Frederick II of Legnica
| Frederick II | |
|---|---|
Frederick II of Legnica
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| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Jagiellon Sophie of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Kulmbach |
| Noble family | Piast |
| Father | Frederick I of Legnica |
| Mother | Ludmila of Poděbrady |
| Born |
12 February 1480 Legnica |
| Died | 17 September 1547 (aged 67) Legnica |
Frederick II, Duke of Legnica (Polish: Fryderyk II Legnicki) (12 February 1480 – 17 September 1547), also known as the Great of Legnica (Polish: Legnicki Wielki), was a Duke of Legnica from 1488 (until 1495 and 1505 with his brothers), of Brzeg from 1521. The most notorious of all Legnica Piast rulers, thanks to his excellent financial politics his Duchy was expanded to the Oder River, and he became the founder of the Duchy of Legnica-Wołów-Brzeg (German: Herzogtum Liegnitz-Wohlau-Brieg).
He was the second son of Frederick I, Duke of Chojnów-Oława-Legnica-Brzeg-Lubin, by his wife Ludmila, daughter of George of Poděbrady, King of Bohemia.
A minor at the death of his father in 1488, Frederick II and his brothers John II and George I inherited Legnica, Chojnów and Lubin under the regency of their mother, Dowager Duchess Ludmila, regnant Duchess of Brzeg and Oława as a Oprawa wdowią. During his early years, the young Dukes spent some time in Prague, at the court of King Vladislaus II of Bohemia.
The premature death of his older brother John II in 1495 left Frederick II as the Head of his house, but he remained under his mother's tutelage for another three years, until 1498, when he could take over by himself the government of Legnica. When George I also reached adulthood in 1505, both brothers decided to divide their domains. Frederick II kept Legnica and all the minor Duchies, and George I obtained Brzeg (which after the death of Ludmila in 1503 reverted to them with Oława) and Lubin.
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