Jan II the Good
Encyclopedia
Jan II of Opole (ca. 1460 – 27 March 1532) was a Duke of Opole
-Brzeg
(until 1481)-Strzelce
-Niemodlin
in 1476 (with his brothers as co-rulers during 1476), ruler over Gliwice
(in 1494), Toszek
(in 1495), Niemodlin (again, in 1497), Bytom
(in 1498), Koźle
(in 1509), and Racibórz
(in 1521).
He was the second son of Duke Nicholas I of Opole
by his wife Agnes, daughter of Duke Louis II of Brzeg.
in 1476, Jan II initially shared the government over the Duchy with his younger brother Nicholas II
. Soon, however, probably still in 1476, the brothers decided to made the division of their domains: Jan II took over the governments over Opole
, Strzelce
and Brzeg
, while Nicholas II received Niemodlin
. However, this division was only a formality as the two brothers continue to co-rule their whole inheritance.
During his long life Jan II led the already small Duchy of Opole to a significant economic development. Not without significance was also his constant acquisition of lands in Upper Silesia
, who became him one of the most powerful Silesian rulers.
However, the first years of the rule of Jan II weren't successfully. Actually, in 1477 together with Nicholas II, the Duke bought Prudnik
from Duke Konrad X of Oleśnica
, but four years later (in 1481), under the pressures of Duke Frederick I of Legnica the brothers must agree to redeem the pledge over Brzeg
since 1450.
On 27 June 1497 Nicholas II was beheaded in the Nysa
market at the behest of Duke Casimir II of Cieszyn, Duke Henry I of Ziębice
and the Bishop of Wrocław, Jan IV Roth. After hearing the news about this events in Nysa, Jan II decided to avenge his brother's death and began to gather troops in order to made a brutally retaliatory expedition against Cieszyn. Only through the diplomatic moves of King Władysław II Jagiellon and the absence of support for the war between his neighbors, prevented the civil war in Silesia.
. Only Cieszyn
maintain his independence, while Oświęcim
was annexed by Poland
. The growth of the Duchy of Opole was slowly but continuously: in 1494 was bought Gliwice
and one year later (in 1495) Toszek
was also bought. In 1497, after the death of Nicholas II, Niemodlin
was inherited by Jan II, in 1498 was bought Bytom
, and the Świerklaniec
castle with his privileges, and finally in 1509 was annexed Koźle
.
. The first contract of mutual inheritance with the then reign Duke Jan V was made around 1478, probably on occasion of the marriage between Jan V and Magdalena of Opole, Jan II's sister. However, was only after the unexpected deaths of Jan V's older sons (and Jan II's nephews) Nicholas VI and Jan VI in 1506 and the taking of the youngest and only surviving brother, Valentin, of the full government over Racibórz, when was revived the old treaty with the Duke of Opole.
The formal contract of mutual inheritance was performed in 1511 between the childless Duke Valentin and Jan II. The contract, who counted with the approval of King Władysław II Jagiellon, came into force after the death of Valentin in 1521: Jan II inherited the Duchy of Racibórz, who was combined with the Duchy of Opole. The newly Duchy of Opole-Racibórz covered an area from the Ścinawa and Nysa Kłodzka Rivers in the West, the Sudetes and the Vistula River in the south, and the borders with Poland
in the east and north. This represented a territory the size of 12,000 kilometers.
Since the beginning of his reign, Jan II was in favor of the Polish culture, maintain regular contacts with Kings John I Albert
, Alexander
and Sigismund I the Old
. There are even some suggestions that the Jan II knew only the Polish
and Czech language
s (the Czech was the official language in Silesia).
Jan II probably preferred to stay in his domains and rarely leave Opole. There is only one known case when the Duke of Opole departed from his Duchy, in 1476, when Jan II went to Apulia
as an envoy of King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary
, in order to escort his bride Beatrice
, daughter of King Ferdinand I of Naples
.
Jan II had a passion for hunting in the Upper Silesian forests. For this purpose, moreover, he used huge sums of money.
, which was a privilege to develop the mining in the Duchy, which a considerably disminution of the Duke's treasure. In return for the privileges given to the cities, Jan II has received a part of the profits from the mines. Among the beneficiaries of the privileges was Tarnowskie Góry
, who became in one of the largest and prospers cities of Upper Silesia. Soon before his death in 1531, Jan II also gave privileges to the Opole and Racibórz townspeople against the increased oppressions of the nobility (the so-called Hanuszowy Privilege).
