Henry I the Bearded

Henry the Bearded
High Duke of Poland
Reign	3 November 1231-19 March 1238
Predecessor	Wladyslaw III Spindleshanks
Successor	Wladyslaw IV the Spitter
Duke of Wroclaw
Reign	December 1201-19 March 1238
Predecessor	Boleslaw the Tall
Successor	Henry II the Pious
Duke of Wieluń and Kalisz
Reign	1206-1234
Predecessor	Wladyslaw III Spindleshanks
Successor	Mieszko the Fat and Wladyslaw I of Opole
Born	Between 1165-1170 Glogów, Duchy of Silesia
Died	19 March 1238 Krosno Odrzańskie
Burial	Trzebnica Abbey
Spouse	Hedwig of Carniola
Issue	Agnes Boleslaw Henry II the Pious Konrad Sophie Gertrude Unnamed son
House	Piast dynasty
Father	Boleslaw the Tall
Mother	Christina

Henry I the Bearded was born in Głogów, between 1165-1170 as the fourth son of Boleslaw the Tall and Christina, he married Hedwig of Carniola in 1186, Henry inherited Opole and Wrocław after his fathers death on 8 December 1201; in 1202 Mieszko IV Tanglefoot attacked and took Opole.

In 1229 Henry met with Konrad in Spytkowice. During mass, Konrad's knights took Henry prisoner and wounded several of his men. Henry was imprisoned in Płock Castle. Konrad decided to release Henry if he renounces his claim to Kraków, Władysław III died unexpectedly in Środa Śląska, killed by a German girl whom he tried to rape, he had no children, so Henry succeeded him, however his authority in these areas was immediately contested.

During his reign, Henry also improved the economy and infrastructure of his lands by supporting the immigration of German settlers, mainly from Franconia and Bavaria. Henry died in 1238 in Krosno Odrzańskie (Crossen an der Oder) and was buried in the Cistercian church of Trzebnica (Trebnitz) which he had founded in 1202 on the request of his wife.