Viola Elisabeth of Cieszyn
Encyclopedia
Viola Elisabeth of Cieszyn (ca. 1291 – 21 September 1317) was a Polish princess member of the House of Piast in the Cieszyn
branch and by marriage Queen of Bohemia and Poland
.
She was the third child and only daughter Mieszko I, Duke of Cieszyn by his unknown wife, probably called Grzymisława. She was named after her paternal great-grandmother Viola
, wife of Duke Casimir I of Opole
.
and Poland
on 5 October 1305 in Brno
. The reasons for marriage are not too obvious: although later chroniclers describe how beautiful Viola was, her father Duke Mieszko I was only one of the vassals of King Wenceslaus III, and in consequence, this was an unequal union. The main reason wasn't her beauty but maybe the strategic position of Cieszyn
between the Kingdoms of Bohemia
and Poland
. Four days after the wedding (9 October), Wenceslaus III annulled his long-time engagement with Elisabeth, daughter of King Andrew III of Hungary and with this renounced to all his claims over the Hungarian crown.
After her marriage, Viola took the name Elisabeth, but her union with the King wasn't completely happy because her husband's free lifestyle and the strong opposition of the Bohemian nobility, who had to prevent this "lower" union. Ten months later, on 4 August 1306, King Wenceslaus III was murdered in Olomouc
under mysterious circumstances, leaving Viola as a fifteen-year-old widow. Maybe because of their youth, the union failed to produce an heir.
With little money and nowhere to go, Viola probably stayed with her sisters-in-law, Anna and Elisabeth in one of the nunneries. Both princesses were fighting for the throne of Bohemia
, but Viola stayed away. There are no sources about her fate in this years.
tried to gain to their side the powerful nobleman Peter I of Rosenberg (Petr I. z Rožmberka), who at that time was engaged with Henry of Lipá's daughter. Soon Peter I of Rosenberg cancelled his betrothal and entered in an alliance with the Bohemian King and Queen; in order to reinforce his bonds with his new ally, King John gave him the hand of the Dowager Queen Viola. The marriage took place in 1316 but was childless and short-lived: Viola died only one year after, on 21 September 1317, and was buried in the vault of the House of Rosenberg
in the Vyšší Brod Monastery
.
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....
branch and by marriage Queen of Bohemia and 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...
.
She was the third child and only daughter Mieszko I, Duke of Cieszyn by his unknown wife, probably called Grzymisława. She was named after her paternal great-grandmother Viola
Viola, Duchess of Opole
Viola, Duchess of Opole also known as Wencisława , was a Duchess of Opole-Racibórz by virtue of her marriage with Duke Casimir I.-Origins:...
, wife of Duke Casimir I of Opole
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,...
.
Queen of Bohemia and Poland
Viola married with young King Wenceslaus III of BohemiaWenceslaus III of Bohemia
Wenceslaus III Premyslid was the King of Hungary , King of Bohemia and the king of Poland ....
and 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...
on 5 October 1305 in Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
. The reasons for marriage are not too obvious: although later chroniclers describe how beautiful Viola was, her father Duke Mieszko I was only one of the vassals of King Wenceslaus III, and in consequence, this was an unequal union. The main reason wasn't her beauty but maybe the strategic position 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....
between the Kingdoms of 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...
and 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...
. Four days after the wedding (9 October), Wenceslaus III annulled his long-time engagement with Elisabeth, daughter of King Andrew III of Hungary and with this renounced to all his claims over the Hungarian crown.
After her marriage, Viola took the name Elisabeth, but her union with the King wasn't completely happy because her husband's free lifestyle and the strong opposition of the Bohemian nobility, who had to prevent this "lower" union. Ten months later, on 4 August 1306, King Wenceslaus III was murdered in 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...
under mysterious circumstances, leaving Viola as a fifteen-year-old widow. Maybe because of their youth, the union failed to produce an heir.
With little money and nowhere to go, Viola probably stayed with her sisters-in-law, Anna and Elisabeth in one of the nunneries. Both princesses were fighting for the throne of 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...
, but Viola stayed away. There are no sources about her fate in this years.
Second Marriage. Death
After the arrest of Henry of Lipá (Jindřich z Lipé), the now Queen Elisabeth of Bohemia and her husband John of LuxembourgJohn I of Bohemia
John the Blind was the Count of Luxembourg from 1309 and King of Bohemia from 1310 and titular King of Poland. He was the eldest son of the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VII and his wife Margaret of Brabant...
tried to gain to their side the powerful nobleman Peter I of Rosenberg (Petr I. z Rožmberka), who at that time was engaged with Henry of Lipá's daughter. Soon Peter I of Rosenberg cancelled his betrothal and entered in an alliance with the Bohemian King and Queen; in order to reinforce his bonds with his new ally, King John gave him the hand of the Dowager Queen Viola. The marriage took place in 1316 but was childless and short-lived: Viola died only one year after, on 21 September 1317, and was buried in the vault of the House of Rosenberg
House of Rosenberg
The Rosenberg family was the most significant and influential Bohemian noble family playing important role in Czech medieval history from 13th century till 1611...
in the Vyšší Brod Monastery
Vyšší Brod Monastery
Vyšší Brod Monastery is one of the most important historical landmarks of South Bohemia.The Cistercian monastery is located on the right bank of the river Vltava, in the south-west part of the town of Vyšší Brod. It was founded in 1259.-Links:* *...
.
Ancestors
| Viola Elisabeth of Cieszyn | Father: Mieszko I, Duke of Cieszyn |
Paternal Grandfather: Władysław Opolski |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Casimir I of Opole 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,... |
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Viola, Duchess of Opole Viola, Duchess of Opole Viola, Duchess of Opole also known as Wencisława , was a Duchess of Opole-Racibórz by virtue of her marriage with Duke Casimir I.-Origins:... |
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| Paternal Grandmother: Euphemia of Greater Poland Euphemia of Greater Poland Euphemia of Greater Poland , was a Polish princess member of the House of Piast from the Greater Poland branch and by marriage was Duchess of Kalisz, Wieluń and Opole-Racibórz.... |
Paternal Great-grandfather: Władysław Odonic |
||
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Jadwiga of Pomerania |
|||
| Mother: Grzymisława? |
Maternal Grandfather: unknown |
Maternal Great-grandfather: unknown |
|
| Maternal Great-grandmother: unknown |
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| Maternal Grandmother: unknown |
Maternal Great-grandfather: unknown |
||
| Maternal Great-grandmother: unknown |