. Consequently, many years before his death, Jan II saw the competition between various rulers for his inheritance. Candidates for the domains of the childless were, among others, the King of Bohemia
(firstly Louis II Jagiellon and since 1526 Ferdinand I of Habsburg), Zdenko Lew, Burgrave
of Prague
, and Dukes Casimir II of Cieszyn and Frederick II of Legnica
. Initially, the slightest chance of be declared heir of Jan II was to George, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
. However, the Margrave gained the support of King Louis II and particularly the favor of the old Duke of Opole. The death of Louis II and the succession of Ferdinand I of Habsburg in the Bohemian-Hungarian Kingdom put in jeopardy the chances of George of Brandenburg. Only after the sign of a treaty in Prague on 17 June 1531 and the payment of 183,333 guilder
s to King Ferdinand I persuaded him to accept the candidacy of the Margrave of Ansbach.
Jan II, the last male member of the Opole branch, died in Racibórz
on 27 March 1532 and was buried in the church of Holy Cross in Opole
.
After the death, the Duchy of Opole-Racibórz was inherited by George of Brandenburg-Ansbach. In accordance with previous agreements, the movable property was exported to Vienna
.
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...
-Brzeg
Brzeg
Brzeg is a town in southwestern Poland with 38,496 inhabitants , situated in Silesia in the Opole Voivodeship on the left bank of the Oder...
(until 1481)-Strzelce
Strzelce Opolskie
Strzelce Opolskie is a town in south-western Poland with 19,628 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Strzelce County. Strzelce Opolskie is one of the biggest centers of German minority in Poland....
-Niemodlin
Niemodlin
Niemodlin is a town in Opole County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 6,911 inhabitants .It was first mentioned as Nemodlin in a 1224 deed and received town privileges in 1283. Originally a part of the Duchy of Opole, after the death of Duke Bolko I Niemodlin became the capital of a duchy in his...
in 1476 (with his brothers as co-rulers during 1476), ruler over Gliwice
Gliwice
Gliwice is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Gliwice is the west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union – a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
(in 1494), Toszek
Toszek
Toszek is a town in Poland, in Gliwice County, Silesian Voivodeship, with 4,000 inhabitants.- History :The beginning of the settlement and fortified keep is dated in the 9th and 10th centuries when the area was ruled by the Piasts, Mieszko I of Poland and later Bolesław I the Brave.The fortified...
(in 1495), Niemodlin (again, in 1497), Bytom
Bytom
Bytom is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The central-western district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Bytom is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Bytomka river .The city belongs to the Silesian Voivodeship since...
(in 1498), Koźle
Kozle
Koźle is a district of Kędzierzyn-Koźle and is at the junction of the Kłodnica and Odra rivers, 29 Ifl. southeast of Opole by rail. The district has a Roman Catholic church, a medieval chateau, remains of a 19th century fortress and a high school...
(in 1509), and Racibórz
Racibórz
Racibórz is a town in southern Poland with 60,218 inhabitants situated in the Silesian Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship...
(in 1521).
He was the second son of Duke Nicholas I of Opole
Nicholas I of Opole
Nicholas I of Opole was a Duke of Opole since 1437 , Duke of Brzeg from 1450, ruler over Kluczbork since 1451 and Duke of Strzelce, Niemodlin and Olesno from 1460....
by his wife Agnes, daughter of Duke Louis II of Brzeg.
Early political activities
After the death of his father and eldest brother LouisLouis of Opole
Louis of Opole , was a Duke of Opole-Brzeg-Strzelce-Niemodlin during 1466-1476 and briefly in 1476 ....
in 1476, Jan II initially shared the government over the Duchy with his younger brother Nicholas II
Nicholas II of Niemodlin
Nicholas II of Niemodlin , was a Duke of Opole-Brzeg-Strzelce-Niemodlin in 1476 and sole Duke of Niemodlin from 1476 until his death....
. Soon, however, probably still in 1476, the brothers decided to made the division of their domains: Jan II took over the governments over 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...
, Strzelce
Strzelce Opolskie
Strzelce Opolskie is a town in south-western Poland with 19,628 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Strzelce County. Strzelce Opolskie is one of the biggest centers of German minority in Poland....
and Brzeg
Brzeg
Brzeg is a town in southwestern Poland with 38,496 inhabitants , situated in Silesia in the Opole Voivodeship on the left bank of the Oder...
, while Nicholas II received Niemodlin
Niemodlin
Niemodlin is a town in Opole County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 6,911 inhabitants .It was first mentioned as Nemodlin in a 1224 deed and received town privileges in 1283. Originally a part of the Duchy of Opole, after the death of Duke Bolko I Niemodlin became the capital of a duchy in his...
. However, this division was only a formality as the two brothers continue to co-rule their whole inheritance.
During his long life Jan II led the already small Duchy of Opole to a significant economic development. Not without significance was also his constant acquisition of lands in Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
, who became him one of the most powerful Silesian rulers.
