Henry III the White, Duke of Wrocław

Henry III the White
Seal of Duke Henry III
Duke of Silesia-Wrocław
Reign	1248–1266
Predecessor	Bolesław II Rogatka
Successor	Henryk IV Probus
Born	c. 1227/1230
Died	3 December 1266
Spouse	Judith of Masovia Helene of Saxony
Issue	Henryk IV Probus
House	Silesian Piasts
Father	Henry II the Pious
Mother	Anne of Bohemia

Henry III the White (Polish: Henryk III Biały) (c. 1227/1230 – 3 December 1266), a member of the Silesian Piasts, was Duke of Silesia at Wrocław from 1248 until his death, as co-ruler with his brother Władysław.

He was the third son of the Polish high duke Henry II the Pious, by his wife Princess Anna, daughter of the Přemyslid king Ottokar I of Bohemia. After the heroic death of his father at the Battle of Legnica on 9 April 1241, Henry III was still a minor and found himself under the care of the mother together with his youngest brothers Konrad and Władysław.

In 1242, the unexpected death of his brother Mieszko, placed him in the second place immediately after his oldest brother Bolesław II the Bald. Since then, he became in the head of the political opposition in the Lower Silesia against the government of Bolesław II.

The first appearance of Henry III as adult was found only in 1247; however, Bolesław II didn't have any intentions to share the power with him. He only changed his mind after the revolt of his brothers, who even captured him. Henry III was made the co-ruler with his older brother. The cooperation between the brothers was not very good and a year later, under pressure from Henry III, they decided to make a division of the districts Legnica–Głogów–Lubusz and Wrocław. Bolesław, as the older brother, had the opportunity to choose his district; he decided on Legnica, because gold had been discovered in the Kaczawa and Wierzbiak Rivers.