Wladislaus II of Poland

Wladislaus II on Jan Matejko's painting

Wladislaus II Jagiello (Polish Władysław II Jagiełło, Lithuanian Jogaila, Belarusian Jahajla (Ягайла)) (c.1351 - 1 June 1434 Gródek Jagielloński), Grand Prince of Lithuania from 1377 (or 1378) – 1381, 1382 – 1392 (or 1401), became King of Poland as Wladislaus II in 1386 after converting to Christianity and marrying Jadwiga, second of Poland's Angevin rulers.

His original name was Jogaila (Jagiełło) and his Christian name was Wladislaus (Polish: Władysław also seen Vladislaus, Ladislaus, Ladislas or Vladislav).

Contents

Royal title

Royal title in Latin: Wladislaus Dei gracia rex Polonie necnon terrarum Cracovie, Sandomirie, Syradia, Lancicie, Cuiavie, Lithuanie princeps supremus, Pomoranie Russieque dominus et heres etc.

Lithuanian translation: Vladislovas, Dievo valia karalius Lenkijos ir žemių Krokuvos, Sandomiro, Sieradžo, Lečycos, Kujavijos, Lietuvos Didysis Kunigaikštis, valdovas ir paveldėtojas Pomeranijos ir Rutėnijos.

English translation: Vladislaus by God's grace king of Poland, and lands of Cracow, Sandomierz, Sieradz, Łęczyca, Kuyavia, high-prince of Lithuania, lord and heir of Pomerania and Ruthenia.

Polish translation: Władysław, z Bożej łaski król Polski, ziemii krakowskiej, sandomierskiej, sieradzkiej, łęczyckiej, kujawskiej, Wielki Książe Litewski, dziedzic Pomorza i Rutenii.

Biography

Jogaila (or Jagiello) was from the dynasty of dukes and grand dukes of Lithuania Gediminaičiai. His father was Algirdas (ruled 1345-1377) (or Olgierd), duke of Lithuania, a son of Gediminas. He was born in the present day state of Belarus.

With the Union of Krewo in 1385, Jagiello married Queen Jadwiga of Poland (who was then only 11 years old) and established the Jagiellonian dynasty, which would rule in Poland and Lithuania until 1572. At the same time, Jagiello accepted Roman Catholicism, as did some other Lithuanian nobles. Thus he became King Władysław II Jagiełło (Wladislaus II) of Poland, and reigned 49 years. After the death of Jadwiga and their newborn daughter in 1399, Jagiello continued to rule, for yet 35 years. Many regarded that he had lost his entitlement to the crown with the death of Jadwiga. However, there were no obvious heirs of ancient Polish monarchs - all potential competitors, of which there existed a vast number, were distant relatives, and although Jagello faced from time to time difficulties, he remained king more or less by default. He tried to strengthen his position and rights by next marrying Anna of Celje, granddaughter of Casimir III of Poland (d 1370), whose mother Anna, Countess of Celje (died 1425), daughter of king Casimir, tried to obtain influence. Anna of Celje also died childless, 1416. Jegello did not yet have any heirs. His next marriages were with ladies of Lithuanian dominions, apparently having nothing to do with ancestors among Polish monarchs.

The Jagiellonian era is usually characterised as the start of Poland's "golden age", and saw the country become a major European power and extend its frontiers to the north and east.

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The Majestatic Seal of Wladysław Jagiełło

Jagiello's conversion marked the establishment of Catholic Christianity as the official religion of Lithuania following a brief period of Catholic kingship in the 1250s. Though pagan beliefs continued in the country for some time, the Lithuanian nobility gave its support to the new order upon being promised (in 1401) a voice in the election of the future Polish-Lithuanian rulers.

In military terms, his reign is noted for the crushing defeat inflicted on the Teutonic Knights in neighbouring Province of Prussia by Polish, Lithuanian, Smolensk and Tatar forces at the Battle of Grunwald 1410.

Jagiello was the first of the dynasty of Lithuanian princes who were also kings of Poland (1386-1572). He was succeeded by his son Wladislaus III, and after his death at battle of Varna by second son Casimir IV. Previously rulers from this dynasty, called Gediminaičiai, were great princes of Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and after the Krėva Union, Jogaila adopted both titles (Grand duke of Lithuania and King of Poland). Later, however, up until the Union of Lublin, the title of Grand duke of Lithuania was sometimes under dispute and not always belonged to the King of Poland. However, both titles, if separate, were used to be held by members of same Gediminaičiai dynasty who were related to each other in close family ties.

Before that the Piasts were monarchs of Poland, in last century intermitting with the Bohemian Przemysls and followed by a brief period of Angevins.

Although Jagiellonian dynasty was not hereditary and in theory each king of this dynasty was elected, in reality every time when the father died, his son (or brother) was elected as new king.

After the last male member of the Jagiellonian dynasty died out, the kings of Poland were elected by the Polish nobles.

Dynastic Relations

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100 zloty banknote of Poland with face of Władysław Jagiełło

Jagiello was married in 1385 to Queen Jadwiga of Poland (1374-1399). Their only child was:

Elzbieta-Bonifacja (born and died 1399)

Secondly, 1402, with Anna of Celje (1386-1416), a Slovenian noblewoman, and (more importantly) the only child of Anna, a superseded daughter of Casimir III of Poland (d 1370). The mother, Anna Countess of Celje died 1425 without surviving children. The couple did not have children.

Thirdly, Elzbieta Pilczanka. No children.

Jagiello married, fourthly, with Sophia Holczanska, a noblewoman from Ukraine. Their children were: