Henry II, Duke of Świdnica

Henry II of Świdnica, (Polish: Henryk II Świdnicki, Czech: Jindřich Svídnický, German: Heinrich II. von Schweidnitz; c. 1316c. 28 June 1345), was a Duke of Świdnica from 1326 until his death (with his brother as co-ruler).

Henry II
Duke of Świdnica
Coat-of-arms of Świdnica
Bornc. 1316
Diedc. 28 June 1345
Noble familySilesian Piasts
Spouse(s)Katharina of Hungary
IssueAnna von Schweidnitz
FatherBernard of Świdnica
MotherKunigunde of Poland

He was the second and younger son of Duke Bernard of Świdnica by his wife Kunigunde, daughter of Władysław I the Elbow-high, Duke of Kuyavia and since 1320 King of Poland.

Life edit

Henry's exact date of birth is unknown, but was assumed that he was significantly younger than his older brother Bolko II the Small, because he was first mentioned only in 1337. He co-ruled with his brother since 1326 after their father's death, but at the end Bolko II take all the government into his hands.

Marriage and issue edit

By 1 June 1338 Henry II married with Katharina (d. bef. 29 June 1355), daughter of King Charles I of Hungary, from the House of Capet in the Anjou branch. They had only one daughter:

  1. Anna (b. 1339 - d. Prague, 11 July 1362), married on 27 May 1353 with Charles IV of Luxembourg, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor.

The birth of his daughter, future Holy Roman Empress, was the only important event of Henry II's life, according to the contemporary chronicles. He died by 28 June 1345. It's unknown where he was buried.

References edit

  • Marek, Miroslav. "Complete Genealogy of the House of Piast". Genealogy.EU.[self-published source][better source needed]
  • Genealogy of the Dukes of Świdnica
  • Genealogical database by Herbert Stoyan

Literature edit

  • Joachim Bahlcke, Schlesien und die Schlesier, Langen-Müller-Verlag, 2000, ISBN 3-7844-2781-2 (in German)
  • H. Grünhagen: Geschichte Schlesiens, Breslau 1878 (in German)
  • Heinrich II. (Schweidnitz)[permanent dead link]. In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Band 11, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1880, S. 615. (in German)
Henry II, Duke of Świdnica
Born: c. 1316 Died: c. 28 June 1345
Preceded by Duke of Świdnica
with Bolko II

1326–1345
Succeeded by