George II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
Encyclopedia
George II of Münsterberg-Oels (also: George II of Poděbrady; , ; 30 April 1512, Oleśnica
– 13 January 1553 ibid.) was a Duke
of Münsterberg 1536-1542 and Duke of Oels
. He also held the title of a Count
of Glatz
.
of Münsterberg-Oels and Anna of Sagan
, (1480/83-1541), daughter of Duke John II "the Mad" of Żagań
.
George was married with Elizabeth Kostka of Postupitz . After his father's death in 1536, George II initially ruled Münsterberg-Oels joinly with his brothers Joachim
, John
and Henry II
. In a joint deed dated 25 June 1535, they awarded the city of Srebrna Góra
, which belonged to Münsterberg, the status of free mining town. Unlike their father, Joachim and his brothers followed the Lutheran
doctrine. In 1537, they expelled the Catholic priests from Münsterberg
and appointed an evangelical vicar.
In 1542, Henry and his brothers pledged the heavily indebted Duchy of Münsterberg to their uncle Duke Frederick II
of Legnica. John continued to rule the Duchy of Oels and Henry II ruled until 1548 the Duchy of Bernstadt
. Joachim, the oldest of the brothers became Bishop of Brandenburg. George and his brothers continued to use the title of Duke of Münsterberg. George probably lived with his brother John at the castle in Oels.
He died without an heir at the age of 41 years in Oels, or Oleśnica as it is called today. He was buried in the Evangelical castle church (today the Catholic parish church of St. John). In 1554, a Renaissance
epitaph, created by the court sculptor Johann Oslew from Würzburg, was erected on his grave. It is a sandstone bas-relief, showing George in full armour, standing on a lion.
Olesnica
Oleśnica is a town in the Trzebnickie Hills in southwestern Poland with 36,951 inhabitants . It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship...
– 13 January 1553 ibid.) was a 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 1536-1542 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...
. He also held the title of a Count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
of Glatz
Glatz
Glatz can refer to :Places* Glatz, German name of a city in Lower Silesia, since 1945 Kłodzko, Poland* Landkreis Glatz, Prussian/German county 1816–1945, in the Province of Lower Silesia* Grafschaft Glatz, Duchy of Glatz, since 1348People...
.
Life
George II was a member of the Münsterberg branch of the Bohemina noble Poděbrady family. He was the twelfth and youngest child of Duke Charles ICharles I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
Charles I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels was a member of the House of Poděbrady. He was Duke of Münsterberg and Duke of Oels as well as Count of Kladsko...
of Münsterberg-Oels and 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), daughter of Duke John II "the Mad" of Żagań
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...
.
George was married with Elizabeth Kostka of Postupitz . After his father's death in 1536, George II initially ruled Münsterberg-Oels joinly with his brothers Joachim
Joachim of Münsterberg-Oels
Joachim of Münsterberg was a Duke of Münsterberg and from 1536 to 1542 also Duke of Oels...
, John
John, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
John 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...
and Henry II
Henry II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
Henry II of Münsterberg-Oels was from 1536 to 1542 Duke of Münsterberg and of Oels and from 1542 to 1548 Duke of Bernstadt...
. In a joint deed dated 25 June 1535, they awarded the city of Srebrna Góra
Srebrna Góra
Srebrna Góra may refer to the following places in Poland:*Srebrna Góra, Lower Silesian Voivodeship *Srebrna Góra, Greater Poland Voivodeship...
, which belonged to Münsterberg, the status of free mining town. Unlike their father, Joachim and his brothers followed the Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
doctrine. In 1537, they expelled the Catholic priests from 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...
and appointed an evangelical vicar.
In 1542, Henry and his brothers pledged the heavily indebted Duchy of Münsterberg to their uncle Duke Frederick II
Frederick II of Legnica
Frederick II of Legnica , also known as the Great of Legnica , was a Duke of Legnica from 1488 , of Brzeg from 1521...
of Legnica. John continued to rule the Duchy of Oels and Henry II ruled until 1548 the Duchy of Bernstadt
Duchy of Bernstadt
The Duchy of Bernstadt was a Silesian duchy centred on the city of Bernstadt in Lower Silesia and formed by separation from the Duchy of Oels . It was first ruled by the Silesian Piasts dynasty, until its extinction in 1492. In 1495 it and the Duchy of Oels passed to the Dukes of Münsterberg,...
. Joachim, the oldest of the brothers became Bishop of Brandenburg. George and his brothers continued to use the title of Duke of Münsterberg. George probably lived with his brother John at the castle in Oels.
He died without an heir at the age of 41 years in Oels, or Oleśnica as it is called today. He was buried in the Evangelical castle church (today the Catholic parish church of St. John). In 1554, a Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
epitaph, created by the court sculptor Johann Oslew from Würzburg, was erected on his grave. It is a sandstone bas-relief, showing George in full armour, standing on a lion.