John IV, Duke of Krnov (also known as John IV of Opava-Racibórz or John the Elder; ; or ; âÂÂ1483 in Wodzisà Âaw à Âlàski) was a member of the Opavian branch of the Bohemian Pà Âemyslid dynasty. He was Duke of Krnov from 1452 to 1474 and Duke of Wodzisà Âaw à Âlàski from 1464 until his death.
John IV was the elder son of Duke Nicholas V of Krnov and his wife, Margaret Clemm of Ellguth. John IV and his younger brother Wenceslaus III were still minors when their father died in 1452. Their step-mother, Barbara Rockemberg and their uncle Wenceslaus II (d. 1456) took up the regency. After the brother came of age, they initially ruled their inheritance jointly. However, in 1464, the inheritance was divided. John IV received Krnov, Bruntál, and Wodzisà Âaw à Âlàski; Wenceslaus III received Rybnik, à »ory and Pszczyna.
During the war between Bohemia and Hungary for supremacy in Bohemia, John IV supported the Bohemian King, George of PodÃÂbrady, in 1469, and after George's death, his successor Vladislaus II. Because of this, King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary took John IV prisoner in 1474 and forced him to cede Krnov. john IV retained Wodzisà Âaw à Âlàski, where he died in 1483.
John's sister Barbara (d. 1510), who had married Duke Jan IV of Oà ÂwiÃÂcim in 1475, objected to Matthias Corvinus and his administration. This was probably the reason why he styled John's widow as Lady of Wodzisà Âaw à Âlàski, Rybnik and à »ory