Jan I of Żagań ( pl, Jan I żagański) ( – 12 April 1439 in
Żagań
Żagań ( French and german: Sagan, hsb, Zahań, la, Saganum) is a town in western Poland, on the Bóbr river, with 25,731 inhabitants (2019). The town is the capital of Żagań County in the historic region of Silesia. Previously in the Zielo ...
) was a Duke of
Żagań
Żagań ( French and german: Sagan, hsb, Zahań, la, Saganum) is a town in western Poland, on the Bóbr river, with 25,731 inhabitants (2019). The town is the capital of Żagań County in the historic region of Silesia. Previously in the Zielo ...
-
Głogów
Głogów (; german: Glogau, links=no, rarely , cs, Hlohov, szl, Głogōw) is a city in western Poland. It is the county seat of Głogów County, in Lower Silesian Voivodeship (since 1999), and was previously in Legnica Voivodeship (1975–199 ...
, since 1397 (until 1412 with his brothers as co-rulers), since 1403 Duke of Żagań,
Krosno Odrzańskie
Krosno Odrzańskie (german: Crossen an der Oder) is a city on the east bank of Oder River, at the confluence with the Bóbr. The town in Western Poland with 11,319 inhabitants (2019) is the capital of Krosno Odrzańskie County, Krosno County. I ...
and
Świebodzin
Świebodzin (; szl, Świybodzin; german: Schwiebus) is a town in western Poland with 21,736 inhabitants (2019). It is the capital of Świebodzin County. Since the Local Government Reorganization Act of 1998, Świebodzin has been part of Lubusz ...
(again, until 1412 with his brothers as co-rulers) 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
Władysław of Opole.
Life
At the time of Henry VIII's death (14 March 1397) his sons were minors. Duke
Rupert I of Legnica
Rupert I of Legnica ( pl, Ruprecht I Legnicki) (27 March 1347 – by 12 January 1409) was a Duke of Legnica from 1364 until his death, and also regent over half of the Duchy of Głogów-Żagań during 1397–1401.
He was the eldest son of Wen ...
took the regency of Głogów until 1401, when Jan I formally assumed the guardianship over his younger brothers
Henry IX the Older
Henryk IX Starszy (literally ''Henry IX the Elder'') (b. probably between 1387 and 1392, d 11 November 1467 in Krosno) was a Duke of Żagań-Głogów during 1397–1412 (as co-ruler of his brother), during 1412–17 ruler over Szprotawa, Krosno O ...
,
Henry X Rumpold and
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 ...
and began his personal rule in
Szprotawa
Szprotawa (german: Sprottau) is a town in western Poland, in Żagań County, Lubusz Voivodeship. It has 11,820 inhabitants (2019).
History
The region was part of Poland after the emergence of the Piast monarchy in the 10th century. The first me ...
,
Przemków
Przemków (german: Primkenau) is a town in Polkowice County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Przemków. The town lies approximately west of Polkowice, and northwest of ...
,
Sulechów
Sulechów (pronounced , german: Züllichau) is a town located within the Zielona Góra County, in Lubusz Voivodeship, western Poland. It is the administrative seat of the Gmina Sulechów. Established in the Middle Ages, the town features many h ...
, half of
Głogów
Głogów (; german: Glogau, links=no, rarely , cs, Hlohov, szl, Głogōw) is a city in western Poland. It is the county seat of Głogów County, in Lower Silesian Voivodeship (since 1999), and was previously in Legnica Voivodeship (1975–199 ...
, and
Bytom Odrzański.
In 1403 their aunt Hedwig of Legnica (
Henry VI the Older's widow) renounced her
dower
Dower is a provision accorded traditionally by a husband or his family, to a wife for her support should she become widowed. It was settled on the bride (being gifted into trust) by agreement at the time of the wedding, or as provided by law. ...
lands (Żagań,
Krosno Odrzańskie
Krosno Odrzańskie (german: Crossen an der Oder) is a city on the east bank of Oder River, at the confluence with the Bóbr. The town in Western Poland with 11,319 inhabitants (2019) is the capital of Krosno Odrzańskie County, Krosno County. I ...
and
Świebodzin
Świebodzin (; szl, Świybodzin; german: Schwiebus) is a town in western Poland with 21,736 inhabitants (2019). It is the capital of Świebodzin County. Since the Local Government Reorganization Act of 1998, Świebodzin has been part of Lubusz ...
) to Jan I and his brothers, who ruled jointly all the lands. Thanks to the Privilege of
Elector
Elector may refer to:
* Prince-elector or elector, a member of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Holy Roman Emperors
* Elector, a member of an electoral college
** Confederate elector, a member of ...
Rudolf III Rudolph III or Rudolf III may refer to:
*Rudolf III of Burgundy (971–1032), last king of the independent Kingdom of Arles
* Rudolph III, Count of Neuchâtel (died 1272), son of Count Berthold
* Rudolph III of Austria (c. 1281 – 1307), or Rud ...
of
Saxony
Saxony (german: Sachsen ; Upper Saxon: ''Saggsn''; hsb, Sakska), officially the Free State of Saxony (german: Freistaat Sachsen, links=no ; Upper Saxon: ''Freischdaad Saggsn''; hsb, Swobodny stat Sakska, links=no), is a landlocked state of ...
in 1408 he could maintain the unity of his Duchy, despite the protest of his brothers, who claimed their own districts. Ultimately, the division was made in 1412: Jan I retained Żagań, and one year later (in 1413) he also took possession over the Duchy of
Przewóz, in the Polish-German border area (obtained as a result of his marriage with Scholastika, a daughter of Elector Rudolph III).
After the extinction of the main branch of the Dukes of
Legnica in 1419, Jan I played an important role at the request of many of the cities of
Lower Silesia
Lower Silesia ( pl, Dolny Śląsk; cz, Dolní Slezsko; german: Niederschlesien; szl, Dolny Ślōnsk; hsb, Delnja Šleska; dsb, Dolna Šlazyńska; Silesian German: ''Niederschläsing''; la, Silesia Inferior) is the northwestern part of the ...
: he presided the initiative of creating an organization to fight against the gangs of robbers whose regular attack in the roads, cities and monasteries.
Jan I performed faithfully his duties as vassal of Bohemia, and therefore in 1420 he took part in the expedition of
Emperor Sigismund
Sigismund of Luxembourg (15 February 1368 – 9 December 1437) was a monarch as King of Hungary and Croatia ('' jure uxoris'') from 1387, King of Germany from 1410, King of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor from 1433 until his death in ...
against the
Hussites
The Hussites ( cs, Husité or ''Kališníci''; "Chalice People") were a Czech proto-Protestant Christian movement that followed the teachings of reformer Jan Hus, who became the best known representative of the Bohemian Reformation.
The Huss ...
, and on July 28 of that year he assisted to his coronation as King of Bohemia in
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 ...
.
Three years later, John participated together with his brothers in the negotiations between the Emperor and
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, commonly known as the Teutonic Order, is a Catholic religious institution founded as a military society in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem. It was formed to aid Christians o ...
in Preszburg (now
Bratislava), where was decided an eventual war against Poland. However, given the growing difficulties of the Emperor with the Hussites and the Teutonic Knights's requests for the city of
Kežmarok
Kežmarok (german: Kesmark or ; hu, Késmárk, yi, קעזמאַרק, Kezmark, pl, Kieżmark) is a town in the Spiš region of eastern Slovakia (population 16,000), on the Poprad River. Prior to World War I, it was in Szepes county in the ...
in exchange for his help, this meeting was unsuccessfully.
Continued from husytami struggle occurred in the years 1427-1428, when together with his brother Henryk Senior IX supported militarily threatened Łużyckie City. On 1 November 1428 the brothers defeated the Hussite troops at the
Battle of Kratzau.
In 1429 Jan I went with the Emperor to
Łuck
Lutsk ( uk, Луцьк, translit=Lutsk}, ; pl, Łuck ; yi, לוצק, Lutzk) is a city on the Styr River in northwestern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Volyn Oblast (province) and the administrative center of the surrounding L ...
,
Lithuania, where he took part in the congress were was decided the coronation of
Vytautas the Great
Vytautas (c. 135027 October 1430), also known as Vytautas the Great ( Lithuanian: ', be, Вітаўт, ''Vitaŭt'', pl, Witold Kiejstutowicz, ''Witold Aleksander'' or ''Witold Wielki'' Ruthenian: ''Vitovt'', Latin: ''Alexander Vitoldus'', O ...
as King. At the same time, in connection with the growing power of the Hussites, the Duke of Żagań decided to pay them high contributions, which was to ensure the safety of his lands.