However, the first years of the rule of Jan II weren't successfully. Actually, in 1477 together with Nicholas II, the Duke bought Prudnik
Prudnik
Prudnik is a town in Poland, located in the southern part of Opole Voivodeship. Its population numbers 26,400 inhabitants . It is the capital of Prudnik County.- Education :* * * II Liceum Ogólnokształcące w Prudniku...
from Duke Konrad X of Oleśnica
Konrad X the White
Konrad X the White was a Duke of Oleśnica, Koźle, and half of both Bytom and Ścinawa during 1450–1452 , since 1452 sole ruler over half of Ścinawa, during 1471–1472 sole ruler over Koźle and whole Bytom, and since 1478 sole ruler over Oleśnica.He was the second son of Konrad V Kantner, Duke of...
, but four years later (in 1481), under the pressures of Duke Frederick I of Legnica the brothers must agree to redeem the pledge over Brzeg
Brzeg
Brzeg is a town in southwestern Poland with 38,496 inhabitants , situated in Silesia in the Opole Voivodeship on the left bank of the Oder...
since 1450.
On 27 June 1497 Nicholas II was beheaded in the Nysa
Nysa
- People :*Nysa , daughter of Laodice IV and Antiochus, wife of Pharnaces I of Pontus* Nysa of Cappadocia, daughter of Pharnaces I of Pontus and Nysa, wife of Ariarathes V of Cappadocia and mother Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia...
market at the behest of Duke Casimir II of Cieszyn, Duke Henry I of 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...
and the Bishop of Wrocław, Jan IV Roth. After hearing the news about this events in Nysa, Jan II decided to avenge his brother's death and began to gather troops in order to made a brutally retaliatory expedition against Cieszyn. Only through the diplomatic moves of King Władysław II Jagiellon and the absence of support for the war between his neighbors, prevented the civil war in Silesia.
Expansion of the Duchy
Since the 1490s Jan II began a considerable development of his domains. Thanks to the increased debts of several Silesian rulers, within only a few years the Duke of Opole became in the owner of almost the majority of Upper SilesiaUpper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
. Only 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....
maintain his independence, while Oświęcim
Oswiecim
Oświęcim is a town in the Lesser Poland province of southern Poland, situated west of Kraków, near the confluence of the rivers Vistula and Soła.- History :...
was annexed by Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. The growth of the Duchy of Opole was slowly but continuously: in 1494 was bought Gliwice
Gliwice
Gliwice is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Gliwice is the west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union – a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
and one year later (in 1495) Toszek
Toszek
Toszek is a town in Poland, in Gliwice County, Silesian Voivodeship, with 4,000 inhabitants.- History :The beginning of the settlement and fortified keep is dated in the 9th and 10th centuries when the area was ruled by the Piasts, Mieszko I of Poland and later Bolesław I the Brave.The fortified...
was also bought. In 1497, after the death of Nicholas II, Niemodlin
Niemodlin
Niemodlin is a town in Opole County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 6,911 inhabitants .It was first mentioned as Nemodlin in a 1224 deed and received town privileges in 1283. Originally a part of the Duchy of Opole, after the death of Duke Bolko I Niemodlin became the capital of a duchy in his...
was inherited by Jan II, in 1498 was bought Bytom
Bytom
Bytom is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The central-western district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Bytom is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Bytomka river .The city belongs to the Silesian Voivodeship since...
, and the Świerklaniec
Swierklaniec
Świerklaniec is a village in Tarnowskie Góry County, in the Silesian Voivodeship of southwestern Poland.-Geography:Świerklaniec lies approximately east of Tarnowskie Góry and north of the regional capital Katowice in the Silesia region....
castle with his privileges, and finally in 1509 was annexed Koźle
Kozle
Koźle is a district of Kędzierzyn-Koźle and is at the junction of the Kłodnica and Odra rivers, 29 Ifl. southeast of Opole by rail. The district has a Roman Catholic church, a medieval chateau, remains of a 19th century fortress and a high school...
.
The inheritance of Racibórz
After all the territorial acquisitions, only the entire southern of the Silesian border was governed by the Przemyslid Dukes of RacibórzRacibórz
Racibórz is a town in southern Poland with 60,218 inhabitants situated in the Silesian Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship...
. The first contract of mutual inheritance with the then reign Duke Jan V was made around 1478, probably on occasion of the marriage between Jan V and Magdalena of Opole, Jan II's sister. However, was only after the unexpected deaths of Jan V's older sons (and Jan II's nephews) Nicholas VI and Jan VI in 1506 and the taking of the youngest and only surviving brother, Valentin, of the full government over Racibórz, when was revived the old treaty with the Duke of Opole.
The formal contract of mutual inheritance was performed in 1511 between the childless Duke Valentin and Jan II. The contract, who counted with the approval of King Władysław II Jagiellon, came into force after the death of Valentin in 1521: Jan II inherited the Duchy of Racibórz, who was combined with the Duchy of Opole. The newly Duchy of Opole-Racibórz covered an area from the Ścinawa and Nysa Kłodzka Rivers in the West, the Sudetes and the Vistula River in the south, and the borders with Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in the east and north. This represented a territory the size of 12,000 kilometers.
Since the beginning of his reign, Jan II was in favor of the Polish culture, maintain regular contacts with Kings John I Albert
John I Albert of Poland
John I Albert was King of Poland and Duke of Głogów .-Life:John was the third son of Casimir IV Jagiellon, King of Poland, and Elisabeth of Austria, daughter of Albert II of Germany. As crown prince, he distinguished himself by his brilliant victory over the Tatars at Kopersztyn...
, Alexander
Alexander Jagiellon
Alexander of the House of Jagiellon was the Grand Duke of Lithuania and later also King of Poland. He was the fourth son of Casimir IV Jagiellon...
and Sigismund I the Old
Sigismund I the Old
Sigismund I of Poland , of the Jagiellon dynasty, reigned as King of Poland and also as the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1506 until 1548...
. There are even some suggestions that the Jan II knew only the Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
and Czech language
Czech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
s (the Czech was the official language in Silesia).
Jan II probably preferred to stay in his domains and rarely leave Opole. There is only one known case when the Duke of Opole departed from his Duchy, in 1476, when Jan II went to Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
as an envoy of King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, in order to escort his bride Beatrice
Beatrice of Naples
Beatrice of Naples was the daughter of Ferdinand I of Naples and Isabella of Taranto. She was queen consort to both Matthias Corvinus of Hungary and Vladislaus II of Bohemia and Hungary so she was Queen of Hungary and Bohemia.-Biography:Beatrice received a good education at her father's court in...
, daughter of King Ferdinand I of Naples
Ferdinand I of Naples
Ferdinand I , also called Don Ferrante, was the King of Naples from 1458 to 1494. He was the natural son of Alfonso V of Aragon by Giraldona Carlino.-Biography:...
.
Jan II had a passion for hunting in the Upper Silesian forests. For this purpose, moreover, he used huge sums of money.
Privileges
Jan II, with due regard to the economic development of his domains seemed to granted many privileges, gained fame with the largest 72 articles of the called Ordunek Górny on 16 November 1528 issued in OpoleOpole
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...
, which was a privilege to develop the mining in the Duchy, which a considerably disminution of the Duke's treasure. In return for the privileges given to the cities, Jan II has received a part of the profits from the mines. Among the beneficiaries of the privileges was Tarnowskie Góry
Tarnowskie Góry
Tarnowskie Góry is a town in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Borders on the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Located in the Silesian Highlands....
, who became in one of the largest and prospers cities of Upper Silesia. Soon before his death in 1531, Jan II also gave privileges to the Opole and Racibórz townspeople against the increased oppressions of the nobility (the so-called Hanuszowy Privilege).
Death and Succession
Jan II never married or had children. The reason, according to reliable sources, was he was impotentErectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual performance....
. Consequently, many years before his death, Jan II saw the competition between various rulers for his inheritance. Candidates for the domains of the childless were, among others, the King of Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
(firstly Louis II Jagiellon and since 1526 Ferdinand I of Habsburg), Zdenko Lew, Burgrave
Burgrave
A burgrave is literally the count of a castle or fortified town. The English form is derived through the French from the German Burggraf and Dutch burg- or burch-graeve .* The title is originally equivalent to that of castellan or châtelain, meaning keeper of a castle and/or fortified town...
of 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 Dukes Casimir II of Cieszyn and Frederick II of Legnica
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...
. Initially, the slightest chance of be declared heir of Jan II was to George, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
George, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
George of Brandenburg-Ansbach was a Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach from the House of Hohenzollern.- Early life :...
. However, the Margrave gained the support of King Louis II and particularly the favor of the old Duke of Opole. The death of Louis II and the succession of Ferdinand I of Habsburg in the Bohemian-Hungarian Kingdom put in jeopardy the chances of George of Brandenburg. Only after the sign of a treaty in Prague on 17 June 1531 and the payment of 183,333 guilder
Guilder
Guilder is the English translation of the Dutch gulden — from Old Dutch for 'golden'. The guilder originated as a gold coin but has been a common name for a silver or base metal coin for some centuries...
s to King Ferdinand I persuaded him to accept the candidacy of the Margrave of Ansbach.
Jan II, the last male member of the Opole branch, died in Racibórz
Racibórz
Racibórz is a town in southern Poland with 60,218 inhabitants situated in the Silesian Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship...
on 27 March 1532 and was buried in the church of Holy Cross in 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...
.
After the death, the Duchy of Opole-Racibórz was inherited by George of Brandenburg-Ansbach. In accordance with previous agreements, the movable property was exported to 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...
.