Wenceslaus I of Legnica
Encyclopedia
Wenceslaus I of Legnica (ca. 1318 – 2 June 1364) was a Duke of Namysłów since 1338 and of Legnica
-Brieg
since 1342 until his death, but with further divisions with his brother Louis I.
He was the eldest son of Bolesław III the Generous, Duke of Legnica
-Brieg
by his first wife, Margaret of Bohemia
. He was named after his maternal grandfather, King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia.
Bolesław III's prodigality infuriated Wenceslaus, who, worried about the fate of the family's patrimony, rebelled against his father. Bolesław III didn't want to fight with his son, and give to him the Duchy of Namysłów as an independent fief, in 1338. Four years later (1342), Bolesław III decided to abdicated all his lands to his two surviving sons -Wenceslaus and his younger brother Louis I- in exchange of Namysłów, who was almost immediately sold by Bolesław III to King Casimir III the Great. Alongside with his second wife, Katharina Šubić, Bolesław III retired to the small towns Brieg
and Oława, who he retained as their residence.
The two brothers initially decided co-rule without any land divisions, in order to pay the huge debts of the Duchy. The resources of Legnica were little, because their excentric father had sold several parts of land, and even the extraction of gold from the mines of Mikołajowice revealed insufficient.
In 1345 finally the brothers decided the formal division of their authority and rule. Louis convince his older brother to ceded him the overlordship over Legnica in exchange of the towns of Złotoryja, Chojnów
, Chocianów
and Lubin (Lüben)
.
However, Wenceslaus changed his mind about this unequal division of the Duchy of Legnica only one year later. Two strong reason motivated him: he was seriously ill, and after eight years of childless marriage, his wife expecting their first child. Wenceslaus claimed all the inheritance of Legnica; in exchange, he promised to name Louis as his sole heir, even if his unborn child was a son. At the end, Louis resigned his lands to Wenceslaus; in exchange, he received a monetary compensation of 400 pieces of silver per year and the possession of the palace of Buczyna
.
The unexpectedly renunciation of Louis without fight maybe was dictated by the fact that his brother was dying, and he soon became again in the ruler of Legnica. However, it soon became apparent that Wenceslaus, despite his illness, doesn't any intentions to die. In addition, the situation was more complicated after the birth of the first of Wenceslaus's four sons, Rupert.
Louis want the annulment of his resignation over Legnica on basis of the suspension of the compensatory payment, but without success. The situation remained in an unstable peace until the death of Bolesław III (21 April 1352), who broke in the civil war between the brothers.
The war going on with varying fortune between both sides during six years (during were failed the mediation attempts of Duke Konrad I of Oleśnica
, Przecław von Pogarell, Bishop of Wroclaw
, and Emperor Charles IV
). The war ended only in July 1359 when was settled an arrangement between the brothers, under which Wenceslaus -who actually lost the final battle- was compelled to give to Louis the districts of Brzeg
-Oława (who returned to him after the death of their stepmother, Katharina Šubić
) and Chojnów
as an independent Duchy (however, one half of Brzeg-Oława, with Byczyna, were already sold by Wenceslaus to Duke Bolko II of Świdnica). Another additional concession of Wenceslaus to his younger brother was to pay of 4,500 pieces of silver for damages.
In addition to the conflict with his brother, Wenceslaus was also involved in promoting the rule of the House of Luxemburg in Silesia
and so in 1348 he represented the Emperor as a mediator in the dispute between the Bishop of Wroclaw Przecław von Pogarell and the local nobility. Eleven years later, in 1360, he was again a mediator in the tried to turn rozsądzić dispute between Duke Konrad I of Oleśnica and Duke Przemyslaus I of Cieszyn (Teschen) over the control of the Duchy of Bytom
-Koźle
.
By February 1348 Wenceslaus was also part of the suite of Emperor Charles IV, who travel to Bautzen
in order to arrange a meeting with Frederick II, Margrave of Meissen
and Langrave of Thuringia
with the purprose of settled their frontiers disputes.
During the entire period of his reign, the main problem of Wenceslaus was the financial difficulties of his Duchy. From his father Bolesław III, the Duke also inherited his enormous debts. It is therefore not surprising that most of the Duchy was soon rented to a neighboring Princes and Bishops, and even ordinary Knights and townspeople.
Despite the disastrous financial situation of Legnica, Wenceslaus decided to found a Benedictine monastery and Kolegiate in Legnica called "Church of God" (pl: Bożego Grobu). In order to raise the prestige of his own for several years he ordened the creation of a gold coin called "wacławki", who was used in his Duchy since them.
Wenceslaus died on 2 June 1364 and was buried in the Church of God in Legnica, who was then under construction. His excommunication as a punishment for unpaid debts, led major complications. It was only in 1365 when his sons finally obtain the pardon for him. Wenceslaus's beautiful tombstone survived until our days and was currently in the Legnica Cathedral.
