Henry XI of Legnica

Henry XI of Legnica (Polish: Henryk XI Legnickib. Schloss Liegnitz, 23 February 1539 - d. Krakow, 3 March 1588), was a Duke of Legnica during three times: 1551-1556 (under regency), 1559-1576 and 1580-1581.

He was the eldest son of Frederick III, Duke of Legnica, by his wife Katharina, daughter of Henry V, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Life

Early Years

In 1551, Henry XI's father was removed from the government of Legnica by Emperor Charles V. The decision was dictated by the Emperor for the behavior of Frederick III, who joined the coalition of Protestant rebels princes, and also support the long-time enemy of the Habsburgs, King Henry II of France. Henry XI was chosen as the new Duke of Legnica, but because he was only twelve years old, were appointed regents of the Duchy the Imperial governor and Bishop of Wroclaw, Balthasar von Promnitz and John II the Pious, Duke of Brzeg (Frederick III's younger brother), in whose court Henry spent several years studying science. After the abdication of Emperor Charles V in 1556, Frederick III (after promised obedience and loyalty to the new Emperor Ferdinand I) could regained the power over the Duchy of Legnica.

Duke of Legnica

On 27 October 1559 the Emperor Ferdinand I decided to removed again Frederick III from the government, this time for good. As Henry XI was already an adult, this time he took over the rule over Legnica without regents. Frederick III was placed under house arrest, where he has been held for the next eleven years until his death on 15 December 1570.

Henry XI inherited his father's duchy, whose finances were in a tragic condition. After the rule of Frederick III, the debt remained at 80 000 talarów. The new Duke, instead to gradually repay the debt, he continued to increased the debts, leaving at the end of his reign a debt amounting to 700 000 talarów.

As a Duke of Legnica, Henry XI tried to get funds for the repayment of his increasing debts. In 1567 he proposed them in exchange for 120 000 talarów the Głogow Privilege, who garantized the freedom from the homage of the subjects who declared him his heir. However, the idea wasn't accepted. On 24 December 1571 Henry XI tried to induce his subjects to pay off his debts, offering against their own goods and valuables. Also declared their devotion in return for a fixed salary, ensuring that corresponding to his position on the social level. Given the failure of the proposals, Henrr XI decided keep in captivity the representatives of the Legnica states until they signed an agreement to pay taxes for almost 66 000 talarów. After regaining their freedom they fled to Vienna, where the representatives made to the Emperor Maximilian II a complaint against the Duke of Legnica. The Emperor appointed a special committee to look into this matter.

Trip to the Holy Roman Empire

In March 1575 Henry XI, wanting to calm down the difficult situation in his Duchy, went on a journey to the Empire. During his absence Legnica was administrated by his younger brother Frederick IV, who since December 1571 was named co-rule of the Duchy, but still remained in his ward. The trip lasted three years, during which Henry XI several cities visited include: Prague (where he took part of the coronation of Emperor Rudolf II as King of Bohemia on 22 September 1575), Worms, Regensburg, Augsburg, Heidelberg, Mainz, Speyer, Ingolstadt, Prague again, Cieszyn, Nuremberg, Strasbourg, Frankfurt am Main, Köln and Leipzig. During this time, Henry XI was hosted in several German courts.

While in the Rhine Palatinate, he joined the service in Prince Ludwig I Kondeusza, which werbował forces hugenotów to clashes with the new Catholic king of France (and the former king of Poland) Henry III. With the money he received from legnicki Piast has gathered nearly 9,000 żołdaków. Sam under the command went to the Lorraine in 4000, but soon had to withdraw. When the sovereign, the Emperor Maximilian II, learned about his involvement in the fighting in France, ordered him to abandon the service. However, do not listen legnicki prince imperial order, as persevering with Kondeusza side, received a standing pay. In May 1576 with the signing of the peace in Bealieu, ending the so-called. fifth war religious service ended at the French Henryka XI prince. No longer receiving military pay, soon lost all means of livelihood. Began to enter into long and so long lived with the loans obtained until all potential creditors not spostrzegli that they can not count on him returning borrowed money. At that time - the spring of 1577 - decided to return to his principality. In total, three-year expedition to the Reich Henryka XI cost 32 000 talarów.

