Bolesław the Elder ( – ) was a Silesian duke. He was the duke of

Wieluń Wieluń ( la, Velun) is a town in south-central Poland with 21,624 inhabitants (2021). Situated in the Łódź Voivodeship (since 1999), it was previously in Sieradz Voivodeship (1975–1998). Wieluń has a long and rich history. In the past, ...

during 1313–1326, duke of

Niemodlin Niemodlin (; german: Falkenberg O.S., Falkenberg Oberschlesien; szl, Ńymodlin) is a town in Opole County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 6,315 inhabitants (2019). History The community was first mentioned as ''Nemodlin'' in a 1224 deed and r ...

from 1313 and ruler of

Prudnik Prudnik (, szl, Prudnik, Prōmnik, german: Neustadt in Oberschlesien, Neustadt an der Prudnik, la, Prudnicium) is a town in southern Poland, located in the southern part of Opole Voivodeship near the border with the Czech Republic. It is the ...

from 1336 until his death. He was the eldest son of Duke

Bolko I of Opole Bolko I of Opole ( pl, Bolko I opolski; before 21 October 1258 – 14 May 1313), was a Duke of Opole from 1282 (until 1284 with his brother as co-ruler), Niemodlin and Strzelce Opolskie until his death. He was the third son of Władysław, Duke ...

by his wife Agnes, probably a daughter of Margrave Otto III of Brandenburg. Bolesław was nicknamed "the Elder" or "First-born" (''Pierworodny'') in order to distinguish him from his younger brother, who, for unknown reasons, was also named Bolesław (Bolko).

Life

After his father's death in 1313, Bolesław inherited the duchies of

and

. Until 1323, he exercised the guardianship on behalf of his younger brothers, then too youngs for rule by their own. His political career was strongly connected with the

House of Luxembourg The House of Luxembourg ( lb, D'Lëtzebuerger Haus; french: Maison de Luxembourg; german: Haus Luxemburg) or Luxembourg dynasty was a royal family of the Holy Roman Empire in the Late Middle Ages, whose members between 1308 and 1437 ruled as kin ...

, rulers of Bohemia. This alliance with the Bohemian Kingdom caused a war between him and

Władysław I the Elbow-high Władysław is a Polish given male name, cognate with Vladislav. The feminine form is Władysława, archaic forms are Włodzisław (male) and Włodzisława (female), and Wladislaw is a variation. These names may refer to: Famous people Mononym * ...

, which ended with the loss of Wieluń in 1326. On 18 February 1327, together with the other Silesian dukes, Bolesław paid homage to King John of Bohemia in

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 "Ōpāwaho", which, in Māori, means a place of ('ō') an outer '' pā'' or outpost ('pāwaho'). "Ōpāw ...

. One year later (in 1328) in order to fulfill his new responsibilities as vassal of Bohemia, he took part in the crusade against the pagan Lithuania. After returning from this expedition, Bolesław followed his sovereign to

Prague Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and List of cities in the Czech Republic, largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 milli ...

, where he spent much time. In 1336, as a reward for his faithful services, the king authorized Bolesław to buy the town of

with the surroundings villages by the amount of 2,000 fines. In 1355 Bolesław took part in the trip of King

Charles I of Bohemia Charles IV ( cs, Karel IV.; german: Karl IV.; la, Carolus IV; 14 May 1316 – 29 November 1378''Karl IV''. In: (1960): ''Geschichte in Gestalten'' (''History in figures''), vol. 2: ''F–K''. 38, Frankfurt 1963, p. 294), also known as Charle ...

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

, where the latter was crowned Holy Roman emperor. Bolesław died between 1362 and 1365. His place of burial is unknown.

Marriage and issue

By 29 November 1325, Bolesław married with Euphemia (b. ca. 1312 – d. 21 March aft. 1384), daughter of Duke

Henry VI the Good Henry VI the Good (also known as of Wrocław) ( pl, Henryk VI Dobry or Wrocławski) (18 March 1294 – 24 November 1335) was a Duke of Wrocław from 1296 (with his brothers as co-rulers until 1311). He was the second son of Henry V the Fat, Du ...

Wrocław Wrocław (; german: Breslau, or . ; Silesian German: ''Brassel'') is a city in southwestern Poland and the largest city in the historical region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the River Oder in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Europe, rou ...

. They had eight children: # Bolesław II (b. 1326/35 – d. by 25 June 1368). #

Wenceslaus Wenceslaus, Wenceslas, Wenzeslaus and Wenzslaus (and other similar names) are Latinized forms of the Czech name Václav. The other language versions of the name are german: Wenzel, pl, Wacław, Więcesław, Wieńczysław, es, Wenceslao, russian ...

(b. 1336/46 – d. June 1369). #Margareta (b. bef. 1340 – aft. 12 July 1399), married bef. 1354 to Landgrave Ulrich II of

Leuchtenberg Leuchtenberg is a municipality in the district of Neustadt an der Waldnaab in Bavaria, Germany, essentially a suburb of nearby Weiden in der Oberpfalz, and a larger historical region in the Holy Roman Empire governed by the Landgraves of Leuchte ...

. #Anna (b. bef. 1342/44 – d. 8 May 1365), a nun at St. Klara, Wrocław. #Hedwig (b. bef. 1345 – d. 13 February 1413), Abbess of St. Klara, Wrocław (1379). #

Henry Henry may refer to: People *Henry (given name) * Henry (surname) * Henry Lau, Canadian singer and musician who performs under the mononym Henry Royalty * Portuguese royalty ** King-Cardinal Henry, King of Portugal ** Henry, Count of Portugal, ...

(b. by 1345 – d. 14 September 1382). #Judith (b. bef. 1346 – aft. October 1378), married by 4 August 1359 to Duke Nicholas II of Opawa. #Elisabeth (b. 1347/50? – d. aft. 25 June 1366), a nun at St. Klara, Wrocław.

References

* *
Genealogical database by Herbert Stoyan
, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Boleslaw the Elder 1290s births 1360s deaths Piast dynasty Dukes of Prudnik