Bolko IV of Opole
Encyclopedia
Bolko IV of Opole was a Duke of Strzelce
and Niemodlin
during 1382–1400 (with his brothers as co-rulers), Duke of Opole
from 1396 (until 1400 with his brother as co-ruler, except Olesno
).
He was the second son of Duke Bolko III of Strzelce by his wife Anna, probably daughter of Duke Jan I of Oświęcim
.
and his uncle Władysław Opolczyk.
At first, Bolko IV and his brothers inherited a small Duchy, but shortly after his father's death and in accordance with a previous agreement, they took possession of the Duchy of Niemodlin
after the death of his relative Henry
, but without Głogówek, which was retained by Władysław Opolczyk.
The relationship between uncle and nephews was initially good. In 1383 Władysław Opolczyk sold part of his domains, and ten years later (1393), in exchange for taking part in the war against the Polish King Władysław II Jagiełło
, the Duke of Opole promised to them the succession of all his heritage, except the lands which were assigned to his wife Euphemia as her Oprawa wdowia. This decision provoked a violent response by the Polish army, which attacked the cities of Strzelce and Opole.
On 6 August 1396, Bolko III's sons decided to make an agreement with the Polish King and invaded Opole; after that, they were the effective rulers over the Duchy and Władysław Opolczyk was relegated to a second plan until his death in 1401.
In 1400 Bolko IV and Bernard decided to make the formal division of their domains between them (the older brother Jan Kropidło wasn't counted because he followed a Church career in Poland, and the other brother, Henry II
, died in 1394): Bolko IV retained Opole
and Bernard received Strzelce
and Niemodlin
. In 1401 Bolko IV waived to his brother the recently recovered lands of Olesno
and Lubliniec
.
Bolko IV tried to maintain close contacts with King Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia
. For this reason, on 7 July 1402 the Duke of Opole joined the confederation of Silesian states.
In 1417 the case over the inheritance of Władysław Opolczyk was unexpectedly revived. The Dukes Jan I
and Henry IX
of Żagań
claimed rights from their mother Katharina of Opole, daughter of Władysław Opolczyk. For unknown reasons the Prague court on 2 July 1417 gave an extremely negative sentence to the Dukes of Opole, requiring the return of their domains to the Dukes of Żagań; one year later, on 1 April 1418, this decision was confirmed by King Wenceslas IV. Only the sudden death of the Bohemian King less than a year later and the inability of the Dukes of Żagań to exploit their opportunities permitted Bolko IV to retain his lands.
In subsequent years, and despite the previous difficulties with the Bohemian Kingdom, Bolko IV began to work closely with the new King Sigismund of Luxembourg
, who promised a favorable arrangement on 18 September 1421 if the Duke of Opole fought at his side. As a result of this cooperation, two years later in the Congress of Bratislava
(which occurred in order to stop the disputes between the King and the Teutonic Order), Bolko IV and his brother Bernard received the town of Sieradz
and part of Greater Poland
; however, this arrangement remained only on paper, because soon after in Kežmarok
the peace between the Polish and Bohemian Kings was concluded.
By 1424 Bolko IV and Bernard inherited the town of Głogówek after the death of Euphemia, widow of Władysław Opolczyk, who received this land as her Oprawa wdowia; however, at the end of that year they granted the town of Bolko V the Hussite
, Bolko IV's eldest son.
After the end of the 1420s Silesia was shaken by the Hussite Wars
. Bolko IV initially stood at the side of King Sigismund, despite the danger of punitive expeditions of the Hussite troops; but in 1428 he and his brother Bernard decided to make peace with the Hussites, but without the guarantee of security over their domains. However, soon Bolko IV returned to the Bohemian side and on 16 September 1435 the Hussites were finally repelled from Silesia.
Bolko IV died on 6 May 1437 and was buried in the Ducal vault in the Franciscan
church in Opole
.
Strzelce Opolskie
Strzelce Opolskie is a town in south-western Poland with 19,628 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Strzelce County. Strzelce Opolskie is one of the biggest centers of German minority in Poland....
and Niemodlin
Niemodlin
Niemodlin is a town in Opole County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 6,911 inhabitants .It was first mentioned as Nemodlin in a 1224 deed and received town privileges in 1283. Originally a part of the Duchy of Opole, after the death of Duke Bolko I Niemodlin became the capital of a duchy in his...
during 1382–1400 (with his brothers as co-rulers), Duke 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...
from 1396 (until 1400 with his brother as co-ruler, except Olesno
Olesno
Olesno is a town in Opole Voivodship, Poland about north-east of the city of Opole. It is the capital of Olesno County and seat of the Gmina Olesno.-History:The area near the ancient Amber Road had been settled since the Neolithic era...
