Casimir I of Opole
Encyclopedia
Casimir I of Opole (ca. 1179/80 – 13 May 1230) was a Duke of Opole
-Racibórz
from 1211 until his death.
He was the eldest child and only son of Mieszko I Tanglefoot, Duke of Opole
-Racibórz
and High Duke of Poland, and his wife Ludmilla, probably a Přemyslid princess.
, then High Duke of Poland, who wanted with this to break the long-time alliance between the Duke of Racibórz
and the deposed High Duke Mieszko III the Old
. After the birth of Mieszko Tanglefoot's first son and heir, Casimir II stood as the child's godfather (who was also named after him) and granted to the newborn the towns of Bytom
and Oświęcim
.
, Konrad I of Masovia
and Władysław Odonic), who fought against the politics of Władysław III Spindleshanks and Henry I the Bearded
. This was expressed mainly through cooperation with the Church hierarchy, especially the Bishop of Wroclaw Wawrzyniec (for example, in 1215 in the Congress of Wolbórz, where Casimir I gave to the Church great privileges and immunity, which was the origin of the semi-independent district of Ujazd
, then property of the Wroclaw Bishopric). Casimir I's extensive cooperation with the Church also provided him with security against the ambitions of his neighbors; however, this only served to protect Racibórz: Opole was in conflict with Henry I the Bearded, and the eastern states of Siewierz
, Bytom and Oświęcim were disputed by the Seniorate.
during the 1220s, Casimir I's geopolitical position became more complicated. He took the only possible decision: close cooperation with the Duke of Silesia. The content of the agreement is unknown, but certainly during the unsuccessful trip of Henry I the Bearded against Kraków in 1225, troops of Opole-Racibórz were with him. This fact attests to the presence of political emigrants from Lesser Poland
after 1225 in Opole-Racibórz (for example, the Gryfici family). After this year, the help of emigrants, like Clement of Brzeźnicy (member of the Gryficis)-who took on part of the costs of building the city walls of Opole-proved to be good for Casimir I. The alliance with Henry I the Bearded also gave the Duke of Opole-Racibórz territorial benefits: in 1227 as a result of the confusion reigning in Poland following the death of Leszek I the White, Casimir I annexed the frontier fortress of Czeladź
.
Another important act during Casimir I's rule was to emulate the ruling model of Henry I the Bearded and encourage German settlers in his lands. This process did not develop to a great extent, however, as in Lower Silesia
. He started the process of urban locations under German law (the first of them were the Ujazd bishops in 1222), which contributed measurably to the economic development of the Duchy.
Casimir I died suddenly on 13 May 1230 (although some historians put his death one year earlier) and was buried in the still unfounded Czarnowąsy monastery, which was generously patronized by him.
(d. 7 September 1251), are unknown. The 15th-century Polish chronicler Jan Dlugosz
stated that she came from Bulgaria
, but it seems less than reliable. They had four children:
After Casimir I's death, Henry I the Bearded assumed the regency and formal guardianship of his minor sons, while his widow Viola took over direct tutelage of them.
Opole
Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...
-Racibórz
Racibórz
Racibórz is a town in southern Poland with 60,218 inhabitants situated in the Silesian Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship...
from 1211 until his death.
He was the eldest child and only son of Mieszko I Tanglefoot, Duke of Opole
Opole
Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...
-Racibórz
Racibórz
Racibórz is a town in southern Poland with 60,218 inhabitants situated in the Silesian Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship...
and High Duke of Poland, and his wife Ludmilla, probably a Přemyslid princess.
Early life
Little is known about his early years of life, except for his own birth, which was the pretext for the agreement between his father Mieszko (at that time only Duke of Racibórz) and Casimir II the JustCasimir II the Just
Casimir II the Just was a Lesser Polish duke at Wiślica during 1166–1173, and at Sandomierz since 1173. He became ruler over the Polish Seniorate Province at Kraków and thereby High Duke of Poland in 1177; a position he held until his death, interrupted once by his elder brother and predecessor...
, then High Duke of Poland, who wanted with this to break the long-time alliance between the Duke of Racibórz
Racibórz
Racibórz is a town in southern Poland with 60,218 inhabitants situated in the Silesian Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship...
and the deposed High Duke Mieszko III the Old
Mieszko III the Old
Mieszko III the Old , of the royal Piast dynasty, was Duke of Greater Poland from 1138 and High Duke of Poland, with interruptions, from 1173 until his death....
. After the birth of Mieszko Tanglefoot's first son and heir, Casimir II stood as the child's godfather (who was also named after him) and granted to the newborn the towns of Bytom
Bytom
Bytom is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The central-western district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Bytom is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Bytomka river .The city belongs to the Silesian Voivodeship since...
and Oświęcim
Oswiecim
Oświęcim is a town in the Lesser Poland province of southern Poland, situated west of Kraków, near the confluence of the rivers Vistula and Soła.- History :...
.
Coming of age
After his father's death in 1211, Casimir I was fully prepared to assume the government. Originally, he joined the coalition of the Junior Dukes (Leszek I the WhiteLeszek I the White
Leszek I the White , also listed by some sources as Leszek II the White, was Prince of Sandomierz and High Duke of Poland from 1194 until his death, except for the short periods following when he was deposed as Polish ruler...
, Konrad I of Masovia
Konrad I of Masovia
Konrad I of Masovia , from the Polish Piast dynasty, was the sixth Duke of Masovia from 1194 until his death and High Duke of Poland from 1229 to 1232.-Life:...
and Władysław Odonic), who fought against the politics of Władysław III Spindleshanks and Henry I the Bearded
Henry I the Bearded
Henry I the Bearded , of the Silesian line of the Piast dynasty, was Duke of Silesia at Wrocław from 1201 and Duke of Kraków and thus High Duke of all Poland - internally divided - from 1232 until his death.-Heir of Wroclaw:...
