Rupert I of Legnica
Encyclopedia
Rupert I of Legnica (27 March 1347 – by 12 January 1409) was a Duke of Legnica
since 1364 until his death, and also regent over half of the Duchy of Głogów-Żagań
during 1397–1401.
He was the eldest son of Wenceslaus I
, Duke of Legnica
, by his wife Anna, daughter of Casimir I, Duke of Cieszyn. He was born after eight years of childless marriage.
. One year later, with his cousin Henry VIII with a Scar
-Louis's son-, Rupert joined to the Emperor Charles IV
's trip to be crowned King of Arles
. Rupert visited then another French cities, including Avignon
, were he obtained from the Pope Urban V
the annulment of the excommunication over his late father.
In 1370 he participated in the Sejm Reich
in Nuremberg
, were at the first time, Rupert manifest his political views.
The regency of Louis I the Fair was longer: only in 1373 Rupert began his personal rule over Legnica. Despite the inclusion of his brother Wenceslaus II
as a co-rule, Rupert maintain the full government over the Duchy, but always with the close cooperation of his uncle. Thanks to the pressure of Louis, Rupert signed an agreement with his younger brothers on 2 December 1372, under which they accepted not divided the Duchy of Legnica between them for the next ten years. The agreement was extended in subsequent years, and allowed Rupert to exercise full control over Legnica at expense of his younger brothers, who, although they are co-rulers, none of them had any real power.
In later years, Rupert was actively involved in the dynastic struggles over the Silesian inheritance. On 21 May 1379 was concluded a treaty between Rupert and King Wenceslaus IV
, who stipulated that after Rupert's homage to Wenceslaus as his vassal, the King guaranteed his total possession over the inheritance of all the descendants of Bolesław III the Generous. Unfortunately, on 6 January 1383, Rupert had to give up his claims over the Duchies of Wroclaw
, Schweidnitz and Jawor
.
After the death of Henry VIII the Sparrow
, Duke of Głogów-Żagań on 14 March 1397, Rupert took the regency on behalf of his minor sons, until 1401.
The successive deaths of Louis I the Fair (6 December 1398) and his son Henry VIII (11 July 1399) left Rupert as the Head of the Silesian Legnica-Brieg branch, who allowed him to act as a mediator in the disputes of his Silesian relatives (for example in 1399 between the Dukes of Opole
and the Bishop of Lubusz, Jan Borschnitzem, and in 1400, with the sons of Henry VIII, who wanted to share their dominions).
In the internal politics, the two main problems of Rupert was to pay the debts of both father and grandfather (who were successfully cancelled) and avoid problems with the Church (who was finally ended with the election of his younger brother Wenceslaus II
as Bishop of Wroclaw).
Like his uncle Louis I, Rupert was a generous protector of the arts. One of the artist supported by him was the Brieg canon Piotr Byczyny, who write the "Chronicles of Polish Dukes".
Rupert died around 12 January 1409 and was buried in the Church of God (pl: Bożego Grobu) of Legnica.
, Duke of Żagań
and widow of King Casimir III the Great of Poland. They had two daughters:
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 until his death, and also regent over half of the Duchy of Głogów-Żagań
Zagan
Zagan may refer to:*Zagan - a demon in the Ars Goetia*Żagań - a town in west Poland...
during 1397–1401.
He was the eldest son 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. He was born after eight years of childless marriage.
Life
Rupert's father died in 1364, leaving him and his four siblings under the guardianship of his uncle Louis I the FairLudwik 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...
. One year later, with his cousin Henry VIII with a Scar
Henryk VIII with a Scar
Henry VII with a Scar also known as the Courageous or of Brzeg , was a Duke of Brzeg since 1361 and ruler of Niemcza since 1395....
-Louis's son-, Rupert joined to the Emperor Charles IV
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
's trip to be crowned King of Arles
Arles
Arles is a city and commune in the south of France, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, of which it is a subprefecture, in the former province of Provence....
. Rupert visited then another French cities, including Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
, were he obtained from the Pope Urban V
Pope Urban V
Pope Urban V , born Guillaume Grimoard, was Pope from 1362 to 1370.-Biography:Grimoard was a native of Grizac in Languedoc . He became a Benedictine and a doctor in Canon Law, teaching at Montpellier and Avignon...
the annulment of the excommunication over his late father.
In 1370 he participated in the Sejm Reich
Reich
Reich is a German word cognate with the English rich, but also used to designate an empire, realm, or nation. The qualitative connotation from the German is " sovereign state." It is the word traditionally used for a variety of sovereign entities, including Germany in many periods of its history...
in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, were at the first time, Rupert manifest his political views.
