Henry XI of Legnica
Encyclopedia
Henry XI of Legnica was a thrice Duke of Legnica
: 1551-1556 (under regency), 1559–1576 and 1580-1581.
He was the eldest son of Frederick III
, Duke of Legnica
, by his wife Katharina, daughter of Henry V, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
. Henry XI was chosen as the new Duke of Legnica, but because he was only twelve years old, regents were appointed from the Duchy, the Imperial governor, and Bishop of Wroclaw
, Balthasar von Promnitz and George II the Pious
, Duke of Brzeg
(Frederick III's younger brother), in whose court Henry spent several years studying science. After the abdication of Emperor Charles V in 1556, Frederick III (after promising obedience and loyalty to the new Emperor Ferdinand I
) regained the Duchy of Legnica.
Henry XI inherited his father's duchy, which was bankrupt, the debt being 80,000 talers. The new Duke, instead of gradually repaying the debt, increased it dramatically, leaving at the end of his reign a debt amounting to 700 000 talers.
As a Duke of Legnica, Henry XI tried to get refinance the debt. In 1567 he proposed them in exchange for 120 000 talers the Głogow Privilege, who garantized the freedom from the homage of the subjects who declared him his heir. However, the idea wasn't accepted. On 24 December 1571 Henry XI tried to induce his subjects to pay off his debts, offering against their own goods and valuables. Also declared their devotion in return for a fixed salary, ensuring that corresponding to his position on the social level. Given the failure of the proposals, Henry XI decided keep in captivity the representatives of the Legnica states until they signed an agreement to pay taxes for almost 66 000 talers. After regaining their freedom they fled to Vienna, where the representatives made to the Emperor Maximilian II a complaint against the Duke of Legnica. The Emperor appointed a special committee to look into this matter.
(where he took part of the coronation of Emperor Rudolf II as King of Bohemia on 22 September 1575), Worms
, Regensburg
, Augsburg
, Heidelberg
, Mainz
, Speyer
, Ingolstadt
, Prague again, Cieszyn
, Nuremberg
, Strasbourg
, Frankfurt am Main, Köln
and Leipzig
. During this time, Henry XI was hosted in several German courts.
While in the Electoral Palatinate, he joined to the army of Louis I, Prince of Condé, which huguenot
forces clashed with the new Catholic King of France (and the former King of Poland) Henry III
. With the money who Henry XI received from Legnica he could pay nearly 9,000 soldiers. When the Emperor Maximilian II learned about his involvement in the France's religious fights, he ordered the Duke to abandon the service. However, Henry XI refused to obey the Imperial order and remain at the side of the Prince of Condé, who give him a payment of his services. In May 1576 after the signing of the Peace of Bealieu, the religious war in France ended and with this also the services of Henry XI in the French army. No longer receiving his military salary, he soon lost all means of livelihood. The Duke began to contract debts everywhere. At that time (spring of 1577), he finally decided to return to Legnica. In total, the three-year expedition of Henry XI to the Holy Roman Empire cost 32,000 talers.
The commitment of Frederick IV to pay the debts of both his brother and father and his characterized rule of prudence and economy didn't like to the Legnica nobility, accustomed to the "generous" previous rulers. For this reason, they enthusiastically welcomed Henry XI when he returned on 9 November 1577 from his long trip. Before Henry XI opened up a chance to recover power in Legnica, the death of Maximilian II (who totally disapproved him) left him at the mercy of Rudolf II, in which the coronation as Bohemian King Henry XI participated in 1575.
However, not being able to wait to settle a dispute about the Legnica patrimony, Henry XI mastered the Grodziec castle
, where he began to harass the states of his brother. Despite attempts to mediate, this situation lasted several months, until Frederick IV finally win the battle and the government of Legnica as a sole ruler. Grodziec was given to the Count of Zedlitz and on 16 November 1578 Henry XI went in a new trip to Germany, visiting Halle
, Berlin
and Rostock
.
At that time, Henry XI's wife, Sophie of Hohenzollern, desperately ask to Emperor Rudolf II the restitution of her husband. On 5 October 1580 Rudolf II cancel the Decree of 17 April 1576 and restitute Henry XI as a rule of Legnica; however, he was compelled to share the government with his brother. Henryk XI settled his residence in Legnica, and Frederick IV was forced to move to Chojnów
. On 28 October 1580 was held the ceremonial entry of Henry XI to Legnica.
