Nicholas the Small
Encyclopedia
Nicholas the Small was a Duke of Münsterberg (Ziębice
) since 1341 until his death.
He was the eldest child and only son of Duke Bolko II of Münsterberg
and his wife Bonne (Guta), daughter of Louis of Savoy, Baron of Vaud
.
). After his father's death on 11 June 1341 and took the full government over his domains, he almost immediately went to Prague
, where on 24 August he paid homage
to King John of Bohemia. The huge debts leave by his father forced Nicholas on 14 October 1343 to committed made a settlement with the Bohemian King, under which he promised not sell any of his lands without the consent of the King. In the case when he was forced to do this, the King had the first right to buy. Also, was made the compromise of, if the case of the extinction of the male line of the Dukes of Münsterberg, the Duchy will be anexed to the Bohemian Kingdom, after secured to the late Duke's daughters an appropriate dowry.
Financial problems, forced Nicholas to sold in early 1343 the silver mines of Zobten (Sobótka
) to his cousin Bolko II the Small by the amount of 1,000 fines. Three years later, and by the same amount, he also sold Frankenstein (Ząbkowice
), together with the monastery of Kamenz (Kamieniec Ząbkowicki
) to the Bohemian magnate Heinrich von Haugwitz. Combination of desfavorable circumstances forced to sell again some tows in 1348, this time to Emperor Charles IV
for 6,000 fines. Finally, in 1350 Nicholas sold to the Bishop of Breslau, Przecław of Pogorzeli, the town of Wąsów
. As a result, from the vast domains of his late father, Nicholas retained only Münsterberg, Strehlen (Strzelin
), Kanth (Kąty Wrocławskie) and Patschkau (Paczków
).
In 1355 Nicholas took part in coronation of Charles IV as Holy Roman Emperor in Rome
. After this event, he spent a long stay in Prague
, and he returned to his Duchy only one year later. Then the Duke decided to go on a pilgrimage to Palestine
, which took place during 1357-1358. Nicholas never returned to his country: he died on 23 April 1358 during his return trip in Hungary
. His body was brought to the Duchy and buried in the monastery in Heinrichau.
In his will, Nicholas leave to his wife the regency of his lands on behalf of their infant sons and the effective rule over Strehlen.
Ziebice
Ziębice is a town in Ząbkowice Śląskie County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Ziębice. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany...
) since 1341 until his death.
He was the eldest child and only son of Duke Bolko II of Münsterberg
Bolko II of Ziębice
Bolko II of Ziębice was a Duke of Jawor-Lwówek-Świdnica-Ziębice in Poland from 1301 to 1312 , of Świdnica-Ziębice from 1312 to 1322 , and sole Duke of Ziębice from 1322 until his death.He was the fourth son of Bolko I the Strict, Duke of Jawor-Lwówek-Świdnica-Ziębice, by his wife Beatrix,...
and his wife Bonne (Guta), daughter of Louis of Savoy, Baron of Vaud
Vaud
Vaud is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and is located in Romandy, the French-speaking southwestern part of the country. The capital is Lausanne. The name of the Canton in Switzerland's other languages are Vaud in Italian , Waadt in German , and Vad in Romansh.-History:Along the lakes,...
.
Life
Nicholas received a quite firmly education in in the Cistercian monastery of Heinrichau (HenrykówHenryków
Henryków may refer to the following places in Poland:*Henryków, Lower Silesian Voivodeship *Henryków, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship *Henryków, Brzeziny County in Łódź Voivodeship...
). After his father's death on 11 June 1341 and took the full government over his domains, he almost immediately went to Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, where on 24 August he paid homage
Homage (medieval)
Homage in the Middle Ages was the ceremony in which a feudal tenant or vassal pledged reverence and submission to his feudal lord, receiving in exchange the symbolic title to his new position . It was a symbolic acknowledgment to the lord that the vassal was, literally, his man . The oath known as...
to King John of Bohemia. The huge debts leave by his father forced Nicholas on 14 October 1343 to committed made a settlement with the Bohemian King, under which he promised not sell any of his lands without the consent of the King. In the case when he was forced to do this, the King had the first right to buy. Also, was made the compromise of, if the case of the extinction of the male line of the Dukes of Münsterberg, the Duchy will be anexed to the Bohemian Kingdom, after secured to the late Duke's daughters an appropriate dowry.
