Siemowit II of Masovia
Encyclopedia
Siemowit II of Masovia (1283 – 18 February 1345) was Duke of Masovia from 1310 to 1345. He was a member of the House of Piast. Siemowit was Duke of Warsaw
and Liw
(1310–1313). In 1313, he became the ruler of Duchy of Rawa
. He was regent of Płock (1336–1340).
Siemowit was the eldest son of Boleslaus II of Masovia
and his first wife Sophie, the daughter of Grand Duke Traidenis
of Lithuania
.
(capital) Sochaczew
, Zakroczym
, Gostynin
, Ciechanów
and Wizna
. His younger brothers Trojden and Wenceslaus
were respectively given Czersk
and Płock. This division did not satisfy anybody and lead to a brief war between the three brothers in 1316.
In terms of foreign policy, Siemowit tried to maneuver between his powerful neighbors: Poland, Teutonic Order, Lithuania
and Bohemia
. At first Siemowit and his brothers supported Ladislaus the Short.
In 1326 at Brodnica
the brothers changed otheir political line and entered an alliance with the Teutonic Knights which guaranteed them not to touch their territory and independence. In retaliation, Ladislaus and Lithuania launched an attack against Masovia. Poland stayed away but the Teutonic Order and Bohemia became involved.
In 1329 Siemowit changed sides and joined forces with Ladislaus the Short. After this betrayal, an army of Teutonic and Czechs invaded the Duchy of Płock and forced Siemowit's brother Wenceslaus to pay vassalage to John of Bohemia, a candidate for the throne of Poland. In fear of suffering the fate as their brother, Siemowit and Trojden remained aloof from the conflict between Poland and Teutonic. In 1333 The Teutonic offered Siemowit Brześć Kujawski
, they took it to Poland in exchange for a new alliance. The Duke of Rawa declined the offer and but it definitely fitted the part of Ladislaus the Short.
In 1343 the conclusion of peace "eternal" between Poland and the Teutonic Order relieved Siemowit II whose duchy had an uncomfortable situation between the two powers. As a potential successor Casimir III the Great on the throne of Poland, Siemowit II agreed to waive the rights of Chełmno and Eastern Pomerania
.
on February 19, 1345 at his property Sochaczew
. He is buried in the Cathedral Płock. He never married and left no descendants. His duchy was divided among his three nephews: Boleslaw III of Płock, Siemowit III of Masovia
and Casimir I of Warsaw.
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
and Liw
Liw
Liw is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Liw, within Węgrów County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies on the river Liwiec , approximately west of Węgrów and east of Warsaw....
(1310–1313). In 1313, he became the ruler of Duchy of Rawa
Rawa
Rawa may refer to:Locations in Poland:*Rawa Mazowiecka, town in Poland*Rawa near Katowice in Poland*Rawa County in Poland*Rawa, Lublin Voivodeship Locations elsewhere:...
. He was regent of Płock (1336–1340).
Siemowit was the eldest son of Boleslaus II of Masovia
Boleslaus II of Masovia
Boleslaw II of Masovia or Boleslaw II of Płock was a ruler of Masovia. He was the younger brother Konrad II of Masovia and son of Siemowit I of Masovia. His mother was Pereyaslava , daughter of Daniel of Galicia....
and his first wife Sophie, the daughter of Grand Duke Traidenis
Traidenis
Traidenis was the Grand Duke Lithuania from 1270 till 1282. He is the second most prominent, after Mindaugas, Grand Duke of Lithuania in the 13th century. His reign ended a seven-year unrest period after Mindaugas was assassinated in 1263 and firmly established the Grand Duchy as a pagan state...
of Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
.
Life
Before his father died, Siemowit received the small regions of Warsaw and Liw. When his father died in 1313, Masovia was divided. As the oldest son Siemowit obtained the central part of Masovia, with Rawa MazowieckaRawa Mazowiecka
Rawa Mazowiecka is a town in central Poland, with 17,765 inhabitants . It lies in the Łódź Voivodeship and is the capital of Rawa County.First mentioned in 1288, it received city rights in 1321....
(capital) Sochaczew
Sochaczew
Sochaczew is a town in central Poland, with 38,300 inhabitants . Situated in the Masovian Voivodeship , previously in Skierniewice Voivodeship . It is the capital of Sochaczew County....