The Duke of Legnica continue with his disrespectful behavior against his sovereign. Despite several months of the Imperial Decree who restored him, Henry XI wasn't required to paid homage to the Emperor, and also didn't participate in the Silesian sejmach. On 7 June 1581 was created a punish military expedition, led by the Imperial Governor of Silesia and Bishop of Wroclaw, Marcin Gerstmann. However, the expedition failed to win the city by surprise, since Henry XI take the advantage and collect food and weapons from his other cities in order to made the resistance. Therefore began the negotiations between both parties, which have resulted in Henry XI agreed to pay tribute to Karl II, Duke of Ziębice-Olésnica (Münsterberg-Öls), and also to appear before the Emperor in Prague.
Henry XI arrived to Prague on 9 July 1581. However, he had to wait months for an audience with Emperor Rudolf II. The punishment against him was harsh: Henry XI was arrested and lost the control over Legnica, who was given again to Frederick IV, who (like the first time) was obliged to take care of Henry XI's family, paying him the sum of 30 talers weekly. The first year of captivity Henry XI spent in Prague Castle
, and the next three years at the Wroclaw castle until the spring of 1585, when was transferred to Schweidnitz. From there, on 30 September 1585, and after bribed the guards, Henry XI managed to escape. He was persecute for the troops of the new Bishop of Wroclaw, Andrew Jerin and his own uncle George II the Pious, Duke of Brzeg. However, they didn't had success, and after four days digging through forests, Henry XI managed to fled to Poland, where the spent the rest of his life.
. He was related to them in many ways: his grandfather Frederick II of Legnica
married firstly with Princess Elisabeth, daughter of King Casimir IV and secondly with Sophie of Brandenburg-Ansbach (Henry XI's grandmother and in turn granddaughter of King Casimir IV), and Frederick II's brother, George I of Brieg
married with Anna of Pomerania, another granddaughter of Casimir IV. King Sigismund II August was even patronize Henry XI's father, Frederick III. In 1569 the Duke of Legnica accepted the invitation of the Polish King and participated in the Sejm in Lublin
, were was concluded the Union of Lublin
. At the meeting with Sigismund II August, he gave Henry XI two lions and precious jewels. This trip to Poland brought to the Duke of Legnica an undoubtedly splendor, but also a high cost, 24,000 talers.
In January 1575 Henry XI participated in the funeral of the Bishop of Poznan, Adam Konarski; there he consolidated a close friendship with the late Bishop's younger brother, John. And the summer of that year came to Krakow
, in an effort support his own candidacy to the Polish throne.
After Henry XI escaped to Poland both Emperor Rudolf II and Duke George II of Brzeg unsuccessfully tried to convince to King Stefan Bathory to bring him back. Immediately after the imperial envoy Andrzej Opaliński came to the Polish court, he went on a journey through the land of their ancestors. Henry XI visited the Kruszwica
, Lowicz
and Warsaw
. Then he went to Grodno, where he remained at the side of the King for the next three weeks. At the end of his trip he went to Królewca (now Kaliningrad
) to visit his relative, Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia
.
During the election in 1586 Henry XI supported the candidacy of Sigismund Vasa of Sweden
. He even was sent as a personal envoy of Queen Anna of Poland to Stockholm
in order to garantized her support to Sigismund. In a short time he managed to establish a friendly relations with the King-elect, who promised him that every diplomatic effort to recover his patrimony. On 9 December 1587 Henry XI took part in the coronation of Sigismund III Vasa as King of Poland.
of the Habsburg
court. The Duke's funeral caused several troubles, because until his death Henry XI remained Lutheran. Sigismund III Vasa pointed to the late Duke's daughters and brother, who asked the removal of the body and his return of Legnica. However, these plans they had to face the strong opposition of Emperor Rudolf II, who refused to permit the enter of the body of a rebel in his country. Temporarily, the Duke's coffin was deposited with the Franciscans in Krakow, who in return for accepting the body of a Protestant demanded a payment and ensure that the body of the Duke of Legnica soon be taken away from them. In view of the failure of Duke's family to gained the Imperial approval, after a few months the coffin was directly exposed to the street. Eventually, thanks to the efforts of his family and many Silesians, on 9 November 1588 was finally placed in the choir of the Chapel of the Holy Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary in Krakow
.
