Henry IV the Faithful

Henry IV (II) the Faithful (c. 1292 – 22 January 1342) was a Duke of Żagań and parts of Greater Poland from 1309 until 1317 (with his brothers in all the lands except Głogów in different divisions among them), Duke of Głogów from 1318 until 1321 (with his brother as co-ruler) and sole ruler over Żagań from 1321 until his death.

He was the oldest son of Henry III (I), Duke of Głogów, by his wife Matilda, daughter of Albert I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. The nickname of "Faithful" (Wierny) only was given to him in the 14th century chronicles.

Henry III prepared his eldest son in political affairs from his early years. In 1296 he took the four-years-old Henry with him to peace negotiations with the Duke Władysław I the Elbow-high of Kuyavia in Krzywin. The young prince Henry had an important part in this meeting: Władysław I designated him his heir over the Duchy of Poznań in case he died without male issue; in addition, the Duke of Kuyavia was also forced to secure the succession of Henry III's descendants over all the Duchy of Głogów. However, this agreement was dismissed when Władysław I began to have sons, and in this way, the chances of inheritance of Henry IV over Poznań were small.

Henry III died on 9 December 1309 and Henry IV succeeded him over all his lands except Głogów, which was taken by his mother Matilda as her Oprawa wdowia. Although he was seventeen years old, an age considered enough to rule alone according to the Piast dynasty customs, for unknown reasons, he remained, with his immediate younger brother Konrad, under the regency of their mother until 1312.

In 1312 Henry IV made the first division of the Duchy: the eastern part, consisting of the towns of Oleśnica, Kluczbork, Kalisz and Gniezno was given to his younger brothers Konrad and Bolesław. Henry IV and his youngest brothers Jan and Przemko II retained Ścinawa, Żagań and Greater Poland.

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