Bolko II of Ziębice
Encyclopedia
Bolko II of Ziębice (1 February 1300 – 11 June 1341) was a Duke of Jawor
-Lwówek
-Świdnica
-Ziębice
in Poland
from 1301 to 1312 (with his brothers as co-rulers), of Świdnica-Ziębice from 1312 to 1322 (with his brother as co-ruler), and sole Duke of Ziębice from 1322 until his death.
He was the fourth son of Bolko I the Strict
, Duke of Jawor
-Lwówek
-Świdnica
-Ziębice
, by his wife Beatrix
, daughter of Otto V the Long, Margrave of Brandenburg
-Salzwedel
. He was named after his eldest brother Bolko, who died on 30 January 1300, just two days before his birth.
assumed the government and the tutelage of his brothers. Out of fear that the duchy
would be fragmented, Bolko II was initially destined for a career in the Church. Bolko II strongly resisted these plans, and in 1322 received the district of Ziębice
as an independent duchy from Bernard.
In 1322, Bolko II, alongside Bernard, took part with Teutonic Knights
in the expedition against Lithuania
.
On the threshold of his reign, Bolko II fell into conflict with the Church. The continued financial difficulties of the Duke lead him to invade and steal goods from the monasteries of Henryków
and Kamieniec Ząbkowicki
. In 1329, the Duke attacked the suite of the Papal legate
Pietro di Alverni. This action motivated the intervention of the Kings of Poland and Bohemia
, with the support of almost all of the Silesian dukes
. Defeated, Bolko II was excommunicated by the Bishop of Wrocław, Nanker
. The excommunication was only removed after Bolko II paid large sums to both the Papal legate and the monasteries as compensation.
In 1335, the Duchy of Ziębice was attacked by Charles of Luxembourg
, Margrave
of Moravia
and heir of the Bohemian Kingdom, because Bolko II refused to pay homage for his duchy. It was the shortest route between Prague
and the most important Silesian city, Wroclaw
, at that time under the control of the Bohemian Kingdom. Charles ignored Bolko II's determination, and sent a small force against him. The Duke quickly defeated the force, capturing 150 of the major Bohemian knights, but he failed to halt the destruction of the Bohemian lands made by Charles's army. Bolko II was able to take advantage from the captivity of the Bohemian knights; however, he only asked a very small ransom for them. Bolko II won the 1335 war.
However, in June 1336, Bolko II voluntary paid homage to the King of Bohemia. The withdrawal of the Silesian Dukes by King Casimir III the Great of Poland eliminated Bolko II's hope of building an effective power against the Bohemian Kingdom. Also, Bolko II received the district of Kłodzko during his lifetime. Bolko II's act of homage confirmed that, after the eventual extinction of the male line of the Dukes of Ziębice, the Duchy would fall under the direct rule of the King of Bohemia.
Bolko II struggled with his continuing financial problems, increased by his prodigality. In 1337, he was forced to pledge Ząbkowice to Charles of Luxembourg, and shortly after, for the amount of 2,300 fines he pledged Strzelin
and Kąty Wrocławskie. At the end, Bolko II only retained the capital of the Duchy, Ziębice. Despite this, Bolko II cared about the economic development of his estate, which enjoyed a relatively high popularity among the Silesian cities.
Bolko II died on 11 June 1341 in Ziębice, and was buried in the monastery of Henryków
.
or illegitimate)
of Louis II of Savoy, Baron of Vaud
. Bonne was the widow of Count Matthias of Trenczin, a Hungarian nobleman. They had two children:
|-
|-
|-
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...
-Lwówek
Lwówek
Lwówek is a town in Nowy Tomyśl County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,939 inhabitants ....
-Świdnica
Swidnica
Świdnica is a city in south-western Poland in the region of Silesia. It has a population of 60,317 according to 2006 figures. It lies in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, being the seventh largest town in that voivodeship. From 1975–98 it was in the former Wałbrzych Voivodeship...
-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...
in 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...
from 1301 to 1312 (with his brothers as co-rulers), of Świdnica-Ziębice from 1312 to 1322 (with his brother as co-ruler), and sole Duke of Ziębice from 1322 until his death.
He was the fourth son of Bolko I the Strict
Bolko I the Strict
Bolko I the Strict also known as the Raw or of Jawor , was a Duke of Lwówek during 1278-81 and Jawor since 1278 , sole Duke of Lwówek since 1286, Duke of Świdnica-Ziębice since 1291.He was the second son of Bolesław II the Bald, Duke of Legnica by his first wife Hedwig, daughter of...
, Duke of 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...
-Lwówek
Lwówek
Lwówek is a town in Nowy Tomyśl County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,939 inhabitants ....
-Świdnica
Swidnica
Świdnica is a city in south-western Poland in the region of Silesia. It has a population of 60,317 according to 2006 figures. It lies in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, being the seventh largest town in that voivodeship. From 1975–98 it was in the former Wałbrzych Voivodeship...
-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...
, by his wife Beatrix
Beatrice of Brandenburg
Beatrice of Brandenburg , was a German princess and a member of the House of Ascania in the Brandenburg branch. By her two marriages she was Duchess of Świdnica and Koźle-Bytom-Siewierz....
, daughter of Otto V the Long, Margrave of Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
-Salzwedel
Salzwedel
Salzwedel of Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, and has a population of approximately 21,500. Salzwedel is located on the German Framework Road.-Geography:...
. He was named after his eldest brother Bolko, who died on 30 January 1300, just two days before his birth.
