George II the Pious
Encyclopedia
George II of Brieg was a Duke of Brzeg
since 1547 until his death.
He was the second son of Frederick II
, Duke of Legnica
-Brzeg, by his second wife Sophie, daughter of Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
.
(which included the towns of Oława, Strzelin
, Niemcza
, Kluczbork
, Byczyna
, Wołów and Ścinawa
).
In 1548, the early death of his relative Henry II of Poděbrady, made him the regent of his Duchy of Oleśnica on behalf of his sons Henry III and Charles II until 1569. Three year later, in 1551, the insubordination of his elder brother Frederick III of Legnica
caused his deposition from the government and the appointed of his infant son Henry XI of Legnica
as the new Duke of Legnica. George II became in the regent of the Duchy on behalf of his nephew, jointly with Balthasar von Promnitz, until 1556, when Frederick III managed to return to Legnica and retake the power.
During all his reign he maintain a good relationship to the Habsburgs (despite he was a Lutheran) and was send by the Emperor in some diplomatic missions. In 1548 George II took part in the coronation of Maximilian II
in Prague
and Bratislava
, and also used the Bryeg army to maintain the internal order of the Duchy (Police Regulation of 1577). In particular, he dedicated himself to the expansion of his main residence, Brzeg, where he built a magnificent Renaissance palace, whose was later destroyed by Frederick II the Great during the siege of Brzeg. As a Lutheran, he was totally committed with the reforms started by his father. He also built the Gymnasium (High School) in Brzeg (1564–1569) and, after the fire of Brzeg in 1569 the new City Hall and the towers of the St. Nicholas Church.
on 15 February 1545, George II married with Barbara
(b. 10 August 1527 - d. Brzeg, 2 January 1595), daughter of Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg
. They had seven children:
On George II's death, his sons received all his domains except Brzeg, who was given to his widow until her own death.
Duchy of Brzeg
The Duchy of Brzeg or Duchy of Brieg , was one of the Duchies of Silesia. Its capital was Brzeg.It was created in 1311 during the fragmentation of the Duchy of Legnica among the sons of Duke Henry V and ruled by Bolesław III the Generous of the Silesian Piasts, who declared himself a vassal of...
since 1547 until his death.
He was the second son of 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...
, Duke of Legnica
Duchy of Legnica
The Duchy of Legnica or Duchy of Liegnitz was one of the Duchies of Silesia. Its capital was Legnica in Lower Silesia....
-Brzeg, by his second wife Sophie, daughter of Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
Frederick I of Ansbach and Bayreuth was born at Ansbach as the eldest son of the Albert III, Margrave of Brandenburg by his second wife Anna, daughter of Frederick II, Elector of Saxony. His elder half-brother was the Elector Johann Cicero of Brandenburg...
.
Life
After the death of his father in 1547, George II inherited the Duchy of BrzegDuchy of Brzeg
The Duchy of Brzeg or Duchy of Brieg , was one of the Duchies of Silesia. Its capital was Brzeg.It was created in 1311 during the fragmentation of the Duchy of Legnica among the sons of Duke Henry V and ruled by Bolesław III the Generous of the Silesian Piasts, who declared himself a vassal of...
(which included the towns of Oława, Strzelin
Strzelin
Strzelin is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in south-western Poland. It is located on the Oława river, a tributary of the Oder, about south of the region's capital Wrocław. The town is the seat of Strzelin County and also of the smaller municipality of Strzelin...
, Niemcza
Niemcza
Niemcza is a town in Dzierżoniów County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Niemcza....
, Kluczbork
Kluczbork
Kluczbork is a town in southwestern Poland with 26,670 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Kluczbork County and an important railroad junction. In Kluczbork the major rail line from Katowice splits into two directions - westwards to Wroclaw and northwards to Poznań...
, Byczyna
Byczyna
Byczyna is a town in Kluczbork County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,708 inhabitants .The town of Byczyna was first mention in 1054 when it temporarily served as the capital of the Bishopric of Wrocław...
, Wołów and Ścinawa
Scinawa
Ścinawa is a town and municipality on the Oder river in the Lower Silesian region of Poland. The town features a number of historic monuments including city hall and the town church . The Ścinawa train station is a key gateway for travel throughout the region, connecting major destinations such...
).
In 1548, the early death of his relative Henry II of Poděbrady, made him the regent of his Duchy of Oleśnica on behalf of his sons Henry III and Charles II until 1569. Three year later, in 1551, the insubordination of his elder brother Frederick III of Legnica
Frederick III of Legnica
Frederick III of Legnica was a Duke of Legnica during 1547–1551 and 1556–1559 ....
caused his deposition from the government and the appointed of his infant son Henry XI of Legnica
Henry XI of Legnica
Henry XI of Legnica , was a thrice Duke of Legnica: 1551-1556 , 1559–1576 and 1580-1581.He was the eldest son of Frederick III, Duke of Legnica, by his wife Katharina, daughter of Henry V, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.-Early years:...
as the new Duke of Legnica. George II became in the regent of the Duchy on behalf of his nephew, jointly with Balthasar von Promnitz, until 1556, when Frederick III managed to return to Legnica and retake the power.
During all his reign he maintain a good relationship to the Habsburgs (despite he was a Lutheran) and was send by the Emperor in some diplomatic missions. In 1548 George II took part in the coronation of Maximilian II
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian II was king of Bohemia and king of the Romans from 1562, king of Hungary and Croatia from 1563, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from 1564 until his death...
in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
and Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, and also used the Bryeg army to maintain the internal order of the Duchy (Police Regulation of 1577). In particular, he dedicated himself to the expansion of his main residence, Brzeg, where he built a magnificent Renaissance palace, whose was later destroyed by Frederick II the Great during the siege of Brzeg. As a Lutheran, he was totally committed with the reforms started by his father. He also built the Gymnasium (High School) in Brzeg (1564–1569) and, after the fire of Brzeg in 1569 the new City Hall and the towers of the St. Nicholas Church.
Marriage and issue
In BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
on 15 February 1545, George II married with Barbara
Barbara of Brandenburg, Duchess of Brieg
Barbara of Brandenburg , was a German princess member of the House of Hohenzollern and by marriage Duchess of Brzeg.She was the second child but eldest daughter of Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg, by his first wife Magdalena, daughter of George, Duke of Saxony.-Life:In 1537 Barbara was...
(b. 10 August 1527 - d. Brzeg, 2 January 1595), daughter of Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg
Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg
Joachim II Hector was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg . A member of the House of Hohenzollern, Joachim II was the son of Joachim I Nestor, Elector of Brandenburg, and his wife Elizabeth of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden...
. They had seven children:
- Barbara (b. 24 September 1548 – d. 29 September 1565).
- Joachim FrederickJoachim Frederick of BriegJoachim Frederick of Brieg Joachim Frederick of Brieg Joachim Frederick of Brieg , , was a Duke of Oława and Wołów and Brzeg and Legnica ....
(b. 29 September 1550 – d. Brzeg, 25 March 1602). - John George (b. 17 June 1552 – d. Ohlau, 6 July 1592).
- Sophie (b. 19 November 1556 – d. 24 August 1594).
- Magdalena (b. 14 October 1560 – d. 2 February 1562).
- A daughter (b. and d. 6 April 1561).
- Elisabeth Magdalena (b. Brzeg, 17 November 1562 - d. Oels, 1 February 1630), married on 1 October 1585 to Karl II of Poděbrady, Duke of MünsterbergZiebiceZiębice 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)-Oels.
On George II's death, his sons received all his domains except Brzeg, who was given to his widow until her own death.