. Their relationship wasn't always good. Both spouses had a strong personality and the quarrels between them (often at the eyes of the entire court) were notorious, mostly because of Henry XI's affairs with other women. They had six children:
Of his two sons, the eldest was either stillborn or died shortly after birth, and the second lived only three months; of his four daughters, the youngest lived 23 months. His eldest daughter, Katharina Sophie, by marriage Countess Palatine of Zweibrücken-Vohenstrauss-Parkstein, gave birth to a daughter and twin sons, but all died before five months of age. Without proper dowries, his other two daughters Anna Maria and Emilia remained unmarried, and when their cousin Joachim Frederick
knew this, both were passed the thirty-five years, and it's no longer found suitable candidates for their hands.
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...
: 1551-1556 (under regency), 1559–1576 and 1580-1581.
He was the eldest son of Frederick III
Frederick III of Legnica
Frederick III of Legnica was a Duke of Legnica during 1547–1551 and 1556–1559 ....
, 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 Katharina, daughter of Henry V, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
Early years
In 1551, Henry XI's father was removed from the government of Legnica by Emperor Charles V. The decision was dictated by the Emperor because of the behavior of Frederick III, who joined the coalition of Protestant rebels princes, and also supported the long-time enemy of the Habsburgs, King Henry II of FranceHenry II of France
Henry II was King of France from 31 March 1547 until his death in 1559.-Early years:Henry was born in the royal Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris, the son of Francis I and Claude, Duchess of Brittany .His father was captured at the Battle of Pavia in 1525 by his sworn enemy,...
. Henry XI was chosen as the new Duke of Legnica, but because he was only twelve years old, regents were appointed from the Duchy, the Imperial governor, and Bishop 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...
, Balthasar von Promnitz and George II the Pious
George II the Pious
George II of Brieg , was a Duke of Brzeg since 1547 until his death.He was the second son of Frederick II, Duke of Legnica-Brzeg, by his second wife Sophie, daughter of Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach.-Life:After the death of his father in 1547, George II inherited the Duchy of Brzeg...
, Duke of Brzeg
Brzeg
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...
(Frederick III's younger brother), in whose court Henry spent several years studying science. After the abdication of Emperor Charles V in 1556, Frederick III (after promising obedience and loyalty to the new Emperor Ferdinand I
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...
) regained the Duchy of Legnica.
Duke of Legnica
On 27 October 1559 the Emperor Ferdinand I decided to remove Frederick again from government, this time for good. As Henry XI was already an adult, this time he took over the rule over Legnica without regents. Frederick III was placed under house arrest, where he was held for the next eleven years until his death on 15 December 1570.Henry XI inherited his father's duchy, which was bankrupt, the debt being 80,000 talers. The new Duke, instead of gradually repaying the debt, increased it dramatically, leaving at the end of his reign a debt amounting to 700 000 talers.
As a Duke of Legnica, Henry XI tried to get refinance the debt. In 1567 he proposed them in exchange for 120 000 talers the Głogow Privilege, who garantized the freedom from the homage of the subjects who declared him his heir. However, the idea wasn't accepted. On 24 December 1571 Henry XI tried to induce his subjects to pay off his debts, offering against their own goods and valuables. Also declared their devotion in return for a fixed salary, ensuring that corresponding to his position on the social level. Given the failure of the proposals, Henry XI decided keep in captivity the representatives of the Legnica states until they signed an agreement to pay taxes for almost 66 000 talers. After regaining their freedom they fled to Vienna, where the representatives made to the Emperor Maximilian II a complaint against the Duke of Legnica. The Emperor appointed a special committee to look into this matter.
Trip to the Holy Roman Empire
In March 1575 Henry XI, wanting to calm down the difficult situation in his Duchy, went on a journey to the Empire. During his absence Legnica was administrated by his younger brother Frederick IV, who in December 1571 was named co-ruler of the Duchy, but still remained in his ward. The trip lasted three years, during which Henry XI visited several cities including: PraguePrague
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...
(where he took part of the coronation of Emperor Rudolf II as King of Bohemia on 22 September 1575), Worms
Worms, Germany
Worms is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Rhine River. At the end of 2004, it had 85,829 inhabitants.Established by the Celts, who called it Borbetomagus, Worms today remains embattled with the cities Trier and Cologne over the title of "Oldest City in Germany." Worms is the only...
