Henry II the Pious

Servant of God Henry II the Pious
19th century portrait by Jan Matejko
High Duke of Poland
Reign	1238–1241
Predecessor	Henry I the Bearded
Successor	Konrad I of Masovia
Duke of Silesia
Reign	1238–1241
Predecessor	Henry I the Bearded
Successor	Bolesław II the Bald
Born	c. 1196
Died	9 April 1241 Legnickie Pole
Burial	St Vincent's Church, Wrocław
Spouse	Anne of Bohemia
Issue	Constance of Wrocław Bolesław II the Bald Mieszko of Lubusz Henry III the White Konrad I of Głogów Elisabeth of Wrocław Ladislaus of Salzburg
House	Silesian Piasts
Father	Henry I the Bearded
Mother	Hedwig of Andechs

Servant of God Henry II the Pious (Polish: Henryk II Pobożny) (1196 – 9 April 1241), of the Silesian line of the Piast dynasty was Duke of Silesia at Wrocław and Duke of Kraków and thus High Duke of all Poland as well as Duke of Southern Greater Poland from 1238 until his death. During 1238–1239 he also served as a regent of two other Piast duchies: Sandomierz and Upper Silesian Opole–Racibórz. On October 2015, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Legnica opened up his cause for beatification, obtaining him the title as Servant of God.

Henry II was the second son of the Polish High Duke Henry I the Bearded, Duke of Silesia-Wrocław, by his wife (and later Saint) Hedwig of Andechs, daughter of Duke Berthold IV of Merania. His elder brother Bolesław died in 1206. In 1213, his younger brother Konrad the Curly died during a hunt, leaving Henry II as the sole heir of Lower Silesia. Around 1218 his father arranged his marriage to Princess Anna, daughter of King Ottokar I of Bohemia. This union with the royal Přemyslid dynasty allowed Henry II to participate actively in international politics.