Henry V the Fat (german: Heinrich V der Dicke, pl, Henryk V Brzuchaty) ( – 22 February 1296) was a Duke of
Jawor (Jauer) from 1273, of
Legnica
Legnica (Polish: ; german: Liegnitz, szl, Lignica, cz, Lehnice, la, Lignitium) is a city in southwestern Poland, in the central part of Lower Silesia, on the Kaczawa River (left tributary of the Oder) and the Czarna Woda (Kaczawa), Czarna Woda ...
(Liegnitz) from 1278, and
Duke of Wrocław The Duke of Silesia was the sons and descendants of the Polish Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth. In accordance with the last will and testament of Bolesław, upon his death his lands were divided into four or five hereditary provinces distributed among ...
(
Breslau) from 1290.
He was the eldest son of
Bolesław II the Bald, Duke of Legnica by his first wife, Hedwig, daughter of
Henry I, Count of Anhalt.
Life
Early Years. Duke of Jawor, Battle of Stolec
As a youth, he was present at the court of King
Ottokar II of Bohemia in
Prague, where he became a knight.
[Menzel]
s.v. Heinrich V der Dicke, p. 396
In 1273, Henry's father gave him the town of
Jawor (Jauer) as an independent duchy. Four years later, Henry's father
Bolesław II the Bald, kidnapped his own nephew
Henry IV, the ruler of the
Duchy of Wrocław (Breslau), acting on behalf of his ally, king
Rudolph of Habsburg. This act aroused the anger of the nobility in
Lesser Poland and the neighbors of Henry IV, who then organized an expedition to free him and punish Bolesław. The Greater Poland-Głogów-Wrocław coalition was led by Dukes
Przemysł II of
Greater Poland
Greater Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska (; german: Großpolen, sv, Storpolen, la, Polonia Maior), is a Polish historical regions, historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief and largest city is Poznań followed ...
and
Henry III of
Głogów. The armies fought at
ZÄ…bkowice ÅšlÄ…skie
Ząbkowice Śląskie ( ; german: link=no, Frankenstein in Schlesien; szl, Ślůnske Zůmbkowicy) is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of Ząbkowice Śląskie County and of a local municipality called ...
near
Stolec, one of the bloodiest battles of the Polish
Middle Ages. The coalition forces overwhelmed Bolesław's forces, and he fled the field, but then young Henry led a charge, turning the tide and achieving a great victory. Both Dukes Przemysł II and Henry III, of the coalition, were taken as prisoners. Young Duke Henry of Jauer, saved his family from disastrous defeat.
Death of Bolesław II the Bald. Henry V, Duke of Legnica
Henry succeeded his father Bolesław II as a Duke in Legnica on 26 December 1278. Shortly afterwards, Henry made his younger brothers
Bolko I and
Bernard co-rulers of
Jawor and
Lwówek. Henry retained the town of
Åšroda ÅšlÄ…ska
Åšroda ÅšlÄ…ska (german: Neumarkt in Schlesien) is a town in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of Åšroda ÅšlÄ…ska County, and of the smaller administrative district (gmina) called Gmina Åšroda ÅšlÄ…ska. Th ...
, which Henry received in 1277 in exchange for Henry IV's freedom.
Henry continued the hostile relations with the other Piast Silesian Dukes that were characteristic of his father's rule. In 1281 he accepted the invitation of Henry IV Probus to a meeting in
Sądowel. Henry IV imprisoned the Duke of Legnica with his former allies Henry III of Głogów and Przemysł II of Greater Poland, demanding
political concessions from them. Henry regained his freedom, but had to recognize Henry IV as Duke of Wrocław (Breslau). Henry IV couldn't maintain his sovereignty. King
Wenceslaus II of Bohemia, asserted his own claim on Wrocław (Breslau).
Henry V, Duke of Wrocław. War with Henry III of Głogów
On 23 June 1290 Henry IV Probus died suddenly, possibly poisoned. Henry IV named Henry III of Głogów his heir. The Wrocław nobility and townspeople opposed the appointment, fearing the Duke of Głogów would be a harsh ruler. Henry III fled, and the citizens of Wrocław (Breslau) invited Henry V to rule.
