Casimir II, Duke of Cieszyn

Kazimierz II ( _cs. Kazimír II., _de. Kasimir II.) (around 1448 - 13 December 1528) was the Duke of Cieszyn. He was the son of Bolesław II, Duke of Cieszyn and Anna.

After death of his father he was raised by his uncle Przemysław II. In 1460 received from his uncle the town of Bielsko and surrounding villages, he was 12 years old then. When Przemysław II died in 1477 Kazimierz took over the control over the whole Duchy of Cieszyn. He ruled alone as his uncles haven't had male descendants.

On the international stage Kazimierz II initially supported Matthias Corvinus, king of Bohemia but he later changed somewhat his stances and leaned towards Władysław Jagiellończyk. Kazimierz II eventually lost his loose control over the half of Głogów to Jan II of Żagań and Matthias Corvinus.

After the death of Matthias Corvinus in 1490, he served to Władysław Jagiellończyk and was several times promoted in the public service. Bohemian king gave him the Duchy of Głogów for lifetime and also agreed with seizure of the Duchy of Opava.

In internal politics he showed hardline stances in the fight against banditry in the duchy. He was also a skilled ruler in the economic sphere. During his rule the duchy have been economically stabilized. Further development of the towns occurred, they received many privileges from Kazimierz II. He cared especially about the capital town of Cieszyn, where he founded a town square which persists to date.

In the early 1480s he married Joanna, daughter of Viktorín of Poděbrady. They had two sons: Fryderyk and Wacław. Fryderyk died in 1507 and Wacław II, who was viewed as father's successor, died in 1524, four years before his father. Next Duke of Cieszyn therefore became Wacław III Adam, son of Wacław II and grandson of Kazimierz II.

References

* cite book
last = Panic
first = Idzi
authorlink=Idzi Panic
coauthors =
title = Poczet Piastów i Piastówien cieszyńskich
publisher = Urząd Miejski
date = 2002
location = Cieszyn
pages =
url =
doi =
id = ISBN 83-917095-4-X