, Regensburg
Regensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
, Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
, Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
, Speyer
Speyer
Speyer is a city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany with approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Located beside the river Rhine, Speyer is 25 km south of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim. Founded by the Romans, it is one of Germany's oldest cities...
, Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt is a city in the Free State of Bavaria, in the Federal Republic of Germany. It is located along the banks of the Danube River, in the center of Bavaria. As at 31 March 2011, Ingolstadt had 125.407 residents...
, Prague again, Cieszyn
Cieszyn
Cieszyn is a border-town and the seat of Cieszyn County, Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland. It has 36,109 inhabitants . Cieszyn lies on the Olza River, a tributary of the Oder river, opposite Český Těšín....
, 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...
, Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, Frankfurt am Main, Köln
KOLN
KOLN, digital channel 10, is the CBS affiliate in Lincoln, Nebraska. It operates a satellite station, KGIN, on digital channel 11 in Grand Island. KGIN repeats all KOLN programming, but airs separate commercials...
and Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
. During this time, Henry XI was hosted in several German courts.
While in the Electoral Palatinate, he joined to the army of Louis I, Prince of Condé, which huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
forces clashed with the new Catholic King of France (and the former King of Poland) Henry III
Henry III of France
Henry III was King of France from 1574 to 1589. As Henry of Valois, he was the first elected monarch of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the dual titles of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1573 to 1575.-Childhood:Henry was born at the Royal Château de Fontainebleau,...
. With the money who Henry XI received from Legnica he could pay nearly 9,000 soldiers. When the Emperor Maximilian II learned about his involvement in the France's religious fights, he ordered the Duke to abandon the service. However, Henry XI refused to obey the Imperial order and remain at the side of the Prince of Condé, who give him a payment of his services. In May 1576 after the signing of the Peace of Bealieu, the religious war in France ended and with this also the services of Henry XI in the French army. No longer receiving his military salary, he soon lost all means of livelihood. The Duke began to contract debts everywhere. At that time (spring of 1577), he finally decided to return to Legnica. In total, the three-year expedition of Henry XI to the Holy Roman Empire cost 32,000 talers.
Return to Legnica
While Henry XI fought in France, his younger brother Frederick IV decided to use this moment to be released from his guardianship. He went to the Emperor Maximilian II, asking to review the divisionary treaty of Legnica. Special Commissioners under imperial decree of 13 March 1576 declared Frederick IV as the new rule of Legnica, who formally took possession of the government one month later, on 17 April. The new Duke was obliged to ensure Henry XI's family (which remained in Silesia) in all his needs, including cash and food. At the same time, the date when was formally divided the Duchy of Legnica between the brothers was set on 29 September 1577. However, this doesn't happened, because Maximilian II died on 12 October 1576 and the new Emperor Rudolf II tried to re-examine the case.The commitment of Frederick IV to pay the debts of both his brother and father and his characterized rule of prudence and economy didn't like to the Legnica nobility, accustomed to the "generous" previous rulers. For this reason, they enthusiastically welcomed Henry XI when he returned on 9 November 1577 from his long trip. Before Henry XI opened up a chance to recover power in Legnica, the death of Maximilian II (who totally disapproved him) left him at the mercy of Rudolf II, in which the coronation as Bohemian King Henry XI participated in 1575.
However, not being able to wait to settle a dispute about the Legnica patrimony, Henry XI mastered the Grodziec castle
Grodziec castle
Grodziec castle has a history dating back to 1155 and is located in the Silesia region of Poland.-History:The first confirmed reference of Grodziec comes from Pope Adrian IV's bull of April 23, 1155. In 1175, Prince Bolesław I the Tall drew up a privilege for Cistercians from Lubiąż at the castle...
, where he began to harass the states of his brother. Despite attempts to mediate, this situation lasted several months, until Frederick IV finally win the battle and the government of Legnica as a sole ruler. Grodziec was given to the Count of Zedlitz and on 16 November 1578 Henry XI went in a new trip to Germany, visiting Halle
Halle, Saxony-Anhalt
Halle is the largest city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is also called Halle an der Saale in order to distinguish it from the town of Halle in North Rhine-Westphalia...
, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and Rostock
Rostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
.