Life
At the time of his father's death in 1301, Bolko II was not quite two years old. Therefore, he and his siblings were placed under the care of their mother and the guardianship of their maternal uncle, Herman, Margrave of Brandenburg-Salzwedel, until 1305, when the eldest living brother BernardBernard of Świdnica
Bernard of Świdnica was a Duke of Jawor-Lwówek-Świdnica-Ziębice during 1301–1312 , of Świdnica-Ziębice during 1312–1322 , and sole Duke of Świdnica since 1322 until his death.He was the second son of Bolko I the Strict, Duke of Jawor-Lwówek-Świdnica-Ziębice, by his wife Beatrix, daughter of Otto V...
assumed the government and the tutelage of his brothers. Out of fear that the duchy
Duchy
A duchy is a territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess.Some duchies were sovereign in areas that would become unified realms only during the Modern era . In contrast, others were subordinate districts of those kingdoms that unified either partially or completely during the Medieval era...
would be fragmented, Bolko II was initially destined for a career in the Church. Bolko II strongly resisted these plans, and in 1322 received the district 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...
as an independent duchy from Bernard.
In 1322, Bolko II, alongside Bernard, took part with Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
in the expedition against Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
.
On the threshold of his reign, Bolko II fell into conflict with the Church. The continued financial difficulties of the Duke lead him to invade and steal goods from the monasteries of Henryków
Henryków
Henryków may refer to the following places in Poland:*Henryków, Lower Silesian Voivodeship *Henryków, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship *Henryków, Brzeziny County in Łódź Voivodeship...
and Kamieniec Ząbkowicki
Kamieniec Zabkowicki
Kamieniec Ząbkowicki is a village in Ząbkowice Śląskie County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Kamieniec Ząbkowicki. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany under the name of Kamenz. Kamieniec Zabkowicki is an important...
. In 1329, the Duke attacked the suite of the Papal legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
Pietro di Alverni. This action motivated the intervention of the Kings of Poland and 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...
, with the support of almost all of the Silesian dukes
Duchy of Silesia
The Duchy of Silesia with its capital at Wrocław was a medieval duchy located in the historic Silesian region of Poland. Soon after it was formed under the Piast dynasty in 1138, it fragmented into various Duchies of Silesia. In 1327 the remaining Duchy of Wrocław as well as most other duchies...
. Defeated, Bolko II was excommunicated by the Bishop of Wrocław, Nanker
Nanker
Nanker , born Jan Kołda, was a Polish noble of Oksza coat of arms, bishop of Kraków and bishop of Wrocław ....
. The excommunication was only removed after Bolko II paid large sums to both the Papal legate and the monasteries as compensation.
In 1335, the Duchy of Ziębice was attacked by Charles of Luxembourg
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....
, Margrave
Margrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
of Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
and heir of the Bohemian Kingdom, because Bolko II refused to pay homage for his duchy. It was the shortest route between 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 the most important Silesian city, 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...
, at that time under the control of the Bohemian Kingdom. Charles ignored Bolko II's determination, and sent a small force against him. The Duke quickly defeated the force, capturing 150 of the major Bohemian knights, but he failed to halt the destruction of the Bohemian lands made by Charles's army. Bolko II was able to take advantage from the captivity of the Bohemian knights; however, he only asked a very small ransom for them. Bolko II won the 1335 war.
However, in June 1336, Bolko II voluntary paid homage to the King of Bohemia. The withdrawal of the Silesian Dukes by King Casimir III the Great of Poland eliminated Bolko II's hope of building an effective power against the Bohemian Kingdom. Also, Bolko II received the district of Kłodzko during his lifetime. Bolko II's act of homage confirmed that, after the eventual extinction of the male line of the Dukes of Ziębice, the Duchy would fall under the direct rule of the King of Bohemia.
Bolko II struggled with his continuing financial problems, increased by his prodigality. In 1337, he was forced to pledge Ząbkowice to Charles of Luxembourg, and shortly after, for the amount of 2,300 fines he pledged 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...
and Kąty Wrocławskie. At the end, Bolko II only retained the capital of the Duchy, Ziębice. Despite this, Bolko II cared about the economic development of his estate, which enjoyed a relatively high popularity among the Silesian cities.
Bolko II died on 11 June 1341 in Ziębice, and was buried in the monastery of Henryków
Henryków
Henryków may refer to the following places in Poland:*Henryków, Lower Silesian Voivodeship *Henryków, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship *Henryków, Brzeziny County in Łódź Voivodeship...
.
Marriage and issue
By 21 November 1321, Bolko II married Bonne de Savoie (also named Guta or Judith), daughter (either legitimateor illegitimate)
of Louis II of Savoy, Baron of Vaud
Vaud
Vaud is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and is located in Romandy, the French-speaking southwestern part of the country. The capital is Lausanne. The name of the Canton in Switzerland's other languages are Vaud in Italian , Waadt in German , and Vad in Romansh.-History:Along the lakes,...
. Bonne was the widow of Count Matthias of Trenczin, a Hungarian nobleman. They had two children:
- Nicholas the SmallNicholas the SmallNicholas the Small was a Duke of Münsterberg since 1341 until his death.He was the eldest child and only son of Duke Bolko II of Münsterberg and his wife Bonne , daughter of Louis of Savoy, Baron of Vaud.-Life:...
(b. ca. 1327 – d. 23 April 1358). - Margareta (b. ca. 1330 – d. August aft. 1368), a nun in StrzelinStrzelinStrzelin 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...
.
External links
|-
|-
|-