Fryderyk I of Legnica
Encyclopedia
Frederick I of Liegnitz was a Duke of Chojnów
and Strzelin
from 1453, of Oława and Legnica from 1454, of Brzeg from 1481 and of Lubin
from 1482.
He was the only son of John I, Duke of Lubin, by his wife Hedwig, daughter of Ludwik II of Brzeg.
.
The successive deaths of his uncle Henry X (in 1452) and his own father (in 1453) left Frederick I as the last male representative of the Legnica-Brzeg branch of the Piast dynasty
. The seven-year-old prince succeeded John I in Chojnow and Strzelin under the regency of his mother, the Dowager Duchess Hedwig. One year later (1454), Frederick I inherited Olava and Niemcza
after the death of his paternal grandmother Margareta of Opole
; shortly after, he also received Legnica from the Kingdom of Bohemia
. The regency of Dowager Duchess Hedwig ended in 1466, when Frederick I was formally proclaimed an adult and was able to rule by himself. Throughout his reign he focused on the consolidation of his dynasty and the recovery of all the lands lost by his predecessors.
In 1481 Frederick I purchased Brzeg from the Dukes of Opole
, and one year later (1482) he did the same with Lubin, then in hands of the Dukes of Głogów. In 1488 he also recovered the towns of Byczyna
, Wołczyn and Kluczbork
.
He died at Legnica
in 1488.
, daughter of George of Poděbrady
, King of Bohemia
. They had three sons:
In his will, he left his wife Brzeg and Olava as widow's land, which were ruled by her until her own death.
Chojnów
Chojnów is a small town in Legnica County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is located on the Skora river, a tributary of the Kaczawa at an average altitude of above sea level. Chojnów is the administrative seat of the rural gmina called Gmina Chojnów, although the town is...
and 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...
from 1453, of Oława and Legnica from 1454, of Brzeg from 1481 and of Lubin
Lubin
Lubin is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in south-western Poland. From 1975–1998 it belonged to the former Legnica Voivodeship. Lubin is the administrative seat of Lubin County, and also of the rural district called Gmina Lubin, although it is not part of the territory of the latter,...
from 1482.
He was the only son of John I, Duke of Lubin, by his wife Hedwig, daughter of Ludwik II of Brzeg.
Biography
Frederick was born in BrzegBrzeg
Brzeg is a town in southwestern Poland with 38,496 inhabitants , situated in Silesia in the Opole Voivodeship on the left bank of the Oder...
.
The successive deaths of his uncle Henry X (in 1452) and his own father (in 1453) left Frederick I as the last male representative of the Legnica-Brzeg branch of the Piast dynasty
Piast dynasty
The Piast dynasty was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. It began with the semi-legendary Piast Kołodziej . The first historical ruler was Duke Mieszko I . The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of king Casimir the Great...
. The seven-year-old prince succeeded John I in Chojnow and Strzelin under the regency of his mother, the Dowager Duchess Hedwig. One year later (1454), Frederick I inherited Olava and Niemcza
Niemcza
Niemcza is a town in Dzierżoniów County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Niemcza....
after the death of his paternal grandmother Margareta of Opole
Margareta of Opole
Margareta 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:...
; shortly after, he also received Legnica from the Kingdom of Bohemia
Kingdom of Bohemia
The Kingdom of Bohemia was a country located in the region of Bohemia in Central Europe, most of whose territory is currently located in the modern-day Czech Republic. The King was Elector of Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806, whereupon it became part of the Austrian Empire, and...
. The regency of Dowager Duchess Hedwig ended in 1466, when Frederick I was formally proclaimed an adult and was able to rule by himself. Throughout his reign he focused on the consolidation of his dynasty and the recovery of all the lands lost by his predecessors.
In 1481 Frederick I purchased Brzeg from the Dukes of Opole
Dukes of Opole
The following is a list of monarchs who used the title Duke of Opole and controlled the city and the surrounding area either directly or indirectly .- Piast dynasty :...
, and one year later (1482) he did the same with Lubin, then in hands of the Dukes of Głogów. In 1488 he also recovered the towns of Byczyna
Byczyna
Byczyna is a town in Kluczbork County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,708 inhabitants .The town of Byczyna was first mention in 1054 when it temporarily served as the capital of the Bishopric of Wrocław...
, Wołczyn and Kluczbork
Kluczbork
Kluczbork is a town in southwestern Poland with 26,670 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Kluczbork County and an important railroad junction. In Kluczbork the major rail line from Katowice splits into two directions - westwards to Wroclaw and northwards to Poznań...
.
He died at 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...
in 1488.
Marriage and issue
On 5 September 1474, Frederick I married LudmilaLudmila of Podebrady
Ludmila of Poděbrady , was a member of the House of Poděbrady and by marriage Duchess of Chojnów-Oława-Legnica-Brzeg-Lubin.She was the youngest daughter of George of Poděbrady by his second wife, Johana of Rožmitál...
, daughter of George of Poděbrady
George of Podebrady
George of Kunštát and Poděbrady , also known as Poděbrad or Podiebrad , was King of Bohemia...
, King of 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...
. They had three sons:
- John IIJohn II of LegnicaJohn II of Legnica was a Duke of Legnica since 1488 until his death .He was the eldest son of Frederick I, Duke of Chojnów-Oława-Legnica-Brzeg-Lubin, by his wife Ludmila, daughter of George of Poděbrady, King of Bohemia.-Life:After the death of his father in 1488, John II and his younger brothers...
(1477 - 6 March 1495). - Frederick IIFrederick II of LegnicaFrederick II of Legnica , also known as the Great of Legnica , was a Duke of Legnica from 1488 , of Brzeg from 1521...
(12 February 1480 - 17 September 1547). - George IGeorge I of BriegGeorge I of Brieg , was a Duke of Legnica during 1488-1505 and of Brzeg since 1505 until his death....
(1481/83 - 30 May 1521).
In his will, he left his wife Brzeg and Olava as widow's land, which were ruled by her until her own death.