Casimir II, Duke of Cieszyn

Casimir II of Cieszyn (Polish: Kazimierz II cieszyński, Czech: Kazimír II. (Těšín), German: Kasimir II. (Teschen); b. ca. 1449 - d. 13 December 1528), was a Duke of Cieszyn since 1477, ruler over Koźle during 1479-1509, since 1493 ruler over Wołów, over Pszczyna during 1498-1517, from 1506 over Opawa, Duke of Głogów since 1506 (for life). Also he was Starost General of Silesia during 1497-1504 and 1507 -1517, since 1517 until his death, Staros over the Upper Silesia.

He was the eldest child and only son of Bolesław II, Duke of Cieszyn, by his wife Anna, daughter of Ivan Vladimirovich, Prince of Bielsk.

Life

After the early death of his father in 1452, Casimir II was raised by his uncle Przemysław II, who given to him the town of Bielsko and surrounding villages in 1460, with only eleven years.

Casimir II's first political intervention was by 1471, when he support King Władysław II Jagiellon during his conflicts with the Bohemian nobility. Four years later (in 1475), Casimir II he attended to the marriage of Princess Hedwig of Poland (King Casimir IV's daughter) with Duke Georg of Bavaria-Landshut. When Przemysław II died in 1477, Casimir II had enough political experience and could took over the control over the whole Duchy of Cieszyn without any co-rulers, because all his uncles died without male descendants.

However, Casimir II couldn't took the government over the half of Głogów, then under the rule of Margareta of Celje, widow of his uncle Władysław as her Oprawa wdowia (but formally, because the facto rule was into the hands of King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary and Bohemia). Despite the claims of Jan II the Mad, Duke of Żagań (who was supported by King Matthias), Casimir II obtain a political goal when he was swored ruler of Głogów as guardian of Margareta by the city council. However, this success was short-lived: on 8 October 1478, Casimir II's forces were defeated in Krosno Odrzańskie by Jan II's troops.

Despite his defeat, Casimir II continued his pretentions and began negotiations with King Matthias. Under the treaty signed on 10 October 1479, the Duke of Cieszyn waived his claims by the amount of 2,000 florins. In addition, Casimir II was compelled to paid homage to the King on 12 August of that year in Olomouc.

Despite the formal abandonment of his pretentions in Lower Silesia, Casimir II didn't change his ambitions, and in 1480 he obtained Pszczyna after his marriage with Johanna, daughter of Wiktoryn of Poděbrady, Duke of Opawa (although in practice he could take formal possesion of this land only in 1498), who was supposedly to be a great help to him in his plans to regain Głogów, then under the rule of Jan II. Another defeat, this time at the Battle of Góra, forced Casimir II to accept the definitely resignation of the disputed territory on 7 June 1481.

In the following years, Casimir II approached to the Bohemian King Władysław II Jagielloń. As a result, after the death of Matthias Corvinus in 1490, he was appointed Starost General of Silesia. The Duke of Cieszyn he held this office until 1504, when the King decided to replaced him for his brother Sigismund Jagiellon. However, when Sigismund inherited the Polish crown in 1506, after the death of his brother Alexander Jagiellon, the dignity of Starost returned into the hands of Casimir II. This time, he held the office until his death. The new Polish King gave Casimir II the Duchy of Głogów but only during his lifetime. Soon after, and by right to his wife, he obtained the Duchy of Opawa, who increased his domains along with Wołów and Oleśnica, who were bought by him in 1493.

In internal politics, Casimir II showed hardline stances in the fight against banditry in the duchy. He was also a skilled ruler in the economic sphere. During his rule Cieszyn have been economically stabilized. Further development of the towns occurred, they received many privileges from him. He cared especially about the capital town of Cieszyn, where he founded a town square which persists to date. However, his rule as Starost general wasn't count with great support in Silesia, especially with the Church, whose opposition was made clear in 1501, when the Chapter refused the candidacy of Casimir II's eldest son Frederick as new Bishop of Wrocław.

A significant item in Silesia was the dispute between the Dukes of Opawa, Nicholas II and Jan II. In order to ended the conflict, in 1497 was concerted a meeting in Nysa, were are present Casimir II, his father-in-law Wiktoryn of Poděbrady, Nicholas II and the Bishop of Wrocław, Jan IV Roth. During the meeting, on 26 June occur the tragedy: Nicholas II became madness and stab the Duke of Cieszyn and the Bishop Roth. Despite the protests of nobles and relatives, Casimir II issued the death sentence to Nicholas II, who was beheaded in the Nysa market on 27 April 1497. Duke Jan II, after hearing the news of his brother's execution, began to prepare a brutally retaliatory expedition against Cieszyn. However, the diplomatic actions of King Władysław II Jagiellon prevent the war between both Dukes, with disastrous consecuences to Silesia.

The Duke of Cieszyn's political importance reached his apogee in 1512, when King Sigismund I the Old married with Casimir II's niece Barbara Zapolya (daughter of his cousin Hedwig). The excellent relations with Poland provide to Casimir II, the opportunity of purchase several buildings in Kraków and the surroundings areas. Also, the King's protection enabled Casimir II to managed the complaints of the Silesian cities in 1514, who accused him of incompetence.

On 6 January 1515 Casimir II obtain from the Bohemian King Władysław II Jagiellon the diploma who certified his rule over the Duchy of Opawa, but unfortunately only during his lifetime.

In 1517 with transitional financial difficulties decided to sell to John Thurzo princedom Pszczyna high as the sum of 40,000 guilders.

From about 1510 Kazimierz II involved in the game after the fall childless prince Opole, Janie II good. Kazimierz did so despite the fact that death has for the last brother of Prince Opolskie - Nicholas II. At first it seemed that the succession is well on the road, especially when Jill was able to obtain in 1517, and Fryderyk II Legnickim, the document confirming the right of succession to property after aging and schorowanym Opolskie cousin. Unfortunately, ultimately it turned out that John II Casimir survived, and got his duchy in the hands of George Hohenzollern (perhaps also Kazimierz II before his death, transferred all his rights to the George, in particular may have to happen after the wedding in 1518 the son of Prince Cieszyńskiego Wenceslas II, the sister of George, Anna).

In 1527 Kazimierz II from the Polish king, he left for Hungary, where he is the mediation between Jan Zapolyą a Ferdynand Habsburgiem, but in vain.

Kazimierz was not only a skilful politician, but also a very good host. In his reign of the Principality of Cieszyn experienced economic stability. With the privileges, which give, to develop a vibrant city, and special concern surrounding Kazimierz Těšín, so that the city quickly rose to the zgliszczy after the great fire in the late fifteenth century. It is Kazimierz II in 1496 he established the current market and provided the two houses to build new town hall. The property was estimated Cieszyńskiego prince in 1527 at the Astronomical sum of 670,000 florins, but not dorównało income neighboring principality of Opole. The revenue, however, was one of Prince Cieszyńskiego high salary Starost General - 1200 guilders a year, and income derived from the Old Sigismund Żup solnych near Krakow. High income allowed Jill in 1527 bought out of the hands of the Bishop of Olomouc city Mistka and Friedlandu.

In the early 1480s he married Joanna, daughter of Viktorín of Poděbrady. They had two sons: Fryderyk and Wacław. Fryderyk died in 1507 and Wacław II, who was viewed as father's successor, died in 1524, four years before his father. Next Duke of Cieszyn therefore became Wacław III Adam, son of Wacław II and grandson of Kazimierz II.

References

• Panic, Idzi (2002). Poczet Piastów i Piastówien cieszyńskich. Cieszyn: Urząd Miejski. ISBN 83-917095-4-X. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)