Jan I of Żagań | |
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Spouse(s) | Scholastika of Saxe-Wittenberg |
Noble family | House of Piast |
Father | Henry VIII the Sparrow |
Mother | Katharina of Opole |
Born | c. 1385 |
Died | 12 April 1439 |
Jan I of Żagań (Polish: Jan I żagański) (c. 1385 – 12 April 1439) was a Duke of Żagań-Głogów, since 1397 (until 1412 with his brothers as co-rulers), since 1403 Duke of Żagań, Krosno Odrzańskie and Świebodzin (again, until 1412 with his brothers as co-rulers) and since 1412 sole ruler of Żagań and Przewóz.
He was the eldest son of Henry VIII the Sparrow, Duke of Głogów by his wife Katharina, daughter of Duke Władysław of Opole.
At the time of Henry VIII's death (14 March 1397) his sons were minors. Duke Rupert I of Legnica took the regency of Głogów until 1401, when Jan I formally assumed the guardianship over his younger brothers Henry IX the Older, Henry X Rumpold and Wenceslaus and began his personal rule in Szprotawa, Przemków, Sulechów, half of Głogów, and Bytom Odrzański.
In 1403 their aunt Hedwig of Legnica (Henry VI the Older's widow) renounced to her Oprawa wdowia (Żagań, Krosno Odrzańskie and Świebodzin) to Jan I and his brothers, who ruled jointly all the lands. Thanks to the Privilege of Elector Rudolf III of Saxony in 1408 he could maintain the unity of his Duchy, despite the protest of his brothers, who claimed their own districts. Ultimately, the division was made in 1412: Jan I retained Żagań, and one year later (in 1413) he also took possession over the Duchy of Przewóz, in the Polish-German border area (obtained as a result of his marriage with Scholastika, a daughter of Elector Rudolph III).