Elisabeth of Hungary (1128–1154)
Encyclopedia
Elisabeth of Hungary was a Hungarian princess member of the House of Árpád and by marriage Duchess of Greater Poland
.
She was the eldest child of King Béla II of Hungary
by his wife Helena
, daughter of Duke Uroš I of Raška, Grand Župan
of Serbia
. This parentage is confirmed in several web sources who followed the message of chronicler Jan Długosz; however, modern historians led by Oswald Balzer
refuted this theory on basis of chronological reasons: if Elisabeth's marriage date is correct, she must have been only between 8 and 9 years old, an age which seems extremely young for a bride, even by the standards of the Middle Ages
. Balzer assumed that Elisabeth was a daughter of Prince Álmos
, Duke of Croatia (father of King Béla II), a parentage which also is supported by further web sources. The disadvantage of this hypothesis are the message of medieval chronicles (for example, the Chronicon Polono-Silesiacum), who firmly established that Elisabeth was a daughter of the Hungarian King, a title who Álmos never used because he was only a prince. Another theory was proposed by Kazimierz Jasiński: in his opinion, Elisabeth was a daughter of King Stephen II
. Although sources indicated that because of his dissolute lifestyle, Stephen II didn't have any surviving children, according to Jasiński this messages are originated from a later period and don't deserve trust; also, it should be taken into account that frequently skipping for the chroniclers the birth of female offspring.
, son of the Polish ruler Bolesław III Wrymouth. The wedding was performed as a result of the agreement concluded a year earlier in Merseburg
. Two years later (28 October 1138), Duke Bolesław III died; according to his will, Mieszko inherited the Greater Poland
province and became in his first Duke, with Elisabeth as his Duchess consort.
During her marriage, Elisabeth bore her husband five children, two sons —Odon and Stephen
— and three daughters —Elisabeth
(Duchess of Bohemia
and Margravine of Lusatia
), Wierzchoslawa Ludmilla
(Duchess of Lorraine
) and Judith (Countess of Anhalt
and Duchess of Saxony
).
Elisabeth died in 1154 aged only twenty-six or twenty-seven. Nineteen years later, in 1173, her husband became High Duke and overlord of all Poland
.
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
.
She was the eldest child of King Béla II of Hungary
Béla II of Hungary
Béla II the Blind , King of Hungary and Croatia . Still as a child, Béla was blinded by his uncle, King Coloman who wanted to ensure the succession of his own son, the future King Stephen II...
by his wife Helena
Helena of Raška
Helena of Serbia was Queen consort of Hungary through her marriage with Béla II, who ruled 1131–1141.-Life:Helena was the daughter of Duke Uroš I of Rascia and his wife, Anna Diogene-Vukanović...
, daughter of Duke Uroš I of Raška, Grand Župan
Grand Zupan
Grand, Great or Chief Župan is the English rendering of a South Slavic title which relate etymologically to župan like a Russian Grand Prince to a Knyaz .- Bulgaria :A decorated silver cup with a...
of Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. This parentage is confirmed in several web sources who followed the message of chronicler Jan Długosz; however, modern historians led by Oswald Balzer
Oswald Balzer
Oswald Marian Balzer was an Austro-Polish historian of law and statehood, one of the most renowned Polish historians of his times....
refuted this theory on basis of chronological reasons: if Elisabeth's marriage date is correct, she must have been only between 8 and 9 years old, an age which seems extremely young for a bride, even by the standards of the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. Balzer assumed that Elisabeth was a daughter of Prince Álmos
Prince Álmos
Álmos was a Hungarian prince, the son of King Géza I of Hungary, brother of King Kálmán. He held several governmental posts in the Kingdom of Hungary....
, Duke of Croatia (father of King Béla II), a parentage which also is supported by further web sources. The disadvantage of this hypothesis are the message of medieval chronicles (for example, the Chronicon Polono-Silesiacum), who firmly established that Elisabeth was a daughter of the Hungarian King, a title who Álmos never used because he was only a prince. Another theory was proposed by Kazimierz Jasiński: in his opinion, Elisabeth was a daughter of King Stephen II
Stephen II of Hungary
Stephen II , King of Hungary and Croatia, ruled from 1116 until 1131. He was crowned as a child during his father's lifetime who wanted to ensure Stephen's succession against his brother, Duke Álmos. Stephen's reign was characterized by frequent struggles with neighbouring countries...
. Although sources indicated that because of his dissolute lifestyle, Stephen II didn't have any surviving children, according to Jasiński this messages are originated from a later period and don't deserve trust; also, it should be taken into account that frequently skipping for the chroniclers the birth of female offspring.
Life
Around 1136, Elisabeth married with Prince MieszkoMieszko III the Old
Mieszko III the Old , of the royal Piast dynasty, was Duke of Greater Poland from 1138 and High Duke of Poland, with interruptions, from 1173 until his death....
, son of the Polish ruler Bolesław III Wrymouth. The wedding was performed as a result of the agreement concluded a year earlier in Merseburg
Merseburg
Merseburg is a town in the south of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt on the river Saale, approx. 14 km south of Halle . It is the capital of the Saalekreis district. It had a diocese founded by Archbishop Adalbert of Magdeburg....
. Two years later (28 October 1138), Duke Bolesław III died; according to his will, Mieszko inherited the Greater Poland
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
province and became in his first Duke, with Elisabeth as his Duchess consort.
During her marriage, Elisabeth bore her husband five children, two sons —Odon and Stephen
Stephen of Greater Poland
Stephen of Greater Poland , was a Polish prince member of the House of Piast.He was the second son of Mieszko III the Old, Duke of Greater Poland and since 1173 High Duke of Poland, by his first wife Elisabeth, daughter of King Béla II of Hungary. His name was probably given by his...
— and three daughters —Elisabeth
Elisabeth of Greater Poland (1152–1209)
Elisabeth of Greater Poland was a Polish princess of the House of Piast and, by her two marriages, Duchess of Bohemia and Margravine of Lusatia....
(Duchess of 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...
and Margravine of Lusatia
Lusatia
Lusatia is a historical region in Central Europe. It stretches from the Bóbr and Kwisa rivers in the east to the Elbe valley in the west, today located within the German states of Saxony and Brandenburg as well as in the Lower Silesian and Lubusz voivodeships of western Poland...
), Wierzchoslawa Ludmilla
Wierzchoslawa Ludmilla of Greater Poland
Wierzchoslawa Ludmilla of Greater Poland , was a Polish princess member of the House of Piast, by marriage Lady of Bitsch and during 1205-1206 Duchess of Lorraine....
(Duchess of Lorraine
Lorraine (province)
The Duchy of Upper Lorraine was an historical duchy roughly corresponding with the present-day northeastern Lorraine region of France, including parts of modern Luxembourg and Germany. The main cities were Metz, Verdun, and the historic capital Nancy....
) and Judith (Countess of Anhalt
Anhalt
Anhalt was a sovereign county in Germany, located between the Harz Mountains and the river Elbe in Middle Germany. It now forms part of the state of Saxony-Anhalt.- Dukes of Anhalt :...
and Duchess of Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
).
Elisabeth died in 1154 aged only twenty-six or twenty-seven. Nineteen years later, in 1173, her husband became High Duke and overlord of all 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...
.