Henry XI of Legnica facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Henry XI |
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| Duke of Legnica | |
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| Henry XI, Duke of Legnica | |
| Spouse(s) | Sophie of Brandenburg-Ansbach |
| Issue | |
| Katharina Sophie Anna Maria Emilia |
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| Noble family | Silesian Piasts |
| Father | Frederick III of Legnica |
| Mother | Katharina of Mecklenburg-Schwerin |
| Born | 23 February 1539 Legnica |
| Died | 3 March 1588 (aged 49) Kraków |
Henry XI of Legnica (Polish: Henryk XI Legnicki; February 23, 1539 – March 3, 1588) was a powerful leader, known as a Duke, in a place called Legnica. He ruled Legnica three different times: first from 1551 to 1556 (when he was very young), then from 1559 to 1576, and finally from 1580 to 1581.
He was the oldest son of Frederick III, who was also the Duke of Legnica. His mother was Katharina, the daughter of Henry V, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
Contents
Henry's Life as Duke
Early Years and First Rule
Henry XI was born in Legnica Castle on February 23, 1539. When he was just twelve years old, in 1551, his father, Frederick III, was removed from power. The Emperor Charles V made this decision. Frederick III had joined a group of Protestant princes who rebelled against the Emperor. He also supported the Emperor's enemy, King Henry II of France.
Because Henry XI was so young, he couldn't rule alone. So, special guardians, called regents, were chosen to help him. These included the Imperial governor and the Bishop of Wroclaw, Balthasar von Promnitz. His uncle, George II the Pious, Duke of Brzeg, also helped. Henry spent several years studying at his uncle's court.
In 1556, Emperor Charles V stepped down. Frederick III promised to be loyal to the new Emperor, Ferdinand I. Because of this, Frederick III got his Duchy of Legnica back.
Becoming Duke of Legnica
On October 27, 1559, Emperor Ferdinand I decided to remove Frederick III from power again, this time for good. Henry XI was now an adult, so he took over the rule of Legnica without any regents. His father, Frederick III, was kept under house arrest until he died in 1570.
When Henry XI became Duke, Legnica was in a lot of debt. The Duchy owed about 80,000 thalers. Instead of paying off this debt, Henry XI made it much worse. By the end of his rule, the debt had grown to 700,000 thalers.
Henry XI tried to find ways to get money. In 1567, he offered a special deal to his subjects. He wanted them to pay 120,000 thalers. In return, he would promise them freedom from having to show loyalty to him as their ruler. However, this idea was not accepted.
On December 24, 1571, Henry XI tried to make his subjects pay his debts. He even offered to use their own belongings as payment. When they refused, Henry XI held some of the important people from Legnica captive. He held them until they agreed to pay taxes worth almost 66,000 thalers. After they were freed, they went to Vienna. There, they complained to Emperor Maximilian II about the Duke. The Emperor then set up a special group to look into the matter.
Adventures Abroad
In March 1575, Henry XI decided to travel to the Holy Roman Empire to try and calm things down in his Duchy. While he was away, his younger brother, Frederick IV, managed Legnica. Frederick IV had been named co-ruler in December 1571, but he was still under Henry's control.
Henry XI's trip lasted three years. He visited many cities, including Prague, Worms, Regensburg, Augsburg, Heidelberg, Mainz, Speyer, Ingolstadt, Cieszyn, Nuremberg, Strasbourg, Frankfurt, Cologne, and Leipzig. He stayed at several German royal courts during this time.
While in the Electorate of the Palatinate, Henry XI joined the army of Louis I, Prince of Condé. This army was fighting against the new Catholic King of France, Henry III. Henry XI used money from Legnica to pay nearly 9,000 soldiers. When Emperor Maximilian II found out about Henry's involvement in these religious wars, he ordered him to leave the army. However, Henry XI refused to obey. He stayed with Prince Condé, who paid him for his service.
In May 1576, the religious war in France ended with the Peace of Bealieu. Henry XI no longer received his military salary and soon ran out of money. He started to borrow money everywhere. In the spring of 1577, he finally decided to return to Legnica. His three-year trip cost a total of 32,000 thalers.
Returning Home and More Trouble
While Henry XI was fighting in France, his brother Frederick IV tried to gain more power. Frederick went to Emperor Maximilian II and asked for the Duchy of Legnica to be divided. On March 13, 1576, special officials declared Frederick IV the new ruler of Legnica. He officially took control a month later, on April 17. Frederick IV was told to take care of Henry XI's family, who had stayed in Silesia. He had to provide them with money and food.
The plan was to formally divide the Duchy of Legnica between the brothers on September 29, 1577. However, this didn't happen because Emperor Maximilian II died on October 12, 1576. The new Emperor, Rudolf II, decided to look at the case again.
Frederick IV tried to pay off the debts of both his brother and father. He ruled carefully and saved money. However, the nobles in Legnica didn't like this. They were used to the "generous" ways of previous rulers. So, they were very happy when Henry XI returned on November 9, 1577. With Maximilian II, who didn't approve of him, gone, Henry XI saw a chance to get his power back.
