The Bohemian Poděbrady family ( cz, Páni z Poděbrad) was a noble family in Bohemia, arising from the Lords of Kunštát. After Boček of Kunštát (d. 1373) had acquired the Lordship of Poděbrady by marriage, he called himself "Boček of Kunštát and Poděbrady". The most prominent member of the family was George of Poděbrady, who was king of Bohemia. His sons were raised to

imperial counts (feminine: ) is a historical title of the German nobility, usually translated as "count". Considered to be intermediate among noble ranks, the title is often treated as equivalent to the British title of "earl" (whose female version is "coun ...

and Counts of Glatz. They founded the Silesian branch of the family, the Dukes of Dukes of Münsterberg ( cz, Knížata z Minsterberka).

History

Among the members of Poděbrady and Münsterberg branches of the family were some of the most important political figures in the

Kingdom of Bohemia The Kingdom of Bohemia ( cs, České království),; la, link=no, Regnum Bohemiae sometimes in English literature referred to as the Czech Kingdom, was a medieval and early modern monarchy in Central Europe, the predecessor of the modern Czec ...

in the 14th through 17th century. Among their possessions were Poděbrady in central Bohemia and the eastern Bohemian dominions Litice Castle and

Hummel Hummel may refer to: People * Hummel (surname), origin and list of people with the surname Hummel Companies * Hummel International, a Denmark-based sporting goods and apparel company * Hummel figurines * Hummel Aviation, American aircraft man ...

and parts of the territory of the former monasteries at Opatovice and

Pardubice Pardubice (; german: Pardubitz) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 89,000 inhabitants. It is the capital city of the Pardubice Region and lies on the Elbe River. The historic centre is well preserved and is protected as an urban monume ...

. After the death of Hynek Krušina of Lichtenburg, Lord of Glatz in 1454, George of Poděbrady acquired most of the possessions Hynek left behind, under a preliminary contract Hynek had signed shortly before his death. These included the Častolovice inheritance, which included the Lordship of Glatz, which George raised to a county in 1459. In 1456, he bought the Duchy of Münsterberg from Ernest of Opava. This gave him significant influence in

Silesia Silesia (, also , ) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at around 8,000,000. Silesia is spli ...

, which would provide the political and economic basis for his descendants. They founded as Dukes of Münsterberg, Oels, Bernstadt and

Opava Opava (; german: Troppau, pl, Opawa) is a city in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 55,000 inhabitants. It lies on the river Opava. Opava is one of the historical centres of Silesia. It was a historical capital of ...

the Silesian branch of the family known in Czech as . Even after they lost the Duchy of Münsterberg and sold the County of Glatz in 1501, the Silesian branch of the family continued to call themselves "Duke of Münsterberg" and "Count of Glatz" until the branch died out in 1647. Duke

Charles II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was ...

, who served as

governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

of Silesia, acquired the north Moravian Lordship of Šternberk by marriage in 1570. In 1587 he inherited the south Moravian Lordship of Jevišovice. With the death of Duke Charles Frederick I, the House of Poděbrady died out in the male line in 1647. His possessions reverted to the

Bohemian Crown The Lands of the Bohemian Crown were a number of incorporated states in Central Europe during the medieval and early modern periods connected by feudal relations under the Bohemian kings. The crown lands primarily consisted of the Kingdom of Bo ...

. Because Charles Frederick's daughter Elisabeth Marie of Münsterberg-Oels was married to

Silvius I Nimrod, Duke of Württemberg-Oels Silvius I Nimrod, Duke of Württemberg-Oels (2 May 1622, Weiltingen – 24 April 1664, Brzezinka in Silesia) was the first Duke of Oels-Württemberg. Life Silvius was the son of Duke Julius Frederick of Württemberg-Weiltingen and Anna ...

, the feudal rights on the Principality of Oels were transferred to the

House of Württemberg The House of Württemberg is a German dynasty and former royal family from Württemberg. History County The House probably originated in the vicinity of the Salian dynasty. Around 1080 the ancestors of modern Württemberg, which was then call ...

in 1648. The Moravian Lordship of Jevišovice reverted to the sovereign.

Genealogy of the Poděbrady line

* Boček I of Kunštát and Poděbrady (d. 1373), founder of the family branch of the lords of Podebrady Kunstadt. * Henry () of Kunštát and Poděbrady (died after 1376), son of Boček I. * Ješek of Kunštát and Podebrady (died after 1393), son of Boček I. * Boček II of Kunštát and Poděbrady (d. 1417) was from 1403 to 1408 ''Oberstlandschreiber'' ("chief administrator") of Bohemia. His sons were: ** John of Kunštát and Poděbrady and (died between 1407 and 1409), acquired Kost Castle, Mydlovar Castle and the Lordship of Kostomlaty through his marriage to Elizabeth of Wartenberg (). After his early death, the Poděbrady branch of the family lost John's possessions. ** Boček III of Kunštát and Poděbrady (d. 1429), followers of the

Hussites The Hussites ( cs, Husité or ''Kališníci''; "Chalice People") were a Czech proto-Protestant Christian movement that followed the teachings of reformer Jan Hus, who became the best known representative of the Bohemian Reformation. The Hu ...

