Henry V, Duke of Legnica

The duke's seal, dated to 1289

Henry V the Fat (German: Heinrich V der Dicke, Polish: Henryk V Brzuchaty; b. ca. 1248 - d. 22 February 1296) was a Duke of Jauer since 1273, of Legnica since 1278 and also Duke of Wroclaw since 1290.

He was the eldest son of Bolesław II the Bald, Duke of Legnica by wife Hedwig, daughter of Henry I, Count of Anhalt.

Life

Early Years

Little is know about Henry's first years of life. In the political arena he only appears at the age of sixteen, when he was send by his father to Prague, at the court of Duke Ottokar II of Bohemia, where he became a knight. In Bohemia, Henry learn about the art of war and the politics intrigues of that time. This will be useful soon.

Duke of Jauer. Battle of Stolcem

In 1273, Henry's father give to him the town of Jawor (Jauer) as an independent Duchy. However, four years there were events who put in jeopardy his eventual inheritance over Legnica. Bolesław the Bald can't accept the lost of Wroclaw and decided to kidnapped his nephew Henry IV, the heir of that Duchy. This act caused the anger of the Krakow nobility and the neighbors of Henry IV, who then organized an expedition to free him and punish Bolesław. At the head of the Greater Poland-Głogów-Wroclaw coalition were the Dukes Przemysł II of Greater Poland and Henry III of Głogów. Both armies will collide in Ząbkowic Śląskich near Stolcem. This was one of the most vigorous and bloody battles of the Middle Ages. By the end it unknown who was the victorious. Bolesław the Bald couldn't accept the tension and escaped from the battlefield, leading a part of his army there.

At this point, the young Henry, who remained in the Stolcem and refused to escape like his father after seemed this hopeless situation, unexpectedly led his army and obtain a great victory, taking prisoners both Dukes Przemysł II and Henry III. Thanks to the action of the young Duke of Jauer, his father and all his bloodline were saved from the destruction. Henry remembered this painful lesson for a long time.

Death of Bolesław II the Bald. Henry V, Duke of Legnica

Bolesław II died on 26 December 1278 and Henry was now able to succeeded him as a Duke in Legnica. turnpike Henry V bulging made a shift in the way ojcowizny. Shortly after, he gave their own lands to his younger brothers: Bolko I received Jauer and Bernhard obtain Lwówek Śląski; but Legnica retained the town of Środa Śląska, who was obtained in 1277 in exchange of Henry IV's freedom. As a sole reign Duke, Henry continued the politic of his father of hostile relations with the other Piast Silesian Dukes. In 1281 he committed the mistake of accepting the invitation of Henry IV to a meeting in Sądowel. Henry IV Probus there breaking all the rules of hospitality and imprisoned the Duke of Legnica together with his former allies Henry III of Głogów and Przemysł II of Greater Poland, in order to obtain political concessions from them. Henry regained his freedom only in return for the recognition of Henry IV as Duke of Wroclaw. However, Henry IV couldn't mantain his sovereignty for too long, because inmediately the Duke of Legnica entered in close contacts with the King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia, who soon will assereted his own claim to that land.

Henry V, Duke of Wroclaw. Apogeum of his Power

On 23 June 1290 Henry IV Probus died without issue. In his testament, the late Duke named Henry III of Głogów as his heir. That decision, however, was opposed by Wroclaw nobility and townspeople, who feared that the Duke of Głogów would become in a harsh ruler. The power of the city was sufficient enough to forced Henry III to escape. Then, the citizens invited Henry V to take the place of their Duke. The nobility think that Henry will be a weak ruler, on whose behalf they can govern. However, they soon noted that Henry was determined to became in the real ruler of Wroclaw.

War against Henry III of Głogów. Sentence to Death of Pakosław Zdzieszyc

Henry III, however, refused to step aside and began to take by force the Henry IV's inheritance. By 1290 lost in his battles against his cousin Krosno Odrzańskie, Chojnów, Bolesławiec, Gościszów, Nowogrodziec, Ścinawa, Wińsko, Syców, Uraz, Trzebnica, Milicz and Sądowel. Henry, however, decided to a retaken all this lands inmediately, and thanks to this he proved that was a strong ruler. However, insecure of the support of Henry IV's followers, he slowly began to take them part of the government. The case of the murder Pakosław Zdzieszyca was a clear example of the disputes between both parties. Zdzieszyca was sentenced to death. A trial was made, which of course didn't contribute to an increase in the popularity of Henry, because the townspeople love him. For this reason, Henry made the astonishing decision to consent in the court of Wroclaw the visits of Pakosław's son, Lutka.

Capture and Imprisonment by Henry III of Głogów

Henry couldn't prevent the next move of the Duke of Głogów. On 11 November 1293 was betrayed by Lutka Zdzieszyca, Pakosław's son and who was also favoured by him. Lutka caught him and give to Duke Henry III, who put him in a iron cage for almost six months, and only obtain his freedom after surrendered the towns of Namysłów, Bierutów, Oleśnica, Kluczbork, Byczyna, Wołczyn, Olesno, Chojnów and Bolesławiec with their respectives fortress to Henry III, the payment of a ransom of 30,000 pieces and the promise to assist the Duke of Głogów for the next five years in all his wars. Sickly thanks to the terribles conditions of his capitivity, after his release and until his death, he never recovered his health.

Relations with Bolko I

During his imprisonment in Głogów, Henry's brother Bolko I was named regent of his states. In 1291, Henry already give him the towns of Świdnica (Schweidnitz), Ziębice, Ząbkowice Śląskie and Strzelin. Bolko wasn't involved in any part of his older brother's conflict with Henry III.

Death and Aftermath

After regaining his freedom, Henry was a sickly man and certainlyhe know that he wasn't live too much. Feared fot the future of his Duchy, in 1294 he decided to put him under the protection of the Holy See. Henry died on 22 February 1296 and was buried in the Clare monastery of Wroclaw. At this time, all his sons were minors, and for this, they were put under the tutelage of his brother Bolko .

Marriage and Issue

Around 1273, Henry married with Elizabeth (b. ca. 1263 - d. 28 September 1304), daughter of Boleslaw the Pious, Duke of Greater Poland. They had eight children:

1. Hedwig (b. ca. 1277 - d. aft 3 February 1347), married by 1289/95 to Prince Otto of Brandenburg, second son of Margrave Otto V. After her husband died, she became a nun in St. Klara, Wroclaw.
2. Euphemia (b. ca. 1278 - d. Jun 1347), married in 1300 to Otto II of Görz, Duke of Carinthia.
3. Anna (b. 1284 - d. 2/3 October 1343), Abbess of St. Klara, Wroclaw.
4. Elisabeth (b. ca. 1290 - d. Nov 1357/58), Abbess of St. Klara, Wroclaw.
5. Bolesław III the Generous (b. 23 September 1291 - d. 21 April 1352).
6. Helena (b. ca. 1293 - d. aft. 1299), nun in St. Klara, Gniezno.
7. Henry VI the Good (b. 18 March 1294 - d. 24 November 1335).
8. Władysław (b. posthumously, 6 June 1296 - d. 13 January aft. 1352).

References

• Menzel, Josef Joachim, Neue Deutsche Biographie (NDB). Volume 8, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1969, s.v. Heinrich V der Dicke, pp. 396—7 ISBN 3-7995-6341-5