Siemowit III of Masovia
Encyclopedia
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, Czersk
Czersk
Czersk is a town in northern Poland in Chojnice County, Pomeranian Voivodeship.On July 1, 2006 this municipality celebrated 80 years of granting this community the status of city....
, Rawa
Rawa Mazowiecka
Rawa Mazowiecka is a town in central Poland, with 17,765 inhabitants . It lies in the Łódź Voivodeship and is the capital of Rawa County.First mentioned in 1288, it received city rights in 1321....
, Gostynin
Gostynin
Gostynin is a town in Central Poland with 19,414 inhabitants . It is situated in the Masovian Voivodship since 1999 and was previously in the Płock Voivodship from 1975 to 1998. It is the capital of Gostynin County.-External links:*...
and other parts of Masovia.
Life
Siemowit was the second son of Trojden I of Masovia and his wife Maria, daughter of Yuri I of Galicia.In 1341, following the death of their father and brother, Siemowit and his younger brother Casimir inherited the Duchy of Czersk
Czersk
Czersk is a town in northern Poland in Chojnice County, Pomeranian Voivodeship.On July 1, 2006 this municipality celebrated 80 years of granting this community the status of city....
. In 1345 following the death of their uncle Siemowit II of Rawa, they also inherited the Duchy of Rawa
Rawa
Rawa may refer to:Locations in Poland:*Rawa Mazowiecka, town in Poland*Rawa near Katowice in Poland*Rawa County in Poland*Rawa, Lublin Voivodeship Locations elsewhere:...
. In 1349 the two brothers shared their possessions. Siemowit gave the small region of Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
to his brother Casimir, retaining the regions of Czersk, Liw
Liw
Liw is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Liw, within Węgrów County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies on the river Liwiec , approximately west of Węgrów and east of Warsaw....
and Rawa.
Early in his reign, Siemowit tried to establish good neighborly relations with his powerful neighbors: the Teutonic Order, 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...
and 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...
. Some historians believe that Siemowit rendered a tribute of vassalage to Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
in 1346. Other historians say this happened in 1351, in order to inherit from Boleslaw III of Płock who was a vassal of Bohemia.
But on September 18 1351, Siemowit and Casimir recognised the Polish King Casimir III the Great as suzerain, canceling the allegiance of Masovia and Bohemia. In exchange, they got Gostynin
Gostynin
Gostynin is a town in Central Poland with 19,414 inhabitants . It is situated in the Masovian Voivodship since 1999 and was previously in the Płock Voivodship from 1975 to 1998. It is the capital of Gostynin County.-External links:*...
(Siemowit) and Sochaczew
Sochaczew
Sochaczew is a town in central Poland, with 38,300 inhabitants . Situated in the Masovian Voivodeship , previously in Skierniewice Voivodeship . It is the capital of Sochaczew County....
(Casimir), former possessions of Boleslaw III. Casimir also gave the Duchy of Płock to the brothers.
When his brother Casimir died unexpectedly in 1355, Casimir III the Great left the Duchy of Warsaw to Siemowit. In exchange, he promised never to ally with enemies of Poland and the Duchy of Płock would return to Poland, unless Casimir III died without an heir. In addition, Casimir III offered Siemowit a small territory of Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland is one of the historical regions of Poland, with its capital in the city of Kraków. It forms the southeastern corner of the country, and should not be confused with the modern Lesser Poland Voivodeship, which covers only a small, southern part of Lesser Poland...
bounded by the river Pilica
Pilica
Pilica is a river in central Poland, the longest left tributary of the Vistula river, with a length of 319 kilometres and the basin area of 9,273 km2 .-Towns:*Szczekociny*Koniecpol*Przedbórz*Sulejów*Tomaszów Mazowiecki...
and Radomka
Radomka
The Radomka is a river in central Poland and a left tributary of the Vistula river. It has a length of 98 km and a basin area of over 2000 km² . The river has its source in forests 4 km south from Przysucha...
.
From that time, relations between Siemowit and Casimir III the Great become increasingly narrow. In 1363, Siemowit was invited to Krakow
Kraków
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...
for the marriage of Elizabeth of Pomerania
Elizabeth of Pomerania
Elizabeth of Pomerania was the fourth and final wife of Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor and king of Bohemia. Her parents were Bogislaw V, Duke of Pomerania and Elizabeth of Poland,...
, granddaughter of the king of Poland, with the Emperor Charles IV. In September 1364 he participated in a conference in Krakow
Kraków
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...
