John, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
Encyclopedia
John of Münsterberg-Oels (also known as John of Poděbrady; ; ; 4 November 1509, Oleśnica
– 28 February 1565, Oleśnica) was Duke
of the Münsterberg from 1542 to 1565, Duke of Oels
from 1548 to 1565 and Duke of Bernstadt
from 1548 to 1565. He also held the title of Count of Glatz.
and Anna of Sagan
, daughter of Duke John II "the Mad" of Żagań
.
On 20 February 1536 John married Christina Catherine of Schidlowitz . Later that year his father died. Initially, John ruled Münsterberg-Oels jointly with his brothers Joachim
, Henry II
and George II
. In a joint deed dated 25 June 1535, they awarded the city of Srebrna Góra
, which belonged to Münsterberg, the status of free mining town. Unlike their father, Joachim and his brothers followed the Lutheran
doctrine. In 1537, they expelled the Catholic priests from Münsterberg
and appointed an evangelical vicar.
In 1542, Joachim and his brothers pledged the heavily indebted Duchy of Münsterberg to their uncle Duke Frederick II
of Legnica. That same year, the other possessions were divided: Henry II received the Duchy of Bernstadt
, Joachim, the oldest of the brothers became Bishop of Brandenburg, while John continued the government in the Duchy of Oels. There he led the rebuilding of the castle into a Renaissance castle and the construction of a four storey Front Castle that would be used as Wittum
.
After the Duchy Münsterberg was returned to the Poděbrady family in 1559, it was again ruled by John. After the death of his first wife he married on 8 September 1561 with Margarete
, a daughter of Duke Henry II of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel who survived John by fifteen years. After John's death in 1565, he was succeeded by his only son, Charles Christoph
as Duke of Münsterberg. The Duchy of Oels was inherited by John's nephew Charles II
, the Duchy of Bernstadt by his brother Henry III
, who sold it in 1574.
In 1557, after the death of his first wife, John had a sandstone tomb
built for Christina and himself in the church in Oels. It was built by the sculptor Johannes Oslew from Würzburg and is decorated with floral patterns and coats of arms. At the foot of the life-size figures of the Duke and Duchess are two lions.
John's son, Charles Christopher died in 1569 after a brief reign as Duke of Münsterberg at the age of 24 years. He was the last male descendant of the House of Poděbrady. After his death, the Duchy Münsterberg reverted to the Crown of Bohemia
.
Olesnica
Oleśnica is a town in the Trzebnickie Hills in southwestern Poland with 36,951 inhabitants . It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship...
– 28 February 1565, Oleśnica) was Duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
of the Münsterberg from 1542 to 1565, Duke of Oels
Duchy of Oels
The Duchy of Oels or Duchy of Oleśnica was one of the duchies of Silesia, with the capital in Oleśnica, Poland.Initially part of the Piast Duchy of Wrocław, the Oleśnica area became part of the Duchy of Głogów in 1294, following an armed conflict between Duke Henry III and Henry V the Fat, Duke of...
from 1548 to 1565 and Duke of Bernstadt
Duchy of Bernstadt
The Duchy of Bernstadt was a Silesian duchy centred on the city of Bernstadt in Lower Silesia and formed by separation from the Duchy of Oels . It was first ruled by the Silesian Piasts dynasty, until its extinction in 1492. In 1495 it and the Duchy of Oels passed to the Dukes of Münsterberg,...
from 1548 to 1565. He also held the title of Count of Glatz.
Life
Johann Berger family was a member of the Münsterberg branch of the noble Poděbrady family. His parents were Charles I, Duke of Münsterberg-OelsCharles 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...
and Anna of Sagan
Anna of Sagan
Anna of Sagan was the last surviving member of the Hlohovsko-Zaháňský branch of the Silesian Piasts family, and by marriage duchess of Münsterberg and Oels....
, daughter of Duke John II "the Mad" of Żagań
Jan II the Mad
Jan II the Mad also known as the Bad, the Wild or the Cruel , was a Duke of Żagań-Przewóz since 1439 , from 1449 Duke of Przewóz , during 1461-1468 and briefly in 1472 Duke of Żagań and during 1476-1488 Duke of half-Głogów .He was the fourth and...