** Hynek Boček of Kunštát and Poděbrady (d. 1426), captain of the East Bohemian Orebites. ** Victor of Kunštát and Poděbrady (1403–1427), was a supporter of the Hussites and the father of: *** George of Poděbrady was King of Bohemia. He increased his property with the Lordship of Glatz, which he raised to a county in 1459, as well as the Silesian Duchy of Münsterberg. After George's death in 1471 his possessions were divided by his four sons in 1472. Three of them founded the Silesian branch of the family as Dukes of Münsterberg. They and their male offspring also held the title of Count of Glatz, even though they sold the county itself in 1501.

Genealogy of the Silesian line of the Dukes of Münsterberg (offspring of George of Poděbrady)

# Boček IV of Poděbrady (1442–1496) eldest son of George of Poděbrady, the last member of family to use the title of ''Duke of Poděbrady'' # Victor of Münsterberg and Opava (d. 1500), since 1459 imperial count and Duke of Münsterberg and Count of Glatz, 1465-1485 Duke of Opava ## Joan (d. 1496), married to Duke Casimir II of Cieszyn ## Bartholomew (d. 1515), Duke of Münsterberg and Count of Glatz ## Lawrence / ''Vavřinec'' (1479–1503) ## Euphemia Magdalena (d. 1497), abbess of the Sanctuary of St. Jadwiga in Trzebnica ## Ursula / ''Uršula'' (died 1534 in

Königsberg Königsberg (, ) was the historic Prussian city that is now Kaliningrad, Russia. Königsberg was founded in 1255 on the site of the ancient Old Prussian settlement ''Twangste'' by the Teutonic Knights during the Northern Crusades, and was na ...

) ## Apolonia († 1529 in Königsberg), married to Erhard of Queis, Bishop of Pomesania # Barbara († after 1469), married firstly with Henry of Leipa, and secondly with John Křinecký of Ronov # Henry the Elder (d. 1498), since 1462 imperial count, Duke of Münsterberg and Count of Glatz ## Albert I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels (1468–1511), Duke of Münsterberg and Oels, Count of Glatz ### Ursula / ''Uršula'' (1497–1545), married to Henry / Jindřich Švihovský of Riesenberg ##

George I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd President ...

(1470–1502), Duke of Münsterberg and Oels, Count of Glatz ### Henry / ''Jindřich'' (1490) ## Margaret of Münsterberg (1473–1530) ## Charles I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels (1476–1536), Duke of Münsterberg and Oels, Count of Glatz ### Anna (born: 1499 in Glatz – died: 1504 in

Wołów Wołów (german: Wohlau, cz, Volov) is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in south-western Poland. It is the seat of Wołów County and Gmina Wołów. It lies approximately north-west of the regional capital Wrocław. , the town has a popula ...

) ### Catherine (born: 1500 in Glatz – died: 1507 in Strzelin) ### Margaret (born: 1501 in Oleśnica – died: 1551 in

Budyně Budyně is a village and municipality (''obec'') in Strakonice District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. The municipality covers an area of , and has a population of 42 (as at 2005). Budyně lies approximately south-east of S ...

Castle), married to John Zajíc of Hasenburg ### Joachim of Münsterberg-Oels (d. 1562), Duke of Münsterberg and Oels, Bishop of Brandenburg ### Kunigunde / Kunhuta (1504–1532), married to Christopher of Boskovice ### Ursula / Vorsila (1505–1539), married to Jerome of Bieberstein ###

Henry II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels Henry II of Münsterberg-Oels (also known as:''Henry II of Poděbrady'', german: Heinrich II. von Münsterberg-Oels or , cz, Jindřich II. Minstrbersko-Olešnický; 29 March 1507 – 2 August 1548, Bierutów) was from 1536 to 1542 Duke of Mü ...

(1507–1548), Duke of Munsterberg, Oels, and BernStadt, Count of Glatz #### Anna (1539–1568) #### Salomena (1540–1567), married to George of Thurn and Valsassina #### Henry III of Bernstadt (1542–1587), Duke of Münsterberg and Bernstadt, Count of Glatz #### Charles (1543) ####

(1545–1617), Duke of Münsterberg and Oels, Count of Glatz, gained the North Moravian Lordship of Šternberk through marriage in 1570; in 1587 he inherited the South Moravian Lordship of Jevišovice ##### Henry Wenceslaus the Elder, (born: 1575 in Šternberk – died: 1591 in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus ( legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

) ##### Margareta Magdalene (born: 1578 in Šternberk – died: 1578 in Šternberk) ##### George (born: 1587 in Oleśnica – died: 1587 in Oleśnica) ##### Charles (born: 1590 in Oleśnica – died: 1590 in Oleśnica) ##### Henry Wenceslaus the Younger (1592–1639) ###### Anna Elisabeth (born: 1637 in Bierutów – died: 1642 in Breslau) ##### Charles Frederick I (1593–1647); the male line of the house in Podebrady Oels ended with him. ###### Elisabeth Marie of Münsterberg-Oels (born: 1625 in Oleśnica – died: 1686 in Oleśnica), last Duchess of Münsterberg. ##### Barbara Margaret (born: 1595 in Oleśnica – died: 1652 in Oleśnica) ##### Joachim George (born: 1597 in Oleśnica – died: 1598 in Oleśnica) ##### Magdalena Elisabeth (1599–1631) married to George Rudolf of Liegnitz ##### Sophie Catherine (born: 1601 in Oleśnica – died: 1659 in

Brzeg Brzeg (; Latin: ''Alta Ripa'', German language, German: ''Brieg'', Silesian German: ''Brigg'', , ) is a town in southwestern Poland with 34,778 inhabitants (December 2021) and the capital of Brzeg County. It is situated in Silesia in the Opole V ...

), married to George III of Brzeg (d. 1664) #### Catherine (born: 1548 in Bernstadt – died: 1579 in Oleśnica), married to Jiří

Berka of Dubá Berka of Dubá ( cs, Berka z Dubé) was a cadet branch of a Bohemian noble family of Lords of Dubá established by Hynek Berka of Dubá (1249–1306). It held estates in what is today the Czech Republic and Saxony in Germany throughout the Mi ...

### Hedwig (born: 1508 in Oleśnica – died: 1531 in

Legnica Legnica (Polish: ; german: Liegnitz, szl, Lignica, cz, Lehnice, la, Lignitium) is a city in southwestern Poland, in the central part of Lower Silesia, on the Kaczawa River (left tributary of the Oder) and the Czarna Woda. Between 1 June 19 ...

), married in 1525 George of Brandenburg-Ansbach -Kulmbach ###

John, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels John of Münsterberg-Oels (also known as ''John of Poděbrady''; german: Johann von Münsterberg-Bernstadt; cz, Hanuš z Minstrberka; 4 November 1509, Oleśnica – 28 February 1565, Oleśnica) was Duke of the Münsterberg from 1542 to 1565, Du ...

(1509–1565), Duke of Münsterberg and Oels, Count of Glatz ####

Charles Christopher, Duke of Münsterberg Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was " ...

(d. 1569), Duke of Münsterberg and Oels, Count of Glatz ###

George II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels George II of Münsterberg-Oels (also: ''George II of Poděbrady''; german: Georg II. (Münsterberg-Oels), cz, Jiří II z Minstrberka; 30 April 1512 in Oleśnica – 13 January 1553 in Oleśnica) was a Duke of Münsterberg 1536–1542 and Duke o ...

(1512–1553), Duke of Münsterberg and Oels, Count of Glatz ## Magdalena (born: 1482 Glatz – died: 1513 in Oleśnica) ## Sidonie/ Zdena (born: 1483 in Glatz – died: 1522 ibid), married in 1515 with Ulrich of Hardegg # Catherine of Poděbrady (1449–1464), married to King

Matthias Corvinus Matthias Corvinus, also called Matthias I ( hu, Hunyadi Mátyás, ro, Matia/Matei Corvin, hr, Matija/Matijaš Korvin, sk, Matej Korvín, cz, Matyáš Korvín; ), was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1458 to 1490. After conducting several mi ...

of Hungary # Sidonie / Zdena (born: 1449 in Poděbrady – died: 1510 in Tharandt), married to the Duke Albert III "the Courageous" of Saxony # Henry the Younger (died: 1492), since 1462 imperial count, also Duke of Münsterberg and Count of Glatz ## Anna (born: 1470 in Litice Castle – died: 1517 in Jindřichův Hradec), married to Henry IV of Neuhaus ## Frederick / Bedrich (died after 1492), illegitimate son # Frederick / Bedrich (born: 1453 or 1454 – died: 1459) # George / Jiří (born: 1454 or 1455 – died: 1459 or 1462) # Ludmila of Poděbrady (born: 1456 – died: 1503 in Legnica), married to Frederick I of Legnica # John (born: after 1456 – died: 1459)

References and sources

* Ondřej Felcman, Radek Fukala u. a.: ''Poděbradové. Rod českomoravských pánů, kladských hrabat a sleszkých knížat''. Nakladatelství Lidové Noviny 2008, * Lydia Baštecká, Ivana Ebelová, 'Náchod', Náchod 2004, , p. 43-58

External links

* *
Graphical representation of the family (with coats of arms)
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