Konrad Spindleshanks

Konrad Spindleshanks (Polish: Konrad Laskonogi; b. 1146/57 - d. by 17 January 1190), was a Duke of Głogów since 1177 until his death.

He was the third and youngest surviving son of Władysław II the Exile by his wife Agnes of Babenberg, daughter of Margrave Leopold III of Austria and half-sister of King Conrad III of Germany.

Life

Silesian Piasts

Little is known about Konrad's first years of life. He probably was born around 1146 in Altenburg, were his family lived in exile after Władysław II's deposition. As the youngest child, he was prepared for an ecclestical career at the Benedictine Abbey of Fulda. He was still a minor in 1163, when his elder brothers Bolesław I the Tall and Mieszko I Tanglefoot, backed by the Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, returned to Poland and received the Duchy of Silesia from their uncle High Duke Bolesław IV the Curly. Konrad probably remained in Germany at that time.

Bolesław I the Tall and Mieszko I Tanglefoot first ruled jointly but soon came into conflict with each other and in 1173 divided the Duchy. Bolesław then ruled over the larger part of Lower Silesia including Wrocław and Głogów and Mieszko obtained Racibórz and Cieszyn. When Konrad came of age he return to Silesia and also claimed his rights, nevertheless as the quarrels between the brothers continued, it was not until 1177, when Bolesław I the Tall at the instance of the High Duke Casimir II the Just ceded the newly established Duchy of Głogów to him.

Konrad had never married and had no children. As he is not mentioned after 1178, he may have died shortly afterwards, although some sources ranked his death aroun 1190. His domains were inherited by his brother Bolesław.

References

This article incorporates information from the revision as of 16 June 2009 of the equivalent article on the Polish Wikipedia.