Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Opole
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His Eminence Karol Ferdynand Vasa |
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Prince of Poland Bishop of Wrocław Bishop of Płock Duke of Opole |
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Portrait by Daniel Schultz
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| Noble family | Vasa |
| Father | Sigismund III Vasa |
| Mother | Constance of Austria |
| Born |
October 13, 1613 Warsaw, Poland |
| Died | May 9, 1655 (aged 41) Wyszków, Poland |
| Buried | Jesuits' Church, Warsaw |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Prince Charles Ferdinand Vasa (Polish: Karol Ferdynand Waza; October 13, 1613 in Warsaw – May 9, 1655 in Wyszków), was a Polish nobleman, prince, priest, Bishop of Wrocław from 1625, bishop of Płock from 1640 and Duke of Opole from 1648 to 1655.
Charles Ferdinand was the fourth son of King Sigismund III Vasa and his wife Constance of Austria and the brother of John Casimir, John Albert, Alexander Charles and Anna Catherine Constance. Charles Ferdinand spent his childhood and youth in the care of his mother at the royal court in Warsaw. On March 23, 1624, he received from Pope Urban VIII dispensation, allowing him to take the dignity of being a canon in Wrocław. In this case, cardinal-protector Cosmo de Torres intervened with the pope.
On May 3, 1625, through the political efforts of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor, he was appointed the Bishop of Wrocław. On October 22, 1625 he received papal approval for the post. On January 18, 1626, despite being a minor (13 years old) and not having a proper ordination ceremony he was officially installed as bishop.
After the death of his mother in 1631, together with his brother John Casimir he inherited the wealthy city of Żywiec in Lesser Poland. During the reign of Władysław IV, Charles Ferdinand resided mainly in Warsaw. Being a close relative of the royal court, however, he was not interested in politics and had no ambition to acquire the secular authorities. Between 1632 and 1648 he devoted his time mostly to administrative work, financial affairs and accumulation of ecclesiastical benefice. In 1640 he was appointed the Bishop of Płock. After his coming of age, Charles Ferdinand decided never to accept the ordination of priesthood and gave the control of the Archdiocese of Wrocław to other influential bishops and priests that would be in charge like Bishop John von Balthasar Liesch Hornau and Archdeacon Peter Gebauer. Similarly, with the Archdiocese of Płock, he gave control over the sect to Stanisław Starczewski and Wojciech Tolibowski
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