Henryk VIII with a Scar
Encyclopedia
Henry VII with a Scar also known as the Courageous or of Brzeg , was a Duke of Brzeg
(Brieg) since 1361 (as co-regent of his father until 1398) and ruler of Niemcza
since 1395.
He was the eldest son of Louis I the Fair
, Duke of Brzeg
by his wife Agnes, daughter of Henry IV of Głogów-Żagań
. The death of his younger brother Wenceslaus in 1358 left him as the only male heir of his father.
In the almost contemporary "Kronice Legnickiej" Henry VII was assigned the term "z Blizną" (with a scar), which was adopted later by historians as a nickname. This term was maybe the result of the wounds on his face obtained under unknown circumstances (ca. 1373), where apparently he was near to death.
(in fact, he had already obtained in 1382 the right to buy this district from the King Wenceslaus IV
, but the formal purchase was made only ten years later, in 1392). The reason for this decision was the policy of Louis I the Fair, who didn't want to make further divisions of the already small Duchy of Brzeg. Instead, since 1360 or 1361 Henry VII was named by his father as co-regent, but without any formal power. He didn't make any protests to his father or claim a separated land for himself, a fact which was very unusual, if other Piast Duchies are considered.
In 1365 Henry VII, together with his cousin Rupert I
took part in the expedition of Emperor Charles IV
to Provence
, during which he visited, among others, the city of Avignon
, where he tried to obtain a Prebendary
from his family.
Louis I the Fair died on 6/23 December 1398 and Henry VII finally received the long-awaited Duchy of Brzeg as a sole ruler. However, he died unexpectedly eight months later, on 11 July 1399.
In July 1379, Henry VII married secondly Margareta
(b. bef. 1358 - d. ca. 14 May 1388), daughter of Siemowit III, Duke of Masovia
and widow of Casimir IV, Duke of Pomerania. They had two children:
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...
(Brieg) since 1361 (as co-regent of his father until 1398) and ruler of 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....
since 1395.
He was the eldest son of Louis I the Fair
Ludwik I the Fair
Ludwik I the Fair or Louis I the Fair also known as the Wise, the Right or of Brzeg , was a Duke of Legnica two times: first during 1342-1345 and secondly during 1345-1346 , and Duke of Brzeg from 1358...
, 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...
by his wife Agnes, daughter of Henry IV of Głogów-Żagań
Henry IV the Faithful
Henry IV the Faithful was a Duke of Żagań and parts of Greater Poland from 1309 until 1317 , Duke of Głogów from 1318 until 1321 and sole ruler over Żagań from 1321 until his death.He was the oldest son of Henry III , Duke of Głogów, by...
. The death of his younger brother Wenceslaus in 1358 left him as the only male heir of his father.
In the almost contemporary "Kronice Legnickiej" Henry VII was assigned the term "z Blizną" (with a scar), which was adopted later by historians as a nickname. This term was maybe the result of the wounds on his face obtained under unknown circumstances (ca. 1373), where apparently he was near to death.
Life
Henry VII's first official appearance was only in 1358, and despite he being of age to assume government affairs, it wasn't until 1395 (when he was more than fifty years old!), when he received his own district, NiemczaNiemcza
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....
(in fact, he had already obtained in 1382 the right to buy this district from the King Wenceslaus IV
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...
, but the formal purchase was made only ten years later, in 1392). The reason for this decision was the policy of Louis I the Fair, who didn't want to make further divisions of the already small Duchy of Brzeg. Instead, since 1360 or 1361 Henry VII was named by his father as co-regent, but without any formal power. He didn't make any protests to his father or claim a separated land for himself, a fact which was very unusual, if other Piast Duchies are considered.
In 1365 Henry VII, together with his cousin Rupert I
Rupert I of Legnica
Rupert I of Legnica was a Duke of Legnica since 1364 until his death, and also regent over half of the Duchy of Głogów-Żagań during 1397–1401....
took part in the expedition of Emperor Charles IV
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....
to Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
, during which he visited, among others, the city of Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
, where he tried to obtain a Prebendary
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
from his family.
Louis I the Fair died on 6/23 December 1398 and Henry VII finally received the long-awaited Duchy of Brzeg as a sole ruler. However, he died unexpectedly eight months later, on 11 July 1399.
Marriages and Issue
By 1369, Henry VII married firstly Helena (d. 19 June 1369), daughter of Otto V, Count of Orlamünde. They had one son:- Henry IXHenryk IX of LubinHenry IX of Lubin , was a Duke of Brzeg during 1399–1400 with his brother and since 1400, Duke of Lubin , Chojnów and Oława ....
(b. 1369 - d. 9 January 1419/10 July 1420).
In July 1379, Henry VII married secondly Margareta
Margaret of Masovia
Margaret of Masovia was Duchess of Pomerania and Brzeg, by her marriages to Casimir IV, Duke of Pomerania and then to Henryk VIII with a Scar. She was a member of the House of Piast....
(b. bef. 1358 - d. ca. 14 May 1388), daughter of Siemowit III, Duke of Masovia
Siemowit III of Masovia
Siemowit III of Masovia was a prince of Masovia and a co-regent of the lands of Warsaw, Czersk, Rawa, Gostynin and other parts of Masovia.- Life :...
and widow of Casimir IV, Duke of Pomerania. They had two children:
- Margareta (b. 1380/84 - d. aft. 2 October 1408); she was betrothed to Sigismund of Luxemburg, King of Bohemia, Hungary and later Holy Roman Emperor, but the wedding never took place.
- Louis II (b. 1380/85 - d. 30 May 1436).