, which offered five crowned kings, dukes and princes extravagant festivities and tournaments. In 1369 Margaret, the daughter of Siemowit, wife of Casimir IV, Duke of Pomerania, adopted an illegitimate son of Casimir III the Great. At that time, Casimir IV of Słupsk was one of the contenders to succeed Casimir III the Great, who left only daughters.
When Casimir III the Great died in 1370, under agreements concluded with one of his lifetime friends Siemowit III, he freed Siemowit from Polish suzerainty and gave Płock, Wizna
Wizna
Wizna is a village in Łomża County of Podlaskie Voivodeship, in north-eastern Poland. The Biebrza River flows through town. Wizna is also known for the battle of Wizna which took place in its vicinity during the 1939 Invasion of Poland. At present, farming and food production are the primary...
, Wyszogród
Wyszogród
Wyszogród is a town in Poland, in Masovian Voivodship, in Płock County, by the Vistula River. The population of Wyszogród was 2,793 in 2004.-History:...
and Zakroczym
Zakroczym
Zakroczym is a small town in the Masovian Voivodeship, Poland. It is located at around . The Vistula River flows through the town....
back to Mazovia. Having a reunified Masovia, it regained its independence, there Siemowit III promulgates a customary law in 1377. He reformed the administration, justice and the monetary system.
In 1373/1374 he gave the regions of Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
and Rawa
Rawa
Rawa may refer to:Locations in Poland:*Rawa Mazowiecka, town in Poland*Rawa near Katowice in Poland*Rawa County in Poland*Rawa, Lublin Voivodeship Locations elsewhere:...
to his sons, Siemowit IV of Masovia and Janusz I of Warsaw.
Marriages and Issue
In 1335, Siemowit married Euphemia, daughter of Nicholas II of OpavaNicholas II, Duke of Opava
Nicholas II of Opava was Duke of Opava from 1318 to 1365 and Duke of Ratibór from 1337 to 1365 and Burgrave of Kladsko from 1350 to 1365 and also chamberlain of the Kingdom of Bohemia.- Life :Nicholas II of Opava was a member of the Opava branch of the Bohemian noble Přemyslovci family...
. They had the following children:
- Euphemia (-21 June 1418/9 December 1424), married Władysław Opolczyk.
- Anna (before 1345-after 16 Mar 1403), nun at Ratibor.
- Janusz I of Warsaw (-8 Dec 1429), succeeded in 1374 as Janusz I, Prince of Ciechanów and Warsaw .
- MargaretMargaret of MasoviaMargaret of Masovia was Duchess of Pomerania and Brzeg, by her marriages to Casimir IV, Duke of Pomerania and then to Henryk VIII with a Scar. She was a member of the House of Piast....
(before 1358-14 May 1388/4 April 1396), married firstly to Casimir IV, Duke of Pomerania and secondly to Henryk VIII with a ScarHenryk VIII with a ScarHenry VII with a Scar also known as the Courageous or of Brzeg , was a Duke of Brzeg since 1361 and ruler of Niemcza since 1395....
. - Siemowit IV of Masovia (b. ca. 1353/1356- d. January 21, 1426), succeeded his father as Duke of Masovia.
Siemowit remarried, after Euphemia's death to Anna, daughter of Nicolas of Ziębice
Nicholas the Small
Nicholas the Small was a Duke of Münsterberg since 1341 until his death.He was the eldest child and only son of Duke Bolko II of Münsterberg and his wife Bonne , daughter of Louis of Savoy, Baron of Vaud.-Life:...
. From this marriage he had three children:
- unnamed son (1361/1364 - died young before 14 Mar 1378).
- unnamed son (1362/1365 - died young before 14 Mar 1378).
- Henry of MasoviaHenry of MasoviaHenry of Masovia was a noble and a bishop of the Kingdom of Poland.- Biography :Henry of Masovia, born between 1368 and 1370 in Rawa Mazowiecka was the youngest child of one of the Piast dynasty princes of Masovia, Siemowit III of Masovia, and his second wife, the princess of Ziębice, Anna...
(1368/1370 – 1392/1393), became Bishop of Płock.
Siemowit accused Anna of adultery when she became pregnant with Henry. After his birth Siemowit had Anna strangled and Henry cast away. However, it turned out Henry was the son of Siemowit so he was made a bishop.
After working his whole life on reuniting Masovia and making it an independent state, Siemowit III died on June 16 1381 and was buried at Plock
Plock
Płock is a city in central Poland, on the Vistula river. According to the data provided by GUS on 30 June 2009 there were 126,675 inhabitants. It is located in the Masovian Voivodeship , having previously been the capital of the Płock Voivodeship . It now is a capital of a Powiat at the extreme...
Cathedral.