Jadwiga of Greater Poland
Encyclopedia
Hedwig of Kalisz (1266 – 10 December 1339) was the second of three daughters, born to Boleslaw the Pious and Jolenta of Poland
. Her paternal grandparents were Ladislaus Odonic Plwacz and Jadwiga of Pomerania, her maternal grandparents were Béla IV of Hungary
and Maria Laskarina
. Her elder sister was Elisabeth of Greater Poland
. In 1293, Hedwig married Władysław I the Elbow-high, son of Casimir I of Kuyavia
.
. Wenceslaus III reigned for a year before he was assassinated under mysterious circumstances so his campaign of Poland
ended. His wife, Viola Elisabeth of Cieszyn
had not borne him any children so his successor was Władysław.
In 1318, Władysław embarked on a coronation campaign. The pope, though initially unwilling, finally granted his approval and Władysław and Hedwig were crowned King and Queen of Poland on 30 January 1320 in Kraków
; a new crown was made for the new queen and it was later used to crown other queens of Poland. Times were not always good for the royal family. Władysław and Jadwiga lost their two eldest sons, Stephen and Władysław. Their joy was however restored with the birth of two more children, Casimir and Jadwiga.
The coronation was a sign that he had overcome Poland's internal fragmentation and re-united and re-instated the country as an independent kingdom under his rule.
Poland now needed friends abroad; so in 1320, Hedwig and Władysław's daughter Elisabeth
married Charles I of Hungary
, son of Charles Martel of Anjou
and Klementia of Habsburg
. Their son was Louis I of Hungary.
Hedwig played an active part in politics during her husband's reign. She took over the regency of Stary Sacz
when her granddaughter by Kunigunde, Constance of Swidnica
resigned to become a nun.
Her husband died in 1333. Jadwiga lived until 1339.
Jolenta of Poland
Jolenta of Poland was the daughter of Béla IV of Hungary and Maria Laskarina. She was the sister of Saint Margaret of Hungary and Saint Kinga...
. Her paternal grandparents were Ladislaus Odonic Plwacz and Jadwiga of Pomerania, her maternal grandparents were Béla IV of Hungary
Béla IV of Hungary
Béla IV , King of Hungary and of Croatia , duke of Styria 1254–58. One of the most famous kings of Hungary, he distinguished himself through his policy of strengthening of the royal power following the example of his grandfather Bela III, and by the rebuilding Hungary after the catastrophe of the...
and Maria Laskarina
Maria Laskarina
Maria Laskarina was a daughter of Theodore I Laskaris and his first wife Anna Angelina.-Life:She was a younger sister of Irene Lascarina, first Empress consort of John III Doukas Vatatzes. Theodore married his eldest daughter to his designated heir in 1212...
. Her elder sister was Elisabeth of Greater Poland
Elisabeth of Greater Poland
Elisabeth of Kalisz was the eldest child of Boleslaw the Pious and his wife Jolenta of Poland. Her younger sister was Jadwiga of Greater Poland.- Marriage :...
. In 1293, Hedwig married Władysław I the Elbow-high, son of Casimir I of Kuyavia
Casimir I of Kuyavia
Casimir I of Kuyavia was Prince of Kujawy, Mazovia and Wielkopolska, from 1233 until his death. He was the son of Konrad I of Masovia, King of Poland, and his wife Agafia of Rus.- Life :...
.
Biography
Her husband was a bitter rival of Wenceslaus II of Bohemia who was King of Poland between 1291–1305. Life was dangerous for Hedwig and her family during this time, she and three of her children had to go into hiding for a while during 1300. In 1305, Wenceslaus II died and was succeeded by his son, Wenceslaus III of BohemiaWenceslaus III of Bohemia
Wenceslaus III Premyslid was the King of Hungary , King of Bohemia and the king of Poland ....
. Wenceslaus III reigned for a year before he was assassinated under mysterious circumstances so his campaign of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
ended. His wife, Viola Elisabeth of Cieszyn
Viola Elisabeth of Cieszyn
Viola Elisabeth of Cieszyn was a Polish princess member of the House of Piast in the Cieszyn branch and by marriage Queen of Bohemia and Poland....
had not borne him any children so his successor was Władysław.
