Casimir I of Oświęcim


Casimir I of Oświęcim was a Duke of Oświęcim since 1406, ruler over Toszek and Strzelin.
He was the only child of Duke Przemysław of Oświęcim by his unknown wife.

Life

After his father's death on 1 January 1406, Casimir I was placed under the care of his paternal grandfather, Duke Przemysław I Noszak of Cieszyn, and, after his death in 1410, his guardianship was taken by his uncle Bolesław I.
On 19 December 1414 Casimir I took formal possession of his Duchy of Oświęcim, along with the towns of Toszek and Gliwice. However, the ambitions of the young Duke erupted then and claimed more lands from his uncle. The conflict ended only two years later, on 11 November 1416 when, the Duke of Cieszyn give the town of Strzelin and 300 fines as payment to Casimir I. Bolesław I retained the rest of his lands.
In 1424 Casimir I took part in the coronation of Sophia of Halshany as Queen of Poland. However, this doesn't mean that the Duke of Oświęcim maintain a pro-Polish politics; in fact, he began at the same time his contacts to with the Bohemian King Sigismund of Luxembourg, and even spend some time in his court.
In 1428 Casimir I land's were plundered by the Hussites. During their incursions over Silesia, were burned the towns of Kęty, Toszek and Pyskowice. Another of town who belonged to the Duke of Oświęcim, Gliwice, become in a major Hussite base on Upper Silesia. The struggles with the hussites in the region lasted until 1433, when Casimir I was able to recover Gliwice thanks to the unexpected help of Duke Nicholas V of Karniów.
Casimir I died in 1434 and was buried in the Dominican church in Oświęcim.

Marriages and Issue

Before 28 May 1417 Casimir I married firstly with Anna, daughter of Duke Henry VIII of Żagań. They had three sons:
  1. Wenceslaus I.
  2. Przemysław.
  3. Jan IV.
By 1433, Casimir I married secondly with Margareta, daughter of Jan II of Iron, Duke of Racibórz. They had no children.