Legnica
Legnica is a town in south-western Poland, in Silesia, in the central part of Lower Silesia, on the plain of Legnica, riverside: Kaczawa and Czarna Woda. Between 1 June 1975 and 31 December 1998 Legnica was the capital of the Legnica Voivodeship. It is currently the seat of the county...
-Brieg
Brieg
Brieg may refer to:* Brzeg , in Silesia, Poland** Duchy of Brzeg, a duchy of Silesia from 1311 – 1675* Briec , a town in Brittany...
since 1342 until his death, but with further divisions with his brother Louis I.
He was the eldest son of Bolesław III the Generous, Duke of Legnica
Legnica
Legnica is a town in south-western Poland, in Silesia, in the central part of Lower Silesia, on the plain of Legnica, riverside: Kaczawa and Czarna Woda. Between 1 June 1975 and 31 December 1998 Legnica was the capital of the Legnica Voivodeship. It is currently the seat of the county...
-Brieg
Brieg
Brieg may refer to:* Brzeg , in Silesia, Poland** Duchy of Brzeg, a duchy of Silesia from 1311 – 1675* Briec , a town in Brittany...
by his first wife, Margaret of Bohemia
Margaret of Bohemia (1296-1322)
Margaret of Bohemia was a daughter of Wenceslaus II of Bohemia and his first wife, Judith of Habsburg. Her paternal grandparents were Ottokar II of Bohemia and Kunigunda of Slavonia, her maternal grandparents were Rudolph I of Germany and Gertrude of Hohenburg.-Biography:In 1308, Margaret married...
. He was named after his maternal grandfather, King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia.
Life
The circumstances about Wenceslaus's childhood and adolescence were unknown. The first attested presence of the young heir of Legnica-Brieg was only in 1329, when he, alongside with his father, paid homage to King John of Luxemburg -his uncle, husband of his maternal aunt Elisabeth-.Bolesław III's prodigality infuriated Wenceslaus, who, worried about the fate of the family's patrimony, rebelled against his father. Bolesław III didn't want to fight with his son, and give to him the Duchy of Namysłów as an independent fief, in 1338. Four years later (1342), Bolesław III decided to abdicated all his lands to his two surviving sons -Wenceslaus and his younger brother Louis I- in exchange of Namysłów, who was almost immediately sold by Bolesław III to King Casimir III the Great. Alongside with his second wife, Katharina Šubić, Bolesław III retired to the small towns Brieg
Brieg
Brieg may refer to:* Brzeg , in Silesia, Poland** Duchy of Brzeg, a duchy of Silesia from 1311 – 1675* Briec , a town in Brittany...
and Oława, who he retained as their residence.
The two brothers initially decided co-rule without any land divisions, in order to pay the huge debts of the Duchy. The resources of Legnica were little, because their excentric father had sold several parts of land, and even the extraction of gold from the mines of Mikołajowice revealed insufficient.
In 1345 finally the brothers decided the formal division of their authority and rule. Louis convince his older brother to ceded him the overlordship over Legnica in exchange of the towns of Złotoryja, 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...
, Chocianów
Chocianów
Chocianów is a town in Polkowice County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Chocianów. The town lies approximately south-west of Polkowice, and west of the regional capital Wrocław...
and Lubin (Lüben)
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,...
.
However, Wenceslaus changed his mind about this unequal division of the Duchy of Legnica only one year later. Two strong reason motivated him: he was seriously ill, and after eight years of childless marriage, his wife expecting their first child. Wenceslaus claimed all the inheritance of Legnica; in exchange, he promised to name Louis as his sole heir, even if his unborn child was a son. At the end, Louis resigned his lands to Wenceslaus; in exchange, he received a monetary compensation of 400 pieces of silver per year and the possession of the palace of Buczyna
Buczyna
Buczyna may refer to the following places in Poland:*Buczyna, Lower Silesian Voivodeship *Buczyna, Lesser Poland Voivodeship *Buczyna, Świebodzin County in Lubusz Voivodeship...
.
The unexpectedly renunciation of Louis without fight maybe was dictated by the fact that his brother was dying, and he soon became again in the ruler of Legnica. However, it soon became apparent that Wenceslaus, despite his illness, doesn't any intentions to die. In addition, the situation was more complicated after the birth of the first of Wenceslaus's four sons, Rupert.
Louis want the annulment of his resignation over Legnica on basis of the suspension of the compensatory payment, but without success. The situation remained in an unstable peace until the death of Bolesław III (21 April 1352), who broke in the civil war between the brothers.
The war going on with varying fortune between both sides during six years (during were failed the mediation attempts of Duke Konrad I of Oleśnica
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...