Financial problems, forced Nicholas to sold in early 1343 the silver mines of Zobten (Sobótka
Sobótka
Sobótka is a town in Wrocław County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Sobótka. Sobótka is located about southwest of Wrocław on the northern slope of Mount Ślęża, part of the Central Sudetes mountain range...
) to his cousin Bolko II the Small by the amount of 1,000 fines. Three years later, and by the same amount, he also sold Frankenstein (Ząbkowice
Zabkowice Slaskie
Ząbkowice Śląskie is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in south-western Poland. It is the seat of Ząbkowice Śląskie County, and of the smaller administrative district called Gmina Ząbkowice Śląskie....
), together with the monastery of Kamenz (Kamieniec Ząbkowicki
Kamieniec Zabkowicki
Kamieniec Ząbkowicki is a village in Ząbkowice Śląskie County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Kamieniec Ząbkowicki. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany under the name of Kamenz. Kamieniec Zabkowicki is an important...
) to the Bohemian magnate Heinrich von Haugwitz. Combination of desfavorable circumstances forced to sell again some tows in 1348, this time to 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....
for 6,000 fines. Finally, in 1350 Nicholas sold to the Bishop of Breslau, Przecław of Pogorzeli, the town of Wąsów
Wasów
Wąsów is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Koniusza, within Proszowice County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland.-References:...
. As a result, from the vast domains of his late father, Nicholas retained only Münsterberg, Strehlen (Strzelin
Strzelin
Strzelin is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in south-western Poland. It is located on the Oława river, a tributary of the Oder, about south of the region's capital Wrocław. The town is the seat of Strzelin County and also of the smaller municipality of Strzelin...
), Kanth (Kąty Wrocławskie) and Patschkau (Paczków
Paczków
Paczków is a town in Nysa County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 8,226 inhabitants . It is one of the few towns in Europe in which medieval fortifications have been almost completely preserved...
).
In 1355 Nicholas took part in coronation of Charles IV as Holy Roman Emperor in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. After this event, he spent a long stay in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, and he returned to his Duchy only one year later. Then the Duke decided to go on a pilgrimage to Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, which took place during 1357-1358. Nicholas never returned to his country: he died on 23 April 1358 during his return trip in Hungary
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...
. His body was brought to the Duchy and buried in the monastery in Heinrichau.
Marriage and issue
By 23 October 1343, Nicholas married with Agnes (d. 16 July 1370), daughter of Hynek (also named Hermann or Hajman) Krušina z Lichtemburka, a Bohemian magnate. They had six children:- Ludmila [Anna?, Elisabeth?] (b. ca. 1344 - d. ca. 1372), married by 1360 to Duke Siemowit III of MasoviaSiemowit III of MasoviaSiemowit 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 :...
. - Bolko IIIBolko III of ZiębiceBolko III of Münsterberg was a Duke of Münsterberg since 1358 until his death, and ruler over Gleiwitz during 1369–1373....
(b. ca. 1348 - d. 13 June 1410). - Henry IHenry I of ZiębiceHenry I of Ziębice , was a Duke of Ziębice since 1358 until his death.He was the second and youngest son of Nicholas the Small, Duke of Ziębice, by his wife Agnes, daughter of Herman Cruschina of Lichtenberg.-Life:...
(b. ca. 1350 - d. aft. 8 August 1366). - Agnes (b. ca. 1351/53? - d. October 1434), Abbess of St. Klara, Strehlen.
- Guta (b. ca. 1354? - d. 2 September 1413), Abbess of St. Klara, Breslau (bef. 1380).
- Katharina (b. ca. 1355/58? - d. ca. 1396), a nun in St. Klara, Strehlen.
In his will, Nicholas leave to his wife the regency of his lands on behalf of their infant sons and the effective rule over Strehlen.