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- BIOGRAPHY
Wladislaw was born about 1225, the second son of Kasimir I, duke of Oppeln (Opole), and his wife Viola. At the time of his father's death in 1230, both Wladislaw and his older brother Mieszko II 'the Fat' were still minors, and were placed under the care of their mother Viola and Henryk I 'the Bearded', Herzog von Schlesien und Krakau. In 1234 Henryk, wishing to take full control over Opole, moved the young dukes to Kalisz, but without denying their hereditary rights. Four years later Mieszko II attained his majority, and Henryk II 'the Pious' (son and successor of Henryk I 'the Bearded') was forced to grant him the government over Opole and Racibórz (Ratibor). Despite this, Wladislaw and his mother Viola remained in Kalisz (Kalisch), where she acted as regent on his behalf until 1241, when Wladislaw was declared an adult able to rule by himself.
The death of Henryk II 'the Pious' in 1241 at the Battle of Legnica put in jeopardy Wladislaw's rule over Kalisz and Wielun; the loss of these lands appeared to be only a matter of time, because of the pretensions of Przemyslaw I, duke of Poland, who wanted to recover them. Eventually, Wladislaw lost Kalisz in 1244 and Wielun in 1249.
In 1246 Mieszko II died without issue, leaving all his lands to his brother Wladislaw. Soon after, the new duke lost the fortress of Lelów, acquired by Mieszko II three years before. Despite this poor beginning to his rule, Wladislaw negotiated skilfully with the other Piast duchies, which allowed to him to preserve his frontiers. By the first half of the 13th century, Wladislaw's relations with the dukes of Greater Poland were normalised. Wladislaw finally gave up his claims over Kalisz and Wielun, and as a part of his new alliance with Greater Poland, in 1251 he married Euphemia of Poland, daughter of Wladislaw Odonicz, duke of Poland, and his wife Jadwiga, and sister of Przemyslaw I. They had four sons, Przemislaw, Mieszko I, Kasimir and Bolislaw, who would have progeny, and a daughter Constance.
Shortly after his marriage Wladislaw, like other Piast dukes, entered the war between Hungary and Bohemia after the extinction of the House of Babenberg. At first he sided with the Hungarians, supporting Boleslaw V 'the Chaste', duke of Poland, in his attacks on Opawa and Glubczyce. However in 1255, and for unknown reasons Wladislaw changed sides and supported Przemysl Ottokar II, king of Bohemia, and in 1260 Wladislaw personally took part in the Battle of Kressenbrunn against the Hungarians. This change of alliance soon brought him real benefits in the form of demarcation of the frontiers between his duchy and the Bohemian kingdom. In 1262 at the Congress of Danków, Wladislaw attempted to form a triple alliance with the Bohemian king Przemysl Ottokar II, Boleslaw V 'the Chaste', and Boleslaw 'the Pious', duke of Kalisz and Poland, but without significant success.
The opportunity to obtain the throne of Kraków arose in 1273. Wladislaw, despite his alliance with Boleslaw V, entered with some of his forces into Lesser Poland. The decisive battle took place on 2 June 1273 in Bogucin Duzy near Olkusz, where Wladislaw's army was defeated. In October of that year Boleslaw V made a retaliatory expedition against Opole-Racibórz; however, the force was restricted to destroying only specific areas of the duchy. In 1274 Wladislaw and Boleslaw V concluded a peace under which Wladislaw probably gave up to his claims to the throne of Kraków, and in return the borders of both duchies were finally demarcated.
On 25 August 1278 the Battle of Dürnkrut (also known as the Battle on the Marchfeld) was fought between Przemysl Ottokar II and Rudolf von Habsburg. The king of Bohemia had hoped to recover his lost lands, but instead he was defeated and killed in the battle. Despite his earlier successful cooperation with Ottokar II, Wladislaw this time had not sent troops to support him. Indeed, shortly after receiving the news of Ottokar II's defeat and death, Wladislaw attacked Opawa, hoping to gain control of it. However the rapid normalisation of the situation in Prague and the efficient rule of the regency on behalf of the young king Wenceslas II (then only eight years old) put paid to his ambitions. To normalise his now tense relations with the Bohemian kingdom, Wladislaw was present at the Congress of Vienna in 1281. This meeting provided an opportunity for Wladislaw to conclude a new alliance, this time with Heinrich IV, Herzog von Schlesien zu Breslau. The agreement was sealed with the marriage of Heinrich IV with Wladislaw's daughter Constance. Wladislaw also promised to support his new son-in-law's efforts to gain the royal crown, but under the condition that his daughter would be crowned as queen.
In his internal policies Wladislaw sought to continue the work of his predecessors, while increasing the importance of the Church in his lands. He was a founder of many monasteries. Another important feature of his reign was the institution of German laws (the Magdeburg Law) in almost all the cities of his duchy.
Wladislaw died between 27 August and 13 September 1281, and was buried in the Dominican monastery of Racibórz.
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