Wladislaus II of Poland
Wladislaus II Jagiello (Polish Władysław II Jagiełło, Lithuanian Jogaila, Belarusian Jahajla (Ягайла)) (c.1351 – 1 June 1434 Grodek Jagiellonski), 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 (Jagiello) and his Christian name was Wladislaus (Polish: Władysław also seen Vladislaus, Ladislaus, Ladislas or Vladislav)
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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 emių Krokuvos, Sandomiero, Sierado, Lečycos, Kujavijos, Lietuvos Didysis Kunigaiktis, 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 Olgerd), 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. After the death of Jadwiga and their newborn daughter in 1399, Jagiello ruled for another 35 years as Władysław II Jagiełło (Wladislaus II).
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.
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 dukes 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 people from this dynasty, called Gediminaičiai, were great dukes of Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and after the Krėva Union, Jogaila adopted both titles (Grad duke of Lithuania and King of Poland). Later, however, up until the Union of Lublin, the title of Grand duke of Lithuania was disputed and not always belonged to same person as title of King of Poland. However, both titles were used to be held by members of same Gediminaičiai dynasty who were related to each other in close family ties (if itwasnt the same person at the time).
Before that the Piasts and the Przemysls were intermittent kings of Poland.
Although Jagiellonian dynasty was not hereditary and in theory each member of dynasty had to be elected, in reality every time when the father died, his son was elected as new king.
After the last Jagiellonian dynasty member died out, the kings of Poland were elected by the Polish nobles.
Dynastic Relations
Jagiello was married in 1385 to Queen Jadwiga of Poland (1374-1399). Their only child was:
- Elzbieta-Bonifacja (born and died 1399)
Jagiello married again to Sophia Holczanska. Their children were:
Mother
Father
Wives
- Queen Jadwiga of Poland 1385 (1374 – 1399)
- Sophia Holczanska
Brothers
- Demetrius I Starszy (1327 – 12 May 1399 Battle of the Worskla River), Prince of Trubczewsk 1357 – 1399, Briansk 1357 – 1379, Starodub 1370 – 1399, Druck 13?? – 13??
- Andrzej (14th century – 12 August 1399), Prince of Polock 1342 – 1387, Pskow 1341 – 1343, 134? – 1348, 1377 – 1379, 1394 – 1396
- Konstanty (14th century – before 30 October 1390), Prince of Czartorysk
- Wlodzimierz (14th century – after October 1398), Prince of Kijow, Kopylsk, Sluck
- Fiodor (Theodore; 14th century – 1399), Prince of Rylsk 1370 – 1399, Ratnie 1387 – 1394, Briansk 1393
- Skirgiello (Iwan; ca 1354 – 11 January 1397 Kijow), Prince of Trock 1382 – 1395, Kijow 1395 – 1397, regent of Lithuania
- Korybut (Dymitr; after 1350 – after 1404), Prince of Novgorod-Seversky 1386 – 1392/93
- Lingweni (Szymon; 14th century – after 19 June 1431), Prince of Mscislaw, regent of Great Novgorod
- Korygiello (Kazimierz; after 1350 – 1390), Prince of Mscislaw, regent
- Wigunt (Aleksander; after 1350 – 28 June 1392), Prince of Kiernow
- Swidrygiello (Svitrigaylo, Boleslaw; ca 1370 – 10 February 1452 Luck), Prince of Witebsk 1392 – 1393, 1430 – 1436, Podolja 1400 – 1402, Novgorod-Seversky 1404 – 1408, 1420 – 1438, Czernichow 1419 – 1430, Grand Prince of Lithuania 1430 – 1432, pan Wolynia 1437 – 1452
Sisters
- Fiedora (born 14th century)
- Nowosielska (14th century – ?)
- Agrypina (Maria; 14th century – 1393)
- Kenna (Joanna; ca 1350 – 27 April 1368), Princess of Slupsk
- Helena (after 1350 – 15 September 1438), Princess of Borowsko-Sierpuchowsk and third part of the Principality of Moscow, Princess of Wolock and Rzewsk 1389 – 1405, Horodeck and Uglick 1405 – 1410
- Maria (after 1350 - ?), Princess of Lithuania
- Wilheida (Katarzyna; after 1350 – after 4 April 1422), Princess of Lithuania
- Aleksandra (after 1350 – 19 June 1434), Princess of Czersk, Rawsk, Sochaczewsk, Plock, Gostynin, Plonsk, Wisk, Kujawsk and Belsk
- Jadwiga (after 1350 – after 1407), Princess of Oswiecim 1395/96 – 1405
Sons
Daughter
See also
External links
- Pages and Forums on Lithuanian History
- Belarusian history club
- "Wladyslaw II" at the Directory of Royal Genealogical Data
Categories: Belarusian history | Lithuanian history | Lithuanian nobility | Lithuanian rulers | Polish history | Polish monarchs | Polish nobility | 1350 births | 1434 deaths