Balthasar of Żagań

Balthasar, Duke of Żagań (Polish: Baltazar żagański; c. 1415 – Przewóz, 15 July 1472), was a Duke of Żagań-Przewóz since 1439 (with his brothers as co-rulers until 1449), from 1449 Duke of Żagań. Deposed during 1461–1468, he recovered the Duchy in this year until shortly before his death.

He was the oldest son of Duke Jan I of Żagań by his wife Scholastika, daughter of Rudolf III, Duke of Saxe-Wittemberg and Elector of Saxony. He was named after his maternal great-grandfather, Balthasar, Landgrave of Thuringia (Scholastika's maternal grandfather).

After his father's death in 1439, he inherited the Duchy of Żagań with his younger brothers Rudolf, Wenceslaus and Jan II the Mad. In 1449 the Duchy was divided into two districts: Żagań and Przewóz. Balthasar and Rudolf received Żagań as co-rulers while Przewóz was give to Jan II and Wenceslaus, also as co-rulers.

In 1450, together with Rudolf, Balthasar went on a pilgrimage to Rome. Shortly after his return, he had to face the claims of his brother Jan II who, dissatisfied with the part of the lands which had received, asked the review of the divisionary treaty. The dispute was settle amicably in 1453, thanks to the mediation of their uncle, Frederick of Saxony.

In 1454 Rudolf was killed during the Thirteen Years' War in the Battle of Chojnice, fighting at the side of the Teutonic Knights. After his death, Balthasar went to Prussia (Polish region), fighting on the Teutonic side and trying to gain a Lieutenancy. Without obtaining this position, he returned to Żagań in 1457. On his return, he found a complicated situation, as Jan II established himself as a Governor of the Duchy during his absence, and forced the Żagań states to paid homage to him.

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