Nicholas I of Opole
Encyclopedia
Nicholas I of Opole (ca. 1424 – 3 July 1476) was a Duke of Opole
since 1437 (until 1439 with his brother as co-ruler), Duke of Brzeg
from 1450, ruler over Kluczbork
since 1451 and Duke of Strzelce
, Niemodlin
and Olesno
from 1460.
He was the fourth son of Duke Bolko IV of Opole
by his wife Margareta, possibly member of the House of Görz.
and Jan I
. On 6 October 1438 Nicholas I and his brothers paid homage to Casimir Jagiełło as King-elect of Bohemia
, but after his resignation and the coronation of Albert of Habsburg
as King, he paid homage again, this time to the Austrian ruler, during the Congress of Wrocław on 3 December 1438).
In 1439 Jan I died unexpectedly without issue, and Nicholas I inherited the whole Duchy of Opole
. In 1443 Nicholas received as a pledge the Duchy of Brzeg
from his nephews (sons of his sister), Dukes Jan I and Henry X
of Lubin
-Oława-Chojnów
. For unknown reasons, in 1447 Jan I and Henry X recovered Brzeg and pledged again, this time to the knight Heinz Stoschow. Only after the new settlement dated on 11 April 1450 Brzeg finally got back into the hands of the Duke of Opole.
A further enlarge of his domains took place in 1450, when his uncle Bernard
, in exchange for a loan granted to Nicholas I his rights over his part of the Duchy of Opole and one year later (1451) he obtain Kluczbork
. Finally, when his oldest brother Bolko V died without surviving male issue, all his possessions (Strzelce
, Niemodlin
and Olesno
), where inherited by Nicholas I, who had to defended his rights against the Bohemia
n King George of Poděbrady
, who claimed that as an emptied fiefs, Bolko V's lands would reverted to Bohemia. The settlement between King George and Nicholas I was signed on 16 August 1460: the King finally accepted the rule of the Duke of Opole over Strzelce, Niemodlin and Olesno, but in exchange Nicholas I had to resign his claims over the Duchy of Opawa
(he bought the Duchy in 1454 to his ruler Ernest, but as a result of the King's strong opposition, Nicholas I wasn't able to take the effective control over this land).
Soon after, Nicholas I suffered further difficulties from his Silesian relatives, this time with Duke Jan IV of Oświęcim, who claimed the payment of all the debts of Nicholas I's late father-in-law, Duke Louis II of Brzeg. Jan IV managed to conquer the town of Leśnica
, but finally he was expelled with the help of the Wrocław citizens on 6 October. In 1461 Nicholas I, paid to Bolko V's widow Hedwig Beess of Kujawy a not specified amount for damages in exchange for the resign of her Oprawa wdowia, and on 3 June of that year ended the long-lasting dispute with the local church, when Nicholas returned to them the goods stripped by Bolko V and reinitiated the building of the Kolegiata of Głogówek, who began during the rule of his father Bolko IV.
In 1463 the Duke Henry IX
of Głogów revived his claims over the inheritance of his grandfather Władysław Opolczyk. On 26 October Henry IX, with the support of King George of Bohemia, obtain the annulment of the Decree granted by the Emperor Sigismund
in 1435 and the validity of the decision of King Wenceslaus IV
in 1418. Nicholas I, with the assistance of the Wrocław citizens initially attempted to made an armed resistance, but on 29 April 1464 was signed a definitive settlement between the Dukes of Opole and Głogów: under the terms of this treaty, Nicholas I was forced to paid the enormous amount of 14,000 Hungarian
złoty. In the same year was also ended the dispute with the Bishopric of Wrocław when Nicholas I returned the city of Ujazd
, conquered by Bolko V years before.
On 1 September 1466 Nicholas I and other Silesian rulers came up the project to reconcile the Hussite
King George of Bohemia with the Bishopric of Wrocław and Pope Paul II
; however, due to rejection by the Catholic hierarchy, on 23 December the Bohemian King was made the formal announcement of the war in Wrocław. In this new conflict Nicholas I wasn't too much involved and therefore the Pope's menaces of excommunication
had no effects over Opole.
On 8 June 1469 Nicholas I paid homage to King Matthias Corvinus in Wrocław. The attempts of the Duke of Opole to maintain neutrality during the war between King Matthias and Poland in 1471 failed, and under pressure from the Hungarian King, in 1473 Nicholas I led a military expedition against Duke Wenceslaus III of Rybnik
, ally of the Kingdom of Poland. In response, one year leater (1474) Polish troops invaded the Duchy of Opole, who was substantially destroyed. Nicholas I was forced to fled to Wrocław under the care of the Hungarian army.