. This was expressed mainly through cooperation with the Church hierarchy, especially the Bishop of Wroclaw Wawrzyniec (for example, in 1215 in the Congress of Wolbórz, where Casimir I gave to the Church great privileges and immunity, which was the origin of the semi-independent district of Ujazd
Ujazd
Ujazd is a town in Strzelce County in Opole Voivodeship of Poland. Population 1,647.70% of the town infrastructure was destroyed in the Second World War....
, then property of the Wroclaw Bishopric). Casimir I's extensive cooperation with the Church also provided him with security against the ambitions of his neighbors; however, this only served to protect Racibórz: Opole was in conflict with Henry I the Bearded, and the eastern states of Siewierz
Siewierz
Siewierz is a town in the Silesian Voivodeship in Poland.-History:In history, Sewerien was first mentioned in 1125, which was administered by the Castellan of Bytom. In 1177, Casimir II granted Sewerien to Mieszko IV Tanglefoot duke of Silesia and Racibórz, together with the duchy of Bytom. The...
, Bytom and Oświęcim were disputed by the Seniorate.
Casimir I's rule
Given the increased power of the Silesian Duke Henry I the BeardedHenry I the Bearded
Henry I the Bearded , of the Silesian line of the Piast dynasty, was Duke of Silesia at Wrocław from 1201 and Duke of Kraków and thus High Duke of all Poland - internally divided - from 1232 until his death.-Heir of Wroclaw:...
during the 1220s, Casimir I's geopolitical position became more complicated. He took the only possible decision: close cooperation with the Duke of Silesia. The content of the agreement is unknown, but certainly during the unsuccessful trip of Henry I the Bearded against Kraków in 1225, troops of Opole-Racibórz were with him. This fact attests to the presence of political emigrants from Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland is one of the historical regions of Poland, with its capital in the city of Kraków. It forms the southeastern corner of the country, and should not be confused with the modern Lesser Poland Voivodeship, which covers only a small, southern part of Lesser Poland...
after 1225 in Opole-Racibórz (for example, the Gryfici family). After this year, the help of emigrants, like Clement of Brzeźnicy (member of the Gryficis)-who took on part of the costs of building the city walls of Opole-proved to be good for Casimir I. The alliance with Henry I the Bearded also gave the Duke of Opole-Racibórz territorial benefits: in 1227 as a result of the confusion reigning in Poland following the death of Leszek I the White, Casimir I annexed the frontier fortress of Czeladź
Czeladz
Czeladź is a town in Zagłębie Dąbrowskie in southern Poland, near Katowice. Borders on the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with a population of 2 million. Located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Brynica river ....
.
Another important act during Casimir I's rule was to emulate the ruling model of Henry I the Bearded and encourage German settlers in his lands. This process did not develop to a great extent, however, as in Lower Silesia
Lower Silesia
Lower Silesia ; is the northwestern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia; Upper Silesia is to the southeast.Throughout its history Lower Silesia has been under the control of the medieval Kingdom of Poland, the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy from 1526...
. He started the process of urban locations under German law (the first of them were the Ujazd bishops in 1222), which contributed measurably to the economic development of the Duchy.
Casimir I died suddenly on 13 May 1230 (although some historians put his death one year earlier) and was buried in the still unfounded Czarnowąsy monastery, which was generously patronized by him.
Marriage and issue
It's surprising that the more than thirty-years-old Duke was still unmarried. It is unknown when exactly he married, but after a reconstruction of the dates of his children's births, it is concluded that this happened after the death of his father, between 1212-1220. The exact origins of Casimir I's wife ViolaViola, Duchess of Opole
Viola, Duchess of Opole also known as Wencisława , was a Duchess of Opole-Racibórz by virtue of her marriage with Duke Casimir I.-Origins:...
(d. 7 September 1251), are unknown. The 15th-century Polish chronicler Jan Dlugosz
Jan Dlugosz
Jan Długosz was a Polish priest, chronicler, diplomat, soldier, and secretary to Bishop Zbigniew Oleśnicki of Kraków....
stated that she came from Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, but it seems less than reliable. They had four children:
- Mieszko II the FatMieszko II the FatMieszko II the Fat was a Duke of Opole-Racibórz since 1230 until his death, and Duke of Kalisz-Wieluń during 1234–1239 ....
(b. ca. 1220 - d. 22 October 1246). - Władysław (b. 1225 - d. 27 August/13 September? 1282).
- Wenzeslawa (b. ca. 1226/28? - d. 1 July aft. 1230?), a nun in CzarnowąsyCzarnowasyCzarnowąsy is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Dobrzeń Wielki, within Opole County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland...
. - EuphrosyneEuphrosyne of OpoleEuphrosyne of Opole was a daughter of Casimir I of Opole and his wife Viola, Duchess of Opole. She was a member of the House of Piast and became Duchess of Kujavia from her first marriage and Duchess of Pomerania from her second marriage.- Family :Euphrosyne's paternal grandparents were Mieszko I...
(b. 1228/30 - d. 4 November 1292), married firstly in 1257 to Duke Casimir I of KuyaviaCasimir I of KuyaviaCasimir I of Kuyavia was Prince of Kujawy, Mazovia and Wielkopolska, from 1233 until his death. He was the son of Konrad I of Masovia, King of Poland, and his wife Agafia of Rus.- Life :...
and secondly in 1275 to Duke Mestwin II of Pomerania (they were divorced bef. August 1288).
After Casimir I's death, Henry I the Bearded assumed the regency and formal guardianship of his minor sons, while his widow Viola took over direct tutelage of them.