).
He was the second son of Duke Bolko III of Strzelce by his wife Anna, probably daughter of Duke Jan I of Oświęcim
Jan I the Scholastic
Jan I the Scholastic , was a Duke of Oświęcim from 1324 until his death.He was the eldest child and only son of Duke Władysław of Oświęcim by his wife Euphrosyne, daughter of Duke Boleslaus II of Masovia.-Life:...
.
Life
At the time of his father's death in 1382 Bolko IV was still a minor and therefore was placed under the care of his older brother Jan KropidłoJan Kropidło
Jan Kropidło , was Duke of Strzelce 1382–96, Duke of Opole from 1396 , Bishop of Poznań 1382–84, Bishop of Włocławek 1384–89, nominate Archbishop of Gniezno 1389–94, Bishop of Kamień 1394–98, Bishop of Chełmno 1398–1402, and again Bishop of Włocławek 1402 until his death.He was the eldest son of...
and his uncle Władysław Opolczyk.
At first, Bolko IV and his brothers inherited a small Duchy, but shortly after his father's death and in accordance with a previous agreement, they took possession of the Duchy of Niemodlin
Niemodlin
Niemodlin is a town in Opole County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 6,911 inhabitants .It was first mentioned as Nemodlin in a 1224 deed and received town privileges in 1283. Originally a part of the Duchy of Opole, after the death of Duke Bolko I Niemodlin became the capital of a duchy in his...
after the death of his relative Henry
Henry of Niemodlin
Henry of Niemodlin , was a Duke of Niemodlin since 1365 until his death .He was the third and youngest son of Bolesław the Elder, Duke of Niemodlin, by his wife Euphemia, daughter of Henry VI the Good, Duke of Wrocław.-Life:After his father's death by 1365 Henry and his brothers Bolesław II and...
, but without Głogówek, which was retained by Władysław Opolczyk.
The relationship between uncle and nephews was initially good. In 1383 Władysław Opolczyk sold part of his domains, and ten years later (1393), in exchange for taking part in the war against the Polish King Władysław II Jagiełło
Jogaila
Jogaila, later 'He is known under a number of names: ; ; . See also: Jogaila : names and titles. was Grand Duke of Lithuania , king consort of Kingdom of Poland , and sole King of Poland . He ruled in Lithuania from 1377, at first with his uncle Kęstutis...
, the Duke of Opole promised to them the succession of all his heritage, except the lands which were assigned to his wife Euphemia as her Oprawa wdowia. This decision provoked a violent response by the Polish army, which attacked the cities of Strzelce and Opole.
On 6 August 1396, Bolko III's sons decided to make an agreement with the Polish King and invaded Opole; after that, they were the effective rulers over the Duchy and Władysław Opolczyk was relegated to a second plan until his death in 1401.
In 1400 Bolko IV and Bernard decided to make the formal division of their domains between them (the older brother Jan Kropidło wasn't counted because he followed a Church career in Poland, and the other brother, Henry II
Henry II of Niemodlin
Henry II of Niemodlin was a Duke of Strzelce and Niemodlin since 1382 until his death ....
, died in 1394): Bolko IV retained 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 Bernard received Strzelce
Strzelce Opolskie
Strzelce Opolskie is a town in south-western Poland with 19,628 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Strzelce County. Strzelce Opolskie is one of the biggest centers of German minority in Poland....
and Niemodlin
Niemodlin
Niemodlin is a town in Opole County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 6,911 inhabitants .It was first mentioned as Nemodlin in a 1224 deed and received town privileges in 1283. Originally a part of the Duchy of Opole, after the death of Duke Bolko I Niemodlin became the capital of a duchy in his...
. In 1401 Bolko IV waived to his brother the recently recovered lands of Olesno
Olesno
Olesno is a town in Opole Voivodship, Poland about north-east of the city of Opole. It is the capital of Olesno County and seat of the Gmina Olesno.-History:The area near the ancient Amber Road had been settled since the Neolithic era...
and Lubliniec
Lubliniec
Lubliniec is a town in southern Poland with 29,359 inhabitants . It is the capital of Lubliniec County, part of Silesian Voivodeship ; previously it was in Częstochowa Voivodeship .-Geography:...
.
Bolko IV tried to maintain close contacts with King Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia
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...
. For this reason, on 7 July 1402 the Duke of Opole joined the confederation of Silesian states.
