Nicholas II, Duke of Opava
Encyclopedia
Nicholas II of Opava was Duke
of Opava from 1318 to 1365 and Duke of Ratibór from 1337 to 1365 and Burgrave of Kladsko
from 1350 to 1365 and also chamberlain of the Kingdom of Bohemia
.
, a niece of King Rudolf I. He was a supporter of King John of Luxembourg of Bohemia, who gave him Opava as a fief in 1318 and at the same time raised it to an independent duchy. He moved the ducal residence from Hradec nad Moravicí
to Opava
. Also in 1318, he married with Anna, the only sister of Duke Leszek
of Ratibór. Since Leszek left no offspring, the Duchy of Ratibór reverted to the Bohemian Crown
after Leszek death in 1336. King John gave it to his loyal vassal
Nicholas II in 1337. With his dual power base in Opava and Ratibór, Nicholas became one of the most powerful princes in the upper Oder
area. With the acquisition by Nicholas, Ratibór came under a foreign ruler and due to the personal union, Opava became more oriented towards Silesia
. In 1337, the princes of Opole
also claimed Ratibór; King John sold them the Moravian town of Prudnik
instead. In a document dated 1350, Nicholas II is mentioned as Burgrave of Kłodzko. In 1355 he had to give up Koźle
and Gliwice
, which had been transferred to Duke Leszek.
Around 1318 he married Anna (died around 1340), a daughter of Duke Przemysław of Racibórz
. Several children resulted from this marriage:
After Anna's death, Nicholas married in May 1342 to Hedwig (died 1359), a daughter of Duke Konrad I
of Oleśnica
(died 1366). From this marriage, he had a son
In 1360, Nicholas married his third wife, Jutta (died after 1378), a daughter of the Duke Boleslaw II of Opole-Falkenberg. This marriage produced three more children:
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
of Opava from 1318 to 1365 and Duke of Ratibór from 1337 to 1365 and Burgrave of Kladsko
County of Kladsko
The County of Kladsko was a historical administrative unit in the Kingdom of Bohemia and later in the Kingdom of Prussia with its capital at Kłodzko on the Nysa river...
from 1350 to 1365 and also chamberlain of the Kingdom of Bohemia
Kingdom of Bohemia
The Kingdom of Bohemia was a country located in the region of Bohemia in Central Europe, most of whose territory is currently located in the modern-day Czech Republic. The King was Elector of Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806, whereupon it became part of the Austrian Empire, and...
.
Life
Nicholas II of Opava was a member of the Opava branch of the Bohemian noble Přemyslovci family. His parents were Duke Nicholas I of Opava, who had held Opava since 1269, and Adelheid of HabsburgHabsburg
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...
, a niece of King Rudolf I. He was a supporter of King John of Luxembourg of Bohemia, who gave him Opava as a fief in 1318 and at the same time raised it to an independent duchy. He moved the ducal residence from Hradec nad Moravicí
Hradec nad Moravicí
Hradec nad Moravicí is a town in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic located about 8 km south of Opava. It has cca 5,150 inhabitants. The town is dominated by a castle complex....
to Opava
Opava
Opava is a city in the northern Czech Republic on the river Opava, located to the north-west of Ostrava. The historical capital of Czech Silesia, Opava is now in the Moravian-Silesian Region and has a population of 59,843 as of January 1, 2005....
. Also in 1318, he married with Anna, the only sister of Duke Leszek
Leszek of Racibórz
Leszek of Racibórz was a Duke of Racibórz since 1306 and Duke of Koźle from 1334 until his death.He was the eldest child and only son of Duke Przemysław of Racibórz by his wife Anna, daughter of Duke Konrad II of Masovia.-Life:...
of Ratibór. Since Leszek left no offspring, the Duchy of Ratibór reverted to the Bohemian Crown
Lands of the Bohemian Crown
The Lands of the Bohemian Crown , also called the Lands of the Crown of Saint Wenceslas or simply the Bohemian Crown or Czech Crown lands , refers to the area connected by feudal relations under the joint rule of the Bohemian kings...
after Leszek death in 1336. King John gave it to his loyal vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
Nicholas II in 1337. With his dual power base in Opava and Ratibór, Nicholas became one of the most powerful princes in the upper Oder
Oder
The Oder is a river in Central Europe. It rises in the Czech Republic and flows through western Poland, later forming of the border between Poland and Germany, part of the Oder-Neisse line...
area. With the acquisition by Nicholas, Ratibór came under a foreign ruler and due to the personal union, Opava became more oriented towards Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
. In 1337, the princes of Opole
Opole
Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...
also claimed Ratibór; King John sold them the Moravian town of Prudnik
Prudnik
Prudnik is a town in Poland, located in the southern part of Opole Voivodeship. Its population numbers 26,400 inhabitants . It is the capital of Prudnik County.- Education :* * * II Liceum Ogólnokształcące w Prudniku...
instead. In a document dated 1350, Nicholas II is mentioned as Burgrave of Kłodzko. In 1355 he had to give up 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...
and 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...
