Hedwig of Legnica
Encyclopedia
Hedwig of Legnica (ca. 1351 – 1 August 1409) was a Polish princess member of the Piast dynasty
in the Legnica
branch and by marriage Duchess of Żagań
.
She was the fourth child and only daughter of Wenceslaus I
, Duke of Legnica
, by his wife Anna, daughter of Casimir I, Duke of Cieszyn.
, Duke of Głogów-Żagań
. The union was complete unhappy; after the premature death of their only daughter, the Ducal couple became formally separated: Hedwig remained in Żagań and Henry VI moved to Krosno Odrzańskie
, where he died on 5 December 1393.
Despite the many years of estrangement, in his will Henry VI leave to his wife all his lands -who included the towns Żagań
, Krosno Odrzańskie and Świebodzin
- as her Oprawa wdowia. Hedwig ruled that lands until 1403, when she renounced to the effective government over them on behalf of Henry VI's nephews.
Piast dynasty
The Piast dynasty was the first historical ruling dynasty of Poland. It began with the semi-legendary Piast Kołodziej . The first historical ruler was Duke Mieszko I . The Piasts' royal rule in Poland ended in 1370 with the death of king Casimir the Great...
in the Legnica
Legnica
Legnica is a town in south-western Poland, in Silesia, in the central part of Lower Silesia, on the plain of Legnica, riverside: Kaczawa and Czarna Woda. Between 1 June 1975 and 31 December 1998 Legnica was the capital of the Legnica Voivodeship. It is currently the seat of the county...
branch and by marriage Duchess of Żagań
Zagan
Zagan may refer to:*Zagan - a demon in the Ars Goetia*Żagań - a town in west Poland...
.
She was the fourth child and only daughter of Wenceslaus I
Wenceslaus I of Legnica
Wenceslaus I of Legnica was a Duke of Namysłów since 1338 and of Legnica-Brieg since 1342 until his death, but with further divisions with his brother Louis I....
, Duke of Legnica
Legnica
Legnica is a town in south-western Poland, in Silesia, in the central part of Lower Silesia, on the plain of Legnica, riverside: Kaczawa and Czarna Woda. Between 1 June 1975 and 31 December 1998 Legnica was the capital of the Legnica Voivodeship. It is currently the seat of the county...
, by his wife Anna, daughter of Casimir I, Duke of Cieszyn.
Life
Hedwig married on 10 February 1372 to Henry VI the OlderHenry VI the Older
Henry VI the Older was a Duke of Żagań-Głogów since 1368 .He was the oldest son of Henry V of Iron, Duke of Żagań-Głogów, by his wife Anna, daughter of Duke Wenceslaus of Płock....
, Duke of Głogów-Żagań
Zagan
Zagan may refer to:*Zagan - a demon in the Ars Goetia*Żagań - a town in west Poland...
. The union was complete unhappy; after the premature death of their only daughter, the Ducal couple became formally separated: Hedwig remained in Żagań and Henry VI moved to Krosno Odrzańskie
Krosno Odrzanskie
Krosno Odrzańskie is a city on the east bank of Oder River, at the confluence with the Bóbr. The town in Western Poland with 12,500 inhabitants is the capital of Krosno County...
, where he died on 5 December 1393.
Despite the many years of estrangement, in his will Henry VI leave to his wife all his lands -who included the towns Żagań
Zagan
Zagan may refer to:*Zagan - a demon in the Ars Goetia*Żagań - a town in west Poland...
, Krosno Odrzańskie and Świebodzin
Swiebodzin
Świebodzin is a town in western Poland with 21,757 inhabitants . It is the capital of Świebodzin CountyIt was formerly part of the Zielona Góra Voivodeship , a reconfiguration of the old German state of Prussia, the eastern 40% of which was inherited by Poland in 1945, and led to the expulsion of...
- as her Oprawa wdowia. Hedwig ruled that lands until 1403, when she renounced to the effective government over them on behalf of Henry VI's nephews.