Jan II the Mad
Encyclopedia
Jan II the Mad also known as the Bad, the Wild or the Cruel , was a Duke of Żagań
Zagan
Zagan may refer to:*Zagan - a demon in the Ars Goetia*Żagań - a town in west Poland...

-Przewóz
Przewóz
Przewóz is a village in Żary County, Lubusz Voivodeship, in western Poland. It lies on the Lusatian Neisse river, which marks the border with Germany. Przewóz is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Przewóz. It lies approximately south-west of Żary and south-west of Zielona Góra.The village has...

 since 1439 (with his brothers as co-rulers until 1449), from 1449 Duke of Przewóz
Przewóz
Przewóz is a village in Żary County, Lubusz Voivodeship, in western Poland. It lies on the Lusatian Neisse river, which marks the border with Germany. Przewóz is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Przewóz. It lies approximately south-west of Żary and south-west of Zielona Góra.The village has...

 (as co-ruler of his younger brother), during 1461-1468 and briefly in 1472 Duke of Żagań
Zagan
Zagan may refer to:*Zagan - a demon in the Ars Goetia*Żagań - a town in west Poland...

 and during 1476-1488 Duke of half-Głogów (the Duchy was finally reunited in 1480).

He was the fourth and youngest son of Duke Jan I of Żagań
Jan I of Zagan
Jan I of Żagań was a Duke of Żagań-Głogów, since 1397 , since 1403 Duke of Żagań, Krosno Odrzańskie and Świebodzin and since 1412 sole ruler of Żagań and Przewóz.He was the eldest son of Henry VIII the Sparrow, Duke of Głogów by his wife Katharina, daughter of Duke...

 by his wife Scholastika, daughter of Rudolf III, Duke of Saxe-Wittemberg and Elector of Saxony.

Life

After his father's death in 1439, Jan II was still a minor and was placed with his brother Wenceslaus
Wenceslaus of Zagan
Wenceslaus of Żagań was a Duke of Żagań-Przewóz since 1439 , from 1449 Duke of Przewóz ....

 under the care of their older brothers Balthasar
Balthasar of Zagan
Balthasar of Żagań , was a Duke of Żagań-Przewóz since 1439 , from 1449 Duke of Żagań. Deposed during 1461-1468, he recovered the Duchy in this year until shortly before his death....

 and Rudolf
Rudolf of Zagan
Rudolf of Żagań was a Duke of Żagań-Przewóz since 1439 , from 1449 Duke of Żagań ....

. The division of their domains was effective in 1449: Jan II and Wenceslaus received Przewóz
Przewóz
Przewóz is a village in Żary County, Lubusz Voivodeship, in western Poland. It lies on the Lusatian Neisse river, which marks the border with Germany. Przewóz is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Przewóz. It lies approximately south-west of Żary and south-west of Zielona Góra.The village has...

 as co-rulers. However, because at that time Wenceslaus was mentally ill, the full government of the Duchy was taken by Jan II.

The small Duchy of Przewóz not satisfied the pretensions of Jan II, who demanded from older brothers an equal division. The dispute ended in 1453 thanks to the mediation of their uncle Frederick of Saxony.

After Rudolf's death in 1454 and during the absence of Balthasar, who was in Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...

, Jan II declared himself as Governor of the Duchy of Żagań. Then, he forced the Duchy states to pay tribute to him, an order who was eventually canceled when Balthasar return to Silesia in 1458.

The disputes erupted again in 1461, when Jan II, with the help of George of Poděbrady
George of Podebrady
George of Kunštát and Poděbrady , also known as Poděbrad or Podiebrad , was King of Bohemia...

, 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...

 invaded Żagań and deposed his brother, who was forced to escape. In the same year, after the death of his mother Scholastika, he inherited her Oprawa wdowia, the town of Nowogród Bobrzański
Nowogród Bobrzanski
Nowogród Bobrzański is a town on the Bóbr river in Zielona Góra County, Lubusz Voivodeship, Poland, with 5,068 inhabitants . It is the administrative seat of the Gmina Nowogród Bobrzański....

. Seven years later, in 1468, Jan II lost Żagań, when Balthasar, thanks to the help of his cousin Henry XI of Głogów, could recover the power.

Jan II was determined to recover Żagań, and, this time with the assistance of the Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus (who received from him 10,000 florin
Hungarian forint
The forint is the currency of Hungary. It is divided into 100 fillér, although fillér coins are no longer in circulation. The introduction of the forint on 1 August 1946 was a crucial step of the post-WWII stabilization of the Hungarian economy, and the currency remained relatively stable until...

s to recruiting the needed troops who help him to win the Bohemian crown), he successfully invaded again the Duchy in 1472. Balthasar was captured and imprisoned, firstly in the village of Witoszyn
Witoszyn, Lubusz Voivodeship
Witoszyn is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Wymiarki, within Żagań County, Lubusz Voivodeship, in western Poland. It lies approximately north-east of Wymiarki, south-west of Żagań, and south-west of Zielona Góra....

 and later in the tower of the Przewóz castle, where (according to some sources) was starved to death by order of Jan II (15 April 1472).

