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Henryk IX Starszy | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Żagań-Głogów | |
| Born | between 1387 and 1392 |
| Died | 11 November 1467 Krosno |
| Noble family | Silesian Piasts of Głogów |
| Spouse(s) | Jadwiga of Oleśnica |
| Issue | Zygmunt Henry XI of Głogów Anna A son Hedwig Katharina |
| Father | Henry VIII the Sparrow |
| Mother | Katharina of Opole |
Henryk IX Starszy (literally 'Henry IX the Elder'; probably between 1387 and 1392 – 11 November 1467) was Duke ofŻagań-Głogów from 1397 to 1412 (as co-ruler with his brother), ruler ofSzprotawa,Krosno Odrzańskie from 1412 to 1417,Świebodzin and half ofGłogów (with his brothers as co-rulers), from 1417 ruler of Szprotawa, half of Głogów, from 1420 ruler ofKożuchów andZielona Góra, from 1430 ruler of Krosno Odrzańskie and Świebodzin, and from 1446 Duke ofLubin.
He was the second son ofHenry VIII the Sparrow, Duke ofGłogów, by his wife Katharina, daughter of DukeWładysław of Opole.
After the death of his father in 1397, the widowed Duchess Katharina moved with her children toKożuchów, which together withZielona Góra was herdower. Between 1397 and 1401 DukeRupert I of Legnica was in charge of the princes and the duchy. This was a difficult task, as Henryk VIII had left his lands in a difficult financial situation. Rupert I gradually began to pay off Henryk VIII's creditors and improve the general situation of the duchy. The regent gave special aid to the duchy's main towns: Głogów, Krosno Odrzańskie and Szprotawa.
When his older brotherJan I came of age in 1401, he assumed guardianship of his younger brothers and full government of the duchy. In 1403 the brothers received the lands of their uncle,Henry VI the Elder, on the resignation of his widow, Hedwig of Legnica, who had ruled them as a dower since 1393. The formal division of the duchy took place in 1412: Henryk IX together with his brothersHenry X Rumpold andWenceslaus received the Duchy ofGłogów (which included half of Głogów,Świebodzin,Krosno Odrzańskie andSzprotawa).
In 1417 a new partition treaty was signed, this time in the Duchy of Głogów: Henryk IX and Henryk X Rumpold kept Głogów and Szprotawa, but gave their younger brother Wenceslaus the towns of Świebodzin, Krosno Odrzańskie andBytnica (these areas were returned to him after Wenceslaus's death in 1431). Henryk IX and Henry X Rumpold ruled together, but the government remained in the hands of Henryk IX. Henry X Rumpold remained in the service of the Kings of Bohemia and Hungary and of theEmperor Sigismund, on whose orders he fought against theHussites and undertook diplomatic missions toDenmark, where he died in 1423 shortly before marrying a relative of KingEric. After his brother's death, Henryk IX ruled the duchy alone. He had previously received the towns of Kożuchów and Zielona Góra on the death of his mother in 1420, but this inheritance did not meet with the approval of his older brother Jan I and led to a brief war between the sons of Henry VIII. The conflict was successfully ended by Henryk IX, who was able to keep the towns (the dispute was eventually settled by Elector Rudolf III of Saxony, who left both princes with their lands intact).
According to contemporary chronicles, Henryk IX was a mild man of peaceful disposition. In his youth he was proposed asBishop of Wroclaw, but he did not accept. During his reign the turbulentHussite Wars took place, in which the Duchy of Silesia was involved, but he managed to keep peace in Głogów.
In 1416 Henryk IX mediated in a dispute between the sons ofPrzemyslaus I Noszak, Duke of Cieszyn. In 1420 the Great Congress of Silesian Princes was held inWrocław. The princes paid tribute to the Emperor Sigismund. In 1423, together with his brother Jan I and other Silesian princes, Henryk IX attended the Congress of Pressburg (nowBratislava), where he discussed the further division of Poland with theTeutonic Order and theLusatian towns. Special emphasis was placed on renouncing the policy of KingWładysław II Jogaila ofPoland, who supported the Hussite rebels.
