münsterberg was a member of the House of Poděbrady and a Duke of the Silesian Duchies of Münsterberg and Oels and Count of Glatz....
were also married to daughters of John II.
After their father's death in 1498, the three brothers Albert, George and Charles ruled jointly at first, but each lived on his own court: Albert in Kłodzko, George in Oleśnica
Olesnica
Oleśnica is a town in the Trzebnickie Hills in southwestern Poland with 36,951 inhabitants . It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship...
, and Charles in Münsterberg
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...
. Charles moved his residence in 1530 in the newly built castle of Frankenstein
Zabkowice Slaskie
Ząbkowice Śląskie is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in south-western Poland. It is the seat of Ząbkowice Śląskie County, and of the smaller administrative district called Gmina Ząbkowice Śląskie....
.
Since Charles intended to transfer his residence to Frankenstein, he promoted the development of the city. In order to favour people settling in the city, he built new stone houses, and there were freihaus
Freihaus
A Freihaus was a house that, although physically within the city walls of a medieval or early modern city, was legally outside it. That is, the residents of a Freihaus legally lived in the surrounding countryside and were outside the jurisdiction of the city Court and were exempt from municipal...
es for the landed gentry. The city wall was rebuilt and strengthened and in 1511 a stone parsonage was built. Around the same time Charles began construction of a large palace to replace the ruins of the medieval castle of Frankenstein. His successors continued to work on the castle, but it was never finished. By the middle of the 16th Century, the Duchy was so heavily indebted that it had to be pledged at times; the high cost of the palace probably contributed to this problem.
His brothers George and Albert died in 1502 and 1511. So Charles inherited the country and ruled alone as Duke of Münsterberg and Oels. Although Charles and his brothers had sold the county of Kladsko in 1501 to their future brother in law Ulrich of Hardegg
Ulrich of Hardegg
Ulrich of Hardegg was an Austrian nobleman from the Prüschenk family of Count of Hardegg. He was "Cup-bearer" of Austria, which, by this time, was a title of nobility and no longer involved looking after the arch-duke's wine cellar...
, they and their descendants continue to use the title of Counts of Kladsko, until the House of Münsterberg died out in the male line 1647.
Charles served the Bohemian kings Vladislas II, Louis and Ferdinand I
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...
in various high offices. King Louis appointed him in 1519 by bailiff
Vogt
A Vogt ; plural Vögte; Dutch voogd; Danish foged; ; ultimately from Latin [ad]vocatus) in the Holy Roman Empire was the German title of a reeve or advocate, an overlord exerting guardianship or military protection as well as secular justice...
of the Upper Lusatia
Upper Lusatia
Upper Lusatia is a region a biggest part of which belongs to Saxony, a small eastern part belongs to Poland, the northern part to Brandenburg. In Saxony, Upper Lusatia comprises roughly the districts of Bautzen and Görlitz , in Brandenburg the southern part of district Oberspreewald-Lausitz...
. He held this position until the death of the king in 1526. In 1523 he was promoted to chief captain of the Kingdom of Bohemia and was one of the high nobles who administered the country when the king was absent (which he was quite often, as he spent most of his time in Hungary, where he was also King). Furthermore Charles was made Landeshauptmann
Landeshauptmann
Landeshauptmann is a former German gubernatorial title equivalent to that of a governor of a province or a state....
of Lower Silesia in 1524.
After the death of King Louis, Charles was a leading figure in organizing the election of the next king. He put cupported the candidacy of Ferdinand of Habsburg early, and Ferdinand reward him after the coronation in 1527 with the confirmation of his captaincy in Bohemia and awarding him the post of Oberlandeshauptmann
Landeshauptmann
Landeshauptmann is a former German gubernatorial title equivalent to that of a governor of a province or a state....
in Silesia. The exercise of these offices was incurred a significant financial burden for Charles, so he was forced to sell parts of his territories.
Although Charles read Martin Luther's writings with a benevolent interest, he maintained his Catholic faith during the Reformation
Reformation
- Movements :* Protestant Reformation, an attempt by Martin Luther to reform the Roman Catholic Church that resulted in a schism, and grew into a wider movement...
.
He died in 1536 and was buried in the St. Anne's Church in Frankenstein, where his sons built a tombstone
Cenotaph
A cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...
for him and his wife (she died in 1541).
Offspring
- Henry (1497-1497)
- Anna (1499–1504)
- Catherine (1500–1507)
- Margareta (1501–1551), married to Jan Zajíc of Hasenburg
- JoachimJoachim of Münsterberg-OelsJoachim of Münsterberg was a Duke of Münsterberg and from 1536 to 1542 also Duke of Oels...
(1503–1562), Bishop of Brandenburg - Kunigunde (1504–1532), married to Christopher Cernohorsky of Boskowitz
- Ursula (1505–1539), married to Jerome of Bieberstein
- Henry IIHenry II, Duke of Münsterberg-OelsHenry II of Münsterberg-Oels was from 1536 to 1542 Duke of Münsterberg and of Oels and from 1542 to 1548 Duke of Bernstadt...
(1507–1548), Duke of Münsterberg-Oels - HedwigHedwig of Münsterberg-OelsHedwig of Münsterberg Oels was born Duchess of Münsterberg and Oels and Countess of Kladsko and by marriage Margravine of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Kulmbach....
(1508–1531), married in 1525 George of Brandenburg-Ansbach - JohnJohn, Duke of Münsterberg-OelsJohn of Münsterberg-Oels was Duke of the Münsterberg from 1542 to 1565, Duke of Oels from 1548 to 1565 and Duke of Bernstadt from 1548 to 1565. He also held the title of Count of Glatz.- Life :Johann Berger family was a member of the Münsterberg branch of the noble Poděbrady family...
(1509–1565), Duke of Münsterberg-Oels - Barbara (1511–1539), Abbess in Strehlen near Oels
- George IIGeorge II, Duke of Münsterberg-OelsGeorge II of Münsterberg-Oels was a Duke of Münsterberg 1536-1542 and Duke of Oels. He also held the title of a Count of Glatz.- Life :...
(1512–1553), married to Elizabeth Kostka of Postupitz
External links
- genealogy Podiebrad
- Letters of Charles of Münsterberg to Ferdinand of Habsburg, whose election as King of Bohemia, he was supporting (1526)
- Ferdinand's instruction to his ambassadors that in matters regarding the election of the Bohemian King, he was to be seconded by Duke Charles of Münsterberg (1526)
- Charles of Münsterberg and Frankenstein