The Bohemian Poděbrady family () was a noble family in

Bohemia Bohemia ( ; ; ) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. In a narrow, geographic sense, it roughly encompasses the territories of present-day Czechia that fall within the Elbe River's drainage basin, but historic ...

, arising from the Lords of Kunštát. After Boček of Kunštát (d. 1373) had acquired the Lordship of Poděbrady by marriage, he called himself "Boček of Kunštát and Poděbrady". The most prominent member of the family was

George of Poděbrady George of Kunštát and Poděbrady (23 April 1420 – 22 March 1471), also known as Poděbrad or Podiebrad (; ), was the sixteenth King of Bohemia, who ruled in 1458–1471. He was a leader of the Hussites, but moderate and tolerant toward the ...

, who was king of Bohemia. His sons were raised to imperial counts and Counts of Glatz. They founded the Silesian branch of the family, the

Dukes of Münsterberg Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and above sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are ...

().

History

Among the members of Poděbrady and Münsterberg branches of the family were some of the most important political figures in the

Kingdom of Bohemia The Kingdom of Bohemia (), sometimes referenced in English literature as the Czech Kingdom, was a History of the Czech lands in the High Middle Ages, medieval and History of the Czech lands, early modern monarchy in Central Europe. It was the pr ...

in the 14th through 17th century. Among their possessions were

Poděbrady Poděbrady (; ) is a spa town in Nymburk District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 15,000 inhabitants. It lies on the Elbe River. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an Cultural monument ...

in central Bohemia and the eastern Bohemian dominions

Litice Castle Litice Castle () is a castle in Záchlumí (Ústí nad Orlicí District), Záchlumí municipality in the Ústí nad Orlicí District in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. The town Lititz, Pennsylvania, Lititz in Pennsylvania was named afte ...

and Hummel and parts of the territory of the former monasteries at Opatovice and

Pardubice Pardubice (; ) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 92,000 inhabitants. It is the capital city of the Pardubice Region and lies on the Elbe River. The historic centre is well preserved and is protected as an Cultural monument (Czech Repub ...

. After the death of

Hynek Krušina of Lichtenburg Hynek Krušina of Lichtenburg (also: ''Henry Kruschina of Lichtenburg'', in ; 1392 – 4 March 1454, Kłodzko (, )) was a knight, Hussite commander and governor and lien holders of the County of Kladsko, the Duchy of Münsterberg and the ci ...

, Lord of Glatz in 1454,

acquired most of the possessions Hynek left behind, under a preliminary contract Hynek had signed shortly before his death. These included the

Častolovice Častolovice () is a market town in Rychnov nad Kněžnou District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,700 inhabitants. Etymology The name is derived from the personal name Častolov, meaning "the village of Často ...

inheritance, which included the Lordship of Glatz, which George raised to a county in 1459. In 1456, he bought the Duchy of Münsterberg from Ernest of Opava. This gave him significant influence in

Silesia Silesia (see names #Etymology, below) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Silesia, Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at 8, ...

, which would provide the political and economic basis for his descendants. They founded as Dukes of Münsterberg, Oels, Bernstadt and

Opava Opava (; , ) is a city in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 55,000 inhabitants. It lies on the Opava (river), Opava River. Opava is one of the historical centres of Silesia and was a historical capital of Czech Sile ...

the Silesian branch of the family known in Czech as . Even after they lost the Duchy of Münsterberg and sold the County of Glatz in 1501, the Silesian branch of the family continued to call themselves "Duke of Münsterberg" and "Count of Glatz" until the branch died out in 1647. Duke

Charles II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was ...

, who served as

governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

of Silesia, acquired the north Moravian Lordship of

Šternberk Šternberk (; ) is a town in Olomouc District in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 13,000 inhabitants. It is known for the Šternberk Castle. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an urban monument zo ...

by marriage in 1570. In 1587 he inherited the south Moravian Lordship of

Jevišovice Jevišovice () is a town in Znojmo District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,200 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an urban monument zone. Geography Jevišovice is locate ...

. With the death of Duke Charles Frederick I, the House of Poděbrady died out in the male line in 1647. His possessions reverted to the

Bohemian Crown The Lands of the Bohemian Crown were the states in Central Europe during the medieval and early modern periods with feudal obligations to the Bohemian kings. The crown lands primarily consisted of the Kingdom of Bohemia, an electorate of the Hol ...

. Because Charles Frederick's daughter Elisabeth Marie of Münsterberg-Oels was married to Silvius I Nimrod, Duke of Württemberg-Oels, the feudal rights on the Principality of Oels were transferred to the

House of Württemberg The House of Württemberg is an uradel, ancient German nobility, German dynasty and former royal family of the Kingdom of Württemberg. History County The House probably originated in the vicinity of the Salian dynasty. Around 1080 the ancestors ...

in 1648. The Moravian Lordship of

reverted to the sovereign.