, Zakroczym
Zakroczym
Zakroczym is a small town in the Masovian Voivodeship, Poland. It is located at around . The Vistula River flows through the town....
, Gostynin
Gostynin
Gostynin is a town in Central Poland with 19,414 inhabitants . It is situated in the Masovian Voivodship since 1999 and was previously in the Płock Voivodship from 1975 to 1998. It is the capital of Gostynin County.-External links:*...
, Ciechanów
Ciechanów
Ciechanów is a town in north-central Poland with 45,900 inhabitants . It is situated in Masovian Voivodeship . It was previously the capital of Ciechanów Voivodeship.-History:The grad numbered approximately 3,000 armed men....
and Wizna
Wizna
Wizna is a village in Łomża County of Podlaskie Voivodeship, in north-eastern Poland. The Biebrza River flows through town. Wizna is also known for the battle of Wizna which took place in its vicinity during the 1939 Invasion of Poland. At present, farming and food production are the primary...
. His younger brothers Trojden and Wenceslaus
Wenceslaus of Płock
Wenceslaus of Płock was a member of the House of Piast. He was Duke of Płock from 1313 until his death and was a vassal of Bohemia from 1329.- Duke of Płock :...
were respectively given Czersk
Czersk
Czersk is a town in northern Poland in Chojnice County, Pomeranian Voivodeship.On July 1, 2006 this municipality celebrated 80 years of granting this community the status of city....
and Płock. This division did not satisfy anybody and lead to a brief war between the three brothers in 1316.
In terms of foreign policy, Siemowit tried to maneuver between his powerful neighbors: Poland, Teutonic Order, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
and Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
. At first Siemowit and his brothers supported Ladislaus the Short.
In 1326 at Brodnica
Brodnica
Brodnica is a town in northern Poland with 27,400 inhabitants . Previously part of Toruń Voivodeship [a province], from 1975 to 1998, Brodnica has been situated in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999...
the brothers changed otheir political line and entered an alliance with the Teutonic Knights which guaranteed them not to touch their territory and independence. In retaliation, Ladislaus and Lithuania launched an attack against Masovia. Poland stayed away but the Teutonic Order and Bohemia became involved.
In 1329 Siemowit changed sides and joined forces with Ladislaus the Short. After this betrayal, an army of Teutonic and Czechs invaded the Duchy of Płock and forced Siemowit's brother Wenceslaus to pay vassalage to John of Bohemia, a candidate for the throne of Poland. In fear of suffering the fate as their brother, Siemowit and Trojden remained aloof from the conflict between Poland and Teutonic. In 1333 The Teutonic offered Siemowit Brześć Kujawski
Brzesc Kujawski
Brześć Kujawski is a town in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Population - 4,521 , Poland.It has been the seat of one of two small duchies into which Kuyavia has been temporarily divided....
, they took it to Poland in exchange for a new alliance. The Duke of Rawa declined the offer and but it definitely fitted the part of Ladislaus the Short.
In 1343 the conclusion of peace "eternal" between Poland and the Teutonic Order relieved Siemowit II whose duchy had an uncomfortable situation between the two powers. As a potential successor Casimir III the Great on the throne of Poland, Siemowit II agreed to waive the rights of Chełmno and Eastern Pomerania
Eastern Pomerania
Eastern Pomerania can refer to distinct parts of Pomerania:*the historical region of Farther Pomerania, which was the eastern part of the Duchy, later Province of Pomerania...
.
Death and succession
Siemowit II died in RawaRawa
Rawa may refer to:Locations in Poland:*Rawa Mazowiecka, town in Poland*Rawa near Katowice in Poland*Rawa County in Poland*Rawa, Lublin Voivodeship Locations elsewhere:...
on February 19, 1345 at his property Sochaczew
Sochaczew
Sochaczew is a town in central Poland, with 38,300 inhabitants . Situated in the Masovian Voivodeship , previously in Skierniewice Voivodeship . It is the capital of Sochaczew County....
. He is buried in the Cathedral Płock. He never married and left no descendants. His duchy was divided among his three nephews: Boleslaw III of Płock, Siemowit III of Masovia
Siemowit III of Masovia
Siemowit III of Masovia was a prince of Masovia and a co-regent of the lands of Warsaw, Czersk, Rawa, Gostynin and other parts of Masovia.- Life :...
and Casimir I of Warsaw.