Frederick William, Duke of Cieszyn
Encyclopedia
Frederick William of Cieszyn was a Duke of Cieszyn
since 1617 until his death.
He was the third but only surviving son of Adam Wenceslaus, Duke of Cieszyn, by his wife Elisabeth, daughter of Gotthard Kettler
, Duke of Courland. His mother died from childbirth complications ten days after his birth, on 19 November 1602.
, and all the Protestant members of his court were dismissed, among them also Exner. Frederick William was then sent to the Jesuits in Munich
.
On 13 July 1617 Duke Adam Wenceslaus died and was succeeded by Frederick William. Despite this, the young Duke remained in Munich until 1624. On his behalf, the authority over the Duchy was exercised by a Regency council, which included Archduke Charles of Habsburg, Bishop of Wrocław, Karl of Liechtenstein, Duke of Opava
and Krnov
and George of Oppersdorf, Starost of Opole
-Racibórz
. However, the real power in Cieszyn was held by the Duke's sister, Elizabeth Lucretia.
During the 1620s a plague infected Cieszyn and many citizens died. The Duchy was also affected by the Thirty Years' War
and plundered by various forces. In 1620 Skoczów
was destroyed by the Lisowczycy
troops, who recognized Protestant inhabitants of this city as their enemies. In 1621, Cieszyn was severely destroyed by the Imperial troops stationed here under the command of Colonel Charles Spinelli. Finally, in 1622 Cieszyn was the battlefield in the fight between the Protestants troops of John George, Elector of Brandenburg
, and the Catholics forces led by Charles Hannibal of Dohna.
In religious sphere he was tolerant and avoided restrictions towards both Catholics and Protestants.
The beginning of Frederick William's independent rule in 1624 didn't bring any relief to the Duchy; moreover, soon afterwards (in early 1625), he left Cieszyn and went to the Emperor to the Netherlands, where he obtained the post of military Commander of the district. During this journey, the Duke became suddenly ill and died on 19 August 1625 in Cologne
. Frederick Wilhelm was buried in the Dominican
church in Cieszyn
.
Frederick William never married, and only left an illegitimate daughter, Maria Magdalena (b. ca. 1624 - d. by 1661), who was legitimized by the Emperor Ferdinand III
and created Baroness of Hohenstein by Imperial order at Vienna
on 8 May 1640. She married firstly with Tluck of Toschonowitz, marshal of the Cieszyn castle, and after his death, with Nicholas Rudzki.
Cieszyn
Cieszyn is a border-town and the seat of Cieszyn County, Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland. It has 36,109 inhabitants . Cieszyn lies on the Olza River, a tributary of the Oder river, opposite Český Těšín....
since 1617 until his death.
He was the third but only surviving son of Adam Wenceslaus, Duke of Cieszyn, by his wife Elisabeth, daughter of Gotthard Kettler
Gotthard Kettler
Gotthard von Kettler was the last Master of the Livonian Order and the first Duke of Courland and Semigallia....
, Duke of Courland. His mother died from childbirth complications ten days after his birth, on 19 November 1602.
Life
Since his early years, Frederick William's education was entrusted to the Silesian humanist Baltzar Exner. In 1611 Duke Adam Wenceslaus decided to convert to the CatholicismCatholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
, and all the Protestant members of his court were dismissed, among them also Exner. Frederick William was then sent to the Jesuits in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
.
On 13 July 1617 Duke Adam Wenceslaus died and was succeeded by Frederick William. Despite this, the young Duke remained in Munich until 1624. On his behalf, the authority over the Duchy was exercised by a Regency council, which included Archduke Charles of Habsburg, Bishop of Wrocław, Karl of Liechtenstein, Duke of Opava
Opava
Opava is a city in the northern Czech Republic on the river Opava, located to the north-west of Ostrava. The historical capital of Czech Silesia, Opava is now in the Moravian-Silesian Region and has a population of 59,843 as of January 1, 2005....
and Krnov
Krnov
Krnov is an Upper Silesian city in the northeastern Czech Republic, in the Moravian-Silesian Region, the District of Bruntál, on the Opava River, near the Polish border....
and George of Oppersdorf, Starost 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...
. However, the real power in Cieszyn was held by the Duke's sister, Elizabeth Lucretia.
During the 1620s a plague infected Cieszyn and many citizens died. The Duchy was also affected by the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
and plundered by various forces. In 1620 Skoczów
Skoczów
Skoczów is a town and the seat of Gmina Skoczów in Cieszyn County, Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland with 14,783 inhabitants . It lies in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia....
was destroyed by the Lisowczycy
Lisowczycy
Lisowczycy or chorągiew elearska ; or in singular form: Lisowczyk or elear) - the name of an early 17th century irregular unit of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth light cavalry. The Lisowczycy took part in many battles across Europe and the historical accounts of the period characterized them as...
troops, who recognized Protestant inhabitants of this city as their enemies. In 1621, Cieszyn was severely destroyed by the Imperial troops stationed here under the command of Colonel Charles Spinelli. Finally, in 1622 Cieszyn was the battlefield in the fight between the Protestants troops of John George, Elector of Brandenburg
John George, Elector of Brandenburg
John George of Brandenburg was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg and a Duke of Prussia...
, and the Catholics forces led by Charles Hannibal of Dohna.
In religious sphere he was tolerant and avoided restrictions towards both Catholics and Protestants.
The beginning of Frederick William's independent rule in 1624 didn't bring any relief to the Duchy; moreover, soon afterwards (in early 1625), he left Cieszyn and went to the Emperor to the Netherlands, where he obtained the post of military Commander of the district. During this journey, the Duke became suddenly ill and died on 19 August 1625 in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
. Frederick Wilhelm was buried in the Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
church in Cieszyn
Cieszyn
Cieszyn is a border-town and the seat of Cieszyn County, Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland. It has 36,109 inhabitants . Cieszyn lies on the Olza River, a tributary of the Oder river, opposite Český Těšín....
.
Frederick William never married, and only left an illegitimate daughter, Maria Magdalena (b. ca. 1624 - d. by 1661), who was legitimized by the Emperor Ferdinand III
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:...
and created Baroness of Hohenstein by Imperial order at Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
on 8 May 1640. She married firstly with Tluck of Toschonowitz, marshal of the Cieszyn castle, and after his death, with Nicholas Rudzki.