Henry III refused to step aside. War followed and the territories involved changed hands several times. On 11 November 1293, Henry was betrayed by Lutka Zdzieszyca, son of a Wrocław noble whom Henry had earlier sentenced to death. Lutka captured Henry and turned him over to Duke Henry III, who put him in prison for almost six months. Henry V obtained his freedom after surrendering the towns of
Namysłów
Namysłów (pronounced , german: Namslau) is a historic town in southern Poland, within Opole Voivodeship. Located along the Widawa River, it is the capital of Namysłów County. Its population was 16,551 in 2019.
History
The town began to deve ...
,
Bierutów,
Oleśnica,
Kluczbork,
Byczyna,
Wołczyn,
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. Olesno ...
,
Chojnów
Chojnów (german: Haynau, Silesian German: Hoyn, Silesian language: ''Chojnůw'') 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 ave ...
, and
Bolesławiec and their respective fortresses to Henry III, paying a ransom of 30,000 pieces and promising to assist the Duke of Głogów in all his conflicts for the next five years.
During his imprisonment in Głogów, Henry's brother Bolko I was named regent of his lands. In 1291, Henry V gave Bolko I the towns of
Åšwidnica (Schweidnitz),
Ziębice,
ZÄ…bkowice ÅšlÄ…skie
Ząbkowice Śląskie ( ; german: link=no, Frankenstein in Schlesien; szl, Ślůnske Zůmbkowicy) is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of Ząbkowice Śląskie County and of a local municipality called ...
, and
Strzelin in exchange for his help against Henry III.
Death and legacy
Henry was locked in an iron cage during his imprisonment, and was ill after his release. He never regained his health. Fearing for the future of his duchy, he sought the protection of the
Holy See in 1294.
Henry died on 22 February 1296 and was buried in the monastery of the
Poor Clares at Wrocław (Breslau). His sons were minors, and Henry's brother
Bolko became their guardian.
Marriage and Children
Around 1273, Henry married
Elisabeth
Elizabeth or Elisabeth may refer to:
People
* Elizabeth (given name), a female given name (including people with that name)
* Elizabeth (biblical figure), mother of John the Baptist
Ships
* HMS ''Elizabeth'', several ships
* ''Elisabeth'' (sc ...
(c. 1263 – 28 September 1304), daughter of
Bolesław the Pious
Bolesław the Pious (1224/27 – 14 April 1279) was a Duke of Greater Poland during 1239–1247 (according to some historians during 1239–1241 sole Duke of Ujście), Duke of Kalisz during 1247–1249, Duke of Gniezno during 1249–1250, Duke o ...
,
Duke of Greater Poland. They had eight children:
#Hedwig (c. 1277 – aft. 3 February 1347); married by 1289/95 to Prince Otto of
Brandenburg–
Salzwedel, second son of Margrave Otto V. After her husband died, she became a nun in St. Klara, Wrocław.
#Euphemia (c. 1278 – June 1347); married in 1300
Otto III of Carinthia.
#Anna (1284 – 2/3 October 1343); Abbess of St. Klara, Wrocław.
#Elisabeth (c. 1290 – Nov 1357/58); Abbess of St. Klara, Wrocław.
#
Bolesław III the Generous (23 September 1291 – 21 April 1352).
#Helena (c. 1293 – aft. 1300); nun in St. Klara,
Gniezno.
#
Henry VI the Good (18 March 1294 – 24 November 1335).
#
Władysław (b. posthumously, 6 June 1296 – 13 January aft. 1352).
Notes
References
*Menzel, Josef Joachim. ''
Neue Deutsche Biographie
''Neue Deutsche Biographie'' (''NDB''; literally ''New German Biography'') is a biographical reference work. It is the successor to the ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' (ADB, Universal German Biography). The 26 volumes published thus far cover ...
'' (NDB). Volume 8. Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1969
s.v. Heinrich V der Dicke, pp. 396–7
*Cawley, Charles; Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, Medieval Lands Project; Silesia v3.0; Dukes of Liegnitz (Legnica) (Piast), Dukes of Liegnitz (Legnica) 1278–1409 (Chap 7A); Heinrich von Liegnitz, retrieved August 201
*''Substantial parts of this article were translated from the version on the Polish wikipedia''.
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Henry 05, Duke of Legnica
1240s births
1296 deaths
Dukes of Legnica
Dukes of Wrocław
13th-century Polish nobility
People of Byzantine descent
Year of birth uncertain