Henry I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels

Henry I, Duke of Münsterberg-Oels
Henry I, Duke of Münsterberg
Spouse(s)	Ursula of Brandenburg
Noble family	House of Poděbrady
Father	George of Poděbrady, King of Bohemia
Mother	Kunigunde of Sternberg
Born	1448
Died	1498 Glatz

Henry the Elder of Münsterberg (also called Henry I of Münsterberg, Henry I of Oels; Czech: Jindřich starší z Minstrberka or Jindřich starší z Poděbrad; German: Heinrich der Ältere von Münsterberg or Heinrich I. von Oels; 1448 – 1498, Kłodzko) was an Imperial Count and Count of Kladsko. He was also Duke of Silesian duchies Münsterberg and Oels and 1465–1472 Duke of Opava. At times, he served as the Landeshauptmann and governor of Bohemia.

Henry was descended from the Poděbrady branch of the Kunštát family. His parents were King George of Poděbrady of Bohemia and Kunigunde of Sternberg. In order of siblings Henry was the third son after the older brothers Boček and Victor.

Henry was initially planned by his father, George of Poděbrady, as his successor. As early as 1459 Emperor Frederick III appointed Henry's older brother Victor to imperial count. On 7 December 1462 the Emperor appointed Henry and his younger half-brother of the same name Henry the Younger to imperial count. At the same time, the Emperor confirmed the appointment by King George in 1459 of Victor, Henry the Elder and Henry the Younger as dukes of Münsterberg and counts of Kladsko. After their father also acquired the Duchy of Opava in 1464, he gave this duchy in 1465 to his sons Henry the Elder, Victor and Henry the Younger. Although Henry and his brothers adhered to the Catholic faith, the Pope refused to recognize their royal titles because the Ban imposed on George of Poděbrady should also apply to his sons.