During 1469–1472 Nicholas I entered in a successfully dispute with his son-in-law, Duke Przemysław of Toszek
over the possession of the Gliwice
district of Łabędy.
Nicholas I died on 3 July 1476 and was buried in the Franciscan
monastery in Opole
.
Nicholas I's children were in the spirit of the Polish education. There are certain assumptions that Jan II and Nicholas II only knew the Polish language, which at that time, during the strong Germanization of Silesia, was notorious.
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...
since 1437 (until 1439 with his brother as co-ruler), 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...
from 1450, ruler over Kluczbork
Kluczbork
Kluczbork is a town in southwestern Poland with 26,670 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Kluczbork County and an important railroad junction. In Kluczbork the major rail line from Katowice splits into two directions - westwards to Wroclaw and northwards to Poznań...
since 1451 and Duke of Strzelce
Strzelce Opolskie
Strzelce Opolskie is a town in south-western Poland with 19,628 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Strzelce County. Strzelce Opolskie is one of the biggest centers of German minority in Poland....
, Niemodlin
Niemodlin
Niemodlin is a town in Opole County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 6,911 inhabitants .It was first mentioned as Nemodlin in a 1224 deed and received town privileges in 1283. Originally a part of the Duchy of Opole, after the death of Duke Bolko I Niemodlin became the capital of a duchy in his...
and Olesno
Olesno
Olesno is a town in Opole Voivodship, Poland about north-east of the city of Opole. It is the capital of Olesno County and seat of the Gmina Olesno.-History:The area near the ancient Amber Road had been settled since the Neolithic era...
from 1460.
He was the fourth son of Duke Bolko IV of Opole
Bolko IV of Opole
Bolko IV of Opole , was a Duke of Strzelce and Niemodlin during 1382–1400 , Duke of Opole from 1396 ....
by his wife Margareta, possibly member of the House of Görz.
Life
At the time of his father's death in 1437 Nicholas I was still a minor, and therefore was placed under the care of his older brothers Bolko VBolko V the Hussite
Bolko V the Hussite was a Duke of Opole between 1422–1424 , ruler over Głogówek and Prudnik since 1424, Duke of Strzelce and Niemodlin from 1450 and ruler over Olesno since 1455....
and Jan I
Jan I of Opole
Jan I of Opole was a Duke of Opole since 1437 .He was the second son of Duke Bolko IV of Opole by his wife Margareta, possibly member of the House of Görz.-Life:...
. On 6 October 1438 Nicholas I and his brothers paid homage to Casimir Jagiełło as King-elect of 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...
, but after his resignation and the coronation of Albert of Habsburg
Albert II of Germany
Albert the Magnanimous KG was King of Hungary from 1438 until his death. He was also King of Bohemia, elected King of Germany as Albert II, duke of Luxembourg and, as Albert V, archduke of Austria from 1404.-Biography:Albert was born in Vienna as the son of Albert IV, Duke of Austria, and Johanna...
as King, he paid homage again, this time to the Austrian ruler, during the Congress of Wrocław on 3 December 1438).
In 1439 Jan I died unexpectedly without issue, and Nicholas I inherited the whole Duchy 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...
. In 1443 Nicholas received as a pledge the Duchy 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...
from his nephews (sons of his sister), Dukes Jan I and Henry X
Henryk X of Chojnów
Henry X of Haynau , was Duke of Lüben , during 1441-1446 with his brother, as co-rulers), Haynau , Brieg and Goldberg ....
of Lubin
Lubin
Lubin is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in south-western Poland. From 1975–1998 it belonged to the former Legnica Voivodeship. Lubin is the administrative seat of Lubin County, and also of the rural district called Gmina Lubin, although it is not part of the territory of the latter,...
-Oława-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...
. For unknown reasons, in 1447 Jan I and Henry X recovered Brzeg and pledged again, this time to the knight Heinz Stoschow. Only after the new settlement dated on 11 April 1450 Brzeg finally got back into the hands of the Duke of Opole.
