Jan of Cieszyn
Encyclopedia
Jan of Cieszyn was a Polish prince, member of the Piast dynasty
in the Cieszyn branch
.
He was the fourth son of Casimir I, Duke of Cieszyn, by his wife Euphemia, daughter of Duke Trojden I of Czersk
-Warsaw
.
), and two of his brothers (Bolesław
and Siemowit
). The main reason for why Casimir I put three of his five sons to follow a church career was to prevent further division of the already small Duchy of Cieszyn between them after his death. In addition, the Duke of Cieszyn, as a loyal vassal of the Bohemian Kings, hoped to obtain the help of them in obtaining high ecclesiastical dignities for his sons.
Jan is mencioned in a Papal document of 18 May 1359 issued in Avignon
. There is appointed as reverend of twenty Wrocław dioceses. Sources are silent about him after this, so is supposed that soon after he died prematurely. Some historians exposed the possibility that Jan had died before the issue of the Papal decree and the notice of his death not yet reached to Avignon.
Jan's place of burial is unknown.
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...
in the Cieszyn branch
Duchy of Cieszyn
The Duchy of Cieszyn or Duchy of Teschen or Duchy of Těšín was an autonomous Silesian duchy centered on Teschen in Upper Silesia. After the feudal division of Poland it was split off in 1281 and ruled by Silesian dukes from the Piast dynasty since 1290...
.
He was the fourth son of Casimir I, Duke of Cieszyn, by his wife Euphemia, daughter of Duke Trojden I of Czersk
Czersk
Czersk is a town in northern Poland in Chojnice County, Pomeranian Voivodeship.On July 1, 2006 this municipality celebrated 80 years of granting this community the status of city....
-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...
.
Life
Like most of Casimir I's children, Jan was destined to the cleric since his early years, together with two of his sisters (Jolanta Helena and ElisabethElisabeth of Cieszyn
Elisabeth of Cieszyn , was a Polish princess, member of the Piast dynasty in the Cieszyn branch.She was the fourth daughter and youngest child of Casimir I, Duke of Cieszyn, by his wife Euphemia, daughter of Duke Trojden I of Czersk-Warsaw.-Life:...
), and two of his brothers (Bolesław
Bolesław of Cieszyn (d. 1356)
Bolesław of Cieszyn , was a Polish prince, member of the Piast dynasty in the Cieszyn branch.He was the second son of Casimir I, Duke of Cieszyn, by his wife Euphemia, daughter of Duke Trojden I of Czersk-Warsaw.-Life:...
and Siemowit
Siemowit of Cieszyn
Siemowit of Cieszyn was a Polish prince, member of the Piast dynasty in the Cieszyn branch.He was the fifth son of Casimir I, Duke of Cieszyn, by his wife Euphemia, daughter of Duke Trojden I of Czersk-Warsaw.-Life:...
). The main reason for why Casimir I put three of his five sons to follow a church career was to prevent further division of the already small Duchy of Cieszyn between them after his death. In addition, the Duke of Cieszyn, as a loyal vassal of the Bohemian Kings, hoped to obtain the help of them in obtaining high ecclesiastical dignities for his sons.
Jan is mencioned in a Papal document of 18 May 1359 issued in 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...
. There is appointed as reverend of twenty Wrocław dioceses. Sources are silent about him after this, so is supposed that soon after he died prematurely. Some historians exposed the possibility that Jan had died before the issue of the Papal decree and the notice of his death not yet reached to Avignon.
Jan's place of burial is unknown.