Euphemia of Masovia
Encyclopedia
Euphemia of Masovia was a Polish
princess member of the House of Piast in the Masovia branch and by marriage Duchess of Cieszyn
.
She was the fifth child and third daughter of Siemowit IV, Duke of Masovia
, by his wife Alexandra
, daughter of Algirdas
, Grand Duke of Lithuania and sister of King Władysław II Jagiełło
of Poland
.
and Upper Silesia
, and for this reason he was probably instrumental in her marriage with Bolesław I, Duke of Cieszyn
. Because Euphemia and Bolesław I were related in the third degree of consanguinity, a Papal dispensation was needed for the union, which was granted on 27 January 1412. The wedding took place ten months later, on 20 November, probably in the town of Wiślica
. In 1424, Euphemia and her husband took part in the coronation of King Władysław II's fourth and last wife, Sophia of Halshany
.
During her marriage, Euphemia gave birth to five children, one daughter —Alexandra, later wife of László II Garay— and four sons —Wenceslaus I, Władysław, Przemysław II and Bolesław II—.
After Bolesław I's death on 6 May 1431, Euphemia took the regency of the Duchy of Cieszyn on behalf of her minor sons, who inherited the lands as a co-rulers. She continued her husband's policies supporting the towns and in 1438 co-decided, with her son Wenceslaus I, to give Cieszyn
the right to mint coins.
Despite her sons becoming legally able to rule by themselves, Euphemia continued to hold supreme authority over the Duchy. With her consent, her sons were allowed to sell the Duchy of Siewierz
to Zbigniew Oleśnicki, Bishop of Kraków, on 24 December 1443.
On 29 November 1442 the co-Dukes of Cieszyn made a formal division of their domains; however, the unity of the Duchy was maintained during Euphemia's lifetime. She died before 17 September 1447 and was presumably buried alongside her husband in Dominican
church in Cieszyn
.
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
princess member of the House of Piast in the Masovia branch and by marriage Duchess of Cieszyn
Cieszyn
Cieszyn is a border-town and the seat of Cieszyn County, Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland. It has 36,109 inhabitants . Cieszyn lies on the Olza River, a tributary of the Oder river, opposite Český Těšín....
.
She was the fifth child and third daughter of Siemowit IV, Duke of Masovia
Siemowit IV, Duke of Masovia
Siemowit IV was one of the Dukes of Masovia of the old Polish Piast royal family. His domain included the lands of Czersk, Rawa, Sochaczew, Płock and Gostynin. In 1381 he inherited Wisz and in 1387 Bełz.-Life:Siemowit IV was a son of Siemowit III...
, by his wife Alexandra
Alexandra of Lithuania
Alexandra was the youngest daughter of Grand Duke of Lithuania Algirdas and his second wife Uliana of Tver. In 1387 Alexandra married Siemowit IV, Duke of Masovia...
, daughter of Algirdas
Algirdas
Algirdas was a monarch of medieval Lithuania. Algirdas ruled the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1345 to 1377, which chiefly meant monarch of Lithuanians and Ruthenians...
, Grand Duke of Lithuania and sister of King Władysław II Jagiełło
Jogaila
Jogaila, later 'He is known under a number of names: ; ; . See also: Jogaila : names and titles. was Grand Duke of Lithuania , king consort of Kingdom of Poland , and sole King of Poland . He ruled in Lithuania from 1377, at first with his uncle Kęstutis...
of 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...
.
Life
According to the Chronicle of Jan Długosz, Euphemia had a great and natural charm, and because of this she was also known as Ofka. King Władysław II, Euphemia's uncle, wanted to make a close bond between KrakówKraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
and Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
, and for this reason he was probably instrumental in her marriage with Bolesław I, Duke of Cieszyn
Cieszyn
Cieszyn is a border-town and the seat of Cieszyn County, Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland. It has 36,109 inhabitants . Cieszyn lies on the Olza River, a tributary of the Oder river, opposite Český Těšín....
. Because Euphemia and Bolesław I were related in the third degree of consanguinity, a Papal dispensation was needed for the union, which was granted on 27 January 1412. The wedding took place ten months later, on 20 November, probably in the town of Wiślica
Wislica
Wiślica is a village in Busko County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Wiślica. It lies on the Nida River, approximately south of Busko-Zdrój and south of the regional capital Kielce...
. In 1424, Euphemia and her husband took part in the coronation of King Władysław II's fourth and last wife, Sophia of Halshany
Sophia of Halshany
Sophia of Halshany , was a Lithuanian princess of Halshany, Queen of Poland from , and the last wife of Jogaila.-Biography:...
.
During her marriage, Euphemia gave birth to five children, one daughter —Alexandra, later wife of László II Garay— and four sons —Wenceslaus I, Władysław, Przemysław II and Bolesław II—.
After Bolesław I's death on 6 May 1431, Euphemia took the regency of the Duchy of Cieszyn on behalf of her minor sons, who inherited the lands as a co-rulers. She continued her husband's policies supporting the towns and in 1438 co-decided, with her son Wenceslaus I, to give Cieszyn
Cieszyn
Cieszyn is a border-town and the seat of Cieszyn County, Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland. It has 36,109 inhabitants . Cieszyn lies on the Olza River, a tributary of the Oder river, opposite Český Těšín....
the right to mint coins.
Despite her sons becoming legally able to rule by themselves, Euphemia continued to hold supreme authority over the Duchy. With her consent, her sons were allowed to sell the Duchy of Siewierz
Duchy of Siewierz
The Duchy of Siewierz was a Silesian duchy with its capital in Siewierz. The area was part of the original Duchy of Silesia established after the death of Duke Bolesław III Wrymouth in 1138 during the times of the fragmentation of Poland....
to Zbigniew Oleśnicki, Bishop of Kraków, on 24 December 1443.
On 29 November 1442 the co-Dukes of Cieszyn made a formal division of their domains; however, the unity of the Duchy was maintained during Euphemia's lifetime. She died before 17 September 1447 and was presumably buried alongside her husband in Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
church in Cieszyn
Cieszyn
Cieszyn is a border-town and the seat of Cieszyn County, Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland. It has 36,109 inhabitants . Cieszyn lies on the Olza River, a tributary of the Oder river, opposite Český Těšín....
.