Henry VIII of Legnica
Encyclopedia
Henry VIII of Legnica (ca. 1355 – 12 December 1398) was a Duke of Legnica
since 1364 (nominally and together with his brothers) and Bishop of Włocławek since 1389 until his death.
He was the fourth of Wenceslaus I
, Duke of Legnica
, by his wife Anna, daughter of Casimir I, Duke of Cieszyn.
and Bolesław IV) to the Church, in order to prevent further divisions over the already small Duchy of Legnica, and led the full authority over Legnica to his oldest son Rupert I
.
After his father's death in 1364, Henry VIII and his siblings were placed under the tutelage of their uncle Louis I the Fair
who, followed the wishes of his late brother, installed him as a canon of the Kolegiata of the Holy Cross in Wroclaw
in 1378. A year later, Henry VIII was appointed Chapter
of the cathedral in the same city.
On 21 May 1379 Henry VIII, together with his brothers, went to Prague
and paid his homage to the King Wenceslaus IV
.
By the early autumn of that year, Henry VIII was elected Administrator of the Diocese of Wroclaw; on 19 April 1382, his older brother Wenceslaus II was finally confirmed as Bishop of the Diocese. During the period of his administration, Henry VIII's disputes with the local nobility finally erupted when his older Rupert I send him a dozen kegs of beer from Swidnica
as a gift. Henry VIII refused to pay the tax recognized by the beer imports, breaking the economic situation of Wroclaw and left the beer industry in an entire stock. In addition, Henry VIII, referring to the privileges of the chapter, called for the returning of the Church's goods; the logic resistance of the townspeople and the nobility infuriated he Administrator, who announced the imminent ban on the city if they didn't accept his demands. The dispute, despite the mediation to the Archbishop of Gniezno
, Janusz Suchywilk
and King Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia (who even ordered the plunder over the property of Wroclaw's Canon, treating them as responsible for the prolonged conflict), ended only in May 1382, as a result of the sentence of the papal Legate, Bishop Thomas Lucerii.
In 1388, Henry VIII, in exchange for his resignation of the administration of the diocese of Wroclaw, received from Pope Urban VI
the Bishopric of the remote Cambrai
in Flanders
.
Henry VIII refused this nomination because of the opportunity to take over the Bishopric of Włocławek after the current holder his relative Jan Kropidło
-also Duke of Opole
- resigned from his post with the chance of assumed the Archbishopric of Gniezno. With the nomination of Henry VIII for a richest Bishopric in Poland, he had the same political influence of the powerful Bishop of Krakow
, Piotr Wysz.
The officially ordinance of Henry VIII as Bishop of Włocławek -who was included as a Diocese belonging to Poland (in Kuyavia
) and also belonging to a religious state (in Gdańsk Pomerania
)-, took place on 14 May 1389.
Henry VIII's rule over Włocławek lasted nine years, during which time he had little interest in the fate of his subjects, limiting only to received the large revenue from the Bishopric. He lived mostly in Silesia
in the lands of his brother Rupert I and Wenceslaus II: Legnica
, Wroclaw
and Otmuchów
.
Henry VIII died in Legnica on 12 December 1398, probably poisoned during the banquet given by the Archbishop of Gniezno, Dobrogost z Nowego Dworu. He was buried in the cathedral of Wroclaw; his tombstone, situated in the south nave, remained there today.
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...
since 1364 (nominally and together with his brothers) and Bishop of Włocławek since 1389 until his death.
He was the fourth of Wenceslaus I
Wenceslaus I of Legnica
Wenceslaus I of Legnica was a Duke of Namysłów since 1338 and of Legnica-Brieg since 1342 until his death, but with further divisions with his brother Louis I....
, 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 wife Anna, daughter of Casimir I, Duke of Cieszyn.
Life
Duke Wenceslaus I destined his three younger sons (Henry VIII and his two older brothers Wenceslaus IIWenceslaus II of Legnica
Wenceslaus II of Liegnitz was a Duke of Legnica since 1364 until 1413, Bishop of Lebus and Breslau Wenceslaus II of Liegnitz (1348 – 30 December 1419) was a Duke of Legnica since 1364 (only nominal; from 1409 he reigned alone and personally) until 1413, Bishop of Lebus (1375–82) and Breslau...
and Bolesław IV) to the Church, in order to prevent further divisions over the already small Duchy of Legnica, and led the full authority over Legnica to his oldest son Rupert I
Rupert I of Legnica
Rupert I of Legnica was a Duke of Legnica since 1364 until his death, and also regent over half of the Duchy of Głogów-Żagań during 1397–1401....
.
