Eudoxia of Kiev
Encyclopedia
Eudoxia Iziaslavna of Kiev , was a Kievan Rus'
princess member of the Rurikid dynasty and by marriage Duchess of Greater Poland
and since 1173 High Duchess of Poland.
She was the daughter of Iziaslav II
, Grand Prince of Kiev by his first wife Agnes (perhaps renamed Lyubava), daughter of King Conrad III of Germany
.
, Duke of Greater Poland
, who had recently lost his first wife, Princess Elisabeth of Hungary
. With this union, Mieszko III probably wanted to cement his relations with the Rurikid rulers.
During her marriage, Eudoxia bore her husband five children, three sons —Bolesław, Mieszko the Younger and Władysław III Spindleshanks— and two daughters —Salomea (Princess of Pomerania) and Anastasia
(Duchess of Pomerania
)—.
In 1173, Mieszko III succeeded his older brother Bolesław IV the Curly as High Duke of Poland and Eudoxia served as his High Duchess consort. However, their reign was short-lived: in 1177 Mieszko III's eldest son Odon rebelled against him, with the help of his uncle Casimir II the Just
. The main reason of Odon's rebellion was the favoritism showed by Mieszko III to his children with Eudoxia, and the attempts of the High Duke to force him to became a priest, in order to eliminated from the succession.
Mieszko III was forced to escape and went to Bohemia
(where he asked the help of his son-in-law Duke Sobeslav II unsuccessfully), Germany
and Pomerania
(there, Mieszko III obtain the support of his other son-in-law Duke Bogislaw I).
About Eudoxia's fate nothing is known. She certainly joined her husband in his exile and was alive when Mieszko III recover his Greater Poland
domains in 1182, but was dead when he recover the title of High Duke in 1191. Some sources placed her death around 1187, but others believed that she was alive in 1209.
Kievan Rus'
Kievan Rus was a medieval polity in Eastern Europe, from the late 9th to the mid 13th century, when it disintegrated under the pressure of the Mongol invasion of 1237–1240....
princess member of the Rurikid dynasty and by marriage Duchess of 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...
and since 1173 High Duchess of Poland.
She was the daughter of Iziaslav II
Iziaslav II of Kiev
Iziaslav II Mstislavich , Prince of Pereyaslav , Prince of Turov , Prince of Rostov , Prince of Vladimir and Volyn , Pereyaslavl , Velikiy Kniaz of Kiev , was the oldest son of Mstislav Vladimirovich, Kniaz' , and...
, Grand Prince of Kiev by his first wife Agnes (perhaps renamed Lyubava), daughter of King Conrad III of Germany
Conrad III of Germany
Conrad III was the first King of Germany of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. He was the son of Frederick I, Duke of Swabia, and Agnes, a daughter of the Salian Emperor Henry IV.-Life and reign:...
.
Life
In 1154, Eudoxia married with Mieszko III the OldMieszko 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....
, Duke of 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...
, who had recently lost his first wife, Princess Elisabeth of Hungary
Elisabeth of Hungary (1128–1154)
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...
. With this union, Mieszko III probably wanted to cement his relations with the Rurikid rulers.
During her marriage, Eudoxia bore her husband five children, three sons —Bolesław, Mieszko the Younger and Władysław III Spindleshanks— and two daughters —Salomea (Princess of Pomerania) and Anastasia
Anastasia of Greater Poland
Anastasia of Greater Poland , was a Polish princess member of the House of Piast and by marriage Duchess of Pomerania.She was the youngest child of Mieszko III the Old, Duke of Greater Poland and since 1173 High Duke of Poland, by his second wife Eudoxia, daughter of Grand Prince Iziaslav II of...
(Duchess of Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
)—.
In 1173, Mieszko III succeeded his older brother Bolesław IV the Curly as High Duke of Poland and Eudoxia served as his High Duchess consort. However, their reign was short-lived: in 1177 Mieszko III's eldest son Odon rebelled against him, with the help of his uncle Casimir II the Just
Casimir II the Just
Casimir II the Just was a Lesser Polish duke at Wiślica during 1166–1173, and at Sandomierz since 1173. He became ruler over the Polish Seniorate Province at Kraków and thereby High Duke of Poland in 1177; a position he held until his death, interrupted once by his elder brother and predecessor...
. The main reason of Odon's rebellion was the favoritism showed by Mieszko III to his children with Eudoxia, and the attempts of the High Duke to force him to became a priest, in order to eliminated from the succession.
Mieszko III was forced to escape and went to 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...
(where he asked the help of his son-in-law Duke Sobeslav II unsuccessfully), Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
(there, Mieszko III obtain the support of his other son-in-law Duke Bogislaw I).
About Eudoxia's fate nothing is known. She certainly joined her husband in his exile and was alive when Mieszko III recover his 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...
domains in 1182, but was dead when he recover the title of High Duke in 1191. Some sources placed her death around 1187, but others believed that she was alive in 1209.