Henry the Bearded

Henry the Bearded
19th century portrait by Jan Matejko
High Duke of Poland
Reign	1232–1238
Predecessor	Konrad I of Masovia
Successor	Henry II the Pious
Duke of Silesia
Reign	1201–1238
Predecessor	Bolesław I the Tall
Successor	Henry II the Pious
Born	c. 1165 Głogów, Duchy of Silesia
Died	19 March 1238 Krosno Odrzańskie
Burial	Trzebnica Abbey
Spouse	Hedwig of Andechs
Issue	Henry II the Pious Konrad the Curly
House	Silesian Piasts
Father	Bolesław I the Tall
Mother	Christina(?)

Henry the Bearded (Polish: Henryk Brodaty, German: Heinrich der Bärtige); c. 1165/70 – 19 March 1238), of the Silesian line of the Piast dynasty, was Duke of Silesia at Wrocław from 1201 and Duke of Kraków and thus High Duke of all Poland — internally divided — from 1232 until his death.

Henry was the fourth son of Duke Bolesław I the Tall of Silesia, by his second wife Christina, probably a German. He was born in Głogów (Glogau), Lower Silesia. Henry's three older brothers Boleslaw, Conrad and John (1174-1190) died. His older half-brother Jarosław of Opole became a priest, possibly because of the scheming of Henry's mother Christina. Henry became Bolesław's sole heir in 1190. Through his marriage with Hedwig of Andechs (1182–1189), Henry was connected to the rulers of Germany, Hungary, Bohemia, and France.

Henry's father, Bolesław I, died 8 December 1201. Early in 1202 Henry's uncle, Duke Mieszko IV Tanglefoot of Upper Silesia, attacked and took the Duchy of Opole (Oppeln), which had passed from Jarosław's possession into Henry's. Mieszko wanted more than Opole, but was opposed by Archbishop of Gniezno, Henry Kietlicz and the Bishop of Wrocław, Cyprian. They supported Henry because he paid them 1,000 pieces of silver.