A further enlarge of his domains took place in 1450, when his uncle Bernard
Bernard of Niemodlin
Bernard of Niemodlin , was a Duke of Strzelce and Niemodlin during 1382-1400 , Duke of Opole during 1396-1400 , from 1400 until 1450 sole ruler over Strzelce and Niemodlin, from 1401 ruler over Olesno and Lubliniec, from 1420 ruler over Prudnik and in 1424 ruler over Głogówek, during 1434-1450...
, in exchange for a loan granted to Nicholas I his rights over his part of the Duchy of Opole and one year later (1451) he obtain Kluczbork
Kluczbork
Kluczbork is a town in southwestern Poland with 26,670 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Kluczbork County and an important railroad junction. In Kluczbork the major rail line from Katowice splits into two directions - westwards to Wroclaw and northwards to Poznań...
. Finally, when his oldest brother Bolko V died without surviving male issue, all his possessions (Strzelce
Strzelce Opolskie
Strzelce Opolskie is a town in south-western Poland with 19,628 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Strzelce County. Strzelce Opolskie is one of the biggest centers of German minority in Poland....
, Niemodlin
Niemodlin
Niemodlin is a town in Opole County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 6,911 inhabitants .It was first mentioned as Nemodlin in a 1224 deed and received town privileges in 1283. Originally a part of the Duchy of Opole, after the death of Duke Bolko I Niemodlin became the capital of a duchy in his...
and Olesno
Olesno
Olesno is a town in Opole Voivodship, Poland about north-east of the city of Opole. It is the capital of Olesno County and seat of the Gmina Olesno.-History:The area near the ancient Amber Road had been settled since the Neolithic era...
), where inherited by Nicholas I, who had to defended his rights against the 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...
n King George of Poděbrady
George of Podebrady
George of Kunštát and Poděbrady , also known as Poděbrad or Podiebrad , was King of Bohemia...
, who claimed that as an emptied fiefs, Bolko V's lands would reverted to Bohemia. The settlement between King George and Nicholas I was signed on 16 August 1460: the King finally accepted the rule of the Duke of Opole over Strzelce, Niemodlin and Olesno, but in exchange Nicholas I had to resign his claims over the Duchy of Opawa
Opawa
Opawa is an inner suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, located 2.5 kilometres south-east of the city centre.The name is a contraction of Opaawaho, which means a place of an outer pā or outpost in Māori. Opaawaho or Ōpāwaho is the Māori name for the Heathcote River....
(he bought the Duchy in 1454 to his ruler Ernest, but as a result of the King's strong opposition, Nicholas I wasn't able to take the effective control over this land).
Soon after, Nicholas I suffered further difficulties from his Silesian relatives, this time with Duke Jan IV of Oświęcim, who claimed the payment of all the debts of Nicholas I's late father-in-law, Duke Louis II of Brzeg. Jan IV managed to conquer the town of Leśnica
Lesnica
Lesnica may refer to the following places:*Lesnica, Stará Ľubovňa, Slovakia*Lešnica, Serbia*Leśnica, a town in Opole Voivodeship *Leśnica, a district of Wrocław, Poland*Leśnica, Greater Poland Voivodeship...
, but finally he was expelled with the help of the Wrocław citizens on 6 October. In 1461 Nicholas I, paid to Bolko V's widow Hedwig Beess of Kujawy a not specified amount for damages in exchange for the resign of her Oprawa wdowia, and on 3 June of that year ended the long-lasting dispute with the local church, when Nicholas returned to them the goods stripped by Bolko V and reinitiated the building of the Kolegiata of Głogówek, who began during the rule of his father Bolko IV.
In 1463 the Duke Henry IX
Henry IX the Older
Henry IX the Older was a Duke of Żagań-Głogów during 1397–1412 , during 1412–17 ruler over Szprotawa, Krosno Odrzańskie, Świebodzin and half of Głogów , since 1417 ruler over Szprotawa, half of Głogów, since 1420 ruler over Kożuchów and Zielona Góra, from 1430 ruler over Krosno Odrzańskie and...
of Głogów revived his claims over the inheritance of his grandfather Władysław Opolczyk. On 26 October Henry IX, with the support of King George of Bohemia, obtain the annulment of the Decree granted by the Emperor Sigismund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
in 1435 and the validity of the decision of 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...
in 1418. Nicholas I, with the assistance of the Wrocław citizens initially attempted to made an armed resistance, but on 29 April 1464 was signed a definitive settlement between the Dukes of Opole and Głogów: under the terms of this treaty, Nicholas I was forced to paid the enormous amount of 14,000 Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
złoty. In the same year was also ended the dispute with the Bishopric of Wrocław when Nicholas I returned the city of Ujazd
Ujazd
Ujazd is a town in Strzelce County in Opole Voivodeship of Poland. Population 1,647.70% of the town infrastructure was destroyed in the Second World War....