, Przecław von Pogarell, Bishop of Wroclaw
Wroclaw
Wrocław , situated on the River Oder , is the main city of southwestern Poland.Wrocław was the historical capital of Silesia and is today the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. Over the centuries, the city has been part of either Poland, Bohemia, Austria, Prussia, or Germany, but since 1945...
, and 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....
). The war ended only in July 1359 when was settled an arrangement between the brothers, under which Wenceslaus -who actually lost the final battle- was compelled to give to Louis the districts 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...
-Oława (who returned to him after the death of their stepmother, Katharina Šubić
Katharina Šubic
Katharina Šubić, also known as Katharina of Croatia , was a Croatian noblewoman and by marriage, Duchess of Legnica-Brzeg.She was the daughter of Mladen III Šubić, Ban of Croatia, by his wife Jelena, daughter of King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski of Serbia....
) and 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...
as an independent Duchy (however, one half of Brzeg-Oława, with Byczyna, were already sold by Wenceslaus to Duke Bolko II of Świdnica). Another additional concession of Wenceslaus to his younger brother was to pay of 4,500 pieces of silver for damages.
In addition to the conflict with his brother, Wenceslaus was also involved in promoting the rule of the House of Luxemburg in 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...
and so in 1348 he represented the Emperor as a mediator in the dispute between the Bishop of Wroclaw Przecław von Pogarell and the local nobility. Eleven years later, in 1360, he was again a mediator in the tried to turn rozsądzić dispute between Duke Konrad I of Oleśnica and Duke Przemyslaus I of Cieszyn (Teschen) over the control of the Duchy 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...
-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...
.
By February 1348 Wenceslaus was also part of the suite of Emperor Charles IV, who travel to Bautzen
Bautzen
Bautzen is a hill-top town in eastern Saxony, Germany, and administrative centre of the eponymous district. It is located on the Spree River. As of 2008, its population is 41,161...
in order to arrange a meeting with Frederick II, Margrave of Meissen
Meissen
Meissen is a town of approximately 30,000 about northwest of Dresden on both banks of the Elbe river in the Free State of Saxony, in eastern Germany. Meissen is the home of Meissen porcelain, the Albrechtsburg castle, the Gothic Meissen Cathedral and the Meissen Frauenkirche...
and Langrave of Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
with the purprose of settled their frontiers disputes.
During the entire period of his reign, the main problem of Wenceslaus was the financial difficulties of his Duchy. From his father Bolesław III, the Duke also inherited his enormous debts. It is therefore not surprising that most of the Duchy was soon rented to a neighboring Princes and Bishops, and even ordinary Knights and townspeople.
Despite the disastrous financial situation of Legnica, Wenceslaus decided to found a Benedictine monastery and Kolegiate in Legnica called "Church of God" (pl: Bożego Grobu). In order to raise the prestige of his own for several years he ordened the creation of a gold coin called "wacławki", who was used in his Duchy since them.
Wenceslaus died on 2 June 1364 and was buried in the Church of God in Legnica, who was then under construction. His excommunication as a punishment for unpaid debts, led major complications. It was only in 1365 when his sons finally obtain the pardon for him. Wenceslaus's beautiful tombstone survived until our days and was currently in the Legnica Cathedral.
Marriage and issue
By 1338, Wenceslaus married with Anna (b. ca. 1325 - d. 1367), daughter of Duke Casimir I of Cieszyn. They had five children:- Rupert IRupert I of LegnicaRupert I of Legnica was a Duke of Legnica since 1364 until his death, and also regent over half of the Duchy of Głogów-Żagań during 1397–1401....
(b. 27 March 1347 - d. bef. 12 January 1409). - Wenceslaus IIWenceslaus II of LegnicaWenceslaus II of Liegnitz was a Duke of Legnica since 1364 until 1413, Bishop of Lebus and Breslau Wenceslaus II of Liegnitz (1348 – 30 December 1419) was a Duke of Legnica since 1364 (only nominal; from 1409 he reigned alone and personally) until 1413, Bishop of Lebus (1375–82) and Breslau...
(b. 1348 - d. 30 December 1419). - Bolesław IV (b. ca. 1349 - d. 3/4 March 1394).
- HedwigHedwig of LegnicaHedwig of Legnica was a Polish princess member of the Piast dynasty in the Legnica branch and by marriage Duchess of Żagań....
(b. ca. 1351 - d. 1 August 1409), married on 10 February 1372 to Henry VI, Duke of Głogów-ŻagańHenry VI the OlderHenry VI the Older was a Duke of Żagań-Głogów since 1368 .He was the oldest son of Henry V of Iron, Duke of Żagań-Głogów, by his wife Anna, daughter of Duke Wenceslaus of Płock....
. - Henry VIIIHenry VIII of LegnicaHenry VIII of Legnica was a Duke of Legnica since 1364 and Bishop of Włocławek since 1389 until his death....
(b. ca. 1355 - d. 12 December 1398).