After his father's death in 1364, Henry VIII and his siblings were placed under the tutelage of their uncle Louis I the Fair
Ludwik I the Fair
Ludwik I the Fair or Louis I the Fair also known as the Wise, the Right or of Brzeg , was a Duke of Legnica two times: first during 1342-1345 and secondly during 1345-1346 , and Duke of Brzeg from 1358...
who, followed the wishes of his late brother, installed him as a canon of the Kolegiata of the Holy Cross in 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...
in 1378. A year later, Henry VIII was appointed Chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
of the cathedral in the same city.
On 21 May 1379 Henry VIII, together with his brothers, went to 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 paid his homage to the King Wenceslaus IV
Wenceslaus, King of the Romans
Wenceslaus ) was, by election, German King from 1376 and, by inheritance, King of Bohemia from 1378. He was the third Bohemian and second German monarch of the Luxembourg dynasty...
.
By the early autumn of that year, Henry VIII was elected Administrator of the Diocese of Wroclaw; on 19 April 1382, his older brother Wenceslaus II was finally confirmed as Bishop of the Diocese. During the period of his administration, Henry VIII's disputes with the local nobility finally erupted when his older Rupert I send him a dozen kegs of beer from Swidnica
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...
as a gift. Henry VIII refused to pay the tax recognized by the beer imports, breaking the economic situation of Wroclaw and left the beer industry in an entire stock. In addition, Henry VIII, referring to the privileges of the chapter, called for the returning of the Church's goods; the logic resistance of the townspeople and the nobility infuriated he Administrator, who announced the imminent ban on the city if they didn't accept his demands. The dispute, despite the mediation to the Archbishop of Gniezno
Gniezno
Gniezno is a city in central-western Poland, some 50 km east of Poznań, inhabited by about 70,000 people. One of the Piasts' chief cities, it was mentioned by 10th century A.D. sources as the capital of Piast Poland however the first capital of Piast realm was most likely Giecz built around...
, Janusz Suchywilk
Janusz Suchywilk
Janusz Suchywilk of Grzymala Coat of Arms was a Polish nobleman , relative of Jarosław z Bogorii i Skotnik....
and King Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia (who even ordered the plunder over the property of Wroclaw's Canon, treating them as responsible for the prolonged conflict), ended only in May 1382, as a result of the sentence of the papal Legate, Bishop Thomas Lucerii.
In 1388, Henry VIII, in exchange for his resignation of the administration of the diocese of Wroclaw, received from Pope Urban VI
Pope Urban VI
Pope Urban VI , born Bartolomeo Prignano, was Pope from 1378 to 1389.-Biography:Born in Itri, he was a devout monk and learned casuist, trained at Avignon. On March 21, 1364, he was consecrated Archbishop of Acerenza in the Kingdom of Naples...
the Bishopric of the remote Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
.
Henry VIII refused this nomination because of the opportunity to take over the Bishopric of Włocławek after the current holder his relative Jan Kropidło
Jan Kropidło
Jan Kropidło , was Duke of Strzelce 1382–96, Duke of Opole from 1396 , Bishop of Poznań 1382–84, Bishop of Włocławek 1384–89, nominate Archbishop of Gniezno 1389–94, Bishop of Kamień 1394–98, Bishop of Chełmno 1398–1402, and again Bishop of Włocławek 1402 until his death.He was the eldest son of...
-also Duke 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...
- resigned from his post with the chance of assumed the Archbishopric of Gniezno. With the nomination of Henry VIII for a richest Bishopric in Poland, he had the same political influence of the powerful Bishop of Krakow
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, Piotr Wysz.
The officially ordinance of Henry VIII as Bishop of Włocławek -who was included as a Diocese belonging to Poland (in Kuyavia
Kuyavia
Kujawy , is a historical and ethnographic region in the north-central Poland, situated in the basin of the middle Vistula and upper Noteć Rivers, with its capital in Włocławek.-Etymology:The origin of the name Kujawy was seen differently in history...
) and also belonging to a religious state (in Gdańsk Pomerania
Gdańsk Pomerania
For the medieval duchy, see Pomeranian duchies and dukesGdańsk Pomerania or Eastern Pomerania is a geographical region in northern Poland covering eastern part of Pomeranian Voivodeship...
)-, took place on 14 May 1389.
Henry VIII's rule over Włocławek lasted nine years, during which time he had little interest in the fate of his subjects, limiting only to received the large revenue from the Bishopric. He lived mostly in Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
in the lands of his brother Rupert I and Wenceslaus II: 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...
, 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...
and Otmuchów
Otmuchów
Otmuchów is a town in Nysa County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 5,317 inhabitants ....
.
Henry VIII died in Legnica on 12 December 1398, probably poisoned during the banquet given by the Archbishop of Gniezno, Dobrogost z Nowego Dworu. He was buried in the cathedral of Wroclaw; his tombstone, situated in the south nave, remained there today.