Genealogy of the Poděbrady line

* Boček I of Kunštát and Poděbrady (d. 1373), founder of the family branch of the lords of Podebrady Kunstadt. * Henry () of Kunštát and Poděbrady (died after 1376), son of Boček I. * Ješek of Kunštát and Podebrady (died after 1393), son of Boček I. * Boček II of Kunštát and Poděbrady (d. 1417) was from 1403 to 1408 ''Oberstlandschreiber'' ("chief administrator") of Bohemia. His sons were: ** John of Kunštát and Poděbrady and (died between 1407 and 1409), acquired

Kost Castle Kost Castle () is a Gothic castle in Libošovice municipality in Jičín District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It lies in the nature region of Bohemian Paradise and is owned by Kinský dal Borgo noble family. History an ...

, Mydlovar Castle and the Lordship of Kostomlaty through his marriage to Elizabeth of Wartenberg (). After his early death, the Poděbrady branch of the family lost John's possessions. ** Boček III of Kunštát and Poděbrady (d. 1429), followers of the

Hussites upright=1.2, Battle between Hussites (left) and Crusades#Campaigns against heretics and schismatics, Catholic crusaders in the 15th century upright=1.2, The Lands of the Bohemian Crown during the Hussite Wars. The movement began during the Prag ...

** Hynek Boček of Kunštát and Poděbrady (d. 1426), captain of the East Bohemian

Orebites The Orebites (), also called Lesser Taborites and later known as Sirotci ("Orphans"; ), officially Orphans' Union (), were followers of a radical wing of the Hussites in Bohemia. The founders took part in the procession on Mount Oreb, near T ...

. ** Victor of Kunštát and Poděbrady (1403–1427), was a supporter of the Hussites and the father of: ***

was King of Bohemia. He increased his property with the Lordship of Glatz, which he raised to a county in 1459, as well as the Silesian

Duchy of Münsterberg The Duchy of Münsterberg () or Duchy of Ziębice (, ) was one of the Duchies of Silesia, with a capital in Ziębice, Münsterberg (Ziębice). Existing from 1321/1322 to 1742, it was located in what came to be referred to as Lower Silesia. Its ter ...

. After George's death in 1471 his possessions were divided by his four sons in 1472. Three of them founded the Silesian branch of the family as Dukes of Münsterberg. They and their male offspring also held the title of Count of Glatz, even though they sold the county itself in 1501.

Genealogy of the Silesian line of the Dukes of Münsterberg (offspring of George of Poděbrady)

Boček IV of Poděbrady Boček IV of Poděbrady (also known as: ''Boczek IV of Kunstadt and Podebrady''; Czech: ''Boček IV z Poděbrad''; 15 July 15, 1442 – 28 September 1496, in Kladsko), was, by title, the last member of the Bohemian noble family of Poděbrady, who ...

(1442–1496) eldest son of George of Poděbrady, the last member of family to use the title of ''Duke of Poděbrady'' # Victor of Münsterberg and Opava (d. 1500), since 1459

imperial count Imperial Count (, ) was a title in the Holy Roman Empire. During the medieval era, it was used exclusively to designate the holder of an imperial county, that is, a fief held directly ( immediately) from the emperor, rather than from a prince wh ...

and Duke of Münsterberg and Count of Glatz, 1465-1485 Duke of Opava ## Joan (d. 1496), married to Duke Casimir II of Cieszyn ## Bartholomew (d. 1515), Duke of Münsterberg and Count of Glatz ## Lawrence / ''Vavřinec'' (1479–1503) ## Euphemia Magdalena (d. 1497), abbess of the Sanctuary of St. Jadwiga in Trzebnica ## Ursula / ''Uršula'' (died 1534 in

Königsberg Königsberg (; ; ; ; ; ; , ) is the historic Germany, German and Prussian name of the city now called Kaliningrad, Russia. The city was founded in 1255 on the site of the small Old Prussians, Old Prussian settlement ''Twangste'' by the Teuton ...

) ## Apolonia († 1529 in Königsberg), married to Erhard of Queis, Bishop of Pomesania # Barbara († after 1469), married firstly with Henry of Leipa, and secondly with John Křinecký of Ronov # Henry the Elder (d. 1498), since 1462

, Duke of Münsterberg and Count of Glatz ## Albert I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels (1468–1511), Duke of Münsterberg and Oels, Count of Glatz ### Ursula / ''Uršula'' (1497–1545), married to Henry / Jindřich Švihovský of Riesenberg ## George I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels (1470–1502), Duke of Münsterberg and Oels, Count of Glatz ### Henry / ''Jindřich'' (1490) ##

Margaret of Münsterberg Margaret of Münsterberg (25 August 1473, Breslau – 28 June 1530, Dessau) was a German regent: Duchess of Anhalt by marriage to Prince Ernest I, she ruled the principality as a regent for her underage sons from 1516. Life Margaret was ...

