Conflict over Bielsko at the end of the 15th century

The article deals with a mysterious conflict that occurred in 1497 over the town of Bielsko and adjacent villages, between the Upper Silesian princes Casimir II of Cieszyn (a fiefdom of Czech kings) and Jan V of Zator (a fiefdom of Polish kings). Casimir II demanded that Jan V return this territory, as well as a certain sum of money and family jewels. John V came into possession of the "Bielsko territory" after 1489, in unknown circumstances. Probably around 1494 the case was brought before the arbitration court of the Bishop of Wrocław, Jan Roth, who on 28 November 1497 issued a judgment favourable to Casimir II. Nevertheless, the Duke of Zator neglected to relinquish Bielsko and the money for quite some time. He eventually followed the ruling in 1498. Because of the scarcity of historical sources, the origins of the conflict remain mysterious. The author puts forward several hypotheses in this respect: the disputed territory may have been a pledge by Casimir II in favour of the lender Jan V. Another hypothesis concerns the matter of reclaiming the dowry after the unexpected, childless death of the wife of Jan V, Barbara, who was also the sister of the Duke of Cieszyn, who paid the dowry. The period of Jan V's rule over Bielsko was also the next stage in the emergence of a new administrative creation from the Duchy of Cieszyn – the Duchy of Bielsko, and the future smaller state country of Bielsko