Anna of Poland, Countess of Celje
Encyclopedia
Anna of Poland was countess consort of Celje
, a medieval Slovenia
n feudal state, and an influential woman in politics of Poland.
She was daughter of King Casimir III of Poland
(1309–1370), who was succeeded, not by Anna nor any of Casimir's own descendants, but by Casimir's nephew, King Louis I of Hungary. Anna's mother was Casimir's fourth wife Jadwiga of Żagań (d. 1390). Anna's elder half-sisters were already dead though one of them had left children. Anna was the eldest child of that fourth marriage, which did not either produce any sons to King Casimir's dismay.
In 1380 Anna was married to William, Count of Celje (1361–1392), a man chosen by Anna's first cousin, King Louis, from among his vassals in Hungarian south. They had a single surviving child, a daughter known as Anna of Celje
(1386–1416). In 1394 the widowed Anna married secondly Ulrich, Duke of Teck
(died 1432).
Meanwhile, the throne of Poland had passed in 1386 to Jogaila
(Władysław IV Jagiełło), Grand Duke of Lithuania. When his first wife, the Queen Regnant Jadwiga of Poland
(Anna's first cousin once removed) died in 1399 without surviving children, Władysław sought a wife among the heirs to the kingdom of Poland, which had been Jadwiga's inheritance. Duchess Anna desired to regain Poland for her heirs, the direct descendants of Casimir III, and to obtain power in her homeland. To achieve this, her young daughter Anna was married in 1401 or 1402 to the widowed Władysław Jagiełło, then aged around 50. She gave birth to a daughter, Princess Jadwiga of Lithuania
, in 1408.
Anna of Poland, Duchess of Teck and Countess of Celje worked to advance her daughter's and her granddaughter's position in Poland. When her daughter Anna died in 1416, without further surviving children, Władysław married Elisabeth of Pilica
in 1417, and then Sophia of Halshany
in 1422, both of whom did not descend from the Piast kings of Poland, as he had been unable to find any more brides with a hereditary right to the kingdom. The king's two sons and heirs were born by his last wife, Sophia.
In 1421 Anna's granddaughter Jadwiga was betrothed to the future Frederick II, Elector of Brandenburg
(1413–1471), the second son of Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg
. A party of Polish nobles, including Anna, wanted Jadwiga and her intended husband to succeed Władysław at least in Poland, instead of her half-brothers, his sons by Sophia.
Anna died in 1425, which left Jadwiga without any strong relatives to support her position. In 1431 Jadwiga died without any issue, allegedly by poison. In this way, Anna's descent became extinct before Władysław's death in 1434.
Celje
Celje is a typical Central European town and the third largest town in Slovenia. It is a regional center of Lower Styria and the administrative seat of the Urban Municipality of Celje . The town of Celje is located under Upper Celje Castle at the confluence of the Savinja, Ložnica, and Voglajna...
, a medieval Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n feudal state, and an influential woman in politics of Poland.
She was daughter of King Casimir III of Poland
Casimir III of Poland
Casimir III the Great , last King of Poland from the Piast dynasty , was the son of King Władysław I the Elbow-high and Hedwig of Kalisz.-Biography:...
(1309–1370), who was succeeded, not by Anna nor any of Casimir's own descendants, but by Casimir's nephew, King Louis I of Hungary. Anna's mother was Casimir's fourth wife Jadwiga of Żagań (d. 1390). Anna's elder half-sisters were already dead though one of them had left children. Anna was the eldest child of that fourth marriage, which did not either produce any sons to King Casimir's dismay.
In 1380 Anna was married to William, Count of Celje (1361–1392), a man chosen by Anna's first cousin, King Louis, from among his vassals in Hungarian south. They had a single surviving child, a daughter known as Anna of Celje
Anna of Celje
Anne of Celje was Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania, 1402–1416 as second wife of Jogaila, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania ....
(1386–1416). In 1394 the widowed Anna married secondly Ulrich, Duke of Teck
Duke of Teck
Duke of Teck was, in medieval times, a title borne by the head of a principality named Teck in the Holy Roman Empire, centered around Teck castle in Germany. That territory was held by a branch line of the Zähringen dynasty from 1187 to 1439, known historically as the first House of Teck...
(died 1432).
Meanwhile, the throne of Poland had passed in 1386 to Jogaila
Jogaila
Jogaila, later 'He is known under a number of names: ; ; . See also: Jogaila : names and titles. was Grand Duke of Lithuania , king consort of Kingdom of Poland , and sole King of Poland . He ruled in Lithuania from 1377, at first with his uncle Kęstutis...
(Władysław IV Jagiełło), Grand Duke of Lithuania. When his first wife, the Queen Regnant Jadwiga of Poland
Jadwiga of Poland
Jadwiga was monarch of Poland from 1384 to her death. Her official title was 'king' rather than 'queen', reflecting that she was a sovereign in her own right and not merely a royal consort. She was a member of the Capetian House of Anjou, the daughter of King Louis I of Hungary and Elizabeth of...
(Anna's first cousin once removed) died in 1399 without surviving children, Władysław sought a wife among the heirs to the kingdom of Poland, which had been Jadwiga's inheritance. Duchess Anna desired to regain Poland for her heirs, the direct descendants of Casimir III, and to obtain power in her homeland. To achieve this, her young daughter Anna was married in 1401 or 1402 to the widowed Władysław Jagiełło, then aged around 50. She gave birth to a daughter, Princess Jadwiga of Lithuania
Jadwiga of Lithuania
Hedwig Jagiellon was a Polish and Lithuanian princess, member of the Jagiellon dynasty.She was the only daughter of Wladyslaw Jagiello, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania by his second wife Anna, daughter of William, Count of Celje and Anna, in turn daughter of King Casimir III of Poland...
, in 1408.
Anna of Poland, Duchess of Teck and Countess of Celje worked to advance her daughter's and her granddaughter's position in Poland. When her daughter Anna died in 1416, without further surviving children, Władysław married Elisabeth of Pilica
Elisabeth of Pilica
Elisabeth of Pilica was Queen consort of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania as the third wife of Jogaila who was Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland, reigning 1387 to 1434....
in 1417, and then Sophia of Halshany
Sophia of Halshany
Sophia of Halshany , was a Lithuanian princess of Halshany, Queen of Poland from , and the last wife of Jogaila.-Biography:...
in 1422, both of whom did not descend from the Piast kings of Poland, as he had been unable to find any more brides with a hereditary right to the kingdom. The king's two sons and heirs were born by his last wife, Sophia.
In 1421 Anna's granddaughter Jadwiga was betrothed to the future Frederick II, Elector of Brandenburg
Frederick II, Elector of Brandenburg
Frederick II of Brandenburg , nicknamed "the Iron" and sometimes "Irontooth" , was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg from 1440 until his abdication in 1470, and was a member of the House of Hohenzollern.-Biography:Frederick II was born in Tangermünde to Frederick I, Brandenburg's...
(1413–1471), the second son of Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg
Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg
Frederick was Burgrave of Nuremberg as Frederick VI and Elector of Brandenburg as Frederick I. He was a son of Burgrave Frederick V of Nuremberg and Elisabeth of Meissen, and was the first member of the House of Hohenzollern to rule the Margraviate of Brandenburg.- Biography :Frederick entered...
. A party of Polish nobles, including Anna, wanted Jadwiga and her intended husband to succeed Władysław at least in Poland, instead of her half-brothers, his sons by Sophia.
Anna died in 1425, which left Jadwiga without any strong relatives to support her position. In 1431 Jadwiga died without any issue, allegedly by poison. In this way, Anna's descent became extinct before Władysław's death in 1434.