Bolko V the Hussite: Difference between revisions

At a young age, Bolko V was sent to the University of [[Prague]], where he learned of the social and religious views of [[Jan Hus]]. Soon after (ca.probably 1418before 1417) returninghe returned to [[Upper Silesia]] (and probably beforein 1417 or 1418<ref>David Radek: Bolek V. Opolský (okolo 1400-1460). Život a legenda. Opava: Slezská univerzita v Opavě, he2018.</ref> married with Elizabeth (d. aft. [[2 September]] [[1452]]), daughter of [[Wincenty Granowski]] (d. ca. 1410) by his ex-wife [[Elisabeth of Pilica]], who had recently become [[List of Polish consorts|Queen of Poland]] after her marriage to King [[Jogaila|Władysław II Jagiełło]]. ThisThe unionwedding with the King's stepdaughter brought to the Dukes of Opole the immense wealth of the Pilica family and the alliance with the royal court at [[Wawel Castle]].

In 1428 [[Silesia]] was invaded by [[Hussite]] troops. In the capital of his domains, Głogówek, Bolko V decided at first to fight against them. However, almost immediately, the young Duke, at that time in [[Gliwice]], not only decided to admit the Hussites into his city in order to avoid the destruction of his duchy, but also took the occasion to enrich himself with the secularization of the local churches (one of his first decisions was the cancellation of the building of a Kolegiata in Głogówek, which began by orders of Bolko IV). After a solemn oath, Bolko V vowed to support the Hussites, and he sent his army to help them. The cooperation with the Hussites was not just material, but also ideological. One aim of the duke was the policy of a gradual Germanization of Silesia, and the national teachings of Jan Hus fit in with this purpose. Later in that year, Bolko V took over all the goods of the Church in his Duchy.

In 1429 with the Hussites involved on other fronts, Bolko V acquired for himself the neighboring [[Duchy of [[Nysa]], which belonged to the Bishopric of [[Wrocław]]. In the following year, together with his allies, he forced Polish troops to retreat to [[Jasna Góra]], which become the new Silesian-Poland frontier. He also tried to obtain some lands from the Dukes of Brzeg: [[Namysłów]] (who could defend himself thanks to the help of the citizens of Wrocław) and [[Kluczbork]] (which was taken by him). In the following years Bolko V became the ruler of almost all [[Upper Silesia]] and parts of [[Lower Silesia]]. In his conquests, Bolko V could count on the support of his closest relatives, his father Bolko IV and his uncle Bernard. His luck turned against him on [[13 May]] [[1433]], in connection with his defeat at the [[Battle of Trzebnica]] against Duke [[Nicholas V of Karniów]]. Despite this, Bolko V managed to maintain until his death the majority of Church goods obtained after the secularization. For this, in 1443 he was [[excommunicated]].

During 1444-14521444–1452 Bolko V led a fight against the Bishop of [[Kraków]], [[Zbigniew Oleśnicki (cardinal)|Zbigniew Oleśnicki]], over the buying of the Duchy of [[Siewierz]]. This war resulted in significant destruction on the Silesian-Lesser Poland frontier. The [[Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Frederick III]] feared a complete collapse of the Silesian states. The dispute only ended in 1452 during the [[Sejm of the Republic of Poland|Polish Sejm]] in [[Piotrków Trybunalski|Piotrków]], where Bolko V even offered the Polish King [[Casimir IV Jagiello|Casimir IV]] financial assistance for a war against the Teutonic Order in exchange for the district of [[Wieluń]] as a [[lien]] (the proposal wasn't accepted).

In 1451, Bolko V divorced his wife Elizabeth Granowska after almost thirty-three years of marriage. This union only produced a son, Wenceslaus (b. 1433 -– d. bef. [[14 March]] [[1453]]), whose early death was a terrible blow to Bolko V. He never recovered from the loss.

On [[27 June]] [[1451]], Bolko V married for the second time, to Hedwig (d. aft. [[1 February]] [[1461]]), daughter of Hincze Beess of Kujawy, a member of the local nobility. This union was childless.

{{sS-ttl|title=[[Dukes of Silesia|Duke of Niemodlin]]|years=1450&ndash;14601450–1460}}

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[[Category:HouseYear of Piastbirth uncertain]]