, which had been transferred to Duke Leszek.
Marriage and issue
Nicholas was married three times.Around 1318 he married Anna (died around 1340), a daughter of Duke Przemysław of Racibórz
Przemysław of Racibórz
Przemysław of Racibórz was a Duke of Racibórz since 1282 until his death ....
. Several children resulted from this marriage:
- John IJohn I, Duke of Opava-RatiborJohn I of Opava-Ratibor was the founder the Troppau branch of the Bohemian Přemyslid dynasty, which lasted until 1521. In 1365, he became the sole heir of the Duchy of Racibórz. From 1367 to 1377 he ruled the Duchy of Opava...
(died: between 1380 and 1382),
- married in 1361 Anna, a daughter of the Duke Henry V of Głogów-ŻagańHenry V of IronHenry V of Iron , was a Duke of Żagań since 1342, from 1349 Duke of half-Głogów, and from 1363 Duke of half-Ścinawa.He was the only son of Henry IV the Faithful, Duke of Żagań, by his wife Matilda, daughter of Herman, Margrave of Brandenburg-Salzwedel.-Life:The young Henry V gained his political...
(died 1369). He established the Opava-Ratibór line of the Přemyslovci family.- Euphemia (died 1352)
- married in 1335 Duke Siemowit III of Mazovia (died 1381)
- Elisabeth (died 1386), a nun in Ratibór
- Agnes (died 1404), a nun in Ratibór
- Anna (died 1361)
- married in 1346 Count Burchard of Hardegg and Retz, Burgrave of MagdeburgMagdeburgMagdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
(died 1360 or 1361)- Margaret (died 1363)
- married in 1349 the Margrave John HenryJohn Henry, Margrave of MoraviaJohn Henry of Luxembourg, Czech: Jan Jindřich, German: Johann Heinrich , was Count of Tyrol from 1335 to 1341 and Margrave of Moravia from 1349 until his death....
of Moravia (died 1375).
After Anna's death, Nicholas married in May 1342 to Hedwig (died 1359), a daughter of Duke Konrad I
Konrad I of Olesnica
Konrad I of Oleśnica was a Duke of Żagań, Ścinawa, etc., during 1309–1312 , Duke of Oleśnica, Namysłów, Gniezno and Kalisz during 1312–1313 , Duke of Kalisz during 1313–1314 , Duke of Namysłów since 1313 and Duke of Oleśnica since 1321 until his death .He was the second son...
of Oleśnica
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...
(died 1366). From this marriage, he had a son
- Nicholas IIINicholas III, Duke of OpavaNicholas III of Opava was Duke of Opava from 1367 to 1377 and Duke of Głubczyce from 1377 until his death.- Life :Nicholas II of Opava was a member of the Opava branch of the Přemyslid dynasty...
(died 1394), Duke of GłubczyceDuchy of GłubczyceDuchy of Głubczyce Duchy of Głubczyce Duchy of Głubczyce ( was one of the duchies of Silesia. Its capital was Głubczyce in Upper Silesia.The town was historically mentioned for the first time in 1107. At the time, it was a small Moravian village, named Glubcici, and was dominated by a large wooden...
1377-1394
In 1360, Nicholas married his third wife, Jutta (died after 1378), a daughter of the Duke Boleslaw II of Opole-Falkenberg. This marriage produced three more children:
- Anna (died 1398)
- married in 1379 Peter Holický of Šternberk (died 1397)
- Wenceslaus IWenceslaus I, Duke of OpavaWenceslaus I of Opava was a member of the Opava brnach of the Přemyslid dynasty. He was Duke of Opava from 1367 until his death.- Life :His parents were Duke Nicholas II of Opava and his third wife, Judith , daughter of Duke Bolesław the Elder of Niemodlin .After their father's death in 1365...
(died 1381), Duke of Opava 1377-1381 - Przemko IPrzemko I, Duke of OpavaPrzemko I, Duke of Opava was a member of the Opava branch of the Bohemian Přemyslid dynasty. He was Duke of Opava from 1367 until his death and Głubczyce from 1394 until his death.- Life :...
, Duke of Opava 1365-1433 and Duke of Głubczyce 1394-1433
- Wenceslaus I