Henry V, Duke of Legnica
Encyclopedia
Henry V the Fat (ca. 1248 – 22 February 1296) was a Duke of Jawor
(Jauer) from 1273, of Legnica
(Liegnitz) from 1278 and also Duke of Wroclaw
(Breslau) from 1290.
He was the eldest son of Bolesław II the Bald, Duke of Legnica
by his first wife Hedwig, daughter of Henry I, Count of Anhalt
.
in Prague
, where he became a knight.
In 1273, Henry's father gave him the town of Jawor
(Jauer) as an independent Duchy. Four years later Henry's father Bolesław II the Bald, acting on behalf of his ally, king Rudolph of Habsburg, kidnapped his own nephew Henry IV, the ruler of the Duchy of Wrocław. This act aroused the anger of the nobility in Lesser Poland
and the neighbors of Henry IV, who then organized an expedition to free him and punish Bolesław. At the head of the Greater Poland-Głogów-Wroclaw coalition were Dukes Przemysł II of Greater Poland
and Henry III
of Głogów. The armies fought at Ząbkowice Śląskie
near Stolec
. This was one of the most bloody battles of the Polish Middle Ages
. In the course of battle, Bolesław, suspecting that the battle was about to be lost, fled the field. However, at this point the young Henry led a charge, turned the tide and achieved a great victory, taking both Dukes Przemysł II and Henry III as prisoners. Thanks to the action of the young Duke of Jauer, his father and family were saved from disastrous defeat.
received Jawor
and Lwówek
as co-rulers, but Henry retained the town of Środa Śląska, a town obtained in 1277 in exchange of Henry IV's freedom.
Henry continued the hostile relations with the other Piast Silesian Dukes characteristic of his father's rule. In 1281 he committed the mistake of accepting the invitation of Henry IV Probus to a meeting in Sądowel
. Henry IV imprisoned the Duke of Legnica together with his former allies Henry III of Głogów and Przemysł II of Greater Poland, in order to obtain political concessions from them. Henry regained his freedom only in return for the recognition of Henry IV as Duke of Wrocław. However, Henry IV couldn't maintain his sovereignty for too long, because immediately the Duke of Legnica began close communication with the King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia, who asserted his own claim to that land.
Henry III, however, refused to step aside and began to take by force his inheritance, and war followed with saw territories change hands back and forth.
Henry couldn't prevent the next move of the Duke of Głogów. On 11 November 1293 Henry was betrayed by Lutka Zdzieszyca, son of a Wrocław noble whom Henry had earlier sentenced to death. Lutka captured him and gave to Duke Henry III, who put him in prison for almost six months. Henry V only obtained his freedom after surrendering the towns of Namysłów, Bierutów
, Oleśnica
, Kluczbork
, Byczyna
, Wołczyn, Olesno
, Chojnów
and Bolesławiec with their respectives fortresses to Henry III, paying of a ransom of 30,000 pieces and promising to assist the Duke of Głogów for the next five years in all his wars.
During his imprisonment in Głogów, Henry's brother Bolko I was named regent of his states. In 1291, Henry V gave him the towns of Świdnica
(Schweidnitz), Ziębice
, Ząbkowice Śląskie
and Strzelin
as a price for his help against Henry III.
.
Henry died on 22 February 1296 and was buried in the monastery of the Poor Clares at Wroclaw. At this time, all his sons were minors, and because of this, they were put under the tutelage of his brother Bolko.
(b. ca. 1263 - d. 28 September 1304), daughter of Boleslaw the Pious, Duke of Greater Poland
. They had eight children:
Jawor
Jawor is a town in south-western Poland with 24,347 inhabitants . It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship . It is the seat of Jawor County, and lies approximately west of the regional capital Wrocław.In the town can be found a Protestant Church of Peace...
(Jauer) from 1273, of Legnica
Legnica
Legnica is a town in south-western Poland, in Silesia, in the central part of Lower Silesia, on the plain of Legnica, riverside: Kaczawa and Czarna Woda. Between 1 June 1975 and 31 December 1998 Legnica was the capital of the Legnica Voivodeship. It is currently the seat of the county...
(Liegnitz) from 1278 and also Duke of Wroclaw
Wroclaw
Wrocław , situated on the River Oder , is the main city of southwestern Poland.Wrocław was the historical capital of Silesia and is today the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. Over the centuries, the city has been part of either Poland, Bohemia, Austria, Prussia, or Germany, but since 1945...
(Breslau) from 1290.
