Viola, Duchess of Opole
Encyclopedia
Viola, Duchess of Opole also known as Wencisława , was a Duchess of Opole
-Racibórz
by virtue of her marriage with Duke Casimir I
.
. The most popular of the hypotheses about Viola's parentage was given by Władysław Dziewulski, who stated that Viola could be a daughter of Tsar Kaloyan
or his successor Boril
. However, this theory was challenged by Wincenty Swoboda. The historian J. Horwat put forward another hypothesis, under which Viola could be an Hungarian princess, daughter of King Béla III
(from his second marriage with Margaret of France,) or his son and successor Emeric
. Today, the opinion prevails that Viola's origins are considered unknown.
, Duke of Opole
-Racibórz
between the years 1212-1220.
Arguments of the theory of Viola's Bulgarian origin involve her marriage with Casimir I: she wasn't mentioned in any Polish source before the Duke's departure to the Fifth Crusade
. They estimated that the marriage of Casimir I and Viola was arranged by King Andrew II of Hungary
. On the way home, the Hungarian King arranged several marriage contracts between his children and the courts he visited, one of them was the engagement of his daughter Anna Maria
with the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Asen II
. As a near kinswoman of the Tsar of Bulgaria, Viola was married to Casimir I (a close associate of King Andrew II), and returned with the King in order to meet her future husband.
According to another hypothesis, Duke Casimir I became closer to an unknown Hungarian knight, relative of the King and commander of the Hungarian troops, which in January 1218 in Mount Lebanon
had been depopulated. This would suggest that the marriage between the Duke of Opole and the King's near kinswoman Viola was performed before the embarkation on the crusade, around 1217.
and Władysław. Despite her efforts to maintain an independent rule, she finally was forced, firstly to share and later renounce the regency of Opole-Racibórz to Henry I the Bearded
, Duke of Wrocław.
In 1233 and probably with the consent of the Duke of Wrocław, Pope Gregory IX
issued a Bull, under which the care of the young Dukes was removed from their mother and given to the Archbishop of Gniezno and the Bishops of Wroclaw and Olomouc
. A year later (1234), to calm the rebellion which erupted against this decision, Henry I the Bearded give Kalisz
and Wieluń
to Casimir I's sons, taking full control of Opole-Racibórz, but without denying their hereditary rights.
Viola and her children moved to Kalisz, where they remained even after Henry I's death in 1238, because his son and successor, Henry II the Pious
, also took over the regency of Opole-Racibórz. However, soon after, Mieszko II began to claim government over his Duchy. Henry II was forced to accept this, and by late 1238 or early 1239, Mieszko II returned to Opole and began his independent rule. Viola and her second son, Władysław were expected to remain in Kalisz, which held power under the guidance of Henry II. Viola remained as regent of the Duchies of Kalisz and Wieluń on behalf of Władysław until 1241, when he was declared an adult and able to rule by himself.
Mieszko II died on 22 October 1246 without issue. In his will, he left all his lands to his brother Władysław, except Cieszyn
, which was given to Viola as her Oprawa wdowia. She ruled this land for the next five years until her death, when Cieszyn was reunited again with the Duchy of Opole
-Racibórz
.
Opole
Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...
-Racibórz
Racibórz
Racibórz is a town in southern Poland with 60,218 inhabitants situated in the Silesian Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship...
by virtue of her marriage with Duke Casimir I
Casimir I of Opole
Casimir I of Opole was a Duke of Opole-Racibórz from 1211 until his death.He was the eldest child and only son of Mieszko I Tanglefoot, Duke of Opole-Racibórz and High Duke of Poland, and his wife Ludmilla, probably a Přemyslid princess.-Early life:Little is known about his early years of life,...
.
Origins
Viola's origins are a matter of dispute among historians. Chronicler Jan Długosz has reported that she came from BulgariaBulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. The most popular of the hypotheses about Viola's parentage was given by Władysław Dziewulski, who stated that Viola could be a daughter of Tsar Kaloyan
Kaloyan of Bulgaria
Kaloyan the Romanslayer , Ivan II , ruled as emperor of Bulgaria 1197-1207. He is the third and youngest brother of Peter IV and Ivan Asen I who managed to restore the Bulgarian Empire...
or his successor Boril
Boril of Bulgaria
Boril reigned as emperor of Bulgaria from 1207 to 1218. He was the son of an unnamed sister of his predecessor Kaloyan.-Biography:It is unclear whether Boril was party to the murder of Kaloyan in front of the walls of Thessalonica in 1207, but Kaloyan's intended heirs, his nephews Ivan Asen and...
. However, this theory was challenged by Wincenty Swoboda. The historian J. Horwat put forward another hypothesis, under which Viola could be an Hungarian princess, daughter of King Béla III
Béla III of Hungary
Béla III was King of Hungary and Croatia . He was educated in the court of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I who was planning to ensure his succession in the Byzantine Empire till the birth of his own son...
(from his second marriage with Margaret of France,) or his son and successor Emeric
Emeric of Hungary
Emeric I , , King of Hungary and Croatia . He was crowned during his father's lifetime, but after his father's death he had to fight against his brother, Andrew, who forced Emeric to assign the government of Croatia and Dalmatia to him...
. Today, the opinion prevails that Viola's origins are considered unknown.
Marriage
Viola was married to Casimir ICasimir I of Opole
Casimir I of Opole was a Duke of Opole-Racibórz from 1211 until his death.He was the eldest child and only son of Mieszko I Tanglefoot, Duke of Opole-Racibórz and High Duke of Poland, and his wife Ludmilla, probably a Přemyslid princess.-Early life:Little is known about his early years of life,...