In 1318, Władysław embarked on a coronation campaign. The pope, though initially unwilling, finally granted his approval and Władysław and Hedwig were crowned King and Queen of Poland on 30 January 1320 in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
; a new crown was made for the new queen and it was later used to crown other queens of Poland. Times were not always good for the royal family. Władysław and Jadwiga lost their two eldest sons, Stephen and Władysław. Their joy was however restored with the birth of two more children, Casimir and Jadwiga.
The coronation was a sign that he had overcome Poland's internal fragmentation and re-united and re-instated the country as an independent kingdom under his rule.
Poland now needed friends abroad; so in 1320, Hedwig and Władysław's daughter Elisabeth
Elisabeth of Poland
Elisabeth of Poland was Queen consort of Hungary and regent of Poland. She is also known as Elisabeth of Kujavia and Elisabeth Piast.-Early life:...
married Charles I of Hungary
Charles I of Hungary
Charles I , also known as Charles Robert , was the first King of Hungary and Croatia of the House of Anjou. He was also descended from the old Hungarian Árpád dynasty. His claim to the throne of Hungary was contested by several pretenders...
, son of Charles Martel of Anjou
Charles Martel of Anjou
Charles Martel of the Angevin dynasty, also known as Charles I Martel, was the eldest son of king Charles II of Naples and Maria of Hungary, the daughter of King Stephen V of Hungary....
and Klementia of Habsburg
Klementia of Habsburg
Clementia of Habsburg was a daughter of Rudolf I of Habsburg and Gertrude of Hohenberg. She was a member of the House of Habsburg.-Family:...
. Their son was Louis I of Hungary.
Hedwig played an active part in politics during her husband's reign. She took over the regency of Stary Sacz
Stary Sacz
Stary Sącz - is a town in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, seat of the municipality Stary Sącz. It's a one of the oldest towns in Poland, founded in 13th century.- Geography :...
when her granddaughter by Kunigunde, Constance of Swidnica
Constance of Świdnica
Constance of Świdnica was a member of the Piast dynasty in the Świdnica-Jawor branch and by marriage Duchess of Głogów....
resigned to become a nun.
Her husband died in 1333. Jadwiga lived until 1339.
Children
Hedwig had six children:- Stephen of Poland (d. 1306)
- Władysław of Poland (d. 1311/1312)
- Kunigunde of PolandKunigunde of PolandKunigunde of Poland was a daughter of Władysław I the Elbow-high and his wife Jadwiga of Greater Poland. Her siblings included, Casimir III of Poland and Elisabeth, Queen of Hungary. She was a member of the House of Piast.- Biography :...
(c. 1298 – 9 April 1331). Married first Bernard of ŚwidnicaBernard of ŚwidnicaBernard of Świdnica was a Duke of Jawor-Lwówek-Świdnica-Ziębice during 1301–1312 , of Świdnica-Ziębice during 1312–1322 , and sole Duke of Świdnica since 1322 until his death.He was the second son of Bolko I the Strict, Duke of Jawor-Lwówek-Świdnica-Ziębice, by his wife Beatrix, daughter of Otto V...
. Their children included Bolko II of Świdnica. Married secondly Rudolf I, Elector of Saxony. - Elisabeth of PolandElisabeth of PolandElisabeth of Poland was Queen consort of Hungary and regent of Poland. She is also known as Elisabeth of Kujavia and Elisabeth Piast.-Early life:...
(1305 – 29 December 1380). Married Charles I of HungaryCharles I of HungaryCharles I , also known as Charles Robert , was the first King of Hungary and Croatia of the House of Anjou. He was also descended from the old Hungarian Árpád dynasty. His claim to the throne of Hungary was contested by several pretenders...
. - Casimir III of PolandCasimir III of PolandCasimir 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:...
(30 April 1310 – 5 November 1370) - Hedwig of Poland (d. 3 June 1320/1322)