Henry XI couldn't wait for the dispute about Legnica to be settled. He took over Grodziec Castle and started causing trouble for his brother's lands. This situation lasted for several months, even with attempts to find a peaceful solution. Finally, Frederick IV won the battle and became the sole ruler of Legnica. Grodziec Castle was given to someone else. On November 16, 1578, Henry XI went on another trip to Germany, visiting Halle, Berlin, and Rostock.
Meanwhile, Henry XI's wife, Sophie, asked Emperor Rudolf II to help her husband get his Duchy back. On October 5, 1580, Rudolf II canceled the earlier decree. He gave Henry XI back his rule over Legnica. However, Henry XI had to share power with his brother. Henry XI lived in Legnica, and Frederick IV had to move to Chojnów. On October 28, 1580, Henry XI made a grand entry into Legnica.
Henry XI continued to behave disrespectfully towards the Emperor. Even after being restored to power, he didn't pay homage (show loyalty) to the Emperor. He also didn't attend the Silesian sejmach (local assemblies). On June 7, 1581, a military force was sent to punish him. It was led by the Imperial Governor of Silesia and the Bishop of Wroclaw, Marcin Gerstmann. However, they couldn't surprise the city because Henry XI had gathered food and weapons to resist. So, they started talking instead. Henry XI agreed to pay tribute to Karl II, Duke of Ziębice-Olésnica and to meet the Emperor in Prague.
Henry XI arrived in Prague on July 9, 1581. But he had to wait months to see Emperor Rudolf II. The punishment for him was severe: Henry XI was arrested and lost control of Legnica again. Legnica was given back to Frederick IV. Frederick IV, once again, had to take care of Henry XI's family and pay them 30 thalers each week.
Henry XI spent his first year in prison at Prague Castle. For the next three years, he was held at the Wroclaw castle. In the spring of 1585, he was moved to Schweidnitz. From there, on September 30, 1585, Henry XI managed to escape by bribing his guards. He was chased by troops but managed to hide in the forests for four days. He then fled to Poland, where he lived for the rest of his life.
Life in Poland
Henry XI had good relationships with the Jagiellon dynasty, the ruling family of Poland. His family had many connections to them. For example, his grandfather had married a Polish princess. In 1569, Henry XI accepted an invitation from the Polish King, Sigismund II August. He took part in a meeting in Lublin, where the Union of Lublin was created, joining Poland and Lithuania more closely. At this meeting, King Sigismund II August gave Henry XI two lions and valuable jewels. This trip to Poland was grand but also very expensive, costing 24,000 thalers.
In January 1575, Henry XI attended the funeral of a Bishop in Poznań. There, he became good friends with the Bishop's younger brother, John. In the summer of that year, he went to Kraków. He hoped to become a candidate for the Polish throne.
After Henry XI escaped to Poland, Emperor Rudolf II and Duke George II of Brzeg tried to convince King Stefan Bathory to send him back. But they were not successful. Henry XI then traveled through the lands of his ancestors in Poland. He visited Kruszwica, Łowicz, and Warsaw. Then he went to Grodno, where he stayed with the King for three weeks. At the end of his trip, he visited his relative, Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia, in Królewiec (now Kaliningrad).
During the election for a new Polish king in 1586, Henry XI supported Sigismund Vasa of Sweden. He was even sent to Stockholm as a special messenger for the Polish Queen, Anna of Poland, to help Sigismund get support. He quickly became friends with the King-elect. Sigismund promised to help Henry XI get his lands back. On December 9, 1587, Henry XI attended the coronation of Sigismund III Vasa as King of Poland.
Death
Henry XI died suddenly on March 3, 1588, in Kraków. Because Henry XI was a Lutheran (a Protestant), his funeral and burial caused some problems. His daughters and brother wanted his body to be returned to Legnica. However, Emperor Rudolf II refused. He did not want the body of a rebel to enter his country.
For a while, Henry XI's coffin was kept by the Franciscans in Kraków. They asked for payment and a promise that the body would be removed soon. But Henry's family couldn't get the Emperor's permission. After a few months, the coffin was even left out on the street. Finally, thanks to his family and many people from Silesia, the coffin was placed in the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Kraków on November 9, 1588.
Family Life
At Legnica Castle on November 11, 1560, Henry XI married Sophie (1535 – 1587). They had six children:
- Katharina Sophie (born August 7, 1561 – died May 10, 1608). She married Frederick, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Vohenstrauss-Parkstein in 1587.
- Anna Maria (born January 3, 1563 – died February 28, 1620).
- Emilia (born December 26, 1563 – died November 9, 1618).
- A son (born and died before January 16, 1565).
- George Frederick (born September 11, 1565 – died November 14, 1565).
- Sabina Barbara (born January 8, 1571 – died December 14, 1572).
Of his two sons, one was either stillborn or died very soon after birth. The other son lived only three months. Of his four daughters, the youngest lived for 23 months. His oldest daughter, Katharina Sophie, had a daughter and twin sons, but they all died before they were five months old. His other two daughters, Anna Maria and Emilia, never married.
