Euphemia of Ziębice
Encyclopedia
Euphemia of Münsterberg also known as Euphemia, Countess of Oettingen, was a princess member of 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...

 in the 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...

 (Ziębice) branch, by marriage Countess of Öttingen and sovereign Duchess of Münsterberg during 1435–1443.

She was the third child and eldest daughter of Duke Bolko III of Münsterberg by his wife Euphemia, daughter of Duke Bolesław of Bytom
Bolesław of Bytom
Bolesław of Bytom , was a Duke of Koźle from 1347 and Duke of Bytom since 1352 until his death.He was the second son of Duke Władysław of Bytom but the eldest by his second wife Ludgarda, daughter of Henry II the Lion, Prince of Mecklenburg and Lord of Stargard.-Life:After the death of his elder...

.

Life

In 1397 Euphemia married with the widower Count Frederick III of Oettingen. They had nine children, five sons and four daughters. Perhaps under her influence, a German translation of the "Life of St. Hedwig of Andechs
Hedwig of Andechs
Saint Hedwig of Silesia , also Saint Hedwig of Andechs from the comital House of Andechs was Duchess of Silesia from 1201 and of Greater Poland from 1231 as well as High Duchess consort of Poland from 1232 until 1238.-Life:...

"
with rich colors and illustrations was made, which remained in the Comital Library of Oettingen. After the death of her husband (23 January 1423), Euphemia returned to 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...

.

After the death of her brother John
Jan of Ziębice
John I of Münsterberg was a Duke of Münsterberg since 1410 .He was the second son of Duke Bolko III of Münsterberg by his wife Euphemia, daughter of Duke Bolesław of Bytom.-Life:...

 in 1428, the Duchy of Ziębice was incorporated into the Bohemian Kingdom and one year later (1429) granted to the magnate Puta III of Častolovic, Starost of Kłodzko. Shortly after, Euphemia borrowed to the Emperor Sigismund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...

 the sum of 4,000 guilder
Guilder
Guilder is the English translation of the Dutch gulden — from Old Dutch for 'golden'. The guilder originated as a gold coin but has been a common name for a silver or base metal coin for some centuries...

s and buy with another 100 guilders the claims of Puta III's mother (Anna of Oświęcim) and eldest daughters (Anna and Katharina of Častolovic). On 11 November 1435, Euphemia was formally invested as Duchess of Ziębice.

Nicholas, Abbot of Heinrichau
Henryków
Henryków may refer to the following places in Poland:*Henryków, Lower Silesian Voivodeship *Henryków, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship *Henryków, Brzeziny County in Łódź Voivodeship...

 (Henryków), strongly opposed to Euphemia's rule; was suspected that he was Hussite
Hussite
The Hussites were a Christian movement following the teachings of Czech reformer Jan Hus , who became one of the forerunners of the Protestant Reformation...

. In order to revenge, the Duchess ordened to Sigismund of Rachenau, castellan
Castellan
A castellan was the governor or captain of a castle. The word stems from the Latin Castellanus, derived from castellum "castle". Also known as a constable.-Duties:...

 of Neuhaus (Chałupki) plundered and burned the monastery of Heinrichau in 1438.

The continue disputes with Puta III's widow Anna of Kolditz and her second husband Henry Cruschina of Lichtenburg developed during all Euphemia's reign. Finally, was made a settlement in 1443: Münsterberg was given to Duke William of Opawa, Euphemia's nephew (son of her late younger sister Katharina) and son-in-law of Puta III (husband of his younger daughter Salome).

After definitely losing the government of the Duchy, Euphemia returned to Germany. She died four years later.
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