Henry V (, ; â 22 February 1296), called the Fat (, ) was a Duke of Jawor from 1273, of Legnica from 1278, and Duke of Wrocà Âaw from 1290.
He was the eldest son of Bolesà Âaw II the Bald, Duke of Legnica and Hedwig, daughter of Henry I, Count of Anhalt.
As a youth, he was present at the court of King Ottokar II of Bohemia in Prague, where he became a knight.
In 1273 Henry's father granted him the town of Jawor (Jauer) as an independent duchy. Four years later, Bolesà Âaw II the Bald, Henry's father, kidnapped his own nephew Henry IV, ruler of the Duchy of Wrocà Âaw (Breslau), on behalf of his ally, King Rudolf of Habsburg. This action provoked the indignation of Lesser Poland's nobility and Henry IV's neighbors, who then launched an expedition to free him and bring Bolesà Âawto justice. The dukes Przemysà  II of Greater Poland and Henry III of Gà Âogów led the Greater Poland-Gà Âogów-Wrocà Âaw Coalition in the hard-fought battle of Zàbkowice à Âlàskie near Stolec, one of the bloodiest of the Polish Middle Ages. While the Coalition forces overwhelmed Bolesà Âaw's forces and forced him to flee the field, young Henry's charge turned the tide of the battle and resulted in a great victory. Members of the coalition, including both dukes Przemysà  II and Henry III, were captured. However, the young Duke Henry of Jauer saved his family from a disastrous defeat.
Henry became the Duke of Legnica on 26 December 1278, succeeding his father Bolesà Âaw II. He soon appointed his younger brothers Bolko I and Bernard as co-rulers of Jawor and Lwówek. In addition, Henry kept the town of à Âroda à Âlàska, which he had acquired in 1277 in exchange for the release of Henry IV.
Henry maintained hostile relations with other Piast Silesian dukes, similar to his father's reign. In 1281, at the invitation of Henry IV Probus, he attended a meeting in Sàdowel. Henry IV, together with his former allies Henry III of Gà Âogów and Przemysà  II of Greater Poland, imprisoned the Duke of Legnica and demanded political concessions. Although Henry regained his freedom later, he was forced to recognize Henry IV as Duke of Wrocà Âaw (Breslau). However, King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia challenged Henry IV's sovereignty over Wrocà Âaw (Breslau).
On 23 June 1290, Henry IV Probus died suddenly, possibly poisoned. He appointed Henry III of Gà Âogów as his successor. However, the nobility and citizens of Wrocà Âaw opposed this decision, fearing that the Duke of Gà Âogów would be a harsh ruler. As a result, Henry III fled and the people of Wrocà Âaw (Breslau) invited Henry V to assume the throne.
Henry III refused to abdicate, leading to wars where various territories changed hands. On 11 November 1293, Henry was betrayed by Lutka Zdzieszyca, the son of a Wrocà Âaw nobleman whom Henry had previously sentenced to death. Henry was subsequently imprisoned for about six months. Henry V secured his release by ceding the towns of Namysà Âów, Bierutów, Oleà Ânica, Kluczbork, Byczyna, Woà Âczyn, Olesno, Chojnów, with Bolesà Âawiec and their fortifications to Henry III, paying a ransom of 30,000 pieces, and swearing to support the Duke of Gà Âogów in all his struggles for the next five years.
During his imprisonment in Gà Âogów, Henry's brother Bolko I was appointed regent of his territories. In 1291 Henry V granted Bolko I the towns of à Âwidnica (Schweidnitz), ZiÃÂbice, Zàbkowice à Âlàskie and Strzelin in return for his support against Henry III.
Henry was imprisoned in an iron cage and fell ill after his release. His health never fully recovered. Worried about the fate of his duchy, he appealed to the Holy See for protection in 1294.
Henry died on 22 February 1296 and was buried in the convent of the Poor Clares in Wrocà Âaw (Breslau). Since his sons were minors, Henry's brother Bolko became their guardian.
Around 1273, Henry married Elisabeth (c. 1263 â 28 September 1304), daughter of Bolesà Âaw the Pious, Duke of Greater Poland. They had eight children:
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-