Jan II the Good

Jan II of Opole (Polish: Jan II Dobry) (c. 1460 – 27 March 1532) was a Duke of Opole-Brzeg (until 1481)-Strzelce-Niemodlin in 1476 (with his brothers as co-rulers during 1476), ruler over Gliwice (in 1494), Toszek (in 1495), Niemodlin (again, in 1497), Bytom (in 1498), Koźle (in 1509), and Racibórz (in 1521). He belonged to the silesian branch of the Polish Piast dynasty which was the oldest branch of the first Polish royal dynasty.

He was born as the second son of Duke Nicholas I of Opole by his wife Agnes, daughter of Duke Louis II of Brzeg.

After the death of his father and eldest brother Louis in 1476, Jan II initially shared the government over the Duchy with his younger brother Nicholas II. Soon, however, probably still in 1476, the brothers decided to make the division of their domains: Jan II took over the governments over Opole, Strzelce and Brzeg, while Nicholas II received Niemodlin. However, this division was only a formality as the two brothers continue to co-rule their whole inheritance.

During his long life Jan II led the already small Duchy of Opole to a significant economic development. Not without significance was also his constant acquisition of lands in Upper Silesia, who became him one of the most powerful Silesian rulers.

However, the first years of the rule of Jan II weren't successfully. Actually, in 1477 together with Nicholas II, the Duke bought Prudnik from Duke Konrad X of Oleśnica, but four years later (in 1481), under the pressures of Duke Frederick I of Legnica the brothers must agree to redeem the pledge over Brzeg since 1450.

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