Return to Legnica

While Henryk XI fought side hugenotów in France, Frederick IV, decided to use this moment to be released from the guardianship brother. He went to the Emperor Maximilian II, asking to review the division ojcowizny. Special Commissioners under imperial decree of 13 March 1576 in the next month, 17 April 1576, it established Mr. Legnica. Frederick IV was obliged to ensure the family Henry XI, which remained in Silesia, care, and he has himself had a weekly pass Deputat in cash and food. At the same time on 29 September 1577 sets out the deadline for the division of the Duchy. However, this does not occur to him, since he died 12 October 1576 Emperor Maximilian II, and the new Emperor Rudolf II tried to re-examine the case.

Because of the commitment of Frederick IV, to repay the debts of his brother and father characterized the rule of prudence, economy and savings to the borders skąpstwa. This style of governance is not liked możnym and nobility principality, accustomed to rozrzutności previous rulers. For this reason, enthusiastically welcomed the return of 9 November 1577 trip to the Reich Henryka XI puszczając in oblivion old injuries. Before Henryk XI opened up a chance to recover power in Legnica, the more that a year earlier to him disapprovingly focused Maximilian II succeeded to the imperial throne, Rudolf II, in which the coronation of king Czech Henryk XI participated in the 1575

However, not being able to wait to settle a dispute about przeciągającego patrimony, Henryk XI mastered Grodźcu in the castle, where he began to harass the surrounding villages, merchants, and the estate's brother. Defensive nature wypadowej base and collected a stock of ammunition prevented Fryderykowi IV rozprawienie with his brother. Proceder that, despite attempts to mediate, lasted several months - until niespokojnemu Piastowie znudziło to ruffianly force. Castle gave the hand count Zedlitza and 16 November 1578 he went in again to travel to Germany, visiting Halle, Berlin and Rostock.

At that time, his wife, Zofia Hohenzollern, earnestly seek for the court of Emperor Rudolf II of the restitution of her husband. 5 October 1580 for the emperor issued a favorable ruling elder brother, by canceling your order of 17 April 1576. The brothers were jointly współrządzić principality Legnica. Henryk XI had reside in Legnica, and Frederick IV had to leave the Chojnowa. 28 October 1580 held ceremonial entry Henryka XI to Legnica.

Prince legnicki still behaved unruly against their sovereign. Despite the expiry of several months of imperial ruling Henryk XI is not required by lennego tribute, and also did not participate in the Silesian sejmach. This has led to the prevention of armed expedition to the Legnica, 7 June 1581 which led Śląska imperial governor and bishop wrocławski Marcin Gerstmann. However, participants expeditions have failed to win the city by surprise, since Henryk XI advance downloaded Legnicy meals from other cities. Therefore, to commence negotiations, which have resulted in Henryk XI agreed to pay tribute to the prince lenny ziębickiego Charles II, and also to appear before the Emperor in Prague in July 1581.

At the Prague court prince arrived legnicki 9 July 1581. However, for the audience at the Rudolf II had to wait months. This notice instead issued a harsh words wybaczenia sentence. Henryk XI was arrested and lost power in the Principality for the brother, who was again obliged to ensure the family imprisoned prince care, paying him a weekly deputatu of 30 talarów. The first year of captivity Henryk XI spent in the castle on Hradczanach, another three at the castle in Wroclaw, where the spring of 1585 because of grasującej campaign in the city was transferred to Swidnica. From there, 30 September 1585, upiwszy guards, managed to escape. In pursuit for the troops launched a new bishop of Wroclaw and Prince Andrew Jerina Brzeski George II. Do not bring on the success, Henryk XI after four days more digging through forests managed to come to Poland, where the rest of his life.

Trip to Poland

Henryk XI had very good relations with Poland. They were due to family ties - a lout, Frederick II, the first married Elizabeth Jagiellonkę and Zofia Hohenzollern (daughter Sophia Jagiellonki), and the brother of Frederick II, Jerzy I realized the wife Anna pomorską, Jagiellonki another daughter, Anna. Sigismund II August was even patronize his successor to his father Henry XI, Frederick III. In 1569 the Piast legnicki using Jagiellona invitation, participated in the Sejm in Lublin, which was concluded union Lublin. By way of Parliament has been eagerly adopted by the Polish magnates, including the zjednywał friends. At the meeting with Zygmunt II August in the Polish Lublin gave monarsze two lions and precious jewels. Trip to Poland brought Prince legnickiemu undoubtedly splendor, but also cost a lot - 24 000 talarów reluctance and imperial court.

In January 1575 Henryk XI participated in the funeral of Bishop of Poznan in Poznan Adam Konarski, whose younger brother, John, it consolidated the friendly relations. And the summer of that year came to Krakow, in an effort to drum up support for his own candidacy for the king of Poland.

After Henry escaped to Poland XI both Emperor Rudolf II and Prince Jerzy brzeski II unsuccessfully tried to convince the king of Poland's Stefan Batory Foundation to deliver coincides. Legnicki Piast gościny after the speaker of the great assets of the Crown Andrew Opalinski went on a journey through the land of their ancestors. , Visited the Kruszwica, Lowicz, Warsaw. Then he went to Grodno, where at the side of the Stefan Batory remained three weeks. At the end of his trip went to Królewca to visit odsuniętego from the governments of his relative, Albrecht Frederick Hohenzollern.

During the election in 1586 supported the candidacy of Prince Sigismund Vasa Swedish. Went even poselstwem to Stockholm as a personal envoy of Queen Anne Jagiellonki Poland, which had the kindness in the short term win. In the short time Piastowie managed to establish friendly relations with the king-elect, who promised him that every diplomatic effort to recover his father's. 9 December 1587 Henryk XI took part in the coronation of Sigismund III Vasa king of Poland.

Death

Henryk died unexpectedly Nov. 3 March 1588 in Krakow. It may have been otruty on the instructions of the court habsburskiego. Many of the problems caused funeral prince, who until his death remained Lutheran. Sigismund III Vasa pointed to his daughters and brother, asking for removal of body and pochowania go in Legnica. However, these plans pokrzyżował opposition Emperor Rudolf II, who has not agreed to that body niesubordynowanego against him spoczęło treated in his country. Temporarily princely coffin was deposited with the Franciscans in Krakow, who in return for accepting the body for a while protestant sowitej demanded payment and ensure that the body of Prince legnickiego soon be taken away from them. In view of the failure to duke family in any of the promises after a few months coffin with the body Henryka XI was directly exposed to the street. Eventually, Prince legnicki białoskórników efforts of the guild, to which belonged many Silesians, November 9, 1588 slept in the choir, which belongs to the guild chapel at the Holy Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary on Sand.

Marriage and Issue

In less than a year after the rule of the Principality of Legnica, 11 November 1560, the castle in Legnica Henryk XI realized married Zofia Hohenzollern, Margrave of Ansbach and the daughter of Prince George karniowskiego Hohenzollern (son of Frederick and Sophia Elder Jagiellonki) and Emilia Wettyn (daughter of Prince Henry Saxon Pious V). Their relationship is not always układało well. Between spouses there were often sharp and quarrels quarrel (often at the eyes of the entire court), mostly because of their tendency to Piasta Society other women. Zofia Hohenzollern died on 12 February 1587.

With her marriage to Henryk XI doczekał to four daughters and two sons. The older son was born in January 1565 is likely dead, while the younger, Jerzy Frederick, lived only three months. A brief life was also the youngest daughter, Barbara Sabina, who died a year after the birth. The other three daughters survived the father. The oldest, Katarzyna Zofia, in February 1587 she married palatyna-Zweibrücken Veldenz on Vohenstrauss Frederick Wittelsbacha. In this connection was born three children, but all died in childhood. In contrast, Anna Maria Emilia and by the end of life left in the panieńskim. To prevent the conclusion of the first marriages stood at the lack of posagi, and when their cousin, Prince Joachim brzeski Frederick, it was founded by them, the two were already at the age of thirty five years, there is no longer found suitable candidates for their hands.