However, since some time ago, Jan I began to secretly promote the Hussite movement and his revolucionary ideals. On 19 April 1433, together with his brother Henry IX the Older and the Dukes of Oleśnica, he went on tour to
Kalisz
(The oldest city of Poland)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = ''Top:'' Town Hall, Former "Calisia" Piano Factory''Middle:'' Courthouse, "Gołębnik" tenement''Bottom:'' Aerial view of the Kalisz Old Town
, image_flag = POL Kalisz flag.svg ...
, where he promised to the Polish King
Władysław II Jogaila his participation in the proposed expedition against the Hussites of Krzyżakom (these actions may be, however, a simple desire to safeguard his Duchy against the Hussites in case of a war).
After the death of Emperor Sigismund, Jan I stood on the side of his son-in-law
Albert V of Habsburg, and on 3 December 1438 he paid tribute to him in
Wroclaw. AQs a reward of his loyalty, the new King gave Jan I many benefits, including the right of minting coins in the cities of Szprotawa and Żagań.
Jan I had a radical and oppressive rule against his subjects, which led to a conflict with the Augustinian Order in Żagań. At some point, he even captured and imprisoned the Abbot of the monastery, for which he was
excommunicated
Excommunication is an institutional act of religious censure used to end or at least regulate the communion of a member of a congregation with other members of the religious institution who are in normal communion with each other. The purpose ...
. Because of these events, in contemporary sources he was considered a cruel man and even a
sadist, as was further described in the "Roczniku Głogowskim": ''when he had sexual relations with his wife he tend to sharpen his spurs''. Finally, unable to withstand the brutal treatment of her husband, Scholastika attempted to escape from Żagań. However, she was captured and confined by order of her husband in
Nowogród Bobrzański
Nowogród Bobrzański (german: Naumburg am Bober) is a town on the Bóbr river in Zielona Góra County, Lubusz Voivodeship, Poland, with 5,165 inhabitants (2019). It is the administrative seat of the Gmina Nowogród Bobrzański. The gmina was c ...
without the right to return to the castle or the capital of the Duchy.
Jan I died on 12 April 1439 in Żagań,
was buried in Ducal mausoleum of the Augustinian church in Żagań.
Marriage and issue
By 1405, Jan I married with Scholastika (b. ca. 1393 – d. 12 May 1461), daughter of
Rudolf III, Duke of Saxe-Wittenberg
Rudolf III ( – 11 June 1419), a member of the House of Ascania, was Duke of Saxe-Wittenberg and Elector of Saxony from 1388 until his death.
Life
He was probably born at the Saxon Wittenberg residence, the eldest son of Duke Wenceslaus I ...
and Elector of Saxony. They had ten children:
#
Anna
Anna may refer to:
People Surname and given name
* Anna (name)
Mononym
* Anna the Prophetess, in the Gospel of Luke
* Anna (wife of Artabasdos) (fl. 715–773)
* Anna (daughter of Boris I) (9th–10th century)
* Anna (Anisia) (fl. 1218 to 12 ...
(b. ca. 1408 – d. bef. 4 November 1437), married by 1424 to Count
Albert VIII of Lindow-Ruppin.
#Hedwig (b. ca. 1410 – d. Bernburg, 14 May 1497), married on 11 March 1434 to Prince
Bernhard VI of Anhalt-Bernburg.
#
Balthasar (b. ca. 1415 – d. Przewóz, 15 July 1472).
#
Rudolf (b. ca. 1418 – killed in battle, Chojnice, 18 September 1454).
#Margareta (b. ca. 1425 – d. Salzderhelden, aft. 9 May 1491), married firstly by 1435 to Count
Volrad II of Mansfeld, secondly in 1450 Count
Henry XI of Honstein-Wittenberg and thirdly bef. 20 June 1457 to Duke
.
#Barbara (b. ca. 1426 – d. by 28 July 1476).
#Scholastika (b. ca. 1428 – d. bef. 1489).
#Agnes (b. ca. 1430 – d. by 6 December 1473).
#
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. ca. 1434 – d. 29 April 1488).
#
Jan II the Mad (b. 16 April 1435 – d. 22 September 1504).
Scholastika never left Nowogród Bobrzański, because this territory was granted to her in her husband's will as her dower. She ruled it until her death.
Footnotes
References
*
*
Genealogical database by Herbert Stoyan*''This article was translated from an original in the Polish Wikipedia.''
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, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jan 01 of Zagan
1380s births
1439 deaths
Year of birth uncertain
People excommunicated by the Catholic Church
Dukes of Żagań