Georg Rudolph Legnitsky

Representative of the Legnica line of the Silesian Piasts . The youngest (third) son of Prince Joachim Friedrich of Legnitz-Brzeg (1550-1602) and Anna Maria of Anhalt (1561-1605).

In 1602, after the death of his father, Georg Rudolph, together with his older brother Johann Christian, received the Legnica principality ( Legnica , Brzeg and Voluv ) in joint possession. From 1602 to 1605, their mother, the Dowager Princess Anna Maria of Anhalt , was regent with the minor brothers Johann Christian and George Rudolf. In 1605, after the death of his mother, the regency passed to the Teke of the young princes, Elzbiet Magdalena Brzegska and her husband, Charles II Podebradovic, Prince Zembitsky and Olesnitsky . In 1609, Johann Christian became an adult and began to rule the principality on his own, taking custody of his brother George Rudolph. When Georg Rudolph became an adult in 1612 , the brothers shared their possessions. Georg Rudolph began to rule in the Principality of Legnica ( Legnica , Voluv , Zlotoryya , Grodzets , Lubin , Prochowice , Vinsko , Vonsoszcz , Rychen and Rudna , since 1616 - also Chojnów ), and Johann Christian received the Principality of Brzeg ( Brzeg , Olava , Strzelin , Nemcha , Kluczbork and Bychina ).

In 1614, Prince George Rudolph Legnitsky, following the example of his older brother Johann Christian Brzhegsky , converted to Calvinism . During the Thirty Years' War, George Rudolph in 1633 - 1648 was in exile as a result of the occupation of his possessions by the Habsburg imperial troops, although nominally he continued to be considered the ruling prince.

Georg Rudolph, as ruler, was comprehensively educated and supported the development of culture and science. In particular, he is known as the creator of the famous Rudolphina library. At his court were prominent scholars, poets and composers such as Martin Opitz and Friedrich von Logau , who often found refuge and protection at the princely court in Legnica . He also promoted music education. The prince was educated in the composer's workshop during his stay in Frankfurt an der Oder . He collected prints and manuscripts of musical works. During this time, he met one of the most prominent composers of his era, Heinrich Schutz , who dedicated his collection of religious chants to Prince George Rudolph Legnitsky. Some of George Rudolph’s surviving compositions were recorded by Ars nova on the CD “ Rudolfina - Treasures of Legnica ” under the direction of Polish musician Jacek Urbanyak .

On November 4, 1614, in Dessau, Prince George Rudolph Legnitsky married his cousin Sofia Elizabeth ( February 10, 1589 - February 9, 1622 ), the eldest daughter of his maternal uncle, Prince Johann George I Anhalt-Dessau (1567-1618), and Dorothea Mansfeld-Arnstein (1561-1594). The first marriage was childless.

On November 25, 1624, George Rudolph Legnitsky remarried his cousin Elizabeth Magdalena ( May 29, 1599 - November 4, 1631 ), the second daughter of Charles II of Podebrad, Prince Zembitsky and Olesnitsky (1545-1617), and Elzbieta Magdalena Brzhegsky (1562-1630 ) The second marriage was also childless.

Prince George Rudolph Legnitsky, twice widowed, remained alone for the next twenty-two years, until his death in Wroclaw . His possessions were inherited by his nephews , Princes George III , Ludwik IV and Christian , the sons of his older brother Johann Christian Brzhegsky , who died in 1639 .

• Ludwig Petry (1964, ISBN 3-428-00187-7 ), Georg Rudolf, Herzog von Liegnitz , Neue Deutsche Biographie (Berlin: Duncker & Humblot). - T. 6: 218–219 , < http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/0001/bsb00016322/images/index.html?seite=232 >   ; ( full text online )
• Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). - Lpz. : Duncker & Humblot, 1875-1912. (German)
• Ludwig Petry und Josef Joachim Menzel (Hg.): Geschichte Schlesiens . Bd. 2, ISBN 3-7995-6342-3 , S. 41, 55, 57 f., 62, 81, 150, 198, 201.

• Genealogy of the Princes of Legnitsky
• Genealogy of the rulers of Silesia