Henry II the Pious
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Henry II the Pious (Polish: Henryk II Pobożny, German: Heinrich II der Fromme; 1196/1207 – April 9, 1241) of Silesia was the third son of Henry I the Bearded and of Hedwig of Andechs (Pol. Jadwiga Śląska, Ger. Hl. Hedwig von Andechs).
He was married to Anna of Bohemia, the daughter of Ottokar I of Bohemia.
Henry the Pious succeeded his father in 1238 and became the most powerful of all of the dukes from Polish dynasty of Piasts[1] competing to unify Piast territories and for the title of King of Poland. He united the majority of territories of Fragmented Poland (Silesia, Greater Poland and Little Poland).
In 1239, Henry the Pious supported Pope Gregory IX in the latter's conflict with Emperor Frederick II.
Henry the Pious, the father of Henry III the White, was able to defend his territories against Brandenburg.
Henry was killed fighting the Mongols at the Battle of Legnica (1241). His corpse could only be identified among the thousands of beheaded and mutilated corpses because of his eleven toes.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Encyklopedia Powszechna PWN Warsaw 1975 vol. III page 505
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| Preceded by Henry I the Bearded |
Duke of Wroclaw 1238-1241 |
Succeeded by Bolesław II the Bald |
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