Rudolf of Zagan
Encyclopedia
Rudolf of Żagań (ca. 1418 – 18 September 1454) was a Duke of Żagań
-Przewóz
since 1439 (with his brothers as co-rulers until 1449), from 1449 Duke of Żagań (as co-ruler of his older brother).
He was the second son of Duke Jan I of Żagań
by his wife Scholastika, daughter of Rudolf III, Duke of Saxe-Wittemberg and Elector of Saxony. He was named after his maternal grandfather.
and his younger brothers Wenceslaus
and Jan II the Mad
.
In 1449 the Duchy was divided in two parts: Żagań
and Przewóz
. Rudolf and Balthasar received Żagań as co-rulers while Przewóz was given to Jan II and Wenceslaus also as co-rulers.
In 1450 Rudolf went along with his older brother on a pilgrimage to Rome
. Here, he vowed to fight for the Christian faith, evidencing his strong religious beliefs. This is also confirmed by the written sources, specifically in the "Chronicle Żagań Abbots" (Kronice opatów żagańskich), where he is defined as a pious man.
In 1454 he participated in the Thirteen Years' War at the side of the Teutonic Order. With approximately 1,900 soldiers and horses he went to Świdwin
. He wasn't the only Silesian ruler fighting on the Teutonic side. Together with the Bohemian leader Bernard Szumborski
(Bernhard von Zinneberg) he fought in the Battle of Chojnice
, where the Poles suffered a complete defeat. In the battle almost 3,000 Polish were killed, and about 300 knights were captured. Rudolf didn't survive the battle: he died on 18 September 1454 in his initial phase, facing the charge of the strong Polish cavalry. It is unknown where he was buried.
After his death without issue (he never married), his older brother Balthasar assumed the full sovereignty over Żagań. This unilateral decision left their younger brother Jan II bitterly disappointed and caused later his further revolts against Balthasar.
Zagan
Zagan may refer to:*Zagan - a demon in the Ars Goetia*Żagań - a town in west Poland...
-Przewóz
Przewóz
Przewóz is a village in Żary County, Lubusz Voivodeship, in western Poland. It lies on the Lusatian Neisse river, which marks the border with Germany. Przewóz is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Przewóz. It lies approximately south-west of Żary and south-west of Zielona Góra.The village has...
since 1439 (with his brothers as co-rulers until 1449), from 1449 Duke of Żagań (as co-ruler of his older brother).
He was the second son of Duke Jan I of Żagań
Jan I of Zagan
Jan I of Żagań was a Duke of Żagań-Głogów, since 1397 , since 1403 Duke of Żagań, Krosno Odrzańskie and Świebodzin and since 1412 sole ruler of Żagań and Przewóz.He was the eldest son of Henry VIII the Sparrow, Duke of Głogów by his wife Katharina, daughter of Duke...
by his wife Scholastika, daughter of Rudolf III, Duke of Saxe-Wittemberg and Elector of Saxony. He was named after his maternal grandfather.
Life
At the time of his father's death (1439), Rudolf inherited the Duchy of Żagań-Przewóz jointly with his older brother BalthasarBalthasar of Zagan
Balthasar of Żagań , was a Duke of Żagań-Przewóz since 1439 , from 1449 Duke of Żagań. Deposed during 1461-1468, he recovered the Duchy in this year until shortly before his death....
and his younger brothers Wenceslaus
Wenceslaus of Zagan
Wenceslaus of Żagań was a Duke of Żagań-Przewóz since 1439 , from 1449 Duke of Przewóz ....
and Jan II the Mad
Jan II the Mad
Jan II the Mad also known as the Bad, the Wild or the Cruel , was a Duke of Żagań-Przewóz since 1439 , from 1449 Duke of Przewóz , during 1461-1468 and briefly in 1472 Duke of Żagań and during 1476-1488 Duke of half-Głogów .He was the fourth and...
.
In 1449 the Duchy was divided in two parts: Żagań
Zagan
Zagan may refer to:*Zagan - a demon in the Ars Goetia*Żagań - a town in west Poland...
and Przewóz
Przewóz
Przewóz is a village in Żary County, Lubusz Voivodeship, in western Poland. It lies on the Lusatian Neisse river, which marks the border with Germany. Przewóz is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Przewóz. It lies approximately south-west of Żary and south-west of Zielona Góra.The village has...
. Rudolf and Balthasar received Żagań as co-rulers while Przewóz was given to Jan II and Wenceslaus also as co-rulers.
In 1450 Rudolf went along with his older brother on a pilgrimage to 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...
. Here, he vowed to fight for the Christian faith, evidencing his strong religious beliefs. This is also confirmed by the written sources, specifically in the "Chronicle Żagań Abbots" (Kronice opatów żagańskich), where he is defined as a pious man.
In 1454 he participated in the Thirteen Years' War at the side of the Teutonic Order. With approximately 1,900 soldiers and horses he went to Świdwin
Swidwin
Świdwin is a town in West Pomeranian Voivodeship of northwestern Poland. It is the capital of Świdwin County established 1999, previously having been in Koszalin Voivodeship , and the administrative seat - though not part - of the Gmina Świdwin...
. He wasn't the only Silesian ruler fighting on the Teutonic side. Together with the Bohemian leader Bernard Szumborski
Bernard Szumborski
- Career :Szumborski was hired by the Teutonic Knights during the Battle of Chojnice, and was sent with 15,000 men to relieve the besieged city. Casimir IV of Poland sent cavalry attacks to the rear of the Teutonic lines and Szumborski was captured. However, Teutonic knights rallied up and caused...
(Bernhard von Zinneberg) he fought in the Battle of Chojnice
Battle of Chojnice
The Battle of Chojnice occurred on September 18, 1454 by the town of Chojnice between Poland and the Teutonic Knights during the Thirteen Years' War, it was won by the latter. The Teutonic army had around 9000 cavalry and 6000 infantry under Bernard Szumborski...
, where the Poles suffered a complete defeat. In the battle almost 3,000 Polish were killed, and about 300 knights were captured. Rudolf didn't survive the battle: he died on 18 September 1454 in his initial phase, facing the charge of the strong Polish cavalry. It is unknown where he was buried.
After his death without issue (he never married), his older brother Balthasar assumed the full sovereignty over Żagań. This unilateral decision left their younger brother Jan II bitterly disappointed and caused later his further revolts against Balthasar.