, Duke of Opole
Opole
Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...
-Racibórz
Racibórz
Racibórz is a town in southern Poland with 60,218 inhabitants situated in the Silesian Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship...
between the years 1212-1220.
Arguments of the theory of Viola's Bulgarian origin involve her marriage with Casimir I: she wasn't mentioned in any Polish source before the Duke's departure to the Fifth Crusade
Fifth Crusade
The Fifth Crusade was an attempt to reacquire Jerusalem and the rest of the Holy Land by first conquering the powerful Ayyubid state in Egypt....
. They estimated that the marriage of Casimir I and Viola was arranged by King Andrew II of Hungary
Andrew II of Hungary
Andrew II the Jerosolimitan was King of Hungary and Croatia . He was the younger son of King Béla III of Hungary, who invested him with the government of the Principality of Halych...
. On the way home, the Hungarian King arranged several marriage contracts between his children and the courts he visited, one of them was the engagement of his daughter Anna Maria
Anna Maria of Hungary
Anna Maria of Hungary was a daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary and Gertrude of Merania. She was sister of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary....
with the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Asen II
Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria
-Early rule:He was a son of Ivan Asen I of Bulgaria and Elena . Elena, who survived until after 1235, is sometimes alleged to be a daughter of Stefan Nemanja of Serbia, but this relationship is questionable and would have caused various canonical impediments to marriages between various descendants...
. As a near kinswoman of the Tsar of Bulgaria, Viola was married to Casimir I (a close associate of King Andrew II), and returned with the King in order to meet her future husband.
According to another hypothesis, Duke Casimir I became closer to an unknown Hungarian knight, relative of the King and commander of the Hungarian troops, which in January 1218 in Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon , as a geographic designation, is a Lebanese mountain range, averaging above 2,200 meters in height and receiving a substantial amount of precipitation, including snow, which averages around four meters deep. It extends across the whole country along about , parallel to the...
had been depopulated. This would suggest that the marriage between the Duke of Opole and the King's near kinswoman Viola was performed before the embarkation on the crusade, around 1217.
Widowhood
Duke Casimir I died on 13 May 1230. According to his will, Viola was appointed regent of the Duchy on behalf of their minor sons, Mieszko IIMieszko II the Fat
Mieszko II the Fat was a Duke of Opole-Racibórz since 1230 until his death, and Duke of Kalisz-Wieluń during 1234–1239 ....
and Władysław. Despite her efforts to maintain an independent rule, she finally was forced, firstly to share and later renounce the regency of Opole-Racibórz to Henry I the Bearded
Henry I the Bearded
Henry I the Bearded , of the Silesian line of the Piast dynasty, was Duke of Silesia at Wrocław from 1201 and Duke of Kraków and thus High Duke of all Poland - internally divided - from 1232 until his death.-Heir of Wroclaw:...
, Duke of Wrocław.
In 1233 and probably with the consent of the Duke of Wrocław, Pope Gregory IX
Pope Gregory IX
Pope Gregory IX, born Ugolino di Conti, was pope from March 19, 1227 to August 22, 1241.The successor of Pope Honorius III , he fully inherited the traditions of Pope Gregory VII and of his uncle Pope Innocent III , and zealously continued their policy of Papal supremacy.-Early life:Ugolino was...
issued a Bull, under which the care of the young Dukes was removed from their mother and given to the Archbishop of Gniezno and the Bishops of Wroclaw and Olomouc
Olomouc
Olomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
. A year later (1234), to calm the rebellion which erupted against this decision, Henry I the Bearded give Kalisz
Kalisz
Kalisz is a city in central Poland with 106,857 inhabitants , the capital city of the Kalisz Region. Situated on the Prosna river in the southeastern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship, the city forms a conurbation with the nearby towns of Ostrów Wielkopolski and Nowe Skalmierzyce...
and Wieluń
Wielun
Wieluń is a city in central Poland with 24,347 inhabitants . Situated in the Łódź Voivodeship , it was previously in Sieradz Voivodeship .- History :...
to Casimir I's sons, taking full control of Opole-Racibórz, but without denying their hereditary rights.
Viola and her children moved to Kalisz, where they remained even after Henry I's death in 1238, because his son and successor, Henry II the Pious
Henry II the Pious
Henry II the Pious , of the Silesian line of the Piast dynasty was Duke of Silesia at Wrocław and Duke of Kraków and thus High Duke of all Poland as well as Duke of Southern Greater Poland from 1238 until his death. During 1238–1239 he also served as a regent of two other Piast duchies: Sandomierz...
, also took over the regency of Opole-Racibórz. However, soon after, Mieszko II began to claim government over his Duchy. Henry II was forced to accept this, and by late 1238 or early 1239, Mieszko II returned to Opole and began his independent rule. Viola and her second son, Władysław were expected to remain in Kalisz, which held power under the guidance of Henry II. Viola remained as regent of the Duchies of Kalisz and Wieluń on behalf of Władysław until 1241, when he was declared an adult and able to rule by himself.
Mieszko II died on 22 October 1246 without issue. In his will, he left all his lands to his brother Władysław, except 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....
, which was given to Viola as her Oprawa wdowia. She ruled this land for the next five years until her death, when Cieszyn was reunited again with the Duchy of Opole
Opole
Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...
-Racibórz
Racibórz
Racibórz is a town in southern Poland with 60,218 inhabitants situated in the Silesian Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship...
.