.
On 20 February 1536 John married Christina Catherine of Schidlowitz . Later that year his father died. Initially, John ruled Münsterberg-Oels jointly with his brothers Joachim
Joachim of Münsterberg-Oels
Joachim of Münsterberg was a Duke of Münsterberg and from 1536 to 1542 also Duke of Oels...
, Henry II
Henry II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
Henry II of Münsterberg-Oels was from 1536 to 1542 Duke of Münsterberg and of Oels and from 1542 to 1548 Duke of Bernstadt...
and George II
George II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
George II of Münsterberg-Oels was a Duke of Münsterberg 1536-1542 and Duke of Oels. He also held the title of a Count of Glatz.- Life :...
. In a joint deed dated 25 June 1535, they awarded the city of Srebrna Góra
Srebrna Góra
Srebrna Góra may refer to the following places in Poland:*Srebrna Góra, Lower Silesian Voivodeship *Srebrna Góra, Greater Poland Voivodeship...
, which belonged to Münsterberg, the status of free mining town. Unlike their father, Joachim and his brothers followed the Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
doctrine. In 1537, they expelled the Catholic priests from Münsterberg
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 appointed an evangelical vicar.
In 1542, Joachim and his brothers pledged the heavily indebted Duchy of Münsterberg to their uncle Duke 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...
of Legnica. That same year, the other possessions were divided: Henry II received the Duchy of Bernstadt
Duchy of Bernstadt
The Duchy of Bernstadt was a Silesian duchy centred on the city of Bernstadt in Lower Silesia and formed by separation from the Duchy of Oels . It was first ruled by the Silesian Piasts dynasty, until its extinction in 1492. In 1495 it and the Duchy of Oels passed to the Dukes of Münsterberg,...
, Joachim, the oldest of the brothers became Bishop of Brandenburg, while John continued the government in the Duchy of Oels. There he led the rebuilding of the castle into a Renaissance castle and the construction of a four storey Front Castle that would be used as Wittum
Wittum
Wittum , Widum or Witthum is a medieval Latin legal term, known in marital and ecclesiastical law.- Provide for a widow at the wedding :...
.
After the Duchy Münsterberg was returned to the Poděbrady family in 1559, it was again ruled by John. After the death of his first wife he married on 8 September 1561 with Margarete
Margarete of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Margarete of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was a princess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel by birth and by marriage Duchess of Münsterberg, Oels and Bernstadt.- Life :...
, a daughter of Duke Henry II of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel who survived John by fifteen years. After John's death in 1565, he was succeeded by his only son, Charles Christoph
Charles Christopher, Duke of Münsterberg
Charles Christopher, Duke of Münsterberg was duke of Münsterberg from1565 until his death. He also held the title of Count of Glatz.- Life :...
as Duke of Münsterberg. The Duchy of Oels was inherited by John's nephew Charles II
Charles II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
Charles II of Münsterberg-Oels was Duke of Oels from 1565 to 1617 and Duke of Bernstadt from 1604 to 1617. He also hald the titles of Duke of Münsterberg and Count of Glatz...
, the Duchy of Bernstadt by his brother Henry III
Henry III, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
Henry III of Münsterberg-Oels was Duke of Münsterberg from 1565 to 1574 and Duke of Bernstadt...
, who sold it in 1574.
In 1557, after the death of his first wife, John had a sandstone tomb
Tomb
A tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes...
built for Christina and himself in the church in Oels. It was built by the sculptor Johannes Oslew from Würzburg and is decorated with floral patterns and coats of arms. At the foot of the life-size figures of the Duke and Duchess are two lions.
John's son, Charles Christopher died in 1569 after a brief reign as Duke of Münsterberg at the age of 24 years. He was the last male descendant of the House of Poděbrady. After his death, the Duchy Münsterberg reverted to the Crown of Bohemia
Lands of the Bohemian Crown
The Lands of the Bohemian Crown , also called the Lands of the Crown of Saint Wenceslas or simply the Bohemian Crown or Czech Crown lands , refers to the area connected by feudal relations under the joint rule of the Bohemian kings...
.