However, after only some months as a ruler of Żagań
Zagan
Zagan may refer to:*Zagan - a demon in the Ars Goetia*Żagań - a town in west Poland...

, he unexpectedly sold the Duchy (including Przewóz ) to the rulers of Saxony, Ernest and Albert, for 50,000 Hungarian florins (12 December 1472). The agreement, confirmed by Matthias Corvinus, also guaranteed a decent pension to Wenceslaus. Since them, the Duke was called "Jan Without Land" (Janem Bez Ziemi).

Despite the sale of his Duchy, Jan II sought to continue active in the political affairs. In 1474, at the head of troops recruited by Mattihias Corvinus, he organized a successful rally at the 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...

, from where he brought a rich spoil. There is, of course, has very good relations 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 1476 Henry XI of Głogów died, likely poisoned by Brandenburg agents. In his will, he leave his possessions to his child-widow Barbara
Barbara of Brandenburg
Barbara of Brandenburg was born in Ansbach and was the fourth of thirteen children born to Albrecht III, Elector of Brandenburg and his second wife, Anna of Saxony.-Biography:...

 (daughter of Albert III Achilles, Elector of Brandenburg) with reversion to her family. As the next male relative, Jan II claimed the succession of his cousin and refused to recognized the late Duke's will; also, he soon had to face the pretensions not only of Albert III Achilles but also of the King Casimir IV Jagiellon
Casimir IV Jagiellon
Casimir IV KG of the House of Jagiellon was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1440, and King of Poland from 1447, until his death.Casimir was the second son of King Władysław II Jagiełło , and the younger brother of Władysław III of Varna....

 of 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...

 and Matthias Corvinus.

In the first phase of the war, Jan II was supported by Matthias Corvinus. His opponents sought support from Brandenburg, Bohemia and Poland. Soon was arranged the marriage between the King Władysław Jagiellon of Bohemia -Casimir IV's son- and Barbara of Brandenburg; however, this union was never consummated and under the Canon Law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...

 was invalid. Jan II used the influence of the Bohemian King in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...

 and tried to force the inhabitants of Głogów to made the oath of loyalty in his favor, but they refused. The Papal legate then imposed on Głogów the excommunication, which had forced them to submit to Jan II.

The Jan II's first success was on 7 December 1476, when the states of Żagań paid homage to him. One day later, on 8 December, Matthias Corvinus declared Henry XI's will null and void because the late Duke wrote them mentally ill. By of 1476-1477 the Bohemian troops gained Szprotawa
Szprotawa
Szprotawa is a town in Poland, in Lubusz Voivodeship, in Żagań County. It has 12,648 inhabitants .- History :The first information about the terrains of today's Szprotawa comes at 1000 from the chronicle of bishop Thietmar of Merseburg, who accompanied the emperor Otto III on pilgrimage to the...

 and Kożuchów
Kozuchów
Kożuchów is a town in Lubusz Voivodeship, Poland.- External links :*...

. In the hands of the Elector Albert III Achilles remained only Krosno Odrzańskie
Krosno Odrzanskie
Krosno Odrzańskie is a city on the east bank of Oder River, at the confluence with the Bóbr. The town in Western Poland with 12,500 inhabitants is the capital of Krosno County...

. In early 1477 was announced a truce between the warring parties, who lasted until April 1477. The war was resumed in spring 1477 and began years of war between the Bohemian and Hungarian troops. The disaster worsened the situation of Jan II and his Hungarian allies. However, the residents of Głogów maintain his fidelity to Jan II. The parties tried to resolve the fighting through diplomacy, but in the autumn of 1477 the truce was broken by Jan II, who invaded the Brandenburg possessions and even sieged Berlin
Berlin
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...

 and Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...

. The war continued during all 1478 with several battles. In the meanwhile, the ex-Duke of Żagań strengthen the position in Głogów. In mid-1479 a truce was concluded between the warring parties, under which the Elector Albert III Achilles gave up his claims over the Duchy of Głogów for the amount of 50,000 florins. Negotiations between Jan II and the Elector of Brandenburg lasted until September 1482. Jan II retained Głogów, but the northern part was taken by Brandenburg (around Krosno Odrzańskie, Sulechów
Sulechów
Sulechów is a town in Poland, in Lubusz Voivodeship, in Zielona Góra County. It is the administrative seat of the Gmina Sulechów.-History:The area by 990 had been conquered by Duke Mieszko I of Poland and from 1138 was part of the Duchy of Silesia....

, Świebodzin
Swiebodzin
Świebodzin is a town in western Poland with 21,757 inhabitants . It is the capital of Świebodzin CountyIt was formerly part of the Zielona Góra Voivodeship , a reconfiguration of the old German state of Prussia, the eastern 40% of which was inherited by Poland in 1945, and led to the expulsion of...

 and Lubsko
Lubsko
Lubsko is a town in Żary County in the Lubusz Voivodeship in western Poland. It is the administrative seat of the Gmina Lubsko and has a population of 15,370 as of February 1, 2005.- History :...