He was the eldest son of Bolesław II the Bald, Duke of Legnica
Legnica
Legnica is a town in south-western Poland, in Silesia, in the central part of Lower Silesia, on the plain of Legnica, riverside: Kaczawa and Czarna Woda. Between 1 June 1975 and 31 December 1998 Legnica was the capital of the Legnica Voivodeship. It is currently the seat of the county...
by his first wife Hedwig, daughter of Henry I, Count of Anhalt
Henry I, Count of Anhalt
Henry I, Count of Anhalt was a German prince of the House of Ascania and Count of Anhalt.He was the oldest son of Bernhard III, Duke of Saxony and Count of Anhalt, by his wife Brigitte a daughter of Canute V of Denmark....
.
Early Years. Duke of Jawor, Battle of Stolec
Little is known about the earliest years of Henry's life. As a youth, he was present at the court of King Ottokar II of BohemiaOttokar II of Bohemia
Ottokar II , called The Iron and Golden King, was the King of Bohemia from 1253 until 1278. He was the Duke of Austria , Styria , Carinthia and Carniola also....
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...
, where he became a knight.
In 1273, Henry's father gave him the town of Jawor
Jawor
Jawor is a town in south-western Poland with 24,347 inhabitants . It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship . It is the seat of Jawor County, and lies approximately west of the regional capital Wrocław.In the town can be found a Protestant Church of Peace...
(Jauer) as an independent Duchy. Four years later Henry's father Bolesław II the Bald, acting on behalf of his ally, king Rudolph of Habsburg, kidnapped his own nephew Henry IV, the ruler of the Duchy of Wrocław. This act aroused the anger of the nobility in Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland is one of the historical regions of Poland, with its capital in the city of Kraków. It forms the southeastern corner of the country, and should not be confused with the modern Lesser Poland Voivodeship, which covers only a small, southern part of Lesser Poland...
and the neighbors of Henry IV, who then organized an expedition to free him and punish Bolesław. At the head of the Greater Poland-Głogów-Wroclaw coalition were Dukes Przemysł II of Greater Poland
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
and Henry III
Henry III, Duke of Silesia-Glogau
Henry III of Głogów was a Duke of Głogów from 1274 to his death and also Duke of parts of Greater Poland during 1306–1309....
of Głogów. The armies fought at Ząbkowice Śląskie
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....
near Stolec
Stolec, Lower Silesian Voivodeship
Stolec is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Ząbkowice Śląskie, within Ząbkowice Śląskie County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland...
. This was one of the most bloody battles of the Polish Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. In the course of battle, Bolesław, suspecting that the battle was about to be lost, fled the field. However, at this point the young Henry led a charge, turned the tide and achieved a great victory, taking both Dukes Przemysł II and Henry III as prisoners. Thanks to the action of the young Duke of Jauer, his father and family were saved from disastrous defeat.
Death of Bolesław II the Bald. Henry V, Duke of Legnica
Bolesław II died on 26 December 1278 and Henry was now able to succeeded him as a Duke in Legnica. Shortly afterwards, Henry in turn gave lands to his younger brothers: Bolko I and BernardBernard the Lightsome
Bernard the Lightsome was a Duke of Lwówek since 1278 and Jawor during 1278–1281 ....
received Jawor
Jawor
Jawor is a town in south-western Poland with 24,347 inhabitants . It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship . It is the seat of Jawor County, and lies approximately west of the regional capital Wrocław.In the town can be found a Protestant Church of Peace...
and Lwówek
Lwówek Slaski
Lwówek Śląski is a town in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship in Poland. Situated on the Bóbr River, Lwówek Śląski is about 30 km NNW of Jelenia Góra and has a population of about 10,300 inhabitants...
as co-rulers, but Henry retained the town of Środa Śląska, a town obtained in 1277 in exchange of Henry IV's freedom.
Henry continued the hostile relations with the other Piast Silesian Dukes characteristic of his father's rule. In 1281 he committed the mistake of accepting the invitation of Henry IV Probus to a meeting in Sądowel
Sądowel
Sądowel is a settlement in Gmina Wąsosz, Góra County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland.From 1975 to 1998 the village was in Leszno Voivodeship.-References:...
. Henry IV imprisoned the Duke of Legnica together with his former allies Henry III of Głogów and Przemysł II of Greater Poland, in order to obtain political concessions from them. Henry regained his freedom only in return for the recognition of Henry IV as Duke of Wrocław. However, Henry IV couldn't maintain his sovereignty for too long, because immediately the Duke of Legnica began close communication with the King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia, who asserted his own claim to that land.
Henry V, Duke of Wroclaw. War with Henry III of Głogów
On 23 June 1290 Henry IV Probus died suddenly, supposedly poisoned. In his testament, the late Duke named Henry III of Głogów as his heir. That decision, however, was opposed by the Wrocław nobility and townspeople, who feared that the Duke of Głogów would be a harsh ruler. The power of the city was sufficient to force Henry III to flee. Thereafter, the citizens invited Henry V to take the place of Henry III.Henry III, however, refused to step aside and began to take by force his inheritance, and war followed with saw territories change hands back and forth.
Henry couldn't prevent the next move of the Duke of Głogów. On 11 November 1293 Henry was betrayed by Lutka Zdzieszyca, son of a Wrocław noble whom Henry had earlier sentenced to death. Lutka captured him and gave to Duke Henry III, who put him in prison for almost six months. Henry V only obtained his freedom after surrendering the towns of Namysłów, Bierutów
Bierutów
Bierutów is a town in Oleśnica County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Bierutów. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany...
, Oleśnica
Olesnica
Oleśnica is a town in the Trzebnickie Hills in southwestern Poland with 36,951 inhabitants . It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship...
, 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...
, Wołczyn, Olesno
Olesno
Olesno is a town in Opole Voivodship, Poland about north-east of the city of Opole. It is the capital of Olesno County and seat of the Gmina Olesno.-History:The area near the ancient Amber Road had been settled since the Neolithic era...
, Chojnów
Chojnów
Chojnów is a small town in Legnica County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is located on the Skora river, a tributary of the Kaczawa at an average altitude of above sea level. Chojnów is the administrative seat of the rural gmina called Gmina Chojnów, although the town is...
and Bolesławiec with their respectives fortresses to Henry III, paying of a ransom of 30,000 pieces and promising to assist the Duke of Głogów for the next five years in all his wars.
During his imprisonment in Głogów, Henry's brother Bolko I was named regent of his states. In 1291, Henry V gave him the towns of Świdnica
Swidnica
Świdnica is a city in south-western Poland in the region of Silesia. It has a population of 60,317 according to 2006 figures. It lies in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, being the seventh largest town in that voivodeship. From 1975–98 it was in the former Wałbrzych Voivodeship...
(Schweidnitz), Ziębice
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...
, Ząbkowice Śląskie
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....
and 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...
as a price for his help against Henry III.
Death and legacy
Because of the conditions of his confinement (he was locked in an iron cage), Henry was ill after his release and indeed until his death. He never recovered his health, and seems to have known that he was not going to live much longer. Fearing for the future of his Duchy, in 1294 he decided to put himself under the protection of the Holy SeeHoly See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
.
Henry died on 22 February 1296 and was buried in the monastery of the Poor Clares at Wroclaw. At this time, all his sons were minors, and because of this, they were put under the tutelage of his brother Bolko.
Marriage and issue
Around 1273, Henry married ElisabethElisabeth of Greater Poland
Elisabeth of Kalisz was the eldest child of Boleslaw the Pious and his wife Jolenta of Poland. Her younger sister was Jadwiga of Greater Poland.- Marriage :...
(b. ca. 1263 - d. 28 September 1304), daughter of Boleslaw the Pious, Duke of Greater Poland
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
. They had eight children:
- Hedwig (b. ca. 1277 - d. aft. 3 February 1347), married by 1289/95 to Prince Otto of BrandenburgBrandenburgBrandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
-Salzwedel, second son of Margrave Otto V. After her husband died, she became a nun in St. Klara, Wroclaw. - Euphemia (b. ca. 1278 - d. June 1347), married in 1300 to Otto II of Görz, Duke of CarinthiaDuchy of CarinthiaThe Duchy of Carinthia was a duchy located in southern Austria and parts of northern Slovenia. It was separated from the Duchy of Bavaria in 976, then the first newly created Imperial State beside the original German stem duchies....
. Through this union, Henry was a direct ancestor of the Kings of Sicily, AragonAragonAragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
and CastileCrown of CastileThe Crown of Castile was a medieval and modern state in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and parliaments of the kingdoms of Castile and León upon the accession of the then King Ferdinand III of Castile to the vacant Leonese throne...
. - Anna (b. 1284 - d. 2/3 October 1343), Abbess of St. Klara, Wroclaw.
- Elisabeth (b. ca. 1290 - d. Nov 1357/58), Abbess of St. Klara, Wroclaw.
- Bolesław III the Generous (b. 23 September 1291 - d. 21 April 1352).
- Helena (b. ca. 1293 - d. aft. 1300), nun in St. Klara, Gniezno.
- Henry VI the GoodHenry VI the GoodHenry VI the Good was a Duke of Wrocław since 1296 ....
(b. 18 March 1294 - d. 24 November 1335). - Władysław (b. posthumously, 6 June 1296 - d. 13 January aft. 1352).