(1473–1530) ##

Charles I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels Charles I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels (also: ''Charles I of Podebrady'', , ; 2 or 4 May 1476, in Kladsko – 31 May 1536, in Frankenstein) was a member of the House of Poděbrady. He was Duke of Münsterberg and Duke of Oels as well as Count ...

(1476–1536), Duke of Münsterberg and Oels, Count of Glatz ### Anna (born: 1499 in Glatz – died: 1504 in

Wołów Wołów (, ) is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in south-western Poland. It is the seat of Wołów County and Gmina Wołów. It lies approximately north-west of the regional capital Wrocław. , the town has a population of 12,373. It is pa ...

) ### Catherine (born: 1500 in Glatz – died: 1507 in

Strzelin Strzelin (, ) 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 metropolitan area. The town i ...

) ### Margaret (born: 1501 in

Oleśnica Oleśnica (; ) is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland, within the Wrocław metropolitan area. It is the administrative seat of Oleśnica County and also of the rural district of Gmina Oleśnica, although it is not part ...

– died: 1551 in Budyně Castle), married to John Zajíc of Hasenburg ###

Joachim of Münsterberg-Oels Joachim of Münsterberg (, or ''Joachim of Münsterberg-Oels''), also: Joachim of Poděbrady (German: ''Joachim von Podiebrad''; Czech: ''Jáchym z Poděbrad'', ) (18 January 1503 – 27 December 1562), a member of the Podiebrad family, was Sil ...

(d. 1562), Duke of Münsterberg and Oels, Bishop of Brandenburg ### Kunigunde / Kunhuta (1504–1532), married to Christopher of Boskovice ### Ursula / Vorsila (1505–1539), married to Jerome of Bieberstein ###

Henry II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels Henry II of Münsterberg-Oels (also known as:''Henry II of Poděbrady'', or , ; 29 March 1507 – 2 August 1548, Bierutów) was from 1536 to 1542 Duke of Münsterberg and of Oels (''Oleśnica'') and from 1542 to 1548 Duke of Bernstadt (''Bier ...

(1507–1548), Duke of Munsterberg, Oels, and BernStadt, Count of Glatz #### Anna (1539–1568) #### Salomena (1540–1567), married to George of Thurn and Valsassina #### Henry III of Bernstadt (1542–1587), Duke of Münsterberg and Bernstadt, Count of Glatz #### Charles (1543) ####

(1545–1617), Duke of Münsterberg and Oels, Count of Glatz, gained the North Moravian Lordship of

through marriage in 1570; in 1587 he inherited the South Moravian Lordship of

##### Henry Wenceslaus the Elder, (born: 1575 in

– died: 1591 in

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

) ##### Margareta Magdalene (born: 1578 in Šternberk – died: 1578 in Šternberk) ##### George (born: 1587 in Oleśnica – died: 1587 in Oleśnica) ##### Charles (born: 1590 in Oleśnica – died: 1590 in Oleśnica) ##### Henry Wenceslaus the Younger (1592–1639) ###### Anna Elisabeth (born: 1637 in

Bierutów Bierutów () is a town in Oleśnica County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district (gmina) called Gmina Bierutów. The town lies approximately south-east of Oleśnica, and east of the ...

– died: 1642 in Breslau) ##### Charles Frederick I (1593–1647); the male line of the house in Podebrady Oels ended with him. ###### Elisabeth Marie of Münsterberg-Oels (born: 1625 in Oleśnica – died: 1686 in Oleśnica), last Duchess of Münsterberg. ##### Barbara Margaret (born: 1595 in Oleśnica – died: 1652 in Oleśnica) ##### Joachim George (born: 1597 in Oleśnica – died: 1598 in Oleśnica) ##### Magdalena Elisabeth (1599–1631) married to

George Rudolf of Liegnitz George Rudolf of Liegnitz (; ) (22 January 1595 – 14 January 1653) was duke of Liegnitz-Wohlau (present-day Legnica-Wołów) from 1602 to 1653. A humanist, patron of arts, composer and poet, he was also Upper Governor of Silesia during 1621-1 ...

##### Sophie Catherine (born: 1601 in Oleśnica – died: 1659 in

Brzeg Brzeg (; Latin: ''Alta Ripa'', German: ''Brieg'', Silesian German: ''Brigg'', , ) is a town in southwestern Poland with 34,778 inhabitants (December 2021) and the capital of Brzeg County. It is situated in Silesia in the Opole Voivodeship on t ...

