Mieszko II the Fat

Mieszko II of Opole - Ratibor (also Mesko II of Opole - Ratibor, Polish Mieszko II Otyły, Czech Mesek II Opolsko - Ratibořský Otylý, latin Mesico II Crassus, * 1220, † October 18 or October 22, 1246 ) was 1230-1246 Duke of Opole - Ratibor.

Origin and family

Mieszko / Mesko came from the Opole Silesian branch of the Piast dynasty. He was the eldest son of Duke Casimir I of Opole and the Bulgarian - Ratibor Duke daughter Viola ( † September 7, 1251 ). To 1238 he married Judith, daughter of Duke Konrad I of Masovia. The marriage remained childless.

Life

After Mieszko and his younger brother Władysław the death of her father Casimir I in 1230 were minors, took Duke Henry I the guardianship of her. This Henry was able to extend his power back to the whole of Silesia. Probably done for military aid in his struggles for supremacy in Greater Poland with the Duke Władysław Odon transferred Heinrich 1233 Mieszko widowed mother Viola and his younger brother Władysław areas Ruda and Kalisch.

After Henry's death in 1238 Mieszko took over the independent government of his Duchy of Opole - Ratibor. A year later, he gave the city Kasimir authorization to settlement of Germans and 1240 he allowed Makau implementation by Neumarkt law. 1241 he supported Duke Henry II in his struggle against the Mongols. During the Cracow throne struggles that were triggered by the death of Duke Henry II in 1241, succeeded Mieszko, advancing with the support of his father Konrad of Mazovia, the eastern borders of his duchy on Bytom and Sewerien addition to Krakow area and until his death in 1246 to claim. Also in 1241 he granted the Breslau Bishop for the market Steinau various freedoms and in 1243 the right of free establishment of a bailiff. After the area of Kalisz was recaptured in 1244 by the great Polish Duke Przemysław I, Mieszko had his mother Duchess Viola castles Teschen and Ratibor as a widow seat to. Mieszko's brother Władysław was co-regent in the same year. 1246 gave Mieszko Mackau the privilege of a carnival.

After his death, Mieszko was buried in the church of the Dominican monastery Ratiborer, which had been donated by him. His widow, Judith was bequeathed the castle Tost as a widow seat, but married in 1252 in second marriage with Henry III. of Wroclaw. Since Mieszko died without issue, the regency passed to his brother Władysław over the Duchy of Opole - Ratibor.