Background
He was the eldest child and only son of Duke January II of Oświęcim by his wife Hedwig, daughter of Ludwik I the Fair, Duke of Brzeg.
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Jean Oswiecim
Edit ProfileDuke of Oświęcim Duke of Brzeg
Career
Initially, historians thought that Dukes January II and January III are the same person, until the discovery of further sources who confirmed January III"s existence. Little is known about January III"s rule. This is confirmed by a document dated from 1379, where January III is called Scholastic of Krakow (although may be is a mistake with January I).
Another proof of the presumed destination of January III to the spiritual career was the agreement in 1372, under which January II ensured the inheritance of Oświęcim to Przemysław I Noszak, Duke of Cieszyn on his death.
This fact confirms by a document from 25 November 1377 in which the Duke of Cieszyn approves the Oświęcim succession. Despite his sujetion to the Duchy of Cieszyn, January III tried to hold an independent policy.
In 1397, together with the other Silesian Dukes and the Bishop of Wrocław, January III signed in Legnica an arrangement with the Polish King, to guarantee the common action against robbery. In 1399, January III tried to appease the anger of King Władysław II Jagiełło against the Bishop-Duke of Opole January Kropidło.
The last document in which January III appears dated from 1402.
However, the historians conclude that January III died around three years later. He was buried in the Dominican monastery in Oświęcim. On his death without issue, Oświęcim was annexed to the Duchy of Cieszyn.