), married to George III of Brzeg (d. 1664) #### Catherine (born: 1548 in Bernstadt – died: 1579 in Oleśnica), married to Jiří

Berka of Dubá Berka of Dubá () was a cadet branch of a Bohemian noble family of Lords of Dubá established by Hynek Berka of Dubá (1249–1306). It held estates in what is today the Czech Republic and Saxony in Germany throughout the Middle Ages. Ancestors ...

### Hedwig (born: 1508 in Oleśnica – died: 1531 in

Legnica Legnica (; , ; ; ) is a city in southwestern Poland, in the central part of Lower Silesia, on the Kaczawa River and the Czarna Woda. As well as being the seat of the county, since 1992 the city has been the seat of the Diocese of Legnica. Le ...

), married in 1525 George of Brandenburg-Ansbach -Kulmbach ###

John, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels John of Münsterberg-Oels (also known as ''John of Poděbrady''; ; ; 4 November 1509, Oleśnica – 28 February 1565, Oleśnica) was Duke of the Münsterberg from 1542 to 1565, Duke of Oels from 1548 to 1565 and Duke of Bernstadt from 1548 to ...

(1509–1565), Duke of Münsterberg and Oels, Count of Glatz #### Charles Christopher, Duke of Münsterberg (d. 1569), Duke of Münsterberg and Oels, Count of Glatz ### George II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels (1512–1553), Duke of Münsterberg and Oels, Count of Glatz ## Magdalena (born: 1482 Glatz – died: 1513 in Oleśnica) ## Sidonie/ Zdena (born: 1483 in Glatz – died: 1522 ibid), married in 1515 with

Ulrich of Hardegg Ulrich of Hardegg ( or or ; after 1483 – 1535) was an Austrian nobleman from the Prüschenk family of Count of Hardegg. He was "Cup-bearer" of Austria, which, by this time, was a title of nobility and no longer involved looking after the ...

Catherine of Poděbrady Catherine of Poděbrady (11 November 1449 – 8 March 1464) was Queen of Hungary as the second wife of King Matthias Corvinus. Biography Catherine and her twin sister Sidonie were born at Poděbrady, to the Bohemian king George of Poděbrady an ...

(1449–1464), married to King

Matthias Corvinus Matthias Corvinus (; ; ; ; ; ) was King of Hungary and King of Croatia, Croatia from 1458 to 1490, as Matthias I. He is often given the epithet "the Just". After conducting several military campaigns, he was elected King of Bohemia in 1469 and ...

of Hungary # Sidonie / Zdena (born: 1449 in

– died: 1510 in

Tharandt Tharandt () is a municipality in Saxony, Germany, situated on the Weißeritz, southwest of Dresden. It has a Protestant Church and the oldest academy of forestry in Germany, founded as the Royal Saxon Academy of Forestry by Heinrich Cotta in 181 ...

), married to the Duke Albert III "the Courageous" of Saxony # Henry the Younger (died: 1492), since 1462

, also Duke of Münsterberg and Count of Glatz ## Anna (born: 1470 in

– died: 1517 in

Jindřichův Hradec Jindřichův Hradec (; ) is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 21,000 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an Cultural monument (Czech Republic)#Monument reservations, urb ...

), married to

Henry IV of Neuhaus Henry IV of Neuhaus (also known as ''Henry IV of Hradec''; ; 13 April 1442 – 17 January 1507), was a member of the Telč branch of the noble ''von Neuhaus'' family. He was High Treasurer of Bohemia from 1485 to 1503 and Highest Burgrave of th ...

## Frederick / Bedrich (died after 1492), illegitimate son # Frederick / Bedrich (born: 1453 or 1454 – died: 1459) # George / Jiří (born: 1454 or 1455 – died: 1459 or 1462) # Ludmila of Poděbrady (born: 1456 – died: 1503 in Legnica), married to

Frederick I of Legnica Frederick I of Liegnitz (3 May 1446 – 9 May 1488), was a Duke of Chojnów and Strzelin from 1453, of Oława and Legnica from 1454, of Brzeg from 1481 and of Lubin from 1482. Biography Frederick was born in Brzeg. He was the only son of John I ...

# John (born: after 1456 – died: 1459)

References and sources

* Ondřej Felcman, Radek Fukala u. a.: ''Poděbradové. Rod českomoravských pánů, kladských hrabat a sleszkých knížat''. Nakladatelství Lidové Noviny 2008, * Lydia Baštecká, Ivana Ebelová, 'Náchod', Náchod 2004, , p. 43-58

External links

* *
Graphical representation of the family (with coats of arms)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Podebrady family