John I, Duke of Opava-Ratibor
Encyclopedia
John I of Opava-Ratibor was the founder the Troppau branch of the Bohemian Přemyslid dynasty
, which lasted until 1521. In 1365, he became the sole heir of the Duchy of Racibórz
. From 1367 to 1377 he ruled the Duchy of Opava
jointly with his brothers, Nicholas III
, Wenceslaus I
and Přemysl. From 1377 until his death, he was also Duke of Krnov
and Freudenthal.
of Opava and Anna of Racibórz, a sister of Leszek of Racibórz
, the last Duke of Racibórz from the Silesian Piast family. Leszek died in 1336 without heirs, causing Ratiboř to revert to the Crown. King John of Bohemia then enfeoffed Leszek's brother-in-law, Nicholas II, who was John I's father. Since John I was the only son of Nicholas II from his first marriage with Anna, John I was the sole heir of Racibórz. At the same time, he and his younger half-brother Nicholas III became guardians of Nicholas III's younger brothers Wenceslaus I and Přemysl. After disputes about the inheritance, Opava was divided in 1367 among the four brothers. In 1377, a new division was made, in which John I kept Racibórz, but also received the duchies of Krnov
and Freudenthal. The Duchy of Głubczyce
was split off for Nicholas III; Wenceslaus I and Přemysl received the rest of Opava. When Wenceslaus died in 1381, Přemysl inherited Wenceslaus's share. When Nicholas III died in 1394, Přemysl inherited Głubczyce as well.
John I gave Magdeburg rights
to the city of Opava
in 1372. Because of financial difficulties, he sold Mikołów and the Principality of Pless to Duke Władysław II of Opole in 1375. His son John II later managed to buy both these possession back.
of Głogów and Żagań (d. 1369). They had three children
Premyslid dynasty
The Přemyslids , were a Czech royal dynasty which reigned in Bohemia and Moravia , and partly also in Hungary, Silesia, Austria and Poland.-Legendary rulers:...
, which lasted until 1521. In 1365, he became the sole heir of the Duchy of Racibórz
Duchy of Racibórz
Duchy of Racibórz was one of the duchies of Silesia. Its capital was Racibórz in Upper Silesia.-History:After Bolesław I the Tall and his younger brother Mieszko I Tanglefoot backed by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa had retained their Silesian heritage in 1163, the Duchy of Racibórz was formed in...
. From 1367 to 1377 he ruled the Duchy of Opava
jointly with his brothers, Nicholas III
Nicholas III, Duke of Opava
Nicholas III of Opava was Duke of Opava from 1367 to 1377 and Duke of Głubczyce from 1377 until his death.- Life :Nicholas II of Opava was a member of the Opava branch of the Přemyslid dynasty...
, Wenceslaus I
Wenceslaus I, Duke of Opava
Wenceslaus I of Opava was a member of the Opava brnach of the Přemyslid dynasty. He was Duke of Opava from 1367 until his death.- Life :His parents were Duke Nicholas II of Opava and his third wife, Judith , daughter of Duke Bolesław the Elder of Niemodlin .After their father's death in 1365...
and Přemysl. From 1377 until his death, he was also Duke of Krnov
Duchy of Krnov
Duchy of Krnov was one of the Duchies of Silesia, with its capital in Krnov, present-day Czech Republic.-History:The duchy was created in Upper Silesia in 1377 by partition from the Duchy of Opava , on lands which until 1269 had been part of Moravia...
and Freudenthal.
Life
His parents were Nicholas IINicholas II, Duke of Opava
Nicholas II of Opava was Duke of Opava from 1318 to 1365 and Duke of Ratibór from 1337 to 1365 and Burgrave of Kladsko from 1350 to 1365 and also chamberlain of the Kingdom of Bohemia.- Life :Nicholas II of Opava was a member of the Opava branch of the Bohemian noble Přemyslovci family...
of Opava and Anna of Racibórz, a sister of Leszek of Racibórz
Leszek of Racibórz
Leszek of Racibórz was a Duke of Racibórz since 1306 and Duke of Koźle from 1334 until his death.He was the eldest child and only son of Duke Przemysław of Racibórz by his wife Anna, daughter of Duke Konrad II of Masovia.-Life:...
, the last Duke of Racibórz from the Silesian Piast family. Leszek died in 1336 without heirs, causing Ratiboř to revert to the Crown. King John of Bohemia then enfeoffed Leszek's brother-in-law, Nicholas II, who was John I's father. Since John I was the only son of Nicholas II from his first marriage with Anna, John I was the sole heir of Racibórz. At the same time, he and his younger half-brother Nicholas III became guardians of Nicholas III's younger brothers Wenceslaus I and Přemysl. After disputes about the inheritance, Opava was divided in 1367 among the four brothers. In 1377, a new division was made, in which John I kept Racibórz, but also received the duchies of Krnov
Duchy of Krnov
Duchy of Krnov was one of the Duchies of Silesia, with its capital in Krnov, present-day Czech Republic.-History:The duchy was created in Upper Silesia in 1377 by partition from the Duchy of Opava , on lands which until 1269 had been part of Moravia...
and Freudenthal. The Duchy of Głubczyce
Duchy of Głubczyce
Duchy of Głubczyce Duchy of Głubczyce Duchy of Głubczyce ( was one of the duchies of Silesia. Its capital was Głubczyce in Upper Silesia.The town was historically mentioned for the first time in 1107. At the time, it was a small Moravian village, named Glubcici, and was dominated by a large wooden...
was split off for Nicholas III; Wenceslaus I and Přemysl received the rest of Opava. When Wenceslaus died in 1381, Přemysl inherited Wenceslaus's share. When Nicholas III died in 1394, Přemysl inherited Głubczyce as well.
John I gave Magdeburg rights
Magdeburg rights
Magdeburg Rights or Magdeburg Law were a set of German town laws regulating the degree of internal autonomy within cities and villages granted by a local ruler. Modelled and named after the laws of the German city of Magdeburg and developed during many centuries of the Holy Roman Empire, it was...
to the city 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....
in 1372. Because of financial difficulties, he sold Mikołów and the Principality of Pless to Duke Władysław II of Opole in 1375. His son John II later managed to buy both these possession back.
Marriage and issue
In 1361 John I married to Anna, daughter of Henry VHenry V of Iron
Henry V of Iron , was a Duke of Żagań since 1342, from 1349 Duke of half-Głogów, and from 1363 Duke of half-Ścinawa.He was the only son of Henry IV the Faithful, Duke of Żagań, by his wife Matilda, daughter of Herman, Margrave of Brandenburg-Salzwedel.-Life:The young Henry V gained his political...
of Głogów and Żagań (d. 1369). They had three children
- John II "the Iron" (d. 1424), Duke of Opava-Ratibor
- Nicholas IV (died circa 1406), Duke of Opava
- Margareta (born: 1380 - died: before 7 September 1407),
- married in Duke Boleslaus I of Cieszyn (d. 1431), no issue