Bolko III of Ziębice or Bolko III of Münsterberg ( – 13 June 1410) was a Duke of

Ziębice Ziębice (german: Münsterberg) is a town in Ząbkowice Śląskie County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. The town lies on the Oława River, approximately east of Ząbkowice Śląskie and south of the regional capital Wro ...

(Münsterberg) from 1358 until his death, and ruler over Gleiwitz (Gliwice) during 1369–1373. He was the eldest son of

Nicholas the Small Nicholas the Small (Mikołaj Mały) (1322/1327 – 23 April 1358) was a Duke of Ziębice from 1341 until his death. He was the only son of Duke Bolko II of Ziębice and his wife Guta. He was born between 1322 and 1327. He had a sister, Małgorza ...

, Duke of Münsterberg, by his wife Agnes, daughter of Herman Krušina of Lichtenberg.

Life

A minor at the time of his father's early death in 1358, Bolko III and his younger brother

Henry I Henry I may refer to: 876–1366 * Henry I the Fowler, King of Germany (876–936) * Henry I, Duke of Bavaria (died 955) * Henry I of Austria, Margrave of Austria (died 1018) * Henry I of France (1008–1060) * Henry I the Long, Margrave of the ...

were placed under the regency of their mother, the Dowager Duchess Agnes. By 1360, Bolko III was able to rule by himself and take the guardianship of his brother, who in fact never participated actively in the government of the Duchy. Bolko III followed the politics of both his father and grandfather, and sold most parts of his domains. In order to secure his marriage with the daughter of Duke

Bolesław of Bytom Bolesław of Bytom (1330 – ) was a duke of Koźle from 1347 and Duke of Bytom from 1352 to his death. He was the second son of Duke Władysław of Bytom but the eldest by his second wife Ludgarda, daughter of Henry II the Lion, Prince of Meck ...

, Euphemia, Bolko III was forced to pledge his main city of Münsterberg. However, thanks to this union, Bolko III could take possession over Gleiwitz in 1369; but four years later, in 1373, he sold the district to Konrad II the Gray, Duke of Oels (Oleśnica). In 1379 Bolko III also sold the town of Kanth (Kąty Wrocławskie) to Konrad II the Gray, by the amount of 4,000 fines. Six years later, in 1385, he sold

Strehlen Strzelin (german: Strehlen, cz, Střelín) is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in south-western Poland. It is located on the Oława river, a tributary of the Oder, about south of the region's capital Wrocław. It is part of the Wrocław me ...

(Strzelin) to

Przemyslaus I Noszak, Duke of Cieszyn Przemysław I Noszak ( pl, Przemysław I Noszak, cs, Přemyslav I. Nošák, german: Przemislaus I. von Teschen; 13 February 1334 – 23 May 1410), was a Duke of Cieszyn-Bytom-Siewierz from 1358 (during 1359–1368 he lost Siewierz and in 1405 also ...

. In 1368, after the death of Bolko II the Small without issue, Bolko III claimed his succession as the next male relative. However, without resources to pressed his claims, he finally renounced to all his pretensions on 28 January 1370 for a monetary compensation. Bolko III was a faithful vassal of

Emperor Charles IV 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 ...

, in whose court he spent some time. His contact with the House of Luxembourg permitted him to hold during 1396–1400 the post of Court Judge, under the reign of Charles IV's son, King Wenceslaus IV. Bolko III died on 13 June 1410 and was buried in the ( Henryków).

Marriage and issue

In 1369 Bolko III married with Euphemia (born c. 1350/52 – died 26 August 1411), daughter of Duke

and widow of Duke Wenceslaus of Falkenberg. They had eight children: #Nicholas (born c. 1371 – died 9 November 1405) #

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Secon ...

(born c. 1380 – killed in battle, Altwilmsdorf (Stary Wielisław), 27 August 1428) #

Euphemia Euphemia ( el, Εὐφημία; "well-spoken f), known as the All-praised in the Eastern Orthodox Church, was a virgin, who was martyred for her faith at Chalcedon in 303 AD. According to tradition, Euphemia was arrested for refusing to offer ...

(born c. 1385 – died 17 November 1447), married in 1397 to Count Frederick III of

Oettingen Oettingen in Bayern (Swabian: ''Eadi'') is a town in the Donau-Ries district, in Swabia, Bavaria, Germany. It is situated northwest of Donauwörth, and northeast of Nördlingen. Geography The town is located on the river Wörnitz, a tributary ...

#Katharina (born c. 1390 – died 23 April 1422), married by 1410 to Duke Przemko I of

Troppau Opava (; german: Troppau, pl, Opawa) is a city in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 55,000 inhabitants. It lies on the river Opava. Opava is one of the historical centres of Silesia. It was a historical capital o ...

(Opawa) # Henry II (born c. 1396 – died 11 March 1420) #Agnes (born c. 1400? – died bef. 25 April 1443) #Hedwig (d. young) #Elisabeth (d. young).

References

* *
Genealogical database by Herbert Stoyan

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bolko 03 of Munsterberg 1340s births 1410 deaths Piast dynasty