In 1417 the case over the inheritance of Władysław Opolczyk was unexpectedly revived. The Dukes Jan I
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...
and Henry IX
Henry IX the Older
Henry IX the Older was a Duke of Żagań-Głogów during 1397–1412 , during 1412–17 ruler over Szprotawa, Krosno Odrzańskie, Świebodzin and half of Głogów , since 1417 ruler over Szprotawa, half of Głogów, since 1420 ruler over Kożuchów and Zielona Góra, from 1430 ruler over Krosno Odrzańskie and...
of Żagań
Zagan
Zagan may refer to:*Zagan - a demon in the Ars Goetia*Żagań - a town in west Poland...
claimed rights from their mother Katharina of Opole, daughter of Władysław Opolczyk. For unknown reasons the Prague court on 2 July 1417 gave an extremely negative sentence to the Dukes of Opole, requiring the return of their domains to the Dukes of Żagań; one year later, on 1 April 1418, this decision was confirmed by King Wenceslas IV. Only the sudden death of the Bohemian King less than a year later and the inability of the Dukes of Żagań to exploit their opportunities permitted Bolko IV to retain his lands.
In subsequent years, and despite the previous difficulties with the Bohemian Kingdom, Bolko IV began to work closely with the new King Sigismund of Luxembourg
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
, who promised a favorable arrangement on 18 September 1421 if the Duke of Opole fought at his side. As a result of this cooperation, two years later in the Congress of Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
(which occurred in order to stop the disputes between the King and the Teutonic Order), Bolko IV and his brother Bernard received the town of Sieradz
Sieradz
Sieradz is a town on the Warta river in central Poland with 44,326 inhabitants . It is situated in the Łódź Voivodship , but was previously the eponymous capital of the Sieradz Voivodship , and historically one of the minor duchies in Greater Poland.It is one of the oldest towns in Poland,...
and part of 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...
; however, this arrangement remained only on paper, because soon after in Kežmarok
Kežmarok
Kežmarok is a town in the Spiš region of eastern Slovakia , on the Poprad River.-History:...
the peace between the Polish and Bohemian Kings was concluded.
By 1424 Bolko IV and Bernard inherited the town of Głogówek after the death of Euphemia, widow of Władysław Opolczyk, who received this land as her Oprawa wdowia; however, at the end of that year they granted the town of Bolko V the Hussite
Bolko V the Hussite
Bolko V the Hussite was a Duke of Opole between 1422–1424 , ruler over Głogówek and Prudnik since 1424, Duke of Strzelce and Niemodlin from 1450 and ruler over Olesno since 1455....
, Bolko IV's eldest son.
After the end of the 1420s Silesia was shaken by the Hussite Wars
Hussite Wars
The Hussite Wars, also called the Bohemian Wars involved the military actions against and amongst the followers of Jan Hus in Bohemia in the period 1419 to circa 1434. The Hussite Wars were notable for the extensive use of early hand-held gunpowder weapons such as hand cannons...
. Bolko IV initially stood at the side of King Sigismund, despite the danger of punitive expeditions of the Hussite troops; but in 1428 he and his brother Bernard decided to make peace with the Hussites, but without the guarantee of security over their domains. However, soon Bolko IV returned to the Bohemian side and on 16 September 1435 the Hussites were finally repelled from Silesia.
Bolko IV died on 6 May 1437 and was buried in the Ducal vault in the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
church in 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...
.
Marriage and issue
By 1398 Bolko IV married Margareta (ca. 1375? – 6 December 1437), probably a member of the House of Görz. They had five children:- Bolko V the HussiteBolko V the HussiteBolko V the Hussite was a Duke of Opole between 1422–1424 , ruler over Głogówek and Prudnik since 1424, Duke of Strzelce and Niemodlin from 1450 and ruler over Olesno since 1455....
(ca. 1400 – 29 May 1460). - Jan IJan I of OpoleJan I of Opole was a Duke of Opole since 1437 .He was the second son of Duke Bolko IV of Opole by his wife Margareta, possibly member of the House of Görz.-Life:...
(1410/13 – 5 September 1439). - MargaretaMargareta of OpoleMargareta of Opole , was a Polish princess member of the House of Piast in the Opole branch and by marriage Duchess of Oława-Lubin-Chojnów.She was the daughter of Duke Bolko IV of Opole, by his wife Margareta, possibly a member of the House of Görz.-Life:...
(1412/14 – 15 January 1454), married by 1423 to Duke Louis III of Oława. - Henry (1420 – 8 April 1436).
- Nicholas INicholas I of OpoleNicholas I of Opole was a Duke of Opole since 1437 , Duke of Brzeg from 1450, ruler over Kluczbork since 1451 and Duke of Strzelce, Niemodlin and Olesno from 1460....
(ca. 1424 – 3 July 1476).