Henry II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
Encyclopedia
Henry II of Münsterberg-Oels (also known as:Henry II of Poděbrady, or , ; 29 March 1507 – 2 August 1548, Bierutów
) was from 1536 to 1542 Duke
of Münsterberg and of Oels
and from 1542 to 1548 Duke of Bernstadt
. He also held the title of Count of Glatz, though he never actually ruled the County of Glatz .
of Münsterberg-Oels and Anna of Sagan
(born: 1480 or 1483; died: 1541), daughter of Duke John II "the Mad" of Żagań
.
After his father's death in 1536, Henry initially ruled Münsterberg-Oels joinly with his brothers Joachim
, John
and George II
. In a joint deed dated 25 June 1535, they awarded the city of Srebrna Góra
, which belonged to Münsterberg, the status of free mining town. Unlike their father, Joachim and his brothers followed the Lutheran
doctrine. In 1537, they expelled the Catholic priests from Münsterberg
and appointed an evangelical vicar.
In 1542, Henry and his brothers pledged the heavily indebted Duchy of Münsterberg to their uncle Duke Frederick II
of Legnica. John continued to rule the Duchy of Oels and Henry II ruled until 1548 the Duchy of Bernstadt
. Joachim, the oldest of the brothers became Bishop of Brandenburg. Henry chose Bierutów as his residence, and promoted Protestantism there. He expanded Bierutów Palace, adding the south wing. After six years in office, he died in 1548.
. She died later that year.
In 1537 Henry married his second wife, Margaret of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1515–1559), a daughter of Duke Henry V
of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
. With his second wife, Henry had the following children:
Bierutów
Bierutów is a town in Oleśnica County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Bierutów. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany...
) was from 1536 to 1542 Duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
of Münsterberg and of Oels
Duchy of Oels
The Duchy of Oels or Duchy of Oleśnica was one of the duchies of Silesia, with the capital in Oleśnica, Poland.Initially part of the Piast Duchy of Wrocław, the Oleśnica area became part of the Duchy of Głogów in 1294, following an armed conflict between Duke Henry III and Henry V the Fat, Duke of...
and from 1542 to 1548 Duke of Bernstadt
Duchy of Bernstadt
The Duchy of Bernstadt was a Silesian duchy centred on the city of Bernstadt in Lower Silesia and formed by separation from the Duchy of Oels . It was first ruled by the Silesian Piasts dynasty, until its extinction in 1492. In 1495 it and the Duchy of Oels passed to the Dukes of Münsterberg,...
. He also held the title of Count of Glatz, though he never actually ruled the County of Glatz .
Life
Henry II was a member of the Münsterberg line of the Bohemian noble Poděbrady family. His parents were Duke Charles ICharles I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
Charles I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels was a member of the House of Poděbrady. He was Duke of Münsterberg and Duke of Oels as well as Count of Kladsko...
of Münsterberg-Oels and Anna of Sagan
Anna of Sagan
Anna of Sagan was the last surviving member of the Hlohovsko-Zaháňský branch of the Silesian Piasts family, and by marriage duchess of Münsterberg and Oels....
(born: 1480 or 1483; died: 1541), daughter of Duke John II "the Mad" of Żagań
Jan II the Mad
Jan II the Mad also known as the Bad, the Wild or the Cruel , was a Duke of Żagań-Przewóz since 1439 , from 1449 Duke of Przewóz , during 1461-1468 and briefly in 1472 Duke of Żagań and during 1476-1488 Duke of half-Głogów .He was the fourth and...
.
After his father's death in 1536, Henry initially ruled Münsterberg-Oels joinly with his brothers Joachim
Joachim of Münsterberg-Oels
Joachim of Münsterberg was a Duke of Münsterberg and from 1536 to 1542 also Duke of Oels...
, John
John, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
John of Münsterberg-Oels was Duke of the Münsterberg from 1542 to 1565, Duke of Oels from 1548 to 1565 and Duke of Bernstadt from 1548 to 1565. He also held the title of Count of Glatz.- Life :Johann Berger family was a member of the Münsterberg branch of the noble Poděbrady family...
and George II
George II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
George II of Münsterberg-Oels was a Duke of Münsterberg 1536-1542 and Duke of Oels. He also held the title of a Count of Glatz.- Life :...
. In a joint deed dated 25 June 1535, they awarded the city of Srebrna Góra
Srebrna Góra
Srebrna Góra may refer to the following places in Poland:*Srebrna Góra, Lower Silesian Voivodeship *Srebrna Góra, Greater Poland Voivodeship...
, which belonged to Münsterberg, the status of free mining town. Unlike their father, Joachim and his brothers followed the Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
doctrine. In 1537, they expelled the Catholic priests from Münsterberg
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...
and appointed an evangelical vicar.
In 1542, Henry and his brothers pledged the heavily indebted Duchy of Münsterberg to their uncle Duke Frederick II
Frederick II of Legnica
Frederick II of Legnica , also known as the Great of Legnica , was a Duke of Legnica from 1488 , of Brzeg from 1521...
of Legnica. John continued to rule the Duchy of Oels and Henry II ruled until 1548 the Duchy of Bernstadt
Duchy of Bernstadt
The Duchy of Bernstadt was a Silesian duchy centred on the city of Bernstadt in Lower Silesia and formed by separation from the Duchy of Oels . It was first ruled by the Silesian Piasts dynasty, until its extinction in 1492. In 1495 it and the Duchy of Oels passed to the Dukes of Münsterberg,...
. Joachim, the oldest of the brothers became Bishop of Brandenburg. Henry chose Bierutów as his residence, and promoted Protestantism there. He expanded Bierutów Palace, adding the south wing. After six years in office, he died in 1548.
Marriage and offspring
On 7 February 1529 Henry married to Margaret of Pernstein, a daughter of John III of PernsteinJohn III of Pernstein
John of Pernstein was High Treasurer of Moravia from 1506 and 1516 and Landeshauptmann of Moravia from 1515 to 1519 and from 1526 to 1528 and Governor of Moravia from 1530 to 1532...
. She died later that year.
In 1537 Henry married his second wife, Margaret of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1515–1559), a daughter of Duke Henry V
Henry V, Duke of Mecklenburg
Henry V, Duke of Mecklenburg, nicknamed the Peaceful, was the reigning Duke of Mecklenburg in the region Mecklenburg-Schwerin, son of the Duke Magnus II and Sophia of Pomerania....
of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a duchy in northern Germany created in 1348, when Albert II of Mecklenburg and his younger brother John were raised to Dukes of Mecklenburg by King Charles IV...
. With his second wife, Henry had the following children:
- Henry IIIHenry III, Duke of Münsterberg-OelsHenry III of Münsterberg-Oels was Duke of Münsterberg from 1565 to 1574 and Duke of Bernstadt...
(1542–1587), married to Magdalena Meseritsch of Lomnitz - Charles (1543-1543)
- George (1544–1556)
- Charles IICharles II, Duke of Münsterberg-OelsCharles II of Münsterberg-Oels was Duke of Oels from 1565 to 1617 and Duke of Bernstadt from 1604 to 1617. He also hald the titles of Duke of Münsterberg and Count of Glatz...
(1545–1617), Duke of OelsDuchy of OelsThe Duchy of Oels or Duchy of Oleśnica was one of the duchies of Silesia, with the capital in Oleśnica, Poland.Initially part of the Piast Duchy of Wrocław, the Oleśnica area became part of the Duchy of Głogów in 1294, following an armed conflict between Duke Henry III and Henry V the Fat, Duke of...
since 1565 - Anna (1539–1568)
- Salomena (1540–1567), married to George of Thurn and ValsassinaThurn und TaxisThe Princely House of Thurn and Taxis is a German family that was a key player in the postal services in Europe in the 16th century and is well known as owners of breweries and builders of many castles.- History :...
- Catherine (1548–1579), married to George Berka of Dubé