Konrad VIII the Younger
Encyclopedia
Konrad VIII the Younger was a Duke of Oleśnica
, Koźle
, half of Bytom
and half of Ścinawa
during 1416-1427 (with his brothers as co-rulers) and sole Duke of half of Ścinawa
since 1427 until his death.
He was the fifth and youngest son of Konrad III the Old
, Duke of Oleśnica
, by his wife Judith. Like his four older brothers, at the baptism he received the name of Konrad, which was characteristic in this branch of the House of Piast.
, was made Provost
of Wroclaw, and since 1417 Bishop of Wroclaw, and other, Konrad VI
, in 1414, was appointed Dean of the Wroclaw Chapter.
, who fight at the side of the Teutonic Order in 1410 in the Battle of Grunwald
. During the solemn religious vows of submission in Malbork Castle
, Konrad VIII was accompanied by all his brothers. Then, in exchange for a loan of 3,000 Prague groschens, Konrad IV, Konrad V Kantner
and Konrad VII concluded with the Great Master of the Teutonic Order, Michael Küchmeister von Sternberg
, an alliance against Poland
and Lithuania
. Committed themselves to assist in the Order, if that was attacked by the army of King Wladyslaw II Jagiello of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Witold.
Konrad VIII served as Prokurator of the Teutonic Order over Gardawa during 1425-1429 and over Lochstedt during 1429-1433. The highest religious position exercised by him was the office of Provincial
of the Teutonic Order in Bohemia
and Moravia
.
and Rudna
together with the surrounding areas. Henceforth he began to use the style of Duke of Ścinawa.
During the Hussite Wars
in 1431 he helped his brother Konrad VII in Gliwice
to escape from the hands of the Hussites. However, in 1435 he joined to the coalition of princes and cities who concluded an agreement with the Hussites, in order to preservated their patrimony.
Olesnica
Oleśnica is a town in the Trzebnickie Hills in southwestern Poland with 36,951 inhabitants . It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship...
, Koźle
Kozle
Koźle is a district of Kędzierzyn-Koźle and is at the junction of the Kłodnica and Odra rivers, 29 Ifl. southeast of Opole by rail. The district has a Roman Catholic church, a medieval chateau, remains of a 19th century fortress and a high school...
, half of Bytom
Bytom
Bytom is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The central-western district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Bytom is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Bytomka river .The city belongs to the Silesian Voivodeship since...
and half of Ścinawa
Scinawa
Ścinawa is a town and municipality on the Oder river in the Lower Silesian region of Poland. The town features a number of historic monuments including city hall and the town church . The Ścinawa train station is a key gateway for travel throughout the region, connecting major destinations such...
during 1416-1427 (with his brothers as co-rulers) and sole Duke of half of Ścinawa
Scinawa
Ścinawa is a town and municipality on the Oder river in the Lower Silesian region of Poland. The town features a number of historic monuments including city hall and the town church . The Ścinawa train station is a key gateway for travel throughout the region, connecting major destinations such...
since 1427 until his death.
He was the fifth and youngest son of Konrad III the Old
Konrad III the Old
Konrad III the Old was a Duke of Oleśnica, Koźle, half of Bytom and half of Ścinawa since 1377 ....
, Duke of Oleśnica
Olesnica
Oleśnica is a town in the Trzebnickie Hills in southwestern Poland with 36,951 inhabitants . It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship...
, by his wife Judith. Like his four older brothers, at the baptism he received the name of Konrad, which was characteristic in this branch of the House of Piast.
Choosing of the Church career
The modesty of his father's legacy forced that, of the five sons of Konrad III, three decided to follow the ecclesiastic career; Konrad VIII was one of them. The Church, during the time of the political fragmentation of Poland and the enormous progeny of the Piast dynasty, was the easiest way to develop influence in the fate of Silesia, by obtaining the prestigious (and profitable) Church dignities, which Piast princes easily accepted. The oldest of the brothers, Konrad IVKonrad IV the Older
Konrad IV the Older was a Duke of Oels , Koźle, half of Bytom and half of Ścinawa during 1412–1416 , since 1416 sole ruler over Kąty , Bierutów, Prudnik and Syców and since 1417 Bishop of Wroclaw and Duke of Nysa.He was the eldest son of Konrad III the Old, Duke of Oleśnica, by his wife Judith...
