Rudolf of Żagań

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Rudolf of Żagań (Polish: Rudolf żagański) was a Silesian Piast duke. He was born around 1418 (some sources say between 1411 and 1418) and died on 17 September 1454 in Chojnice. He was the second son of Duke Jan I of Żagań and Scholastika of Saxe-Wittemberg, daughter of Rudolf III, Duke of Saxe-Wittemberg. He was named after his maternal grandfather.

In 1439, when his father died, Rudolf became Duke of Żagań-Przewóz together with his older brother Balthasar and his younger brothers Wenceslaus and Jan II the Mad. In 1449 the duchy was divided: Rudolf and Balthasar ruled Żagań, while Jan II and Wenceslaus ruled Przewóz.

In 1450 Rudolf and his brother traveled to Rome on a pilgrimage, where he vowed to fight for the Christian faith—a vow described in the Kronika opatów żagańskich as proof of his piety.

In 1454 Rudolf joined the Teutonic Order in the Thirteen Years' War. With about 1,900 soldiers and horses, he advanced to Świdwin and fought at the Battle of Chojnice alongside Bernard Szumborski. The Polish army suffered a heavy defeat: about 3,000 Poles were killed and roughly 300 knights were captured. Rudolf died early in the battle, during a charge by Polish cavalry. His burial place is unknown.

Rudolf never married and had no children. After his death, his older brother Balthasar took full control of Żagań, which disappointed their younger brother Jan II and later led to revolts against Balthasar.