At that time, Henry XI's wife, Sophie of Hohenzollern, desperately ask to Emperor Rudolf II the restitution of her husband. On 5 October 1580 Rudolf II cancel the Decree of 17 April 1576 and restitute Henry XI as a rule of Legnica; however, he was compelled to share the government with his brother. Henryk XI settled his residence in Legnica, and Frederick IV was forced to move to Chojnów
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...
. On 28 October 1580 was held the ceremonial entry of Henry XI to Legnica.
The Duke of Legnica continue with his disrespectful behavior against his sovereign. Despite several months of the Imperial Decree who restored him, Henry XI wasn't required to paid homage to the Emperor, and also didn't participate in the Silesian sejmach. On 7 June 1581 was created a punish military expedition, led by the Imperial Governor of Silesia and Bishop of Wroclaw, Marcin Gerstmann. However, the expedition failed to win the city by surprise, since Henry XI take the advantage and collect food and weapons from his other cities in order to made the resistance. Therefore began the negotiations between both parties, which have resulted in Henry XI agreed to pay tribute to Karl II, Duke of Ziębice-Olésnica (Münsterberg-Öls), and also to appear before the Emperor in Prague.
Henry XI arrived to Prague on 9 July 1581. However, he had to wait months for an audience with Emperor Rudolf II. The punishment against him was harsh: Henry XI was arrested and lost the control over Legnica, who was given again to Frederick IV, who (like the first time) was obliged to take care of Henry XI's family, paying him the sum of 30 talers weekly. The first year of captivity Henry XI spent in Prague Castle
Prague Castle
Prague Castle is a castle in Prague where the Kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperors and presidents of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic have had their offices. The Czech Crown Jewels are kept here...
, and the next three years at the Wroclaw castle until the spring of 1585, when was transferred to Schweidnitz. From there, on 30 September 1585, and after bribed the guards, Henry XI managed to escape. He was persecute for the troops of the new Bishop of Wroclaw, Andrew Jerin and his own uncle George II the Pious, Duke of Brzeg. However, they didn't had success, and after four days digging through forests, Henry XI managed to fled to Poland, where the spent the rest of his life.
Trip to Poland
Henry XI had very good relations with the Jagiellon dynastyJagiellon dynasty
The Jagiellonian dynasty was a royal dynasty originating from the Lithuanian House of Gediminas dynasty that reigned in Central European countries between the 14th and 16th century...
. He was related to them in many ways: his grandfather Frederick II of Legnica
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...
married firstly with Princess Elisabeth, daughter of King Casimir IV and secondly with Sophie of Brandenburg-Ansbach (Henry XI's grandmother and in turn granddaughter of King Casimir IV), and Frederick II's brother, George I of Brieg
George I of Brieg
George I of Brieg , was a Duke of Legnica during 1488-1505 and of Brzeg since 1505 until his death....
married with Anna of Pomerania, another granddaughter of Casimir IV. King Sigismund II August was even patronize Henry XI's father, Frederick III. In 1569 the Duke of Legnica accepted the invitation of the Polish King and participated in the Sejm in Lublin
Lublin
Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river...
, were was concluded the Union of Lublin
Union of Lublin
The Union of Lublin replaced the personal union of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with a real union and an elective monarchy, since Sigismund II Augustus, the last of the Jagiellons, remained childless after three marriages. In addition, the autonomy of Royal Prussia was...
. At the meeting with Sigismund II August, he gave Henry XI two lions and precious jewels. This trip to Poland brought to the Duke of Legnica an undoubtedly splendor, but also a high cost, 24,000 talers.
In January 1575 Henry XI participated in the funeral of the Bishop of Poznan, Adam Konarski; there he consolidated a close friendship with the late Bishop's younger brother, John. And the summer of that year came to Krakow
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, in an effort support his own candidacy to the Polish throne.
After Henry XI escaped to Poland both Emperor Rudolf II and Duke George II of Brzeg unsuccessfully tried to convince to King Stefan Bathory to bring him back. Immediately after the imperial envoy Andrzej Opaliński came to the Polish court, he went on a journey through the land of their ancestors. Henry XI visited the Kruszwica
Kruszwica
Kruszwica is a town in central Poland and is situated in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship , previously in Bydgoszcz Voivodeship .It has a population of 9,412 people .-History:...
