Bolesław III the Generous

Boleslaw III. (. Boleslaw III also, * September 23, 1291, † April 21, 1352 ) was from 1296 to 1311 Duke of Breslau, 1311-1342 Duke of Legnica and Brzeg and 1342-1352 Duke of Brieg.

Family

Boleslaw came from the Legnica branch of the Silesian Piast dynasty. His parents were Duke Henry V († 1296 ) Legnica, Wroclaw and Elisabeth ( † 1304), daughter of Duke Boleslaw of Kalisz. Boleslaw's siblings were:

• Henry VI. († 1335), Duke of Wroclaw
• Wladislaus († 1352), first canon of Breslau; later married a daughter of the Duke Boleslaw II of Mazovia
• Hedwig, married to Otto, son of Margrave Otto V of Brandenburg
• Eufemia, married to Otto of Carinthia

Boleslaw married before January 13, 1303 Margaret († 1322), who was then seven year old daughter of the Bohemian King Wenceslas II. , The couple had children

• Wenceslas I (* 1308/10, † 1364 ), Duke of Liegnitz, 1341 married Anna († 1367 ), daughter of Duke Casimir I of Cieszyn
• Louis I (* 1311/13, † 1398 ), Duke of Brieg, married 1341/45 Agnes († 1362 ), daughter of Duke Henry IV († 1342 ), Duke of Glogau and Sagan
• Nicholas (c. 1322 † after 7 April 1322)

After Margaret's death in 1326 married Boleslaw Šubić Catherine, Duchess of Croatia. This marriage came from the daughter

• Catherine ( † 1409 )

Life

After the early death of his father in 1296 his brother Bolko I. guardian over Boleslaw and his underage siblings was ordered. Since Bolko already died in 1301, took over the guardianship of the Czech King Wenceslas, the order took a further influence in Silesia.

After King Wenceslas death in 1305 Boleslaw took over under the tutelage of Bishop Henry of Breslau Vrbno the government of his duchy at the same time for his younger brothers. 1311 paternal inheritance was divided. Boleslaw received the Principality Brieg with Grottkau and a money indemnity of his brother Henry, the more valuable Breslau was assigned, which consisted only of the districts Breslau and Neumarkt. Władysław received Legnica. Soon, tried to extend his power and to diminish the legacy of his brothers, with whom he was constantly in dispute Boleslaw. His brother Władysław had to give him Legnica.

With the Czech king John of Luxembourg, with whom he was related through his first wife, Boleslaw lived on good terms. In 1315 he joined with him a defensive alliance and introduced in 1321 for those in Bohemia the regency. Along with eight other Silesian dukes to Boleslaw in 1320 complained to the Holy See in Avignon on the introduction of Peter 's Pence in the Breslau diocese in the new form of per capita tax, which was levied until then per family. In the same year he mortgaged the Grodziec the knight Swolo Busewoy ( Budziwój; Bożiwój ). In 1321 he received from the Opole Duke Bolko II the whole country between the Oder and the Stober, with the exception of the village Rybna. 1323 he wrested the Dukes of Oels the cities Namslau, Bernstadt, Konstadt, Landsberg, Pitschen and Cross Castle. Unsuccessful asked the Pope in 1325 the Bishop of Poznań and the dean of Lebus to force of Boleslaw the return of Legnica to his brother Władysław.

End of 1326 was the Breslau Administrator Nicholas of Banz, who supported Boleslaw's brother Henry in his efforts to the connection of Silesia to Bohemia, captured by Boleslaw's followers and taken to the castle Jeltsch. After Henry ceded the Duchy of Wroclaw on the crown of Bohemia on 6 April 1327 Nicholas of Banz could be freed. On the way back from his Litauenzug the end of April 1329, Johann of Luxembourg tried to settle the dispute between the brothers Boleslaw and Wladislaus to the Duchy of Legnica. Presumably therefore transferred Boleslaw on May 9, 1329 the suzerainty over Legnica and Brzeg to the Bohemian king, which he went to the dependence of Bohemia, which was confirmed in 1335 with the Treaty of Trenčín. 1342, leaving the Duchy of Legnica Boleslaw his two sons and kept Brieg. In 1344 he sold Grottkau and around the Breslau Bishop Preczlaw of Pogarell, so his principality of Neisse advanced and " Duke of Grottkau " called.

Boleslaw led a lavish lifestyle, through his extensive possessions were diminished. Because of its hostile attitude towards the clergy, he was excommunicated. Shortly before his death, the excommunication was lifted.