Joachim Frederick of (Legnica-)Brieg
(
German
:
Joachim Friedrich von Liegnitz-Brieg
;
Polish
:
Joachim Fryderyk legnicko-brzeski
; 29 September 1550 ?
Brzeg
, 25 March 1602), was a Duke of
Oława
and
Wołow
(since 1586 with his brother as a co-ruler until 1592) and
Brzeg
(since 1595) and
Legnica
(since 1596).
He was the eldest son of
George II the Pious
, Duke of Brzeg-Oława-Wołow, by his wife
Barbara
, daughter of
Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg
. He was named after both grandfathers:
Joachim
II Hector and
Frederick
II of
Legnica
.
Life
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]
Youth
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During his father's reign, Joachim Frederick wasn't included in the government of the Duchy of Brzeg. He spent seven years at the court of his maternal uncle,
John George
, since 1571
Elector of Brandenburg
. As a representative of Brandenburg, Joachim Frederick appeared at the coronation of
Henry of France
as King of Poland in 1574, and in the coronation of King
Rudolf II
in Rome on 27 October 1575. Two years later, he received a dowry of 15,000
talers
secured for the town of
W?sosz
on occasion of his marriage with Anna Maria of Anhalt.
Duke of Oława-Wołow
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George II died on 7 May 1586. Joachim Frederick, together with his younger brother John George took the government of
Oława
(where they settled his residence) and
Wołow
but not in
Brzeg
, who was given by the late Duke to his widow Barbara of Brandenburg as
dower
. When John George died on 6 July 1592 without surviving issue, Joachim Frederick became in the sole ruler of all their domains, except the two main cities of Brzeg (dower of his mother Barbara) and Oława (dower of his sister-in-law Anna of Wurttemberg, widow of John George). However, two events changed this situation: on 24 October 1594 Anna remarried with Duke
Frederick IV of Legnica
(and in consequence lost her dower lands), followed two months later by the death of Barbara, on 2 January 1595. Joachim Frederick reunited all the paternal heritage under his rule.
His Duchy also expanded thanks of the districts of
Dzier?oniow
and
Srebrna Gora
, who had rich deposits of precious metals. Also, in 1596 he inherited Legnica after the death of Duke Frederick IV without surviving issue.
Government and functions
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Joachim Frederick was an efficient ruler. He ratified the former privileges of his cities and supported the development of crafts. In Oława he built fortifications and opened mints, thanks to the mines of Dzier?oniow and Srebrna Gora. Also, he established a pension for the unmarried daughter of the deposed
Henry XI of Legnica
.
Thanks to his family connections and his good relations with the
Prague
court, he held honorable functions. Since 1585 he held the dignity of Lutheran Provost of the Chapter of
Magdeburg
, and in 1588 was appointed the General Commander of the Regular Army of Silesia.
Death
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Joachim Frederick died on 25 March 1602 in Brzeg. On 7 May, he was buried in the local church of St. Hedwig. Under his will, wrote on 16 December 1595, he gave the district of Oława to his wife as dower.
He was succeeded by his two surviving sons, John Christian and George Rudolf. Since both are minors at that time, the regency was exercised, firstly by their mother Anna Maria, and after her death in 1605, by their uncle
Charles II of Pod?brady
, Duke of
Zi?bice
-
Ole?nica
.
Marriage and issue
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In
Brzeg
on 19 May 1577, Joachim Frederick married with
Anna Maria
(b. Zerbst, 13 June 1561 ? d. Brzeg, 14 November 1605), daughter of
Joachim Ernest, Prince of Anhalt
. They had six children:
- George Ernest (b. Oława, 29 August 1589 ? d. Oława, 6 November 1589).
- John Christian
(b. Oława, 28 August 1591 ? d. Ostroda, 25 December 1639).
- Barbara Agnes (b. Oława, 24 February 1593 ? d. 24 July 1631), married on 18 October 1620 to
Hans Ulrich von Schaffgotsch
und zu Kynast und Greiffenstein, Baron of
Trachenberg
and Warmbrunn.
- George Rudolf
(b. Oława, 12 January 1595 ? d. Wroclaw, 14 January 1653).
- Anna Maria (b. Brzeg, 16 December 1596 ? d. Brzeg, 25 March 1602).
- Maria Sophia (b. Brzeg, 26 April 1601 ? d. Prochowice, 26 October 1654).
References
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