, conquered by Bolko V years before.
On 1 September 1466 Nicholas I and other Silesian rulers came up the project to reconcile the Hussite
Hussite
The Hussites were a Christian movement following the teachings of Czech reformer Jan Hus , who became one of the forerunners of the Protestant Reformation...
King George of Bohemia with the Bishopric of Wrocław and Pope Paul II
Pope Paul II
Pope Paul II , born Pietro Barbo, was pope from 1464 until his death in 1471.- Early life :He was born in Venice, and was a nephew of Pope Eugene IV , through his mother. His adoption of the spiritual career, after having been trained as a merchant, was prompted by his uncle's election as pope...
; however, due to rejection by the Catholic hierarchy, on 23 December the Bohemian King was made the formal announcement of the war in Wrocław. In this new conflict Nicholas I wasn't too much involved and therefore the Pope's menaces of excommunication
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
had no effects over Opole.
On 8 June 1469 Nicholas I paid homage to King Matthias Corvinus in Wrocław. The attempts of the Duke of Opole to maintain neutrality during the war between King Matthias and Poland in 1471 failed, and under pressure from the Hungarian King, in 1473 Nicholas I led a military expedition against Duke Wenceslaus III of Rybnik
Rybnik
Rybnik is a city in southern Poland, in the Silesian Voivodeship. Rybnik is located close to the border with the Czech Republic and just outside the southern border of the largest urban area in Poland, the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union...
, ally of the Kingdom of Poland. In response, one year leater (1474) Polish troops invaded the Duchy of Opole, who was substantially destroyed. Nicholas I was forced to fled to Wrocław under the care of the Hungarian army.
During 1469–1472 Nicholas I entered in a successfully dispute with his son-in-law, Duke Przemysław of Toszek
Przemysław of Toszek
Przemysław of Toszek was a Duke of Oświęcim during 1434–1445 and Duke of Toszek since 1445 until his death....
over the possession of the 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...
district of Łabędy.
Nicholas I died on 3 July 1476 and was buried in the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
monastery in 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...
.
Marriage and issue
By February 1442, Nicholas I married with Magdalena (ca. 1430 - 10 September 1497), daughter of Duke Louis II of Brzeg. They had ten children:- Margareta [Machna] (ca. 1450 - before 26 April 1472), married by 23 February 1463 to Duke Przemysław of ToszekPrzemysław of ToszekPrzemysław of Toszek was a Duke of Oświęcim during 1434–1445 and Duke of Toszek since 1445 until his death....
. - LouisLouis of OpoleLouis of Opole , was a Duke of Opole-Brzeg-Strzelce-Niemodlin during 1466-1476 and briefly in 1476 ....
(1450 - before 4 September 1476). - Elizabeth (ca. 1452 - 29 August 1507), Abbess of St. Klara in Wrocław (1473).
- Jan II the GoodJan II the GoodJan II of Opole was a Duke of Opole-Brzeg -Strzelce-Niemodlin in 1476 , ruler over Gliwice , Toszek , Niemodlin , Bytom , Koźle , and Racibórz .He was the second son of Duke Nicholas I of Opole by his wife Agnes, daughter of Duke Louis II of...
(ca. 1460 - 27 March 1532). - Nicholas IINicholas II of NiemodlinNicholas II of Niemodlin , was a Duke of Opole-Brzeg-Strzelce-Niemodlin in 1476 and sole Duke of Niemodlin from 1476 until his death....
(by 1462 - 27 June 1497). - Magdalena (ca. 1463 - May 1501), married on 13 January 1478 to Duke Jan V of Racibórz.
- Katharina (died 26 August 1507), a nun at St. Klara in Wrocław (1481).
- Bolesław (died in infancy, before 27 January 1477).
- Bernard (died in infancy, before 27 January 1477).
- Elekta (died August 1507?), a nun at St. Klara in Wrocław.
Nicholas I's children were in the spirit of the Polish education. There are certain assumptions that Jan II and Nicholas II only knew the Polish language, which at that time, during the strong Germanization of Silesia, was notorious.