Casimir I, Duke of Cieszyn

Casimir I of Cieszyn (Polish: Kazimierz I cieszyński, Czech: Kazimír I. (Těšín), German: Kasimir I. (Teschen); b. 1280/90 - d. by 29 September 1358), was Duke of Cieszyn from 1315, Duke of Siewierz since 1337 and Duke of Bytom since 1357.

He was the second son of Mieszko I, Duke of Cieszyn by his wife, probably called Grzymisława.

Life

After death of his father in 1315, Casimir I gained the southwestern part of the duchy, centered around the town of Cieszyn. His marriage with Euphemia of Czersk founded a tradition of relationships of Cieszyn Piast with Masovian Piasts.

Casimir I initially had good relations with Władysław I the Elbow-high, who became the King of Poland in 1320. But when during 1321-1324 Lithuanian forces supporting Elbow-high plundered Cieszyn, Casimir I broke up with the Polish King. He then became a closer ally of John of Luxembourg, King of Bohemia and swore homage to him on 8 February 1327 in Opawa; in exchange for his submission, Casimir I received the promise of inheritance over Oświęcim. Fifteen days later, on 23 February, he received Cieszyn as a hereditary possession, maintaining a large internal sovereignty.

Casimir I wanted to maintain the territorial unity of his Duchy, so he chose only one of his sons to be his successor —firstly the eldest, Władysław, and after his early death in 1355 the third but the only who remained outside the Church career, Przemysław Noszak— and the others were destined to the Church career. In 1337 he acquired the districts of Siewierz and Czeladź from the Dukes of Bytom by 720 fines; also, he took (temporarily), the town of Namysłów from the Dukes of Brzeg, as a part of the dowry of his daughter Anna.

When Duke Leszek of Racibórz died in 1336, Casimir I tried unsuccessfully to obtain his lands. King John of Bohemia granted this land to Duke Nicholas II of Opawa.

In 1355, after the death of Bolesław, Duke of Koźle-Bytom without male issue, Casimir I entered in a conflict over his inheritance with Konrad I of Oleśnica. The dispute was only resolved in 1357 (the decision was made as early as 1355, but Bytom remained until that time under the rule of Margareta of Sternberg —Bolesław's widow— as her Oprawa wdowia): the Duke of Cieszyn took possession over half of Bytom and Gliwice, Toszek and Pyskowice.

In the internal politics, Casimir I supported the economic development of his Duchy, mostly towns. He also surrounded Cieszyn with walls and by 1320 granted the town of Bielsko with German laws.

Casimir I died in 1358 (although there are some indications that he lived until 1360, but this is refuted by the majority of historians) and was buried in the Dominican church of Cieszyn.

Marriage and Issue

By 1321, Casimir I married with Euphemia (b. 1310 - d. aft. 11 January 1374), daughter of Duke Trojden I of Czersk-Warsaw. They had nine children:

1. Anna (b. 1325 - d. 1367), married in 1338 to Duke Wenceslaus I of Legnica.
2. Władysław (b. 1325/31 - d. May 1355).
3. Jolanta Helena (b. ca. 1331 - d. 20 March 1403), Abbess of St.Clara in Kraków.
4. Bolesław (b. ca. 1331/32 - d. Prague, 23 July 1356).
5. Przemysław I Noszak (b. 1332/36 - d. 23 May 1410).
6. Agnes (b. 1338 - d. by 27 April 1371), married by 23 February 1354 to Duke Konrad II of Oleśnica.
7. Jan (b. 1339/40 - d. aft. 18 May 1359).
8. Siemowit (b. ca. 1340 - d. 25 September 1391).
9. Elisabeth (b. aft. 1340? - d. aft. 20 January 1364), a nun in Trzebnica.

References

• Panic, Idzi (2002). Poczet Piastów i Piastówien cieszyńskich. Cieszyn: Urząd Miejski. ISBN 83-917095-4-X. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)