Casimir II of Cieszyn (, ; – 13 December 1528) was a Duke of Cieszyn since 1477, ruler over Koźle during 1479–1509, since 1493 ruler over Wołów, over Pszczyna during 1498–1517, from 1506 over Opava, Duke of Głogów since 1506 (for life). Also he was Landeshauptmann General of Silesia during 1497–1504 and 1507–1517, since 1517 until his death, Landeshauptmann (starosta generalny) over the Upper Silesia.
He was the only son of Bolesław II, Duke of Cieszyn, by his wife Anna, daughter of Ivan Vladimirovich, Prince of Bielsk.
Life
After the early death of his father in 1452, Casimir II was raised by his uncle Przemysław II, who gave him the town of Bielsko and surrounding villages in 1460.
Casimir II's first political intervention was by 1471, when he supported King Władysław II Jagiellon during his conflicts with the Bohemian nobility. Four years later (in 1475), Casimir II he attended to the marriage of Princess Hedwig of Poland (King Casimir IV's daughter) with Duke Georg of Bavaria-Landshut. When Przemysław II died in 1477, Casimir II had enough political experience and could take control over the whole Duchy of Cieszyn without any co-rulers, because all his uncles died without male descendants.
However, Casimir II couldn't take the government over the half of Głogów, then under the rule of Margareta of Celje, widow of his uncle Władysław as her dower (but formally, because the facto rule was into the hands of King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary and Bohemia). Despite the claims of Jan II the Mad, Duke of Żagań (who was supported by King Matthias), Casimir II obtained a political goal when he was sworn ruler of Głogów as guardian of Margareta by the city council. However, this success was short-lived: on 8 October 1478, Casimir II's forces were defeated in Krosno Odrzańskie by Jan II's troops.
Despite his defeat, Casimir II continued his pretensions and began negotiations with King Matthias. Under the treaty signed on 10 October 1479, the Duke of Cieszyn waived his claims by the amount of 2,000 florins. In addition, Casimir II was compelled to paid homage to the King on 12 August of that year in Olomouc.
Despite the formal abandonment of his pretensions in Lower Silesia, Casimir II didn't change his ambitions, and in 1480 he obtained Pszczyna after his marriage with Johanna, daughter of Wiktoryn of Poděbrady, Duke of Opava (although in practice he could take formal possession of this land only in 1498), who was supposedly to be a great help to him in his plans to regain Głogów, then under the rule of Jan II. Another defeat, this time at the Battle of Góra, forced Casimir II to accept the definitely resignation of the disputed territory on 7 June 1481.
In the following years, Casimir II approached to the Bohemian King Władysław II Jagielloń. As a result, after the death of Matthias Corvinus in 1490, he was appointed Starost General of Silesia. The Duke of Cieszyn he held that office until 1504, when the king decided to replace him for his brother Sigismund Jagiellon. However, when Sigismund inherited the Polish crown in 1506, after the death of his brother Alexander Jagiellon, the dignity of Starost returned into the hands of Casimir II. This time, he held the office until his death. The new Polish King gave Casimir II the Duchy of Głogów but only during his lifetime. Soon after, and by right to his wife, he obtained the Duchy of Opawa, who increased his domains along with half of Ścinawa (Wołów), who was bought by him in 1493.
In internal politics, Casimir II showed hard-line stances in the fight against banditry in the duchy. However, his rule as Starost general wasn't count with great support in Silesia, especially with the Church, whose opposition was made clear in 1501, when the Chapter refused the candidacy of Casimir II's eldest son Frederick as new Bishop of Wrocław.
A significant item in Silesia was the dispute between the Dukes of Opole, Nicholas II and Jan II. In order to end the conflict, in 1497 a meeting was arranged in Nysa, where were present Casimir II, his father-in-law Wiktoryn of Poděbrady, Nicholas II and the Bishop of Wrocław, Jan IV Roth. During the meeting, on 26 June, the tragedy occurred: Nicholas II tried to stab both the Duke of Cieszyn and Bishop Roth. Despite the protests of nobles and relatives, Casimir II issued the death sentence to Nicholas II, who was beheaded in the Nysa market on 27 April 1497. Duke Jan II, after hearing the news of his brother's execution, began to prepare a brutally retaliatory expedition against Cieszyn. However, the diplomatic actions of King Władysław II Jagiellon prevented the war between both dukes, with disastrous consequences to Silesia.