Henry IX the Older

Henryk IX Starszy (literally 'Henry IX the Elder'; probably between 1387 and 1392 – 11 November 1467) was Duke of Żagań-Głogów from 1397 to 1412 (as co-ruler with his brother), ruler of Szprotawa, Krosno Odrzańskie from 1412 to 1417, Świebodzin and half of Głogów (with his brothers as co-rulers), from 1417 ruler of Szprotawa, half of Głogów, from 1420 ruler of Kożuchów and Zielona Góra, from 1430 ruler of Krosno Odrzańskie and Świebodzin, and from 1446 Duke of Lubin. He was the second son of Henry VIII the Sparrow, Duke of Głogów, by his wife Katharina, daughter of Duke Władysław of Opole. Life After the death of his father in 1397, the widowed Duchess Katharina moved with her children to Kożuchów, which together with Zielona Góra was her dower. Between 1397 and 1401 Duke Rupert I of Legnica was in charge of the princes and the duchy. This was a difficult task, as Henryk VIII had left his lands in a difficult financial situation. Rupert I gradually began to pay off Henryk VIII's creditors and improve the general situation of the duchy. The regent gave special aid to the duchy's main towns: Głogów, Krosno Odrzańskie and Szprotawa. When his older brother Jan I came of age in 1401, he assumed guardianship of his younger brothers and full government of the duchy. In 1403 the brothers received the lands of their uncle, Henry VI the Elder, on the resignation of his widow, Hedwig of Legnica, who had ruled them as a dower since 1393. The formal division of the duchy took place in 1412: Henryk IX together with his brothers Henry X Rumpold and Wenceslaus received the Duchy of Głogów (which included half of Głogów, Świebodzin, Krosno Odrzańskie and Szprotawa).