, was made Provost
Provost (civil)
A provost is the ceremonial head of many Scottish local authorities, and under the name prévôt was a governmental position of varying importance in Ancien Regime France.-History:...
of Wroclaw, and since 1417 Bishop of Wroclaw, and other, Konrad VI
Konrad VI the Dean
Konrad VI the Dean was a Duke of Oleśnica, Koźle, half of Bytom and half of Ścinawa since 1416 .He was the third son of Konrad III the Old, Duke of Oleśnica, by his wife Judith...
, in 1414, was appointed Dean of the Wroclaw Chapter.
The Teutonic Order
In 1416, Konrad VIII became in a Teutonic Knight. Perhaps this decision was prompting by his brother Konrad VII the WhiteKonrad VII the White
Konrad VII the White , was a Duke of Oleśnica, Koźle, half of Bytom and half of Ścinawa during 1416-1427 , sole Duke of Koźle and half of Bytom during 1427-1450, Duke of Oleśnica during 1421-1450 and sole Duke of half of Ścinawa during 1447-1450.He was the fourth son of Konrad III the Old, Duke of...
, who fight at the side of the Teutonic Order in 1410 in the Battle of Grunwald
Battle of Grunwald
The Battle of Grunwald or 1st Battle of Tannenberg was fought on 15 July 1410, during the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War. The alliance of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led respectively by King Jogaila and Grand Duke Vytautas , decisively defeated the Teutonic Knights, led...
. During the solemn religious vows of submission in Malbork Castle
Malbork Castle
The Marienburg Castle in Malbork is by area the largest castle in the world. It was built in Prussia by the Teutonic Knights, a German Roman Catholic religious order of crusaders, in a form of an Ordensburg fortress. The Order named it Marienburg...
, Konrad VIII was accompanied by all his brothers. Then, in exchange for a loan of 3,000 Prague groschens, Konrad IV, Konrad V Kantner
Konrad V Kantner
Konrad V Kantner was a Duke of Oleśnica, Koźle, half of Bytom and half of Ścinawa during 1412–1427 , since 1427 sole ruler over Oleśnica....
and Konrad VII concluded with the Great Master of the Teutonic Order, Michael Küchmeister von Sternberg
Michael Küchmeister von Sternberg
Michael Küchmeister von Sternberg was the 28th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, serving from 1414 to 1422.- Biography :...
, an alliance against Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. Committed themselves to assist in the Order, if that was attacked by the army of King Wladyslaw II Jagiello of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Witold.
Konrad VIII served as Prokurator of the Teutonic Order over Gardawa during 1425-1429 and over Lochstedt during 1429-1433. The highest religious position exercised by him was the office of Provincial
Provincial superior
A Provincial Superior is a major superior of a religious order acting under the order's Superior General and exercising a general supervision over all the members of that order in a territorial division of the order called a province--similar to but not to be confused with an ecclesiastical...
of the Teutonic Order in 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...
and Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
.
Government in Silesia
Konrad VIII, despite the adoption of the religious state, didn't give up his rights over the government of his Silesian lands. In 1416 the older brother Konrad IV decided to renounce the government on his younger brothers, who co-ruled all the Duchy. After the death of Konrad VI in 1427, Konrad VIII took over the independent governments over ŚcinawaScinawa
Ścinawa is a town and municipality on the Oder river in the Lower Silesian region of Poland. The town features a number of historic monuments including city hall and the town church . The Ścinawa train station is a key gateway for travel throughout the region, connecting major destinations such...
and Rudna
Rudna
For places in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, see Rudná.Rudna may refer to the following places in Poland:*Rudna, Lower Silesian Voivodeship *Rudna, Piła County in Greater Poland Voivodeship...
together with the surrounding areas. Henceforth he began to use the style of Duke of Ścinawa.
During the Hussite Wars
Hussite Wars
The Hussite Wars, also called the Bohemian Wars involved the military actions against and amongst the followers of Jan Hus in Bohemia in the period 1419 to circa 1434. The Hussite Wars were notable for the extensive use of early hand-held gunpowder weapons such as hand cannons...
in 1431 he helped his brother Konrad VII in Gliwice
Gliwice
Gliwice is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Gliwice is the west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union – a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
to escape from the hands of the Hussites. However, in 1435 he joined to the coalition of princes and cities who concluded an agreement with the Hussites, in order to preservated their patrimony.