Background
In 1365, he became the sole heir of the Duchy of Racibórz.
In 1365, he became the sole heir of the Duchy of Racibórz.
Leszek died in 1336 without heirs, causing Ratiboř to revert to the Crown. At the same time, he and his younger half-brother Nicholas III became guardians of Nicholas III"s younger brothers Wenceslaus I and Přemysl. After disputes about the inheritance, Opava was divided in 1367 among the four brothers.
In 1377, a new division was made, in which John I kept Racibórz, but also received the duchies of Krnov and Bruntál.
The Duchy of Głubczyce was split off for Nicholas III. Wenceslaus I and Přemysl received the rest of Opava.
When Wenceslaus died in 1381, Přemysl inherited Wenceslaus"s share. When Nicholas III died in 1394, Přemysl inherited Głubczyce as well. John I gave Magdeburg rights to the city of Opava in 1372.
Because of financial difficulties, he sold Mikołów and the Principality of Pless to Duke Władysław II of Opole in 1375.