Anastasia of Greater Poland
Encyclopedia
Anastasia of Greater Poland , was a Polish princess member of the House of Piast and by marriage Duchess of Pomerania
.
She was the youngest child of Mieszko III the Old
, Duke of Greater Poland
and since 1173 High Duke of Poland, by his second wife Eudoxia
, daughter of Grand Prince Iziaslav II of Kiev
.
. This marriage reinforced the alliance between Mieszko III and his western neighbors, who started soon before with the marriage of Anastasia's older sister Salomea with Ratibor, the eldest of Bogislaw I's two sons born from his first marriage with Walburgis (who died before 18 April 1172). During her marriage, Anastasia bore her husband two other sons, Bogislaw in 1178 and Casimir
around 1180.
The High Duke gained a faithful ally with this son-in-law, who was the only who supported him when he was exiled from Poland due to the rebellion of his eldest son (and Anastasia's half-brother) Odon. In 1181 Anastasia's father was able to reconquer Gniezno
and Kalisz
with the help of Duke Bogislaw I. They even took Poznań
from Odon, who finally reconciled with his father one year later.
The deaths of Princes Ratibor (14–15 January 1183) and Wartislaw (18 February 1184), left Anastasia's sons as the only heirs of Duke Bogislaw I. On 18 March 1187 the Duke died while hunting near Sassnitz
; at that time, his two surviving sons Bogislaw II and Casimir II were minors. For this, they succeeded in the Duchy as co-rulers under the regency of their mother, who was assisted in the government firstly by Wartislaw, castellan
of Stettin (during 1187–1189) and later by Jaromar I, Prince of Rügen
(during 1189–1198). However, the real authority over the Duchy of Pomerania was held by Anastasia until 1208, when her sons were declared adults and began their personal government.
Anastasia survived her sons: Casimir II was dead by the end of 1219 and Bogislaw II died on 24 January 1220. Four years later, on 7 July 1224, she issued a document under which she approved the foundation of a Norbertine monastery in Trzebiatów
, who was richly doted by the Dowager Duchess, giving to them a part of her widow's seat (received after his marriage): twenty castles and seven villages. After was finished the construction of the monastery, Anastasia moved there, but she never took the religious vows.
The last time when Anastasia appeared in public was on 31 May 1240, when her grandson Wartislaw III
confirmed the foundation of the monastery. She died soon after that date and was buried in the Norbertine monastery in Trzebiatów.
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
.
She was the youngest child of Mieszko III the Old
Mieszko III the Old
Mieszko III the Old , of the royal Piast dynasty, was Duke of Greater Poland from 1138 and High Duke of Poland, with interruptions, from 1173 until his death....
, Duke of Greater Poland
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
and since 1173 High Duke of Poland, by his second wife Eudoxia
Eudoxia of Kiev
Eudoxia Iziaslavna of Kiev , was a Kievan Rus' princess member of the Rurikid dynasty and by marriage Duchess of Greater Poland and since 1173 High Duchess of Poland....
, daughter of Grand Prince Iziaslav II of Kiev
Iziaslav II of Kiev
Iziaslav II Mstislavich , Prince of Pereyaslav , Prince of Turov , Prince of Rostov , Prince of Vladimir and Volyn , Pereyaslavl , Velikiy Kniaz of Kiev , was the oldest son of Mstislav Vladimirovich, Kniaz' , and...
.
Life
On 26 April 1177 Anastasia married with Bogislaw I, Duke of PomeraniaBogislaw I, Duke of Pomerania
Bogislaw I of the House of Pomerania was Duke of Pomerania-Stettin from 1156 to 1187. He co-ruled the Duchy of Pomerania with his brother Casimir I of Pomerania-Demmin. His father was Wartislaw I...
. This marriage reinforced the alliance between Mieszko III and his western neighbors, who started soon before with the marriage of Anastasia's older sister Salomea with Ratibor, the eldest of Bogislaw I's two sons born from his first marriage with Walburgis (who died before 18 April 1172). During her marriage, Anastasia bore her husband two other sons, Bogislaw in 1178 and Casimir
Casimir II, Duke of Pomerania
Casimir II was the duke of Pomerania-Demmin from 1187 until his death. He was succeeded by Wartislaw III, Casimir's son with princess Ingardis of Denmark....
around 1180.
The High Duke gained a faithful ally with this son-in-law, who was the only who supported him when he was exiled from Poland due to the rebellion of his eldest son (and Anastasia's half-brother) Odon. In 1181 Anastasia's father was able to reconquer Gniezno
Gniezno
Gniezno is a city in central-western Poland, some 50 km east of Poznań, inhabited by about 70,000 people. One of the Piasts' chief cities, it was mentioned by 10th century A.D. sources as the capital of Piast Poland however the first capital of Piast realm was most likely Giecz built around...
and Kalisz
Kalisz
Kalisz is a city in central Poland with 106,857 inhabitants , the capital city of the Kalisz Region. Situated on the Prosna river in the southeastern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship, the city forms a conurbation with the nearby towns of Ostrów Wielkopolski and Nowe Skalmierzyce...
with the help of Duke Bogislaw I. They even took Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
from Odon, who finally reconciled with his father one year later.
The deaths of Princes Ratibor (14–15 January 1183) and Wartislaw (18 February 1184), left Anastasia's sons as the only heirs of Duke Bogislaw I. On 18 March 1187 the Duke died while hunting near Sassnitz
Sassnitz
Sassnitz is a town on the Jasmund peninsula, Rügen Island, in the Federal State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. The population as of 2007 was 10,747....
; at that time, his two surviving sons Bogislaw II and Casimir II were minors. For this, they succeeded in the Duchy as co-rulers under the regency of their mother, who was assisted in the government firstly by Wartislaw, castellan
Castellan
A castellan was the governor or captain of a castle. The word stems from the Latin Castellanus, derived from castellum "castle". Also known as a constable.-Duties:...
of Stettin (during 1187–1189) and later by Jaromar I, Prince of Rügen
Jaromar I, Prince of Rügen
-Background:Jaromar was a Ranish nobleman, who was a native of the island of Rügen. Jaromar rose to be ruler of the Principality of Rügen as result of the Danish conquest of Rügen in 1168...
(during 1189–1198). However, the real authority over the Duchy of Pomerania was held by Anastasia until 1208, when her sons were declared adults and began their personal government.
Anastasia survived her sons: Casimir II was dead by the end of 1219 and Bogislaw II died on 24 January 1220. Four years later, on 7 July 1224, she issued a document under which she approved the foundation of a Norbertine monastery in Trzebiatów
Trzebiatów
Trzebiatów is a town in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland. As of June 2007, it has 10,196 inhabitants.It was in Pomerania, Germany until 1945.Trzebiatów's Day of the Cereal is a celebration during the first week of August...
, who was richly doted by the Dowager Duchess, giving to them a part of her widow's seat (received after his marriage): twenty castles and seven villages. After was finished the construction of the monastery, Anastasia moved there, but she never took the religious vows.
The last time when Anastasia appeared in public was on 31 May 1240, when her grandson Wartislaw III
Wartislaw III, Duke of Pomerania
Wartislaw III was a Griffin duke of Pomerania-Demmin. Son of Casimir II of Pomerania-Demmin and Ingardis of Denmark, he was married to a Sophia of an unknown house. As he did not have any children, Pomerania-Demmin ceased to exist with his death.Ingardis ruled Pomerania-Demmin in place of young...
confirmed the foundation of the monastery. She died soon after that date and was buried in the Norbertine monastery in Trzebiatów.