The regency of Louis I the Fair was longer: only in 1373 Rupert began his personal rule over Legnica. Despite the inclusion of his brother Wenceslaus II
Wenceslaus 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...
as a co-rule, Rupert maintain the full government over the Duchy, but always with the close cooperation of his uncle. Thanks to the pressure of Louis, Rupert signed an agreement with his younger brothers on 2 December 1372, under which they accepted not divided the Duchy of Legnica between them for the next ten years. The agreement was extended in subsequent years, and allowed Rupert to exercise full control over Legnica at expense of his younger brothers, who, although they are co-rulers, none of them had any real power.
In later years, Rupert was actively involved in the dynastic struggles over the Silesian inheritance. On 21 May 1379 was concluded a treaty between Rupert and 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...
, who stipulated that after Rupert's homage to Wenceslaus as his vassal, the King guaranteed his total possession over the inheritance of all the descendants of Bolesław III the Generous. Unfortunately, on 6 January 1383, Rupert had to give up his claims over the Duchies of 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...
, Schweidnitz and Jawor
Jawor
Jawor is a town in south-western Poland with 24,347 inhabitants . It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship . It is the seat of Jawor County, and lies approximately west of the regional capital Wrocław.In the town can be found a Protestant Church of Peace...
.
After the death of Henry VIII the Sparrow
Henry VIII the Sparrow
Henry VIII the Sparrow was a Duke of Żagań–Głogów during 1368–1378 , from 1378 ruler over Zielona Góra, Szprotawa, Kożuchów, Przemków and Sulechów, and since 1395 ruler over half of Głogów, Ścinawa and Bytom Odrzański.He was the second son of Henry V of Iron, Duke of Żagań–Głogów, by...
, Duke of Głogów-Żagań on 14 March 1397, Rupert took the regency on behalf of his minor sons, until 1401.
The successive deaths of Louis I the Fair (6 December 1398) and his son Henry VIII (11 July 1399) left Rupert as the Head of the Silesian Legnica-Brieg branch, who allowed him to act as a mediator in the disputes of his Silesian relatives (for example in 1399 between the Dukes 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...
and the Bishop of Lubusz, Jan Borschnitzem, and in 1400, with the sons of Henry VIII, who wanted to share their dominions).
In the internal politics, the two main problems of Rupert was to pay the debts of both father and grandfather (who were successfully cancelled) and avoid problems with the Church (who was finally ended with the election of his younger brother Wenceslaus II
Wenceslaus 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...
as Bishop of Wroclaw).
Like his uncle Louis I, Rupert was a generous protector of the arts. One of the artist supported by him was the Brieg canon Piotr Byczyny, who write the "Chronicles of Polish Dukes".
Rupert died around 12 January 1409 and was buried in the Church of God (pl: Bożego Grobu) of Legnica.
Marriage and issue
By 10 February 1372, Rupert married with Hedwig (ca. 1350 – 27 March 1390), daughter of Henry V of IronHenry 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...
, Duke of Żagań
Zagan
Zagan may refer to:*Zagan - a demon in the Ars Goetia*Żagań - a town in west Poland...
and widow of King Casimir III the Great of Poland. They had two daughters:
- Barbara (ca. 1384 – Trebitz, 9 May 1436), married on 6 March 1396 to Rudolph IIIRudolf III, Duke of Saxe-WittenbergDuke Rudolf III of Saxe-Wittenberg was a member of the House of Ascania and Elector of Saxony. He ruled Saxe-Wittenberg from 1388-1419.- Life :...
, Duke of Saxe-WittenbergSaxe-WittenbergThe Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg was a medieval duchy of the Holy Roman Empire centered at Wittenberg, which emerged after the dissolution of the stem duchy of Saxony. As the precursor of the Saxon Electorate, the Ascanian Wittenberg dukes prevailed in obtaining the Saxon electoral dignity.-Ascanian...
and Elector of SaxonySaxonyThe Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
. Through this union, Rupert was a direct ancestor of the Kings of Denmark and the House of GonzagaHouse of GonzagaThe Gonzaga family ruled Mantua in Northern Italy from 1328 to 1708.-History:In 1433, Gianfrancesco I assumed the title of Marquis of Mantua, and in 1530 Federico II received the title of Duke of Mantua. In 1531, the family acquired the Duchy of Monferrato through marriage...
, rulers of MantuaMantuaMantua is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy and capital of the province of the same name. Mantua's historic power and influence under the Gonzaga family, made it one of the main artistic, cultural and notably musical hubs of Northern Italy and the country as a whole...
and Montferrato. - Agnes (before 1385 – after 7 July 1411), a nun in WroclawWroclawWrocław , 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...
.