George II of Brieg

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George II
Duke of Brzeg
John George of Oława
Sophie
Elisabeth Magdalena
FatherFrederick II of Legnica
MotherSophie of Brandenburg-Ansbach

George II of Brieg (18 July 1523, in Legnica – 7 May 1586, in Brzeg), was a Duke of Brzeg from 1547 until his death.

He was the second son of Frederick II, Duke of Legnica-Brzeg, by his second wife Sophie, daughter of Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach.

Life

After the death of his father in 1547, George II inherited the Duchy of Brzeg (which included the towns of Oława, Strzelin, Niemcza, Kluczbork, Byczyna, Wołów and Ścinawa).

In 1548, the early death of his relative

Duchy of Oleśnica on behalf of his sons Henry III and Charles II until 1569. Three year later, in 1551, the insubordination of his elder brother Frederick III of Legnica caused his deposition from the government and the appointing of his infant son Henry XI of Legnica as the new Duke of Legnica. George II became in the regent of the Duchy on behalf of his nephew, jointly with Balthasar von Promnitz
, until 1556, when Frederick III managed to return to Legnica and retake the power.

During all his reign he maintain a good relationship to the Habsburgs (despite being a

Frederick II the Great
during the siege of Brzeg. As a Lutheran, he was totally committed with the reforms started by his father. He also built the Gymnasium (high school) in Brzeg (1564–1569) and, after the fire of Brzeg in 1569, the new City Hall and the towers of the St. Nicholas Church.

Marriage and issue

In

Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg
. They had seven children:

  1. Barbara (b. 24 September 1548 – d. 29 September 1565).
  2. Joachim Frederick (b. 29 September 1550 – d. Brzeg, 25 March 1602).
  3. John George
    (b. 17 June 1552 – d. Ohlau, 6 July 1592).
  4. Sophie (b. 19 November 1556 – d. 24 August 1594).
  5. Magdalena (b. 14 October 1560 – d. 2 February 1562).
  6. A daughter (b. and d. 6 April 1561).
  7. Elisabeth Magdalena (b. Brzeg, 17 November 1562 – d. Oels, 1 February 1630), married on 1 October 1585 to
    Charles II of Poděbrady, Duke of Münsterberg
    (Ziębice)-Oels.

On George II's death, his sons received all his domains except Brzeg, who was given to his widow until her own death.

References

  • Genealogical database by Herbert Stoyan
  • Marek, Miroslav. "Complete Genealogy of the House of Piast: Silesia". Genealogy.EU.[
    better source needed
    ]
  • JERZY II WSPANIAŁY (BRZESKI, POBOŻNY, CZARNY)
George II of Brieg
House of Piast
Born: 18 July 1523 Died: 7 May 1586
Preceded by Duke of Brzeg
1547–1586
Succeeded by
Duke of Oława
1547–1586
Succeeded by
John George
Duke of Wołów
1547–1586