Charles II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels | |
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Charles II of Münsterberg-Oels - engraving by Johann Christoph Sysang (1722)
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Spouse(s) | Catherine Berka of Duba Elisabeth Magdalena of Brieg |
Noble family | House of Poděbrady |
Father | Henry II, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels |
Mother | Margaret of Mecklenburg-Schwerin |
Born |
Oleśnica |
15 April 1545
Died | 28 January 1617 Oleśnica |
(aged 71)
Charles II of Münsterberg-Oels (also: Charles II of Poděbrady; Czech: Karel II. z Minsterberka; 15 April 1545, Oleśnica – 28 January 1617, Oleśnica) was Duke of Oels from 1565 to 1617 and Duke of Bernstadt from 1604 to 1617. He also held the titles of Duke of Münsterberg and Count of Glatz. From 1608 to 1617 he was Governor of Silesia under the emperors Rudolf and Matthias.
Charles II was a member of the Münsterberg branch of the House of Poděbrady. His parents were Henry II of Münsterberg and Oels (1507–1548) and Margaret (1515–1559), daughter of Duke Henry V of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
In 1561, Charles II went to Vienna with his tutor to study. In Vienna, he lived at the court of Emperor Ferdinand I. After Ferdinand's death in 1565, he stayed for another six years at the court of Emperor Maximilian II, whom he accompanied at all diets as well as on journeys to Hungary and further.
After the death of his uncle John of Poděbrady in 1565 Charles inherited the Duchy of Oels. On 17 September 1570 he married Catherine Berka of Duba (1553–1583) at Moravská Třebová. Through this marriage he acquired to Lordship of Šternberk in North Moravia, which remained in his family until 1647. After Catherine's death in 1583, Charles married Elisabeth Magdalena (1562–1630), daughter of the Duke George II of Brzeg, on 30 September 1585.