Konrad IV the Elder

Konrad IV the Older (Polish: Konrad IV Starszy; b. ca. 1384 - d. 9 August 1447), was a Duke of Oleśnica, Koźle, half of Bytom and half of Ścinawa during 1412-1416 (with his brothers as co-rulers), since 1416 sole ruler over Kątach (Kanth), Bierutów, Prudnik and Syców and since 1417 Bishop of Wroclaw and Duke of Nysa.

He was the eldest son of Konrad III the Old, Duke of Oleśnica, by his wife Judith. Interestingly, the name of Konrad was also wore by his four younger brothers; they were identified by historians only through letters and regnal numbers.

Life

Church career

Despite the fact that he was the oldest son and had an strong possibility of inheritance all his father's duchy, Konrad IV chosen to follow a religious career. He grown rapidly in the Church hierarchy. By the end of 1399, he became the Cleric of Wroclaw. One year later he postulated to the office of Canon of Wrocław and Provost of Domasław, but he failed; however, this not discouraged Konrad IV, who by 1410 was finally chosen Canon of Wroclaw and during 1411-1417 held the office of Provost of the Chapter. In 1411 Konrad IV concentrated all his efforts to his election as Bishop of Warmia. To this end, he went even made the long journey to Rome, and although the expedition was unsuccessfully, as compensation he received with the Master's degree and received a papal notary. In 1412 he was appointed Canon of Olomouc.

After the resignation of the Bishop of Wroclaw, Duke Wenceslaus II of Legnica in 1417, Pope Martin V appointed him on 17 December 1417 as the new Bishop of Wroclaw. Konrad IV was ordained as Bishop on 22 January 1418 at the hands of John Tylemann, sufragant of the Kolegiata of St.Nicholas in Otmuchów.

Beginning of his involvement in politics

Despite his clergy state, Konrad IV also was interested in politics. Already in 1402 he joined to the newly alliance between the Silesian princes. In 1409 he stood with his father at the side of King Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia in the conclusion of a truce between Poland and the Teutonic Knights. In 1412 Konrad IV acted as mediator in the conflicts between the Dukes of Opole, King Wenceslaus IV and the city of Wroclaw. Finally, in 1416 together with his brothers, he joined to the alliance with the Master of the Teutonic Knights, Michael Küchmeister von Sternberg, against Poland.

In 1412 or 1413r. in connection with the death of his father and younger brothers małoletnością Konrad IV is udzielnym prince oleśnickim. This keeps the 1416r. when the prince to have the hope of extending beneficjów Church renounces in favor of brothers from most areas of the Duchy of maintaining control over angles Wrocławskimi, Syców, and Bierutów Prudnikiem.

Years of governments in the diocese of Wroclaw (associated with the additional authority over the principality nysko-otmuchowskim) coincided with a turbulent period the Hussite Wars, which largely zdeterminowało style of policy by the Prince-Bishop.