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 Jagielloń 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 as 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 Śląska, forced Casimir II to accept the definitely resignation of the disputed territory on 7 June 1481.

After the death of Matthias Corvinus in 1490, he served to Władysław Jagiellończyk and was several times promoted in the public service. Bohemian king gave him the Duchy of Głogów for lifetime and also agreed with seizure of the Duchy of Opava.

In internal politics he showed hardline stances in the fight against banditry in the duchy. He was also a skilled ruler in the economic sphere. During his rule the duchy have been economically stabilized. Further development of the towns occurred, they received many privileges from Kazimierz II. He cared especially about the capital town of Cieszyn, where he founded a town square which persists to date.

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)