, Lowicz
Lowicz
Łowicz is a town in central Poland with 30,383 inhabitants . It is situated in the Łódź Voivodeship ; previously, it was in Skierniewice Voivodeship . Together with a nearby station of Bednary, Łowicz is a major rail junction of central Poland, where the line from Warsaw splits into two directions...
and Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. Then he went to Grodno, where he remained at the side of the King for the next three weeks. At the end of his trip he went to Królewca (now Kaliningrad
Kaliningrad
Kaliningrad is a seaport and the administrative center of Kaliningrad Oblast, the Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea...
) to visit his relative, Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia
Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia
Albert Frederick was duke of Prussia from 1568 until his death. He was a son of Albert of Prussia and Anna Marie of Brunswick-Lüneburg. He was the second and last Prussian duke of the Ansbach branch of the Hohenzollern family.-Duke of Prussia:...
.
During the election in 1586 Henry XI supported the candidacy of Sigismund Vasa of Sweden
Sigismund III Vasa
Sigismund III Vasa was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, a monarch of the united Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1587 to 1632, and King of Sweden from 1592 until he was deposed in 1599...
. He even was sent as a personal envoy of Queen Anna of Poland to Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
in order to garantized her support to Sigismund. In a short time he managed to establish a friendly relations with the King-elect, who promised him that every diplomatic effort to recover his patrimony. On 9 December 1587 Henry XI took part in the coronation of Sigismund III Vasa as King of Poland.
Death
Henry XI died unexpectedly on 3 March 1588 in Krakow. The mysterious circumstances around his death supposed a foul playCrime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
of the Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
court. The Duke's funeral caused several troubles, because until his death Henry XI remained Lutheran. Sigismund III Vasa pointed to the late Duke's daughters and brother, who asked the removal of the body and his return of Legnica. However, these plans they had to face the strong opposition of Emperor Rudolf II, who refused to permit the enter of the body of a rebel in his country. Temporarily, the Duke's coffin was deposited with the Franciscans in Krakow, who in return for accepting the body of a Protestant demanded a payment and ensure that the body of the Duke of Legnica soon be taken away from them. In view of the failure of Duke's family to gained the Imperial approval, after a few months the coffin was directly exposed to the street. Eventually, thanks to the efforts of his family and many Silesians, on 9 November 1588 was finally placed in the choir of the Chapel of the Holy Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary in Krakow
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
.
Marriage and issue
In the Legnica Castle (Schloss Liegnitz) on 11 November 1560, Henry XI married Sophie (b. 23 March 1535 – d. 12 February 1587), daughter of George, Margrave of Brandenburg-AnsbachGeorge, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
George of Brandenburg-Ansbach was a Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach from the House of Hohenzollern.- Early life :...
. Their relationship wasn't always good. Both spouses had a strong personality and the quarrels between them (often at the eyes of the entire court) were notorious, mostly because of Henry XI's affairs with other women. They had six children:
- Katharina Sophie (b. 7 August 1561 – d. Schloss Friedrichsburg bei Vohenstrauss, 10 May 1608), married on 26 February 1587 to Frederick, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Vohenstrauss-ParksteinFrederick, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Vohenstrauss-ParksteinFrederick of Zweibrücken-Vohenstrauss-Parkstein was the Duke of Vohenstrauss-Parkstein from 1569 until 1597.-Life:...
. - Anna Maria (b. 3 January 1563 – d. Amberg, 28 February 1620).
- Emilia (b. 26 December 1563 – d. Schloss Friedrichsburg bei Vohenstrauss, 9 November 1618).
- A son (b. and d. before 16 January 1565).
- George Frederick (b. 11 September 1565 – d. 14 November 1565).
- Sabina Barbara (b. 8 January 1571 – d. 14 December 1572).
Of his two sons, the eldest was either stillborn or died shortly after birth, and the second lived only three months; of his four daughters, the youngest lived 23 months. His eldest daughter, Katharina Sophie, by marriage Countess Palatine of Zweibrücken-Vohenstrauss-Parkstein, gave birth to a daughter and twin sons, but all died before five months of age. Without proper dowries, his other two daughters Anna Maria and Emilia remained unmarried, and when their cousin Joachim Frederick
Joachim Frederick of Brieg
Joachim Frederick of Brieg Joachim Frederick of Brieg Joachim Frederick of Brieg , , was a Duke of Oława and Wołów and Brzeg and Legnica ....
knew this, both were passed the thirty-five years, and it's no longer found suitable candidates for their hands.