Collaboration with theHouse of Luxembourg enabled Henryk IX to obtain parts of the inheritance of his maternal grandfather, Władysław ofOpole, but economic instability and the subservience of the DukesBernard of Niedmolin (Falkenberg) andBolko IV of Opole finally convinced the Emperor on 16 September 1435 to confirm the decision in favour of the Dukes of Opole taken at an arbitration inPrague on 2 July 1417, which obliged Henryk IX to return to the Dukes of Opole the lands taken from him.
In the early months of 1425, the Hussite retaliatory expedition to Silesia began to be organised. The reaction of the Silesian rulers varied: some of them let the Hussites pass (such asBolko V the Hussite), while others, such as Henryk IX, fought against them The entry of the Hussite troops into the Duchy of Głogów caused great destruction. Henryk IX sought the help of the Polish king, Wladyslaw II Jogaila. In return for the king's protection against the Hussites, he made him his heir, but these efforts did not produce any major results. The next Hussite invasion in 1431 was repelled by Henryk IX. In 1433 he took part in the war against the Hussites with troops from Poland and the Teutonic Order.
In the next war against Bohemia in 1438–1439, Henryk IX supportedAlbert V of Habsburg and paid homage to him on 3 December 1438. Early the following year, despite having a much smaller army, he managed to repel the Greater Poland troops at theOdra River crossings.
Henryk IX's reputation in Silesia was enormous; in September 1444, for example, he acted as a mediator in the conflict between the dukes ofOleśnica. Two years later, in 1446, he was able to take control ofLubin when its rulers, DukesJan I andHenryk X, pledged the land to him.
On 19 April 1458, Henryk IX joined the alliance of Silesian princes and cities against the newBohemian king,George of Poděbrady. However, after the general recognition of the new Bohemian ruler in the following year, he finally paid homage to him inŚwidnica. The formal investiture of King George of the Duchy ofOpole took place on 26 October 1463. However, in the face of strong opposition from both Dukes Henryk IX andNicholas I, on 29 April 1464 the king finally decided to compromise and renounced all his claims to Opole in exchange for 14,000 pieces of gold.
During his reign, Głogów witnessed important events: on 17 May 1462, KingCasimir IV of Poland and King George of Bohemia met in the city. They agreed that after George's death the Bohemian throne could pass to Casimir IV's son. During this important meeting, the disputes between Poland and the Duchy of Głogów were also discussed. All disputes between them were settled after another congress inBabimost andGościkowo (Paradyż).
Despite his fruitful cooperation with the Bohemian king, Henryk IX wasexcommunicated by the Pope on 23 December for accepting the nomination of the Polish prince as heir to Bohemia.
At the end of his reign, Henryk IX concentrated all his energies on his war against his nephewJan II the Mad, in order to restore the Duchy of Żagań to his eldest nephew and Jan II's brother,Balthasar.
At present there is little information about the governmental activities of Henryk IX. However, new laws, decrees, etc. were issued by him in Głogów. Economic problems continued during this period.
Henryk died on 11 November 1467 inKrosno Odrzańskie and was buried in the mission chapel inKożuchów.[1]
By 1432, probably no later than 1423, Henryk IX married Jadwiga (died by 25 June 1447 – 1453), daughter ofKonrad III the Old, Duke ofOleśnica.[1]
They had six children:
In a will written in 1447, he left the duchy to his three sons as joint rulers. There was an entry in the will expressing the wish that the duchy should not be divided for 20 years. His heirs were not allowed to consult foreign advisers. This was to ensure the unity of Głogów. However, the early deaths of two of his sons averted the threat of further divisions, and the entire Duchy of Głogów passed to his only surviving son, Henry XI, the last male member of his line.
Henryk IX Starszy Born:c. 1389 Died: 11 November 1467 | ||
| Preceded by | Duke of Glogów (1/2) 1397–1467 with Jan I (1397-1412) Henry X (1397-1423) Wenceslaus (1397-1417) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Duke of Lubin 1446–1467 | |
| Preceded by | Duke of Żagań 1403–1412 with Jan I Henry X Wenceslaus | Succeeded by |