William, Duke of Opava

William of Opava (Czech: Vilem Opavský; * 1410, † August 15, 1452 ) was 1433-1452 Duke of Opava and 1443-1452 Duke of Münsterberg. He came from the Opava branch of the Bohemian Přemyslids.

Life

His parents were Přemysl / Primislaus I of Opava († 1433 ) and his second wife Catherine of Münsterberg († 1422 ).

After the death of his father in 1433, which left four sons, took over the oldest Wenceslas II, the guardianship of his younger stepbrothers Wilhelm, Ernst and Přemysl / Primislaus II, while the already full year 's second oldest brother Nicholas IV dubbed as Lord on Zuckmantel. Although her father in his will stipulated that his areas should not be separated, they shared about 1435 the inherited property. Wilhelm and Ernst received shares of Opava, and Wenceslaus II, the Duchy Leobschutz was outsourced. The youngest of the brothers, Přemysl / Primislaus II, for whom the ecclesiastical career was provided was probably nothing. The so fragmented areas were so small that they could not meet the livelihood of the brothers. This is probably why Wilhelm turned to the robber barons.

After the transition of the Duchy of Münsterberg 1440 at Hynek Kruschina of Lichtenburg the Munster Berger estates refused his reign. After long negotiations, they chose on April 25, 1443 William of Opava to their new sovereign. Meanwhile, claims on Münsterberg were doubly justified: His mother was a sister of the last Münster Berger Piast Johann, also Wilhelm with Salome, a daughter of the late Puta this year of Častolowitz was married, which was the rightful lien Lord of Münsterberg until his death in 1434 had. Wilhelm accepted the election and subsequently transformed by Landesschädiger to defensists. Along with Nicholas V († 1452 ) of Ratibor - Jägerndorf, Primislaus II of Cieszyn and Henry IX. now of Glogau he fought as Breslauer captain against the bearing ways and tormentor. 1443, he joined a federal government that was directed primarily against Hynek Kruschina of Lichtenburg and the Breslau Bishop Konrad von Oels and Erbfürstentümer Wroclaw and Świdnica and Jawor and the Duke of Liegnitz belonged. Although Hynek had his claim to the Duchy of Münsterberg never abandoned the disputes were settled in 1444 and William granted the Duchy of Münsterberg. This is also the Principality of belonging precincts Frankenstein, whose citizens in the war between William and Hynek Hynek were on the side, remained in Hynek's possession. 1451 transferred his younger brother Wilhelm Ernst the heirship to Münsterberg and acquired in return from this his third share of the Duchy of Opava. This included Wilhelm now two-thirds of Opava.

After William's death in 1452, the Duchy of Münsterberg was contracted to his brother Ernst, who also took over the guardianship of William's children. As their guardian, he sold in 1454 after William's two-thirds share of the Opava Opole Duke Bolko V. On March 8, 1456 Ernst sold the Duchy of Münsterberg to the Bohemian King George of Podiebrad. Since this came after the death of Boleslaw of Opole 1460 his brother Nicholas I. at his two-thirds share of Opava and 1464 by Johann II acquired the remaining third, he was able to significantly increase its political and economic influence in Silesia.

William of Opava died 1452nd His body was interred in the Holy Spirit Church in Opava.

Family

William was married to Salome, a daughter of the East Bohemian nobles Puta this year of Častolowitz and Anna, daughter of the provincial governor Albrecht of Kolditz. The couple had children

• Friedrich ( † 1470 )
• Wenceslas III. († 1474 )
• Přemysl / Primislaus III. († 1493 )
• Catherine (1443-1505), married to John II of Sagan
• Anna († 1515), abbess of the monastery Trebnitzgrund