). According to the agreement with Matthias Corvinus, Jan II only ruled Głogów during his lifetime. After his death, the Duchy was inherited by the Hungarian King and his descendants.

In 1480 Jan II attempted to unify Głogów (the Duchy was divided in two parts, one belonged to him, and the other, previously belonged to the 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....

 branch, was now in power of the Bohemian Kingdom). After a siege of seven weeks, on 1 May 1480 the city was conquered and the Duchy of Głogów was finally reunited after almost 150 years of separation.

Despite all this success, Jan II's ambition became higher and therefore between him and Matthias Corvinus erupted the war. The Duke of Głogów became ally of Henry I the Older, son of George of Poděbrady and Duke of Oleśnica
Olesnica
Oleśnica is a town in the Trzebnickie Hills in southwestern Poland with 36,951 inhabitants . It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship...

; as a part of the alliance, was arranged the marriage of Henry I's three sons with Jan II's three daughters. The marriage of the eldest single of Jan II's daughters, Salome, with Henry I's eldest son, Albert I was celebrated on 11 January 1487 in Głogów. One year later, on 6 January 1488, was made the formal betrothal of the other two Jan II's daughters, Hedwig and Anna, with the other two Henry I's sons, George I and Karl I. In the ceremony, Jan II declared his intentions to leave the Duchy of Głogów to his three sons-in-law after his death. That statement caused the reaction of Matthias Corvinus and the beginning of the war. Jan II wanted at all costs to force his subjects to swear fidelity to their future rulers. Unfortunately, they showed a strong resistant, even after the Duke sentenced to death seven members of the city council. In May 1488 began the siege of Głogów, culminating with the Jan II's capitulation in November of that year. The deposed Duke renounced to his claims over Głogów for 20,000 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.

In subsequent years, he tried unsuccessfully to find a piece of the Silesian Duchies where he could spend the rest of his turbulent life. He even put his claim over 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...

 or his return to Głogów, but without positive results. In 1497 Henry I the Elder give him the town of Wołów as a fief during his lifetime.

Jan II died in Wołów on 22 September 1504, ending with him the male line of the Żagań
Zagan
Zagan may refer to:*Zagan - a demon in the Ars Goetia*Żagań - a town in west Poland...

-Głogów branch. He was buried in the local parish church.

A controversial figure, Jan II was praised by some historians for his ambitions and criticized by others for his fussiness and crazy ideas.

Marriage and issue

By 1462 Jan II married with Katharina (b. 1443 - d. 14 April 1505), daughter of Duke William I of Opava
Opava
Opava is a city in the northern Czech Republic on the river Opava, located to the north-west of Ostrava. The historical capital of Czech Silesia, Opava is now in the Moravian-Silesian Region and has a population of 59,843 as of January 1, 2005....

. They had five daughters:
  1. Margareta (b. 1465 - d. aft. 1502), married firstly by 28 March 1484 to Miklós Bánffy de Limbow and secondly with Johann Hampo.
  2. Salome (b. aft. 11 January 1475 - d. bef. 30 September 1514), married firstly on 11 January 1487 to Albert I of Poděbrady
    Albert I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
    Albert I of Münsterberg-Oels was a member of the House of Poděbrady and a Duke of the Silesian duchies of Münsterberg and Oleśnica and Count of Kladsko.- Life :Albert was a grandson of the King George of Podebrady of Bohemia...

    , Duke 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...

    -Oleśnica
    Olesnica
    Oleśnica is a town in the Trzebnickie Hills in southwestern Poland with 36,951 inhabitants . It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship...

     (Münsterberg-Oels), and secondly in 1512 to Johann IV of Kurzbach, Baron von Trachenberg-Militsch.
  3. Hedwig (b. October 1476 - d. Ziębice, 15 February 1524), married firstly on July 1489 to George I of Poděbrady, Duke 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...

    -Oleśnica
    Olesnica
    Oleśnica is a town in the Trzebnickie Hills in southwestern Poland with 36,951 inhabitants . It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship...

     (Münsterberg-Oels), and secondly on 23 October 1503 to Sigismund, Baron of Wartenberg
    Wartenberg
    - Buildings :* Wartenberg castles, situated on the Wartenberg hill in the municipality of Muttenz near Basel.- Places :* Wartenberg, Hesse in the district Vogelsbergkreis, Hesse, Germany* Wartenberg, a locality in the borough of Lichtenberg in Berlin, Germany...

    .
  4. Anna (b. ca. 1480 - d. Zabkowice, Silesia, 28 October 1541), married on 3 March 1495 to Charles I of Poděbrady
    Charles 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...

    , Duke 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...

    -Oleśnica
    Olesnica
    Oleśnica is a town in the Trzebnickie Hills in southwestern Poland with 36,951 inhabitants . It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship...

     (Münsterberg-Oels).
  5. Barbara (b. ca. 1481 - d. 6 April 1539), Abbess of St. Klara in 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...

    (1495).
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK